Page 16 of Declan (Men of Clifton, Montana #53)

Saturday evening, Elise anxiously awaited Declan’s arrival, her excitement was almost physical, as she prepared for their dinner date. She had slipped into a sleek, skintight dress of deep blue, accented with white trim. On her feet were pristine white stilettos.

“He better appreciate these,” she muttered to herself, recalling Stephen’s unsolicited advice against wearing them. “Prick,” she added under her breath.

The sudden knock at the door made her heart leap, her nerves tingling with anticipation. Inhaling deeply to steady herself, she walked to the door, peering out the peephole to see Declan standing there, holding a delicate pink rose, its petals vibrant against the evening’s dim light.

“Open the door, it’s cold out here,” he called, a teasing warmth in his voice that made her laugh.

She swung the door open, gesturing for him to enter. He removed his hat, wiped his feet on the welcome mat, and leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on her lips, then stepped inside the warmth of the apartment.

“How did you know I was watching?” she asked, tilting her head.

“I just had a feeling,” he replied with a playful smirk, offering her the rose. “Here, this is for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, her smile genuine. “Let me put this in water.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he responded, closing the door behind him. “Damn,” he murmured.

She turned to face him. “What?”

“You look absolutely beautiful,” he admitted, his eyes tracing her silhouette before dropping to her feet. His gaze lingered on the stilettos, and he groaned softly before meeting her eyes once more. “That dress, those shoes,” he said, shaking his head in admiration.

“You like them?” she asked, a playful lilt in her voice.

“I think like is an understatement. I’m just glad I didn’t say what I wanted to,” he said.

“I could probably get it out of you,” she said.

Declan chuckled. “No doubt there.”

Smiling, she cupped his cheek with her hand. “You look very handsome.”

He was dressed in a long-sleeved maroon dress shirt, paired with dark blue jeans and rugged, distressed cowboy boots that added a casual yet polished touch to his outfit.

“Thank you.”

“Where’s your coat?” she inquired, noting his lack of outerwear.

“In the truck,” he replied. “I rarely wear one unless I’m out for a long period of time. It’s too confining.”

“You mentioned it was cold,” she pointed out, arching an eyebrow.

“It is,” he admitted, grinning. “Were you planning to leave me on the stoop?”

Elise laughed, closing the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gazed up into his eyes. “No, I like you too much to let you freeze.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, just let me put the rose in some water.” She walked to the sink, filled a small vase, placed the rose in it, then set it on the table.

When she walked to the hatrack and lifted her coat from it, Declan took it, and held it for her, making her mentally shake her head. Then she picked up her purse and turned to face him.

“I’d love to kiss that lipstick off you,” he murmured as he stepped closer.

“You can… later.” She chuckled when he grinned.

“Let’s go before I decide to stay here and say the hell with dinner.”

“Okay.”

He opened the door for her, nodding for her to step out, then he took her keys, locked the door, and handed them back. He took her hand in his and led her down the stairs.

“You better get some salt for these stairs soon. We’re expecting snow tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

Declan chuckled. “It’s October. What do you expect?”

“I heard it snowed last June. Is that true?”

“Yes. We’re in the mountains, so it has happened.”

“Unreal.”

“Sometimes, you can see snow on the mountains, but it doesn’t reach town.”

“They’re beautiful snowcapped.”

“Yes, they are.”

At the bottom of the stairs, he led her around to the passenger side of his truck, opened the door, helped her inside, then closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

Elise watched him through the windshield. What wonderful manners he had. When he opened the door, she got a whiff of his aftershave.

“You smell so good,” she said.

He grinned. “Thanks, so do you.”

“I’ve been thinking all day about what to get tonight.”

“I know what I’m getting.”

“Let me guess… a steak.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence, until Declan drove into the parking lot.

“It’s packed,” Elise said.

“It’s always packed. That’s why you have to have a reservation.”

“I’m glad you got one.”

“Me too. Grant has a goldmine here.” He shut the truck off, stepped out, then walked around the front to her door, opened it, and put his hand out to her to help her step down. “Can you walk in those shoes?”

“I’m a former ballerina; I can walk in just about any shoes.”

“I suppose you can. Let’s get in there.”

****

Declan held her hand as they walked across the parking lot to the doors, which he opened for her, then followed her inside.

“Hello, welcome to The Hartland. Do you have a reservation?” the hostess at the podium asked.

“Yes, ma’am, for Cavanaugh.”

“Alright. Please follow me.” The young woman picked up two menus and nodded for them to follow her. “Booth or table?”

