Page 92 of The Lake House

“Thanks for helping me today with everything,” I say instead.

He smiles. “Anytime, sweetheart. I’m always here for you.”

“I love you,” I blurt out before I have a chance to stop myself. But at the same time, I’m glad I’ve said it.

“I love you, too, beautiful. More than you’ll ever know.”

He leans down and kisses me softly.

As he pulls away slightly, I move back in closer and place my lips on his once more.

I want him. Right here and right now.

He kisses me back, and as our mouths part, we deepen the kiss, allowing our tongues to find one another.

“Dec,” I whisper, just as a light end of summer rain descends from the sky. Shit, it wasn’t supposed to rain tonight, but it doesn’t even matter. I don’t even care. I’m already wet as it is from the way Declan is making me feel. What’s a bit more?

“Yes, baby?” he whispers back and then places kisses on my neck.

“Make love to me.”

He moves back slightly, taking in the sight of me.

“Please,” I beg.

He nods, grabs a hold of my hand, and leads me back inside the house where we spend the rest of the night rolling around in bed.

ChapterThirty-Three

GIULIANA

“Hi, Giules!” Lily comes darting toward me at full speed. Crashing into my legs, she wraps her arms around me.

I had been standing on the front porch, waiting for Declan and Lily to come over. We have a nice day planned that I’m really excited about.

“Hey, Lily! How was breakfast at Nana’s?”

She pulls away from me. “It was great! We made pancakes and bacon, and everything was yummy! Next time, you should come, too!”

I look up and see Declan walking toward us. As handsome as always, he’s in a gray T-shirt and denim blue jeans. The man looks like a model.

“Hey, Giules,” he smiles. “She’s been so excited to come pick you up.” He walks up to me and places a soft kiss on my cheek, then whispers in my ear. “You look sexy as hell…”

I blush as he pulls back, and then I bite my bottom lip. Shivers run up and down my entire body. He never has to do much to send my hormones into overdrive.

“Are you ready to go, Giules? I’ve been waiting for-eveeeeer!” Lily tugs at the pocket of my jeans.

Coming out of my daze, I smile at Lily. “Oh, yes. I’ve been so excited about today. Let me just lock up and then we can get going.”

“Yay!” Lily jumps up, excitement pouring out of her little body.

After I lock up and the three of us are situated in the car, we make our way toward the pier. It’s early afternoon, and as a few puffy white clouds decorate the sky, a cool breeze comes swooshing in through the open windows of the car.

“This breeze feels amazing,” I say after sucking in a deep breath of fresh air.

Declan messes with the radio as we hit a red light and come to a halt. “Yeah, it’s supposed to be beautiful today in the upper seventies. No rain in sight.”

“Good, I hate the rain!” Lily whines from the back seat.

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