“Shit. I’m sorry, Bree. I’m an arsehole.”
“Yes, you are,” Bree said as she grinned from ear to ear.
“Couldn’t you at least pretend to think about me being an arsehole? You just throw me under the bus like that?”
He gave her shoulder a soft bump with his bicep and again, Bree held her abdomen. She smiled at Ronan but took a tentative step back.
“I really am sorry, Squirt. Seeing you two together at the bar took me down memory lane. Thinking about yer sister always rattles my cage.”
Declan felt for Ro. He really did. But Ro had to deal with his feelings and not lash out like this.
“It’s okay,” Bree said.
“It’s not okay,” Declan said. “But we’ll let ye off the hook if ye let me and Bree be. You get what I’m throwing down here?”
Ronan smirked. “Loud and clear. Go get her, G.I. Joe.” He saluted Declan and turned on his heel.
Declan took Bree by the hand and steered her in between his thighs as he sat down again on his stool. She placed her hands on his shoulders and he tugged her even closer by bringing his hands upon her arse.
“Why are you running from me, Love? Why are you still fighting this?” Declan asked.
He squeezed her to him a little tighter.
“We need to talk, Dec.”
His heart lodged in his throat as he stared into Bree’s eyes. There was an uncertainty there, a feeling in her eyes he wished he could take from her. He would do anything to get the chance to do so.
Declan leaned in and let her scent of fresh flowers roll into his senses. He couldn’t stop himself as he kissed her. She parted her lips on a gasp. His tongue invaded her mouth while his fingers dug into her warm flesh through her black dress. He could spend a lifetime kissing Bree.
“Dec…”
Bree nipped at his bottom lip, bringing him back to the bar at Thomas Tavern. He was suddenly reminded she’d wanted to keep their relationship—or whatever it was, a secret and they had just kissed in front of everyone.
“You sweep me off my feet every time we see each other, Dec.”
“Is this why you’re ignoring me? Why do you need distance between us, Love?” Why would she want to back out now that they could finally be together?
Bree took a small step from him, and he let her. She scooted her barstool closer to Dec and sat down.
“Can I order something for you?” Dec said after he flagged the bartender.
“Yes, water, please.”
The bartender nodded. Dec scrutinized Bree. She seemed different somehow. Had she lost weight? She seemed tired.
“Are you still feeling sick?” he asked and placed his hand on her under arm that rested on top of the bar.
She jumped at his question and couldn’t meet his eye. Alarm bells went off in his head and he took back his hand. He let the silence turn awkward on purpose. He figured he’d asked enough questions, and it was time for Bree to do the talking.
Bree drank a few gulps from her glass of water. She cleared her throat and swiveled on her stool.
“So….”
Declan crossed his arms and couldn’t stop his one eyebrow from pulling. He knew he did it whenever he questioned someone on the job.
“Dec… I…”
Declan looked over Bree’s shoulder at a pair of college jocks getting into a heated argument about being first in line to order drinks.