“My turn.” Before I know what’s happening, Archer tugs on my hand and pulls me away from Declan.
“Archer,” he growls.
“Sorry, brother. You have to share. She’s the only single lady here, and there are seven of us.” Archer grins as he spins me around until we’re standing several feet away from his brother.
That’s how the next hour goes. I’m moved from one brother to the other and then sandwiched between the twins. It’s weird but funny as hell. I laugh the entire time.
“I need a drink,” I tell them.
“You want me to get it?” one of them asks. I think it’s Maverick.
“No, you do your thing,” I tell them, smiling. I walk to the refrigerator and grab a cold bottle of water. I stand off to the side, drinking it until it’s gone. It’s been a long time since I’ve been dancing.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I turn to find Declan standing next to me. “Just thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve been dancing. Tonight was fun. Thank you for including me.”
“I’m glad you had a good time.” He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear.
“I’m a sweaty mess.” I laugh, because I’m sure I look like I’ve been rode hard and put up wet.
“You’re beautiful.” His words are softly spoken, almost as if he’s hoping that I don’t hear him, but I do, and so did my heart and the butterflies in my belly.
“One minute!” Orrin calls out.
“Come on.” Declan laces his fingers with mine and pulls me to the crowd of his friends and family as we all start the countdown to the New Year. I close my eyes and send up a silent resolution that this year is going to be mine. I’m working on me and what makes me happy.
“Five.” We start the countdown.
“Four.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
I never get to one because Declan’s lips are on mine. His hands cradle my cheeks, and he moves in close. I feel his hard length and gasp. He takes the opportunity to slide his tongue past my lips.
I’ve never been kissed like this.
I feel as though I’m consumed by this man.
His taste.
His scent.
His touch.
We’re jostled, and he pulls away. He presses his forehead to mine, and that’s when everything around us comes back into focus, and I realize he’s breathing just as heavily as I am.
“Happy New Year, Kennedy.”
“Happy New Year, Declan.”
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Declan
“Uncle Mav says that I’m the prettiest,” Blakely tells me.
It’s Friday night, and after I picked her up from my parents’, I decided to go ahead and get next week’s grocery shopping out of the way. I promised Blakely we could make cupcakes this weekend, and we don’t have what we need. “I agree with Uncle Mav,” I tell my daughter, stopping to add two gallons of milk to my cart.
“That’s what Mamaw and Papaw said too.” She smiles up at me from where she’s sitting in the front seat of the cart. She’s almost too big to do that anymore, and I hate how fast she’s growing up.
“What do you want for dinner tonight?” I ask.
She taps her index finger against her chin. “I say dino nuggets and mac and cheese.” She gives me a toothy grin, and even though that doesn’t sound the least bit appetizing to me, it’s quick and easy. Not to mention I can’t say no to her. Not with something like this.
“Why don’t we grab some chicken strips from the deli?” I compromise. I stop near the boxes of macaroni and toss in several boxes. She’s not a super picky eater, but she’d live off mac and cheese if I were to let her, and it’s a quick meal. Sometimes at night, I’m too exhausted to put much effort into dinner.
“Okay, Daddy.” She agrees easily, and I’m once again reminded of how incredibly lucky I am. She’s easy to love and care for. I’ve read countless books and forums online about single parenting, and the stories I’ve heard are terrifying.
“You know,” I tell her, moving on down the aisle, “we should make pancakes for breakfast in the morning.”
“Oh! Can we make the blue ones again? Those tasted real good.” She’s nodding her head and licking her lips.
I chuckle. “Sure can. I’ll grab some food coloring just in case we’re out. Don’t let me forget when we get to the bakery aisle.”
“Got it.”
Believe it or not, she has a mind like a steel trap. That’s something my brothers found out real fast. They had her saying the word shit when she was just over a year old. My mom laid into them good, which means I didn’t have to. None of us ever want to disappoint our momma. Anyway, she doesn’t forget anything, so anytime I have something big planned, I don’t tell her right away because that’s all I’ll hear about until the day of the event.