Keenan turned and shot a glance at the oven. “Ah, I see you’re taking this to the next level. Good.”
Keenan arched a brow. “Emmy?”
“Yep.”
Keenan smirked and walked into the direction of the front door again. “Good thinking, Dec.”
“You know me. Always prepared.”
Declan knew his reputation with his family. He wasn’t a go with the flow kinda guy. Freewheeling wasn’t in his dictionary. He could adapt easily, sure. He had to in his line of work. But if he could help it, he would have as much control over this night as possible.
“Have fun, Dec. You deserve it.”
“Thanks, Keen. I’ll bring the dish back to you tomorrow.”
“Nah, you enjoy yourself and stay inside. I hope to think she’ll not run out on yer arse again in the morning.”
“Later, man,” Declan said. He hated the reminder of Bree sneaking out of his home that first time weeks ago.
After finishing up the rasping of the carrots, he placed them in a separate dish into the oven. His heart rate picked up when his doorbell rang again. He wondered if this nervousness would ever go away.
He opened his door and his breath caught in his throat. Bree smiled up at him and blushed. Her long curls were down and fell over her breasts. A tight fitted white shirt above an even tighter pair of jeans made him clench his fists. He almost yanked her from his porch to haul her over his shoulder and up the stairs.
But he didn’t.
“Hey, Squirt.”
Bree narrowed her eyes at him. Not what he expected.
“What?”
“You know, I’ve always hated that stupid nickname. Can’t you come up with something else? It reminds me of how you still see me as a little girl, bugging you all the time.” She didn’t kiss him and strode inside.
“Well, okay. Hi, Grumpy. Welcome?”
He bit his lip so he wouldn’t bust out laughing. Bree had practically steam coming out of her ears.
“Grumpy?” Bree clanked the bottle of wine in her hand on his kitchen counter.
“That’s what you come up with?… Grumpy?”
He stepped up to her and halted his steps when she held a hand in the air.
“You’re telling me I look like one of the seven dwarfs? Do I need to pluck my eyebrows? Maybe shave my beard?”
He couldn’t hold it in any longer and laughed. “No, but maybe you can smile? If you’ll stop pouting, you’re so much cuter.”
He closed the distance and kissed her scowl off her face. After only a few seconds, she leaned into him and giggled against his lips.
“I can’t believe you,” she said.
“And I can’t believe how one word can sour your mood like that. If you really hate me calling you Squirt, all you need to do is tell me. I’ll find you a new nickname.”
“No, thanks.” Bree scrunched her nose. “If your next best thing is Grumpy, I’ll take a pass.”
He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “What about Sugar Plump? Or Butter Butt?”
She giggled, and he tugged her earlobe with his teeth. She moaned and fisted his shirt. He kissed her lips, and she opened up for him. Their tongues played with each other. He grabbed her arse and squeezed. Just when he was about to take her upstairs to his bedroom, the oven beeped.