Page 17 of Declan (Men of Clifton, Montana #53)

“He said he didn’t smell any alcohol.”

“Maybe he wasn’t drunk.”

“Oh, he was. When another officer arrived, he made him take a breathalyzer test, which he failed. He was arrested for drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter. He should have gotten the full sentence, which is up to thirty years in prison and a fifty thousand dollar fine.”

“Why didn’t he get the full sentence?”

Declan looked across the table at her, then sighed.

“The judge gave him a two-year probation period, since it was Johnston’s first DUI and he had references from several people in town about how he was such an upstanding citizen.

I wish I could have spoken about him. I couldn’t believe that he only got two damn years of probation.

I’m just waiting for him to fuck up again, and he will.

I can almost guarantee it.” Declan sighed.

“In my opinion, he got away with murder. If I ever catch him drinking and driving, I will do everything in my power to put him away for good. You should steer clear of him.”

The bar’s low, amber light pooled around their table as Elise set down her glass, the faint clink echoing between them. She frowned. “I won’t be seeing him socially again. The second night we went out, he couldn’t stop talking about you. So, the judge makes the decision in these cases?”

Declan leaned back; one elbow propped on the table.

His whiskey, pale gold, caught the light as he lifted it to his lips.

“Judges decide whether to tack on probation or just send you to jail outright. They look at everything; how drunk you were, how careless you drove, and any past DUI strikes. In Montana you can get sent to a treatment program instead of, or on top of, probation. Attending’s often a condition. ”

Elise’s brow creased. “Did he have to do any of those programs?”

He exhaled, setting down the glass. “Yeah, but it did him little good. He’s a full-blown alcoholic.

Montana law lets a judge issue a probationary license after a DUI, so you can drive under strict rules.

As a real estate agent, he needed to drive to make a living.

After two years of probation, the judge lifted the restrictions, and he was free to drive whenever. ”

Declan shrugged. “Dawn, his wife, was a good friend, and we dated before she met Johnston. He’s always hated me for that, and because we stayed friends.

” He shook his head slowly. “There was never anything between us after. Dawn knew better than I did that we didn’t belong together.

Hell, I even went to their wedding. At the reception he cornered me in the courtyard and told me to stay away from her. ”

Elise leaned forward, voice soft. “What did you say?”

He traced the rim of his glass with a finger.

“I told him I’d back off if Dawn told me to, and that he had no say in it.

No matter how many times she swore there was nothing between us, he refused to believe her.

Thought we were having an affair. She was about to leave him after just two years of marriage, but they went to counseling.

My gut has never led me astray, and from day one I didn’t like him or trust him.

” He shook his head. “I miss her friendship.”

Elise tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m sorry. Some men can’t fathom that a man and a woman can just be friends.

I have a friend in New York. I adore him, and nothing’s ever happened between us.

We talk all the time.” She shook her head, as if dismissing a memory.

“Stephen drank the second time he took me to dinner. He wasn’t drunk, but he drifted off the road onto the shoulder. It scared me.”

“I’m sure it did.”

“He didn’t say anything about it, and I didn’t either.”

Declan smirked, a flash of amusement in his eyes. “He hates me, and frankly, I couldn’t care less.”

“He thinks you’re on the take.”

Declan burst out laughing. He raised his glass, shook his head, then sipped. “Figures.”

“That doesn’t bother you?”

He set the tumbler down. “Why should it? I’m not on the take.”

“He says because you paid cash for your house, you must be.”

Declan leaned forward, his gaze steady. “Do you think I’m on the take? You’ve seen my place.”

Elise stared at him, eyes narrowing. Finally, she shook her head. “No, I don’t believe it. But I am curious how you paid cash for that place. He told me it sold for over three million.”

“Do you like me, Elise?”

She frowned. “You know I do. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

“Good. You know I like you too.”

“Are you evading my question?”

“I didn’t hear a question. I heard you say you were curious how I paid cash for that place.” He smirked and shrugged. “Just ask.”

Elise huffed. “Okay. How did you pay cash for that house?”

“I have a lot of money.”

“What? How?”

“Are you aware of Callahan Whiskey?” He held his glass up.

“Yes, it’s very popular.”

“I own a share of it. My mother is a Callahan. I asked if you liked me because I wanted to be sure before I told you I was rich.”

