Page 54 of The Bossy One

“I got distracted and started driving on the wrong side of the road,” I admitted, feeling ten kinds of stupid.

He pulled back and held my face firmly between his hands. “If you’re ever feeling too tired to drive, or you have too many drinks, or you’re just in a bad mood and can’t focus… Anything at all, you call me. Promise? I’ll come get you myself. Or I’ll send a car if I can’t.”

I nodded, my mouth going dry at the fierceness in his voice.

“Promise,” he demanded.

“I promise,” I said. “Where’s Catie?

“Sleeping at home. I called Thomas to watch her.”

I made a mental note to do something nice for Thomas as a thank-you.

Declan was still looking at me like I was a precious thing he’d almost lost. It was doing uncomfortable things to my heart.

Suddenly, I was a lot less interested in going on that double-date tomorrow. Which proved that I needed to go on it. I needed to get over this silly crush I was developing on Declan before things got any more complicated between us.

“Can we go home?” I asked Declan.

“Yes,a ghrá,” Declan said. “We can go home.”

* * *

The next day with Catie was blessedly uneventful. Thomas brought his little girl over for a playdate, so I spent an easy day lounging on the patio while Catie showed her new friend the best places to find bugs in the garden. I was there if they needed anything, but I also knew that genuine childhood friendships needed room to bloom. And I wanted Catie to have more friends her own age.

It also gave me time to write the first draft of my book. Picture books didn’t take long to write, but they could take forever to rewrite.

Declan was as good as his word and came out of his office to take over with Catie when it was time for me to get ready for my date.

The problem was, I didn’t really want to get ready. Instead, I read my draft through one more time. I wasn’t quite ready to share it with Molly, but I wanted to show somebody.

On impulse, I opened Snug and sent the draft to @DBCoder.

Don’t laugh,I wrote,but I’m trying to write my own picture book. I’d love your opinion. But please be gentle.

I stared at my phone, waiting for a response. I could see he was online. Then I noticed the time and swore. I barely had any time to get ready. Molly’s boyfriend’s cousin was picking me up in twelve minutes.

I spritzed some product on my curls and swiped on some makeup. Then I threw on a slinky black dress that made my boobs look amazing and didn’t wrinkle in a suitcase. It was more formal than I’d normally wear on a first date, but I hadn’t exactly been planning on going on dates when I packed. A simple pair of black pumps completed the look. I dug out my jewelry bag and added dangling teal chandelier earrings that popped against my hair, silver rings, and some teal-and-silver bracelets I bought at a street fair.

I surveyed myself in the mirror. The dress was more clingy than I remembered. I sucked in my stomach and straightened my spine, but that only made me look stiff and unnatural.

“It is what is,” I said. It wasn’t like I was super committed to impressing this guy anyway. Frankly, I was just glad Molly would be there, so the date would be at least a little fun.

I grabbed my purse and headed downstairs. I popped my head in the kitchen, where Declan was making some sort of stir-fry. “That smells amazing. But Catie doesn’t like it when her food touches.”

Declan pointed to microwave without turning away from the stove. As if on cue, it dinged. “She’s getting chicken nuggets. Don’t worry.” He glanced back over his shoulder and grinned. “Go have fun on your…” His words trailed off as he saw what I was wearing.

I shifted my weight, self-conscious. “Is it too much?”

Wordlessly, he shook his head. “You look… You look good.” He grabbed his bottle of beer off the counter and took a swig. He looked me up and down again, his knuckles white where he gripped the bottle.

“Who’s this man who’s taking you out?”

“Molly’s boyfriend’s cousin,” I said.

“Molly’s boyfriend has a lot of cousins.” Declan grunted. “And some of them are arseholes.”

“This one’s named Brendan Carr,” I said.

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