Page 8 of Declan (Men of Clifton, Montana #53)
Elise picked up her cloth napkin, dabbing it gently against her lips, but her gaze kept drifting back to Declan, now seemingly engrossed in conversation with his date. Lucky bitch . A small, ironic laugh escaped her lips. Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Elizabeth!
“What’s funny?” Stephen asked, placing his credit card into the leather check booklet.
“Oh, I was just reflecting on how well the classes are going and how cute the little girls are in their tutus,” she replied, a hint of amusement still in her voice.
“Is that what you’re going with?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder toward Declan with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m not sure what you’re implying, but I’d like to go home now,” she responded, her voice steady.
Stephen rose from his seat and extended his hand toward her. She hesitated for a moment but then slipped her hand into his, but when he tried to keep a hold of her hand, she pulled away from him. As she glanced back at Declan’s table, she found his eyes locked onto her.
“He’s such a prick,” Stephen muttered under his breath.
“Maybe he thinks the same about you. I don’t know what happened between you two, but I’d rather not hear any more comments about him,” she said firmly.
“Because you like him?” Stephen retorted sharply.
“Because it’s rude. Please, just take me home.” She pulled on her sweater and walked toward the restaurant’s entrance, leaving the tension behind.
As Stephen navigated the winding roads to drive her home, she sat in silence, her gaze fixed out the window at the passing scenery.
There was heavy tension in the car, a palpable barrier of unspoken words she had no desire to break.
Stephen was not the man he had seemed to be when they first met; the charming facade had crumbled to reveal something darker.
His intense disdain for Declan filled the air like a storm cloud, and she was weary of hearing his relentless tirades against him.
She knew Declan harbored a reciprocal dislike, but she was resolute in her decision not to discuss him with Stephen again.
No matter how much Stephen spoke, his fixation on Declan was unsettling and obsessive.
She gasped and grabbed the handle above the door when he drove off the road onto the berm but quickly jerked it back and never said a word.
As the car pulled up to her building, a wave of relief washed over her, and she exhaled deeply. Her hand moved instinctively toward the door handle.
“I’ll walk you up,” Stephen offered, beginning to open his door.
“No, it’s fine. Thank you for dinner,” she replied curtly, stepping out swiftly.
After closing the door, she ascended the steps to her apartment, eager to put distance between them.
Once inside, she locked the door behind her with a decisive click, ensuring her sanctuary was secure.
She doubted he would follow her, but she wasn’t willing to take any chances.
The resolution formed in her mind that she would never see him socially again.
She flipped off the outside light, hoping that would discourage him if he had thoughts of following her up.
The thought of encountering him when he came to drop off his daughter for classes filled her with dread, yet she resolved to remain civil and firmly decline any future invitations.
She pondered the hostility between Stephen and Declan, animosity so intense that it seemed rooted in something significant.
Curiosity flickered within her about Declan, but she resigned herself to the likelihood that any chance with him had been dashed by her association with Stephen.
“Such a shame,” she murmured softly, her voice carrying a hint of regret as she moved toward her bedroom.
Once inside, she found herself drawn to the window.
She parted the curtains just enough to glimpse Stephen still parked by the stairs, his presence unsettling in the dim light of the streetlamps.
As she stood there, his gaze lifted, meeting hers for a fleeting moment before he finally started the car and drove away.
Relief once again washed over her. He was undeniably creepy, and she was grateful to have uncovered his true nature before becoming more entangled.
Taking a deep breath, she headed to the bathroom.
The cool water on her face was refreshing, a welcome reprieve from the evening’s discomfort.
She changed into her cozy lounge pants and a soft T-shirt, still too tense to consider sleep.
Crawling into bed, she picked up the remote and turned on the TV, hoping to find something soothing to calm her frayed nerves and ease her into the night.
****
Declan sighed heavily, his eyes following Elise as she exited the softly lit restaurant with Johnston by her side. His jaw tensed involuntarily, a clear display of his growing frustration.
“Where are you, Declan?” Denise’s voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.
He turned to her, offering a faint smile. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“You were off today, weren’t you?” Denise raised her brow slightly, furrowed in concern.
