Page 14 of Hooked on a Demon (Leeside Witches #3)

Declan

“W hy are we going out again?” Declan asks, knowing full well why Everest wants to go out tonight.

Personally, Declan would rather stay at home with Buckley.

Usually, he’s down for the bar nights and the game of cat and mouse.

The will she, won’t she. But ever since Eliana walked into his shop, he’s wanted nothing to do with any other woman.

Of course, he can’t tell Everest that. Instead, he plugs along playing up the fact that it’s been a long week, and he’s tired, all the while hoping that Everest will get distracted by some woman and Declan can go home.

Declan slides onto a stool along the bar at the Bittersweet Acorn, which happens to be owned by his older brother, Lachlan. He signals to Daisy, his sister-in-law’s best friend and bartender, that he’d like a beer and settles in for the night while Everest starts making the rounds.

It doesn’t take long for Declan to finish his drink, and as he tips the glass back to get the last drops, Everest emerges from the crowded dance floor with two women hooked onto his arms. One for each of them.

Turning to face them, he leans back, placing an elbow on the bar top, and spreads his legs, trying to make himself look bigger and, with any luck, uninterested.

Unfortunately for him, one of the women, a vampire he’s pretty sure, steps forward and slides herself between his legs before leaning forward, putting a hand around the outside of her mouth, speaking into his ear.

“Hi. I’m Becky.”

He turns his head to speak into her ear. “I’m Declan.”

“Nice to meet you, Declan. Your friend there,” she says, turning and pointing behind her before facing him again, “said you were cute, but I think he underplayed you a bit.”

“Really? Why’s that?”

“Because you are gorgeous. I swear all the other women’s eyes have been on you since the moment you stepped foot in here.”

Declan laughs. She turns her body slightly and sits back, resting her ass on top of his thigh.

Everest did well. He picked out a girl who fits his usual taste.

She’s curvy, blond, and has either a phenomenal set of tits on her or a bra that is doing the goddess’s work.

Either way, she’s stunning. But even so, his mind is still wandering back to the way Eliana looked in those tights and how the light hit her hair as she stood by the shop window.

He rests a hand on his leg, careful not to touch her backside. “You’re probably right, but it’s not for the reason you think,” he responds.

“Oh?”

“My brother is the owner.” He watches as the realization hits.

What that statement means, and all the weight that goes with it.

People aren’t watching him because he’s hot.

No, they are watching him because they know who he is by association, and with that comes some level of power and influence.

They watch because they know he could ruin their night or make their entire year if he wanted.

Human or supernatural alike, being close to members of the supernatural council means you have an influence, too, and that breeds all kinds of feelings.

“You must not be from around here,” he says with an amused laugh.

“No. We’re from out of town, but we know about the council. They’ve done great work over the past couple of years.”

“Agreed. Much needed work.”

She smiles. “Also agreed.” She pauses, appearing to muster some courage before saying, “Look. I know we’ve just met, but would you want to go somewhere a little quieter?

” Her cheeks flush, and the embarrassment is adorable on her, but he knows that if he says yes, she’ll want more than he’s interested in giving.

He takes a deep breath. “Becky, you seem wonderful, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

She practically deflates in his lap. Making a move on someone, or asking them out, is never easy, and regardless of how much you prepare yourself for the possibility of a ‘no,’ the rejection still stings.

Leaning forward, he speaks softly into her ear. “If we had met last week, I would have jumped at the chance to get to know you. You are stunning, and I’m sure there is someone out here who would be more than happy to spend some time with you tonight.”

Smiling, she stands, brushing her hands down her thick thighs and smoothing out her dress.

She turns to him again, leaning forward, giving him a great look down her top and what he’ll be missing out on, and says, “Whomever she is, I hope she knows how lucky she is.” Righting herself again, she turns and walks over to her friend, whose hand is running up Everest’s thigh.

Her friend, clearly feeling pretty good, watches another woman walk by and, as the music dies, yells to Becky as she approaches, “Oh my goddess, Becky. Look at that woman’s ass! It’s huge!” Becky and others around them giggle.

Declan leans back on the bar, holding a new beer in his hand thanks to Daisy, and Everest gazes over at him, quirking an eyebrow up, silently checking in. Declan raises his beer in salute, his sign that yeah, he’s good, and takes a sip.

That was all Everest needed, as a moment later, Declan sees him raising a hand and waving goodbye as he leaves the Acorn with both Becky and her friend in his arms.

While he may not have wanted to be out tonight, Declan hangs around a little longer, chatting to Daisy when she gets a moment.

“Your buddy left you, huh?” she laughs.

His forearms rest on the bar top as he leans forward to answer. “Fucker dropped me like a dirty sock.”

“Can’t say I blame him. That woman who was all over you was hot as Hades. Thought for sure you were leaving with her.”

Everest probably figured the same thing. He can’t think of any time he’s ever seen Everest leave with two women. That will be an adventure for him for sure. One which Declan knows he’ll hear all about in the morning.

“Can’t deny she was beautiful. Just wasn’t feeling it tonight,” he replies.

She looks him over. Her gaze assessing him, searching for the hole in his statement. She doesn’t need to look hard to find it as she smirks at him knowingly. “Who is she?”

“Who’s who?”

“The girl you’re hot for. The one who made you think twice about going home with the blond.”

She hands him a glass of water, and he sips before he answers. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit,” she scoffs. “Anyway, the Lach-monster should be in shortly to close out the night if you want to stick around.”

He loves his brother, but if Daisy saw through him so easily, there’s no way he’s sticking around to be scrutinized by Lachlan. His shadows can sniff out secrets better than a hellhound. “Nah, I’m good. I should be heading home. Buckley needs to do his late-night business and such.”

“Uh-huh,” Daisy replies, unconvinced.

He downs the rest of his water and stands, pushing away from the bar. “Shut up,” he says, laughter in his tone.

“Do you need a cab since your buddy left?”

“Nah, I’m gonna walk. Thanks, though.”

“No problem. I assume you don’t want me to tell Lach you were here?”

“That would be preferred.”

She nods. That’s one of the great things about Daisy. She knows when to keep things close. “Alright, have a good night, Declan.”

“Thanks, Daisy,” he says, raising his hand behind him as he walks out the door.