"I don't know what to say, Declan. I hate that you're--"
"Tell me you want me, Felicity. That's all I need to hear right now."
My face heats up. I lean on the wall as my legs become wobbly.
"Come home, Declan. Please."
I barely recognize the sound of my voice as the words slip past my lips in a breathy whisper. A deep sigh that sends a shudder through my veins spills from the device's mouthpiece.
"I won't hurt you, Felicity. That's the last thing I'll ever do…"
Chapter Eighteen
Declan
Iwatchthescenebefore me with a smile, mentally capturing the way Eli brushes a fleck of powder from Felicity’s arms, his eyes warmed with laughter. She ruffles his hair. I hold my breath, waiting for Eli to frown angrily at Felicity’s action, but he doesn’t. Rather, he leans into her and nudges her side with his arms.
“Can you believe this? I’m beginning to think it’s you who should fear being second best, Mr. Gray.” Angelina smiles and says at the kitchen table.
I glance at her face briefly.
“What happened?”
Angelina shakes her head.
“I doubt I have the right word for it, Mr. Gray.”
“Dad!”
Finally.
“Hey, Buddy! Pancakes for dinner, I know whose idea it is.” I say and gently pat his shoulders.
He wraps his arms around my waist and rests his head on my chest.
“Ms. Goldman and I are baking a cake for dessert. She’s so cool. She knows how to paint. She’s not boring at all.”
Felicity steps back from the counter and tosses me a grin. She looks breathtakingly beautiful in a black shirt that hugs her body and a pair of gray-colored shorts. I want to cross the floor, tug her into my arms and kiss her until she’s gasping for breath.
Not now.If the emotions I gauge in the depth of her eyes ring any truer, then I have nothing to worry about anymore.
I drop my gaze to Eli’s face.
“We’ll talk about Ms. Goleman later. I need to take a shower and get ready for dinner.”
Felicity rinses her hands in the sink and walks over to Eli and me. She leans in and kisses my lips lightly then tugs the jacket off my shoulders, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
I cup her face and peck her lips then trail my lips to her ear.
“How about you join me in the shower, hm?”
Her complexion becomes a deep red hue, she hits my chest weakly with her fist.
“Eli’s here!”
“Well, he can’t hear me,” I say with a wink, then subtly tilt my head to the doorway. “Come on, Ms. Goleman.”
Felicity rolls her eyes good-naturedly and with a deliberate slowness discards the apron around her waist.