“Booth, please,” Declan said.

At a booth, she stopped, placed the menus on the table and smiled.

“What can I get you to drink?”

“Elise?” Declan asked as he helped her out of her coat.

“White wine, please.” Elise slid into the booth.

“And you, sir?”

“Callahan Whiskey, on the rocks, please.”

“I’ll be right back with those, and your server will be here soon to take your orders.”

“Thank you.” Declan nodded, then slid in across from Elise.

Once their drinks arrived, Declan glanced around. “This place is always packed.”

“No wonder. The food I had was so good.” She picked up the menu. “I want to try something different this time.”

“I’m going with the T-bone. I’m hungry.”

“Me too. I think I’ll try the shrimp scampi.”

“It’s great.”

“So, you did have to call the owner?”

Declan grinned. “I did. Of course, Grant got on me that I only call when I need a reservation.”

Elise laughed. “Have you known him a long time?”

“Yes, since grade school. I really should stop out and see him and his wife, Jessa. They’re a great couple.”

“Maybe you should since he got us in here,” Elise said with a laugh.

“I should. He’s a good man and friend.”

The server came to their table and Declan ordered for them, then looked at the server.

“Is Grant here tonight?”

“Yes, sir, he is.”

“Could you tell him I’d like to talk to him. Declan Cavanaugh.”

“Yes, sir.” The server smiled, then walked away, and Declan picked up his whiskey and took a sip, then grinned when he saw Grant coming toward him. He slid from the booth and shook his hand when Grant reached him.

“Grant, it’s good to see you,” Declan said as he shook his friend’s hand.

“You too, Declan.” Grant grinned.

Declan glanced at Elise to see her staring at Grant with her mouth hanging open, then she snapped it shut, shifted her eyes to Declan, and glared at him, making him laugh.

“Grant, this is my date, Elise Ramsey. Elise, this is Grant Hunter.”

“You could have told me,” she snapped, making both men laugh.

“And miss the look on your face?”

Elise put her hand out to Grant, and he shook it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hunter. I’m a big fan.”

“Please, call me Grant, and I appreciate that. It’s nice to meet you too. I hope you enjoy your dinners; they’re on me. I hate to run but Jessa and I are going to the movies with Landry and Kay.”

“Have a good time, tell them I said hello.” Declan shook his hand again, then Grant nodded at Elise and walked off.

Declan slid into the booth, picked up his glass and sipped his whiskey. He almost spit it out when Elise cleared her throat. He set it down and looked at her as innocently as he could.

“What?”

“Don’t you dare ask me what, Declan Cavanaugh.”

He laughed. “I was hoping he’d be here.”

“And if he hadn’t been, would you have told me who he was?”

“Nope.”

Elise picked up her butter knife and pointed it at him. “You, Declan Cavanaugh, are on my shit list right now.”

Declan chuckled. “I’ll figure out a way to get off it.”

Elise shook her head and laughed. “Grant Hunter. Unreal.”

“He was born and raised here.” Declan shrugged.

“And Kay? Would that be Kay O’Malley?”

“Yes, but it’s Yates now.”

“Yep, on my shit list,” she said, making Declan laugh.

As they waited for their meals, they talked about their day. He noticed Elise seemed nervous about something.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked.

“Will you tell me about you and Stephen?” Elise took a sip of her wine.

“Did you ever ask him?”

“I asked him what his problem was with you, and he said he didn’t have one.”

Declan picked up his drink and looked at her.

“Did he tell you how his wife died?”

“Yes. He said she died in a car accident.”

“That was all he said?”

“Yes, why?”

“She was killed by a drunk driver.”

Elise gasped. “That’s horrible. I hate it when people drink and drive.”

“Oh, it gets better. Johnston was driving the car. He was the drunk driver.”

“What?”

Declan nodded. “One night him and his wife, Dawn, were here, having dinner and he drank more than he ate.” He shrugged.

“When they left, they had a big argument in the parking lot. According to witnesses, she wanted the keys, and he told her no. She told him she wouldn’t get in the car with him and started to walk back to the restaurant.

I suppose she wanted to call someone to pick her up, then he ran after her, and practically dragged her to the car.

When they left, he was speeding out of the lot. ”

“Oh, my God. Then what?”

“The only thing I know after that is what he told the officer on the scene. He said as they drove home, someone crossed the center line, and he jerked the wheel and went over an embankment. She was killed instantly while he walked away without a scratch.”

“Drunk drivers are a menace. A risk to all of us. Couldn’t the officer smell the alcohol on his breath if he was drinking?”