“Yeah, but I still had work to do around the barn. The horses have to be tended to, and the stalls have to be mucked out,” he replied, a hint of weariness in his voice.
Denise leaned forward, resting her elbows on the elegant tablecloth, and clasped her hands together. She shook her head gently, her expression softening.
“It’s something else, isn’t it?” she said, reaching across the table to touch his hand lightly. “You know you can tell me.”
“Maybe some other time,” Declan murmured, trying to push his concerns aside. “Let’s just enjoy dinner.”
“Alright,” Denise agreed, though her eyes lingered on him, still full of unspoken questions.
Declan exhaled deeply, attempting to focus on the meal before him. Yet, his mind kept drifting back to the puzzling scene he had just witnessed. Why would Elise choose to go out with Johnston, of all people?
“Because she really doesn’t know him,” he muttered under his breath, the words barely audible. He glanced up to find Denise watching him intently from across the table.
“Who are you muttering about?” she asked, curiously.
Declan set his fork down, picked up his napkin, and dabbed at his mouth. “Elise Ramsey,” he admitted.
“I’m not familiar with her,” Denise replied, tilting her head slightly.
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “You wouldn’t be unless you were taking ballet classes.”
“Declan, you’re not making any sense. What do ballet classes have to do with it?” Denise asked, her confusion evident.
Drawing in a deep breath, Declan began to explain the situation with Elise and Johnston. “I just don’t get why she’d go out with him.”
“You mentioned she was new in town, right? Maybe she hasn’t realized what he’s really like yet,” Denise suggested, offering a plausible explanation.
“Yeah, that’s true, but the thought of her with him, especially with him driving, makes me uneasy,” Declan confessed, his concern evident.
“Maybe you should tell her,” Denise said with genuine sympathy.
“I don’t know. She might just think I’m being jealous or something,” Declan admitted, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
“Are you?” Denise asked with a teasing smile.
Declan shrugged, a sheepish expression crossing his face. “Maybe a little, but he asked her out first.”
“Just be patient. If he’s as bad as you say, she’ll see it eventually,” Denise reassured him, her tone filled with warmth and encouragement. “If for no other reason, maybe you should tell her about him and what he did.”
“Maybe. We’ll see. She didn’t look so happy with him when they left.” Declan sighed.
“Then she might have already figured him out.”
“Yeah.”
They finished their meals and Declan paid the check, then took Denise’s hand and led her from the restaurant to his truck. He opened the door for her, helped her in, then strode around the front and climbed into the seat. After starting the truck, he drove to Denise’s townhome.
He pulled into her driveway, got out, opened her door and helped her out. She removed her keys from her purse as they stood on the porch, then she turned to look at him.
“Are you coming in?” She touched his chest.
“Not tonight.”
“Okay. You know we never pressure each other, but Declan, if you like Elise, ask her out. If she says no because she’s dating Johnston, then step back. Wait. She’ll see the real him soon enough.”
“I hate the idea of her being hurt, in any way.”
“I know.” Denise leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly, then cupped his cheek in her hand. “You are such a good man. Let me know how it goes. I’ll talk to you soon.” She unlocked her door, pushed it open, and stepped inside. “Goodnight, Declan.”
He nodded. “Goodnight, Denise.”
Then he stood on the porch until she closed the door, and he heard the lock turn. With a deep sigh, he climbed into his truck and drove home.
****
On a crisp Saturday, Elise was getting ready to go out and do some exploring.
She taught a dancercise class at ten every Saturday morning, then she was free for the rest of the day.
She’d been in Clifton for almost two months now and she had yet to visit the shops.
She had noticed that a lot of tourists were gone but a few still remained and was told by Brandy that since the Bur Oak Ranch closed for the season, the only tourists left were from the Clifton Bed and Breakfast, which would close next week.
Elise was so happy to have cooler weather. The smell of fall was everywhere, and it was her favorite time of the year. She loved how the town put up baskets of yellow, gold and orange artificial flowers from the lampposts along Main Street. Halloween decorations were everywhere.
It had been a while since her date with Stephen and though he had called several times to ask her out again, she always declined until he finally got the message and stopped calling.