Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“He will,” I say with assurance. “He always does.”
Declan takes another hearty bite of the lobster roll. “This is delicious, Abby.”
I can’t hold in a prideful smile. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Sean and I used to eat lobster rolls all the time from this restaurant in the West Village.” He takes another bite, swallows, and then grins. “Cloutiers was the name of it, I think. Something along those lines. It closed up shop years ago.”
“That was the name.” I nod. “I used to go there all the time too. I convinced the owner to give me the recipe for their secret sauce.”
“You’re fucking kidding me?” He lets out a full chuckle. “How the hell did you do that?”
“Charm?” I shrug. “I brought her flowers sometimes because she’d often toss a free bag of potato chips my way. One day I asked for the recipe, and she made me swear I’d never share it, so I raised my hand and swore I’d keep it a secret. That’s when she jotted it down on one of their paper napkins. I’ve held onto it all this time.”
“Show me.”
I shake my head. “No way.”
A wide grin slides over his lips. “Show me the recipe, Abigail.”
I lean forward to rest both of my elbows on the table. “I made a promise to Mrs. Cloutiers, and I intend to keep it.”
His left eyebrow perks. “You weren’t her lawyer, were you? There’s no attorney-client privilege here. You can trust me to keep the sauce recipe a secret.”
“I promised her I’d keep it a secret, so no.”
“You’re loyal,” he points out. “That’s one of the qualities I admire most in a person.”
“I’m very loyal,” I agree with a nod. “Tell me one of your secrets, Declan, and I vow never to share it with another soul.”
His eyes darken as his gaze skims my face. “I’m falling hard and fast for you, Abby Duvall.”
Stunned, I stare at him, unable to say those words back to him because of a sudden lump in my throat. It’s not dread or regret that put it there. It’s hope and excitement.
“Don’t you think it’s time you gave me a tour of your bedroom?” Pushing to his feet, he holds out a hand. “I’ve been waiting all night for that.”
I stand too and drop my hand in his. With a voice that’s barely more than a whisper, I manage to say the only words I can, “Declan, I want you to know I feel things for you too.”
His lips brush mine for a kiss that’s filled with promise. “Good things, right?”
I smile as I kiss him one last time before taking him to my bed. “The very best things.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Declan
Abby glances at me. “I’m not sure I like this new approach, Declan.”
A smile slides over my lips. “What new approach might that be?”
Her hand skims over her right breast before it drops to her hip. “The approach where you stare at me but don’t touch. I can assure you that I’m ready for the main event.”
A lazy chuckle escapes me as my gaze follows the path of her hand. “What’s the main event?”
She sighs deeply. “Fucking.”
My eyes meet hers, and I find my need reflected back at me. She wants me as much as I want her, so after I undressed her, I dropped my clothes too and crawled onto the bed beside her.
The sheer curtains that cover her bedroom window are open just enough to allow a sliver of light from the city to blanket her body in a warm glow.
If this is what it feels like to be mesmerized by beauty, I never want this moment to end.
“Give me a few more minutes to stare at you.”
She rolls to her back, her delicate fingertips tracing a path over her smooth stomach. “I’ll give you three minutes. Then I want you wrapped and ready to go.”
“Three minutes?” I chuckle. “That’s not enough time. I want ten.”
Her hand snakes to her cleft. “You want this more.”
She’s not wrong, but what I really want right now is what’s beating inside her chest. I want her heart. I want to own this woman’s heart because even though she’s blissfully unaware of it, she owns mine.
I move to stand. “I stuck a condom in the pocket of my jeans. I’ll grab it.”
“No need.” Her hand flies into the air. “You’ll find a brand new box of Llura condoms in my nightstand.”
I’m up and on my feet before she finishes the sentence. “It’s the box you mentioned to Kalina? The box you bought the other night?”
“Yes.” Her smile shines bright even in the dimly lit room. “I bought them for us, Declan. I did make a promise to you.”
She did, indeed. The promise she made to sleep with only me doesn’t feel like enough anymore. I want more, but I have no fucking idea if she wants more too.