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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Cash

Brooks opened the walk-in closet in the custom suite Skylar had designed as part of the resort remodel. Their permanent residence might be in a hotel, but it was as spacious as an apartment. “Skylar has tons of clothes, so help yourself.”

“Wow.” My gaze traveled over suits in black, gray, blue, lavender, and cream. Dress shirts in every shade of the rainbow—and just about every texture too, from starchy formalwear to clingy silks and breezy cottons. There were shelves to the right and left. One side held shoes and belts, but I was much more interested in the other one.

I picked up a red lacy scrap of something and held it up. “Skylar, you naughty little minx.”

Brooks snatched the lingerie from my hand. It looked to be a top of some kind, but transparent and lacy and sexy as fuck. “Boundaries, man. He said you could borrow a shirt, not grope his lingerie.”

“Touchy touchy,” I teased. “I knew you two were kinky, but?—”

“Shut it,” Brooks said. “It’s not about kink. Skylar wears it for him, not me.”

“Okay, fair. And you don’t like it at all, right?”

Brooks neatly folded the lacy top and replaced it on the shelf. “I didn’t say that. He’s gorgeous in it. Not that it’s any of your business.” He shot me a glare. “Don’t be picturing it, either.”

I chuckled. “Relax. I’m here to get ready for my own date, remember?”

Brooks smirked. “Does Declan wear lingerie for you?”

I laughed, thinking of his silk pajamas. “Not in a million years, but I’m okay with that.”

After giving the contents of the closet another scan—there wasn’t enough time to go through every item—I tugged a white Hawaiian shirt patterned with artsy blue leaves and flowers in different shapes and sizes—off the hanger. “This looks good.”

It wasn’t as loud—or as tightly fitted—as the clothes in my closet back at my parents’ place, but it was more my style than the too-nice dress shirts or pastel solids Skylar favored.

It would match well enough with the khakis I wore to work, but I snagged a belt to dress up a bit.

“You look almost respectable,” Brooks said after I’d exchanged shirts and buckled the slim belt at my hips.

I flipped him the bird. “Don’t insult me.”

He chuckled. “Sorry, my mistake. You look trashy as ever.”

“Much better.”

I raked my fingers through my hair, fluffing and smoothing, until Brooks grabbed my elbow and steered me away from the mirror on the closet door. “Seriously, Cash, you look great. Just get out there or you’ll keep him waiting.”

“Right.” I took a breath to calm my suddenly racing heart. I’d slept in Declan’s bed last night, yet now I was nervous. “What if I mess it up?”

Brooks shook his head. “Man, if you haven’t scared him off by now, you never will.” He gave me a little push toward the door. “He looked like he wanted to die when he thought you were going out with Danny. He’s all yours.”

Everything Brooks said was true, but tonight was nerve-wracking. I’d hooked up a lot, but dated? That wasn’t something I had much experience with. And dating Declan was something I’d wanted for so long but never actually believed I’d achieve.

Half of me expected the lobby to be empty when I got there. As if the universe didn’t work unless Declan was unattainable.

But as I emerged from the hallway, he was the first person I saw. The only one I could see.

He didn’t look much different from usual. Declan was always a nice dresser when he ventured out of the garden. He wore white slacks and a pale blue button-down, open at the neck to reveal just a hint of dark chest hair. His jaw was smooth of the dark stubble that encroached by afternoon, and as I drifted closer, the spicy scent of his aftershave teased at my nose.

“You look amazing,” he said. “I was going to take you home to get ready, but…”

Home. He said it so casually, as if the B&B was more than a place for me to stay for a day or two. I wished it were true. The more space I had from my father’s toxic presence, the less I could imagine willingly going back to it.

“Skylar let me borrow something,” I said with a sheepish smile. “I don’t have anything suitable for a date in my duffel bag, and even if I did, it’d be wrinkled as hell.”

Declan drew closer and brushed a kiss to my cheek. “Well, you look gorgeous.”

I smiled. There was a time I’d have never imagined that type of compliment from Declan. But I’d learned a lot about him these past few weeks. He felt attraction—even if it wasn’t sexual. The warmth in his eyes was all for me, and I drank it up like a desert flower.

“Thanks. You look really good too, but then you always do.”

He smiled ruefully. “I’m predictable.”

“Not today. I didn’t expect you to say you’d stay.”

“How could I not?” he asked, eyes boring into mine. “You kept breaking down all my barriers.”

“Oops?” I said.

He chuckled. “You’re not sorry.”

“No, I’m not.”

Declan had the boat waiting out at the dock. I had no idea where he’d take me for a date, but I was a little surprised when he pulled up outside The Drunken Worm.

“Is this okay?” he asked. “The Savory Swallow seemed too snooty for your tastes, but I didn’t want to take you to the pub where you hang out with friends or ask you to spend even more time at the resort, where you work. We could go over to Swallow Beach if?—”

I leaned in and kissed him. Declan’s rambling put me at ease. I wasn’t the only one here who was nervous.

