Page 63 of Declan

Leaving the apartment, I locked the door and turned to see a black car with tinted windows waiting for me. The day was warm, and as I walked toward the car, my breathing kicked up a notch. I doubted it was the summer weather, though, that had me hot and short of breath, but more so, the anticipation of going on vacation with the sexy man sitting in the car.

Gideon helped me load my suitcase into the trunk before opening the door to the backseat.

“Thanks.” I slid in and was instantly greeted by Declan grabbing me by the collar of my shirt and tugging me toward him as the door closed.

As his lips met mine, I grunted with surprise and melted into the kiss. He had a way of turning my brain to mush. All while hardening other parts of me.

I flushed against him and tore my mouth away from his.

“Sorry,” Declan said with a cocky grin. Mocking my annoying need to apologize for everything. “I just couldn’t wait to kiss you.”

“I guess I’ll let it slide this one time,” I shot back, mirroring his smirk. Although, I was sure mine wasn’t as sexy as his.

The drive to the airport wasn’t too long, but long enough for me to pull myself together. Not just with my elevated heartbeat but also with the million and one worries flitting through my head. I was going on a—probably extravagant—vacation with the man of my dreams and ofcourseI would find things to worry about. A huge worry was about Declan.

What if us spending time together came back to bite him in the ass? The last thing I wanted was to jeopardize his career.

Gideon stood by and observed the area as we grabbed our luggage from the trunk. He tried to take my bag, but I told him not to. I could carry my own stuff; I wasn’t helpless. He was a bodyguard, not a butler.

When I told him that, his face morphed into an almost-smile.

“I don’t have to be a butler in order to help your weak arms carry your junk.”

Declan laughed and slid on his sunglasses.

Entering the airport, I froze when I saw the huge crowd of people up ahead. Most held cameras and all talked excitedly. Like a swarm of insects waiting for their next victim. They must’ve heard Declan was leaving Addersfield that day.

“There he is!” one shouted.

All heads turned our direction.

“Fucking perfect,” Gideon muttered, stepping in front of Declan.

The paparazzi attacked. They ran forward, snapping pictures. Flashes of light filled my vision, followed by a thousand clicks.

“Declan! Who is he?” I heard one ask.

“Where are you headed?” another asked. “Is that your brother?”

We didn’t get far before an escort of airline workers greeted us and took us toward a private room.

At first, I thought we’d done something wrong, because this wasn’t normal at all.

“It’s okay,” Declan said, touching the small of my back before pulling away. “Just a quiet and discreet side route to get away from the crowds and cameras.”

“Ah, so it’s the celebrity treatment, eh?”

“They were paid handsomely for it.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.

Unlike the outside terminal, the room we were in was closed off. We still had to go through security, but it was a hell of a lot easier than the normal TSA line. After the security screening, we were led through another door and down a hallway that had offices on each side of it.

I grinned as the thought sprang to mind of us being super-secret spies.

“That’s it,” I said as the hallway with offices turned into another hallway that looked like the entrance to a bunker or something. It wasn’t, of course, but my imagination went wild. I totally needed to write a spy novel now. “You have to call me Special Agent Michaels from now on.”

The laugh that erupted from Declan right then made butterflies go wild in my stomach.

“Whatever you say, Special Agent Michaels.”