Page 38 of The Tides Between Us

We both fell into our own thoughts as we enjoyed the meal he made. I would gladly let him make me food anytime he wanted to. My stomach was full and he looked pleased as he took my empty plate and rinsed it off. He placed the dirty dishes in the dishwasher before turning back around to face me. I took another sip of my orange juice, still watching him as his gaze collided with mine.

“Let’s do something today.” He stepped back over to the island and planted his hands on the countertop. “Do you want to go to the beach? It’s supposed to be beautiful out today.”

I nodded.“That sounds perfect.”I paused for a moment, as I realized I had nothing with me but the clothes I wore last night.“I need to go back to my house to get a bathing suit and stuff, though.”

His eyes were shining as he looked at me. They always had a way of glimmering when he stared into mine. “I’ll take you, princess. Maybe you can pack a bag and come stay with me for another day or two?”

My stomach did a somersault.“I’d like that.”

“So would I.” He grinned. “Did you want to call your friends and see if they wanted to meet us at the beach?”

I tilted my head to the side as curiosity mixed with the adrenaline rushing through me.“Are you sure?”He didn’t know any of them, but the thought didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest.

“If they’re important people in your life, I’d like to meet them if you want me to.”

“If I invite Harper, my brother will most likely come with her if he doesn’t have any hockey stuff going on.”

Declan didn’t seem fazed. “Perfect. I was hoping I’d get the chance to meet him soon.”

Now he really had me curious.“Why?”

“So I can make sure he knows I have no intention of ever breaking your heart.”

The air left my lungs in a rush. I was yet again frozen in place. Declan moved away from the counter as if he didn’t just speak those words out loud. They swirled around in my head, nestling deep within the crevices of my mind. Those words were imprinted in every synapse, effectively altering my brain chemistry.

I have no intention of ever breaking your heart.

What could he possibly intend on doing with it then?

“Come on, princess,” he said as he rounded the island and reached for me. “Let’s get ready to go.”

I didn’t protest and I didn’t question him as I slid my hand into his. He led me back into his bedroom where I didn’t bother to slip out of his t-shirt. The bottom hem brushed against my legs mid-thigh and it covered up enough that I wasn’t going to change back into my dress from last night. Declan had a spare toothbrush for me in his bathroom and after I used it, he slid it into the holder where his was.

We headed out to his Jeep and Declan, being the perfect gentleman that he is, held the door open for me and closed it after I climbed inside. The butterflies in my stomach refused to tire of the endless fluttering of their wings. He wasn’t going out of his way to do the things he did for me. He just did them because he wanted to. Because it all felt so goddamn natural.

Declan was like a continuous drip of heroin in my veins.

And I was hopelessly addicted.

I pulled out my phone as he pulled his car onto the street and opened up the group chat between Winter, Harper, and me. I asked both of them if they wanted to meet us at the beach for the day. Winter was the first to reply, saying to tell her where and when. She didn’t specify if Malakai was coming or not, but knowing him, he went wherever Winter went.

Harper’s message came in next, saying she and Nico would both be there. I knew my brother well enough to know he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to finally meet Declan. I just hoped he wouldn’t try to scare him off too much. Nico was a little protective, to say the least.

Declan stopped at a stop sign and glanced over at me with an eyebrow raised in question.

“Harper and Winter both said yes and they would meet us there.”I let out a shaky breath.“My brother’s coming too, and maybe Malakai, Winter’s boyfriend.”

He smiled brightly as he slid his hand to my bare thigh. “Don’t be nervous, princess,” he assured me. His palm was warm on my skin and he moved his thumb across my flesh as he held on to my leg. “I’m not afraid of your brother. There isn’t anything or anyone that could possibly chase me away from you.”

I returned his smile and nodded. His hand didn’t leave my thigh as he directed his attention back to the road and began driving again. I hoped he was right because I wasn’t sure how I would take it if he changed his mind about all of this.

I was already sinking deep into the depths of him.

The surface no longer existed.

I was entirely lost in the ocean of Declan Parks.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

---