Page 78 of Declan

“Can I expect you not to openly drool over him while I’m standing right here?” Dec rasped.

“I’m not drooling. I’m commenting. And what do you care? I’m going home with you.”

My comment just made Zane laugh harder.

“Great, can we get down to business?”

Declan didn’t wait for an answer, he simply pushed past Zane. When he did, I noticed that Zane was tall, just like all the men. He was broad, too, though Declan had a tad more bulk than Zane did.

“You got him wound tight,” Zane noted and I stiffened.

“No, I don’t.”

“Woman, he was ready to take my head off.”

“He was not.”

“I already know you’re a pain in my ass, please tell me you’re not one of those blind bitches who can’t see what’s right in front of them.”

“First, Mr. Lewis, women don’t like to be called bitches. And the last thing I am is blind. I know what’s in front of me, and not that it’s any of your business, but I see what’s in front of me.”

“Lotsa different kinds of women out there, Autumn, as you well know. A good woman knows what she’s got and makes moves to protect it. A woman who’s got good but plays bullshit games and therefore loses the good, is a straight-up bitch. And I know you’re smart enough to know the difference since you just laid it out that you know you have it good and made your play to protect it.”

I liked that he thought that about me.

“And I’m not a pain in the ass.”

“No, you’re a pain in my ass.”

“I don’t see how.”

“You will,” he strangely said, and walked away.

I walked in behind Zane and found all the men standing around. All eyes were on me.

Great.

“I’m sorry I was such a bitch.” Four men blinked but Declan smiled. “I feel like I keep apologizing to you guys and you’ve all been cool to me, so me repaying that kindness with my bad attitude is unfair.”

“You got your shit sorted?” Max asked.

“Um, negative. I have so much shit to sort through it might take the better part of a decade to sift through it. Am I working on my attitude and need to lash out at everyone around me, yes.”

Male laughter filled the room but my gaze remained glued to Declan’s. Or more accurately, my ears as I listened to him chuckle. Then I tried to remember if I’d ever heard him laugh. A real honest to goodness belly laugh, and I couldn’t remember. Then I tried to remember the last time I let loose and was bowled over with hilarity. I couldn’t remember that, either.

Jeez, we were a sad pair.

Then as I stared at Declan, I decided it was my life’s mission to make him laugh.

“What’s got you thinking so hard?” Declan asked.

“We need to laugh more.”

The room went deadly silent, the air charged, and the hair on my arms stood.

“Jesus,” Zane mumbled, then his eyes sliced to Declan and his features turned to stone when he said, “Serious as fuck, you don’t got your head on straight, you see me after this meeting and I’ll screw it on for you nice and tight.”

“It’s straight,” Declan returned.