Page 44 of Double Play

“You wanted the soundtrack for Christmas one year,” Declan continues, surprising me even more, as he squints from the bright sunlight overhead.

“How do you remember that?”

He taps his temple and smiles, rolling his head in my direction. “Steel trap.”

I chuckle again, finding myself laughing more in one day than I think I’ve laughed in the last twelve months.

“You know.” I clear my throat. “I never did get that soundtrack.” The CD I’d wanted when I was nineteen was such a simple item on my Christmas wish list.

“Do people even use CDs anymore?” Declan teasingly mocks.

“Actually, I’m into vinyl now. I have a record player.” Having the turntable somehow feels even more outdated than CDs and yet I love the scratchy sound of the twelve-inch discs. Physical records are making a comeback.

“Going old school,” Declan adds with a chuckle.

“I love the vintage sound. What can I say?” I chuff as well.

“Good thing you live in Nashville then,” he smiles, knocking his elbow against mine.

“Good thing.” I smile back at him, feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time. Giving him a teasing glance, I add, “Your turn. Truth. A secret.”

Declan purses his lips a second. His expression tight, like he’s really concentrating, digging up the best dirt he can give me.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” I tease, knowing I don’t need his darkest secret. I just want something honest between us.

“I really wanted to see you when you came to Chicago, but I didn’t think it would be fair.”

My feet falter again, stumbling over the smallest of rocks, and Declan reaches out a hand to catch me. Once I’m confident my knees won’t buckle, I keep walking, staring straight ahead as his hand slips up my spine and cups my nape.

“Why didn’t you?” I ask, afraid I might get a little too much honesty.

“I’d just learned I was having a baby with another woman. Kind of hard to put on the charm and discuss long distance relationships with that in the mix.”

I have no doubt Declan made the right decisions for him and Michelle and Montgomery. And I’d never, ever ask him to turn back the clock and deny himself fatherhood. But I need him to know one more truth.

“I wanted to be there for you.” He hadn’t asked and I hadn’t wanted to push, but I’d been willing to be whatever he needed.

He gives me a look but something in my expression must admit the deep truth. I’d have followed him wherever he wanted to lead us, much like he’s promising now he’ll follow my lead.

“Thank you,” he whispers and pulls me closer to him. This time he doesn’t kiss my temple but stops our motion and tips my chin, kissing me beneath the bright sky.

The moment feels so symbolic. We aren’t sneaking into bathrooms or bedrooms or around corners. We aren’t sneaking out to play in the snow or dance in a corner during my brother’s wedding.

We’re out in the open, kissing in broad daylight, and I cannot express how refreshing it feels.

Declan Wylde might actually be mine one day.

A girl can dream.

Pulling back, Declan stares at me, and the intensity is almost too much. I don’t want to dismiss his truth, but I do want to restore us to lighter moments, so I say, “Dare.”

He tips an eyebrow.

“First one to that tree gets their choice of sexual favors behind it.” I nod toward a clump of trees up ahead to the left of us, and before Declan can answer, I take off running. I squeal like a girl as his heavy footfalls thunder behind me and yet he somehow never catches me, letting me lead us into the shadows of tall trees and lush leaves as a canopy of shade.

Behind a giant oak, my back falls against the bark and Declan drops to his knees, not winded or whining that he just lost as he tugs my shorts to my ankles surprised to find I’m not wearing underwear because of the built-in panty.

“You’ve been like this the entire hike and I didn’t know.” His forehead furrows, his tone incredulous.