“You think I’d only like you if I knew you were rich?” Elise tossed her napkin on the table.

Declan shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time a woman was interested in a man because he had money.”

“I think you should take me home now.” She slid out of the booth, stood, and Declan stood too. “I swear I have no luck with men,” she muttered.

“Wait. You’re mad because of what I said? Come on, Elise. Put yourself in my place. I rarely tell anyone about it. People I’m close to know, but not everyone. It’s no one’s business, but I have been out with women who do know and that’s the only reason they see me.”

Elise stared at him, then laughed. “Do you not look in a mirror, Declan? I didn’t look at you and think, ‘wow, he’s good-looking. I wonder if he has money’.”

“Yeah? What was the first thing you thought about when you saw me?”

She slid back into the booth, then he did too. “I thought you were incredibly handsome. Money never entered my mind. Besides, I happen to have money too. How do you think I bought my studio with cash? Granted, I’m not as rich as you, but I’m not hurting.”

“Do you know what the first thing on my mind was when I saw you?”

“I think you were more interested in your niece than to notice me.”

Declan laughed. “Not really. I love Frankie, but you made me forget why I was there. I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I wanted to get to know you, but I couldn’t ask you out in front of Frankie, then the next time I picked her up, Johnston made sure to let me know you were going out with him. ”

Elise grinned. “Yes, but I was thinking, ‘now why couldn’t Declan ask me out’.”

Declan laughed, then sobered. “It kills Johnston that I paid cash for my place. He doesn’t know about my money because he hasn’t always lived here, and I don’t think Dawn would tell him. The minute he met her, he wanted her. She introduced us and he instantly hated me.”

Elise grinned. “Because he was jealous of you. He still is.”

“I’ve never done anything to him, other than date her before he did.”

“He wonders how you can afford to buy a place like that on a deputy’s salary.”

“I bet it kills him wondering about that.”

“Why do you work if you don’t have to?”

“I like my job, and I like staying busy. There’s another deputy I work with who probably has more money than I do, but he likes to work too.

I’m sure he’d get bored too if he didn’t.

I can’t see sitting around doing nothing.

I’m glad Johnston has no clue about my money, but Dawn and I were only friends after we broke up. ”

“Some men can’t get past the fact that a woman dated someone else before them. I don’t—” She stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“Stephen is here. He just came in with a woman.”

Declan looked over his shoulder to see Johnston walking ahead of a woman as they were led to a table. He shook his head and looked at Elise.

“His manners are impeccable,” Declan said with sarcasm.

Elise laughed. “I thought the same thing the first time we went out. He never opened a door for me, and it bothered me. I was so happy to see you had manners.”

“My mother would be disappointed in me if I didn’t.”

“I’m glad you were raised right. Wait. You said your mother was a Callahan?”

“Yes, why?”

“Are you related to Devin and Jaxon Callahan who own the Bur Oak guest ranch?”

“Yes, we’re cousins. How do you know them?”

“That’s how I came to Clifton. I stayed there for a vacation, and I made a trip to Clifton and fell in love with the place. I was contemplating my retirement and decided to live here.” She smiled.

“I’m glad you did.”

“Me too.”

“I have two other Callahan cousins, Reid and Roark. In fact, I was named after Reid’s father. My mother and Uncle Declan have always been close. She said she told him if she ever had a son, she’d name him after her big brother.”

“I thought Devin and Jaxon were so handsome. Your eyes are the same color as theirs.”

“We all have gray eyes. Roark’s, Jaxon’s and mine are a little lighter.”

“I bet Reid and Roark are handsome too,” Elise said with a smile.

Declan shrugged. “I guess.”

“Oh, come on. A woman can admit another woman is beautiful, and you can’t tell me your cousins are handsome?”

“We all resemble each other. You can tell we’re related if you see us together.” He shrugged again.

“Stephen is looking at us,” she whispered and lowered her eyes.

Declan turned to look at him and heard Elise laugh when Stephen quickly looked away.

“When I pulled him over recently, I was hoping he’d been drinking.”

“You didn’t smell any alcohol?”

“He offered to take a breathalyzer test, so I knew he would pass it. He was cocky about it.”

“I can’t believe I went out with him. He had me fooled.”

“Just like he had Dawn fooled.” Declan clenched his fist on the table.

Elise reached across and touched it. “Don’t let him get to you. His day will come.”