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“Actually, I’m getting there. Alyssa and I made plans to get ready at her place. I just pulled in.”
“I just dropped Blake off with my parents. I’m heading back home to shower. I wanted to tell you I’d be at your place to pick you up around six, but I guess you’re not there.”
“Nope. I think Alyssa was going to text Sterling to pass on the information.”
“I see how it is. I don’t warrant a phone call?”
“No. I mean, that’s not why. She just said she would, and I rolled with it. It’s something new I’m trying. Not to overthink and overanalyze just… live in the moment.”
“As long as those moments are with me.”
“Demanding,” I tease. Warmth spreads through me just from hearing his voice. Butterflies dance in my belly, knowing he wanted to hear from me.
“Not usually, but I guess I am when it comes to you.”
“Not sure if I should be worried or flattered,” I tell him honestly.
“The latter. Listen, I have a question.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Do I have to wait until the end of the night to claim my kiss? Is there a kiss limit?”
“Do you want to wait?” I don’t want him to wait. And a limit? Hell no. There is no limit when it comes to Declan and his lips against mine.
“No.”
“Do you want there to be a limit?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, what? I need you to spell it out for me, Kens. You have to tell me it’s okay.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to wait, and there is no limit,” I say softly. He sucks in a breath, and even though it’s through the phone, that sound sends a quiver of desire through my veins.
“One more question.”
I can’t help it. I laugh. “And that is?”
“Do I have to wait until six to see you?”
“Yes. Us ladies need time to prepare.”
“You just need to breathe, Kens. You don’t need anything other than the breath in your lungs.”
“You’ve already got me. You don’t need all the sweet words.”
“Do I? Do I have you? I feel like I’m chasing you.”
“Well, maybe you don’t have to chase me anymore.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “I’m not waiting for that kiss. I don’t care who is there to witness it. I’m claiming those lips of yours.”
“Promises, promises.”
“Damn right. See you soon, Kens.”
“See you soon.”
Tossing my phone in my purse, I grab the bag that I packed and the ones from our earlier shopping trip and, on shaking legs, make my way to the front door. Alyssa is there, pulling me inside and straight to her room, where we start getting ready for our night with two of the Kincaid brothers.
I’m excited about the concert and hanging out with Sterling and Alyssa, but what I want even more than that is my kiss.
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Declan
I’ve circled the block five times. I’m early. I couldn’t just sit at home and stare at the walls thinking about Kennedy, about kissing Kennedy. So I got in my Tahoe and drove past Alyssa’s place. I thought maybe Sterling was early since he and Alyssa are attached at the hip. However, he’s not there, and I’m still early.
Finally, on my sixth pass, I see his truck parked in her driveway, and I pull in behind him. I don’t bother with my keys since I’ve volunteered to drive tonight. I do take my phone just in case my parents need to get ahold of me and jog up the steps. I don’t get a chance to knock on the door before it opens.
“The girls are still getting ready,” he says, stepping back so I can enter.
I want to dart down the hall where I hear their excited voices and kiss the hell out of her. Instead, I somehow manage to take a seat across from Sterling at the kitchen table and wait.
“I’m proud of you, man. Going out two nights in a row.” My little brother gives me a nod of approval.
“This isn’t something I can do, nor am I willing to do all the time. I’m a dad first. Always.” No matter how excited I am about tonight, the guilt of leaving Blakely two nights in a row is heavy. Now, my daughter, on the other hand, is thrilled to be spending the night with Mamaw and Papaw, and she talked my head off the few hours I got to see her today about spending the night with Uncle Brooks and Aunt Palmer and their trip to the aquarium. I’m lucky, so incredibly fortunate, to have my family helping me raise my little girl. I couldn’t do this without them.
“You’re also a man. You bust your ass owning your own business, and you’re raising my niece, who is cool as fuck. You’re allowed to have a life.”
“Yeah,” I agree. Not much else to say. Sterling knows I’m feeling the guilt of leaving her without me telling him. I look down the hall, hoping to get a glimpse of Kennedy, but no such luck. She’s the only one I’d leave my daughter two nights in a row for.
