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10
Declan leanedback in his chair and took a last drink of his coffee. The candles had burned low on the table, the remains of their feast spread out on plates andbowls.
“That was amazing.” He reached for Kate’s hand. “Thankyou.”
She smiled. “You’rewelcome.”
“I’m stuffed,” Nick said. “And impressed. How’d you pull that together sofast?”
Kate shrugged. “Google helped with the recipes.” She looked at Ronan. “Ronan was my bodyguard at the store while you were sleeping and Declan wasworking.”
Declan felt an irrational burst of pride. Kate could do anything. Run an empire. Rustle up the ingredients to cook a traditional Icelandic lamb stew, complete with homemade Rye bread. Raise a childalone.
But looking at her now, her features soft in the candlelight, he didn’t need any of that. He would earn the money if she wanted. He would learn to cook. He would take care ofGriffin.
He just needed her, next to him, for the rest of hislife.
She was enough without any of the accomplishments she took so much pride in. He wondered if she knew that, then vowed to make sure she did every day for the rest of hislife.
“If all I have to do to get a meal like that one is tag along at the grocery, count me in,” Ronansaid.
The stew had featured tender chunks of lamb and roasted vegetables and the rye had been airy and chewy, served with local butter, a perfect accompaniment. They’d finished with a fresh pot of coffee and a traditional Icelandic pastry with a jammy blueberry filling that they all had fun trying topronounce.
“You’re on.” Kate grew pensive. “Although this is probably our last real mealhere.”
Silence settled around the table. Tomorrow they would raid the house where Neil Curran was hiding. They would find out for sure if Beth was there. After that, whatever happened, they’d be done inIceland.
Declan was surprised to realize he’d enjoyed the week. Iceland felt a world away from Boston and the tangle of worry that had become their lives — ironic given that they were there to find Neil, the source of all theirproblems.
Kate was still struggling to trust what they had together in part because of Neil’s affair with Annie, although to be fair, it had probably only exacerbated Kate’s already cynicalnature.
And who could blame her? Some things had to be taken on faith, on heart, and that had been parented out of Kate since birth by herfather.
Fucking Mac Walsh. Declan had loved the man, had admired him. But nothing was ever that simple, and Declan had also come to realize that Mac had done a real number on Kate. His intentions had undoubtedly been good: prepare Kate to take her place at WMG, counter society’s tendency to downplay the intellect of women and the tendency of women to downplay their ownintellect.
Mission-fucking-accomplished,Mac.
Unfortunately it also meant Kate didn’t trust her heart even when it was the only reliable barometer insight.
Declan couldn’t help wondering if Mac would be happy with the results of his tutelage or if he’d be willing to acknowledge its unintendedconsequences.
“I can’t think of a better last meal,” Nick said, rising from the table. He took his plate to the kitchen. “Leave these dishes. We’ll do them in the morning since youcooked.”
“Thanks,” Katesaid.
Ronan stood, following Nick’s lead with his plate and taking some of the empty platters and bowls along with him. “I’m heading up too. We have a long daytomorrow.”
Declan didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to think about the raid on the house where Neil was hiding, didn’t want to think about whether Beth would be there, about who would make it outalive.
He just wanted to look at the woman next to him, drink in the play of candlelight on her high cheekbones, her skin nearly translucent, as fine as porcelain. He wanted to watch the light set her hair on fire, to watch her eyes turn from gray to green to amber, a mystery he never wanted tosolve.
It didn’t matter what happened tomorrow. Kate was next to him, the gentle pressure of her denim-clad thigh as thrilling as it had been when they’d first met incollege.
They had tonight. It suddenly felt like alot.
“Goodnight,” Kate said as Ronan headed for thestairs.
“Night. Thanks again for a great meal,” Ronansaid.
