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“I don’t think he’s going to let you come. He’ll say it’s a bad idea.” Chris’s voice echoed through the dark as Declan made it to the top of the stairs.
Lauren? He should have known. Chris had a tablet he could use for video calls with his mom, but they had a rule about no calls after eight-thirty. Declan cleared his throat from the doorway, and Chris glared over.
“Say goodbye to your mom.”
Declan waited until Chris said his goodbyes and then calmly took the device from his son. Three missed calls, and then finally an answered one six minutes ago.
“Sorry, Dad, but she kept calling, so I finally answered it,” Chris mumbled.
Declan shifted his attention from the screen to his son, but the boy steadfastly studied the wood-paneled wall across from his full-size bed.
“She wants to come up tomorrow so she doesn’t have to be alone. You’ve been in a good mood all day, so I thought maybe you’d say okay if I asked.”
Declan sighed.
“I know you want to be with the stupid naked ball bunny.” Chris finally directed his glare at Declan. Lauren had spent years complaining and nagging about ball bunnies. So much so that Chris knew the term. Maybe not exactly what it meant, but the general gist. But Declan had never slept around, even before Lauren. He knew the reputation baseball players had, but that wasn’t him.
Declan shook his head and sat on the bed. “We’ve been over this. Natalie rented the cabin from Uncle Finn this week. It was a mistake—an accident. I’ve been looking forward to this trip for months because I want to spend time withyou.And I know this wasn’t what we planned, but twenty minutes ago, when I tucked you into bed, you were raving about how fun and silly she is.”
Declan raised his brow and waited.
“Bud, am I wrong about you liking her?”
“I like Natalie, but I don’t wantyouto like her. And if you’rekissing herthen youlikeher,” Chris huffed, but his lips quivered.
Declan pulled his son in for a hug, tucking the boy’s head under his chin. “Why does that upset you?”
“Mom says someday you’ll get a new family and forget about us.”
Fucking Lauren.
Declan’s body went rigid at the words. What kind of mother would say that to their child?Jesus.Chris couldn’t run around wondering if Declan was going to replace him. Of course seeing him with Natalie would be upsetting if that was the bullshit his mom was feeding him. He pulled back and tilted his head low, waiting until Chris looked at him.
“I love you more than anything in the world. And nothing will ever change that.” Declan paused when Chris opened his mouth to speak but stopped and frowned, his eyes shifting like he was looking for the lie in his dad’s words.
“Listen to me. I’m not saying I want to be alone forever. Someday I might meet someone I want to spend time with. But that person will love you too, and she’ll respect thatyouwill always be my priority.”
“You won’t forget me? Even if you keep kissing Natalie?”
“Never, bud. Never,” Declan promised, giving Chris a long, tight squeeze. But as far as Natalie went, no matter how amazing the kiss had been, it was probably better to leave it there. Because this whole conversation had proven just how far Lauren would go. “Now it’s bedtime. No one will have fun tomorrow if you’re a beast.”
It took another few minutes to get him settled before Declan could head downstairs and deal with the next issue. No doubt he would have to spend another thirty minutes assuring Natalie that he wasn’t a douche who brought ball bunnies around his son.
“Is he okay?” Natalie’s voice snapped him back to his surroundings. She sat on the sofa now, her legs curled under her and a book on her lap. She looked relaxed. There wasn’t a single confrontational note in her tone or her demeanor.
“Chris is good.” He expected an inquisition, a reaction to his ex-calling him a liar, or a comment about the implication that Declan slept around. He’d been faithful during his relationship with Lauren, but that hadn’t stopped her from constantly accusing him of cheating. “I probably should explain what Chris said.”
“Declan.” She shook her head. “He was upset. I get it. You don’t need to explain. Addy struggled when her dad started dating. And Greg and I set clear, careful rules to make her more comfortable. You and I should have been more careful. I’m sorry for not worrying about it myself.”
His mouth hit the floor. How the hell did he respond to that? Maybe by grabbing her and kissing the hell out of her again. Getting lost in her lavender scent and the feel of her body. But he couldn’t go there again. This week was about Chris. And the last thing he needed was to give Lauren ammo to use against him.
9
Declan watchedher for a long moment, but he didn’t say more. Natalie took that opportunity to escape to her room in hopes of avoiding any and all thoughts of that kiss. But she tossed and turned all night, replaying the way his warm hands caressed her skin and the feel of his mouth on hers. The following morning, shestillcouldn’t stop harping on it.
When she and Greg separated, Natalie had gone back to full-time teaching, and she’d focused on getting back into the groove of high school and school administration. She pushed herself to always have her plans done early and papers graded quickly. Plus, she’d put all her focus on Addy and getting her settled into life with divorced parents and pushed her own needs aside.
But that kiss had sparked a reminder of what it felt like to be desired. And she wasn’t sure she wanted to let go of that feeling.