“This is great, Dec. Anywhere we go together is great.”

He drew in a breath. “Sorry. Just a little nervous. This is a big deal for me.”

I stroked his cheek. “It’s a big deal for me, too. I’m not used to dating. Hooking up casually, maybe, but this is different.”

“It better be.”

“You know it is.”

His expression shifted, softening a fraction. “I do. I know. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. We’re both a little nervous. That’s good, right? Shows we care. But I’m all for the portion of the evening where we drink margaritas and eat burritos.”

“All right, let’s go.”

The restaurant was as bright and loud as usual, and Declan’s expression gave away that this choice was very much for me.

I’d been here many times before. Sometimes with friends, sometimes to grab a drink and hook up with a stranger. Maybe that should have been weird, but it wasn’t like Declan could take me anywhere in town that I hadn’t been before.

Instead, it felt significant.

The Drunken Worm was the same, but I had changed.

Instead of cruising at the bar, I sat down at a cozy little booth with my boyfriend on our first official date. The first of many, I hoped.

We spent the first few minutes studying the menus. The Drunken Worm had an extensive margarita selection, but I knew what I liked. When our server Reba stopped by to take our orders, I asked for a mango margarita, and Declan asked for a Dos Equis amber beer.

Finally, we were alone, and I had questions.

“I thought that call today was a job offer in Chicago,” I admitted. “I thought you wanted to have dinner to break the news.”

Declan reached for my hand and squeezed my fingers. “I’m sorry I gave you that impression. I’ve been trying to figure out what I should do. If I stay here, I have to find remote work. I originally thought I’d be able to work for my friend Nate, but he didn’t take it too well when I backed out of the development plan.”

I winced. “I didn’t know that plan was with a friend.”

“It wasn’t his development plan or anything. He was just helping me out with his connections. He works with a lot of investors. But he got really angry. So angry I’m not sure we’re even friends anymore. Either way, the job with him is off the table.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” His eyes met mine. “I guess I didn’t know him as well as thought I did, but I don’t regret the choice I made. I’ve got other job options I can explore.”

“Like the call this morning,” I said, and he nodded. “Think that will work out?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Reba returned with our drinks and we each placed a dinner order. Declan got a taco salad and I ordered the chipotle steak burrito.

Once she’d gone, he smiled ruefully. “This is terrible date conversation, isn’t it? Let’s talk about other things.”

“Hey, you’re staying in Swallow Cove. That’s the best conversation I could imagine.”

“I am,” he said softly. “I want to build a life with you.” He swallowed. “Is that…too much too fast?”

“Nothing about this has been fast. Not to me. I want that too.”

Even if we’d only today said we were dating, we’d been in some kind of undefinable relationship for weeks, and I’d seriously wanted him for years.

“So, we’re on the same page? We want a future together.”

“Yes, one hundred percent.”

“Okay, good.” He hesitated. “So, we’ve talked about my future, but what about yours? Do you want to stay with the resort?”

I thought about that. I’d never been career-driven. I’d always worked for the paychecks I needed. But my time at the resort had been the best fit I’d ever found.

“I like working in hospitality,” I said. “I’m good with people.”

“Too good sometimes,” he grumbled.

I smirked. “Is that your jealousy trying to peek out again?”

He stabbed a lettuce leaf and shoved it in his mouth, opting not to answer.

I chuckled. “I probably will stay at the resort unless some other opportunity arises. I never want to go back to plumbing.” I shuddered with disgust. “Those are three days scarred into my psyche forever.”

Declan laughed, and his smile punched the air right from my lungs. Damn, but I loved that I could bring out this side of him. That he could relax with me and let down those barriers he’d mentioned.

I wanted to make him laugh again and again.

“Too bad you didn’t inherit a B&B,” he said. “You’d probably love it.”

“I probably would.” I hesitated. “But I understand that it’s not for you. I’m just glad you’re trying to stay.”

“Not trying,” Declan clarified. “I am staying. I’ll find something to do. If I have to…I don’t know…start a greenhouse and sell produce at the Outdoor Market, then I will.”

I grinned. “You say that like it’s a last resort, but it sounds like something you’d love.”

He tilted his head thoughtfully. “You know, you’re right. Pearl and Ruth Marie put the thought in my mind and it keeps rattling around, even though it’s unrealistic.”

“Why is it unrealistic?”

“I’m a financial analyst, and that’s a big undertaking I couldn’t manage alongside a job.” He shook his head. “It’s just a pipe dream.”

“It’s only a pipe dream until you find a way to make it happen.”

His lips quirked. “I guess that’s true. I’m usually a little too practical to chase dreams.”

“Well, you’re in the unique position of doing whatever you want going forward. Maybe it’s time to be a little more fanciful.”

He smiled. “I don’t know if it’s in my DNA, but then again, I never saw you coming.”

“Because you were blind,” I teased.

He laughed. “I guess I was.”