Page 12 of Stealing Forever (Bridge Point Bears Baseball #1)

Which bubble wrap company do you think would be best to buy stock in?

Hartley

***

Duck? Scotch? The actual Bubble Wrap brand?

Hartley

Hailey… Now what happened?

Well, it started with dropping a couple of forks and ended with five stitches.

The message barely changed to read before the phone starts vibrating in my hand. “Hello, sister.”

“Hailey what the hell? Are you okay?” Hartley screeches through the phone over a flurry of other voices. A door slams in the background as she moves to a quieter space.

“I’m fine. I needed a few stitches and some prescription Tylenol, that’s all. I promise.” Inadvertently, I rub my fingertips against the edge of the gauze that covers my wound.

“Oh, that’s all, huh? Like you aren’t terrified of blood. And needles. And have the world's lowest pain tolerance?”

She’s right, and I know she knows I’m lying. But I don’t want to worry her, either. There’s nothing she can do from clear across the state.

It’s not like I'm in the hospital.

Once Doctor Waggoner was finished putting me back together, Declan insisted on bringing me home.

I watched from the bench in the dugout as he said quick goodbyes to a few of his players—shining like the man of the hour when they clapped him on the shoulder, their smiles radiating as they chatted with him—then grabbed Sailor from Gareth.

With his daughter on his hip, Declan curled his hand around mine like it was the most natural thing on Earth, and led us out of the stadium. Sparks radiated through our connected skin and even though we walked through the evening air, a rush of heat coursed through me.

When Declan said he was taking me home, I assumed he meant mine.

But now, I’m curled up on his couch under a plush blanket while he makes us a late-night snack.

“You shouldn’t be by yourself,” my sister scolds. “What if you have a concussion?” A static-like scuffle scratches the speaker. “Hang on, I’m going to see if there’s any flights for tonight.”

“You don’t have to come up here.”

“It’s only an hour and a half flight, it’s not a big deal.” Her voice sounds a little further away—she must be looking up departures.

“No, Hart. I’m not alone.” A blush settles on my cheeks, and I glance across the room at the light illuminating from the kitchen. I lower my voice. “Declan brought me back to his house. I’m staying here tonight.”

“You are?” I can practically hear her smile.

I blow out a laugh, and for some reason, relief cascades through me. “Yeah.”

“Hailey Nicolette Shea!”

“ I know . I told him I’d be fine at my place, but he insisted.”

“Well, he’s right. You could be concussed. He better monitor you throughout the night.”

“Is concussed even a word?”

“I think so. Right? You tell me, miss masters program.”

I roll my eyes even though she can’t see it. “I don’t need to be monitored all night. The whole ‘sleeping with a concussion can cause a coma’ thing is a myth.”

“Myth or not, I still think you’re better off not being alone. I’m sure his bed is big enough for two.”

“Hartley! I’m not sleeping in his bed,” I whisper-yell, looking over my shoulder to make sure Declan hasn’t come out of the kitchen.

“No, but you want to be,” she goads, her melodic laughter pushing through the speaker.

Groaning, I sink further into the couch cushions. “Shut up.”

Hartley snorts. “Where is he now?”

“Making us a snack. I hit my head before we ate dinner.”

“That sucks. Oh! Any word on opening weekend yet? Owen said their first four games are against the Bears. Does this mean you’re coming down?”

“I thought I told you I was?” My brows furrow, and I pick a strand of the blanket that’s come loose. I could have sworn I told her already. “We’re flying in Thursday morning.”

Hartley squeals in delight. “Does this mean you’ll stay with me for a couple of days?”

I wish I could. My shoulders slump. “No, technically I’ll be on the clock the whole time watching Sailor.”

“So where will you stay, then?”

“Declan booked a penthouse at one of the hotels near the stadium—I can’t remember which one. There’s two bedrooms in it, so I have my own room, with a private bathroom and a jacuzzi tub! I can’t freaking wait for that.”

“Sounds romantic. Be sure to ask for champagne service, too,” Hartley quips.

She’s killing me with the teasing, and she knows it. We’ve talked numerous times about my attraction to Declan and how I desperately want to know if this is one-sided. She told me to be bold and make the first move, but it’s easy for someone who’s in a relationship to say that.

“Champagne for one maybe. There’s nothing romantic about this trip, Hartley.” I catch a movement out of my peripheral. Declan is carrying a tray, coming in my direction. “I’m there to work, and to spend any downtime I have with my twinnie.”

“You’d better. I miss you.” Hartley sighs.

“I know. I miss you too. Hey, I gotta go, but I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Love you.”

“Love you. Make sure that boss of yours takes care of you.”

My gaze connects with said boss as he sets the tray between us and sits on the opposite side of the couch. He looks like he’s trying not to smile, and I wonder if he heard her through the phone.

“Will do,” I murmur, then end the call, and toss my phone to my side.

My mouth waters as I take in the arrangement of food Declan put together. Sliced meats and cheeses, cut strawberries and grapes. Crackers, and cubes of sourdough bread.

He clears his throat. “I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for, so I put together a little of everything.”

“This looks divine. I didn’t know you were a charcuterie guy.”

“I’m a grew up on Lunchables guy. That was the charcuterie of my generation. Although, I have to say, the pizza ones were way better than the meat and cheese ones.”

I pick up a piece of prosciutto, a slice of cheddar cheese, and a cracker, and layer it together like I used to back in my Lunchable days. “You’re right, but the pepperoni pizza ones. Not the double cheese.”

He grins, and I feel it radiate straight into my soul. “Obviously. I hope I didn’t interrupt an important conversation a few minutes ago?”

“Oh, no, you didn’t. I was just updating my sister on what happened. She was about ready to fly up here so I wouldn’t be alone.” I look down at my lap, and bite my lip, suddenly feeling shy in his presence. “But I told her I was staying here for the night.”

The weight of Declan’s silence sits heavy.

Peeking up at him from beneath my lashes, I’m unsurprised to find him still staring at me.

He does that a lot—stares at me. Mostly when he thinks I won’t notice, but I always do.

It’s impossible not to when I can’t take my eyes off him ninety-nine percent of the time.

He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, then stops himself, and runs his hand over his beard instead. “Are you close with your sister?”

Something in my gut tells me that’s not the question he was wanting to ask.

I study him as he picks up a few berries and a cube of white cheddar cheese. “Inseparable.”

“Who’s older?”

A smile immediately breaks out across my face. “Technically me, by eight minutes.”

“You’re a twin?” The look of shock on his face is priceless.

It’s one I’ve seen many times over the years.

Twins are far more common than people think, but for whatever reason whenever you tell people you are one, they act like it’s such a rarity.

He mirrors my grin. “I can’t picture a carbon copy of you out there walking around. ”

“Well, we’re actually fraternal, so we have different physical attributes.

Hartley and I are opposites in so many ways, but identical in personality.

” Grabbing my phone, I pull up one of my favorite photos of Hart and I, and lean over to show him.

The photo was taken last summer at the county fair.

Hartley’s blonde hair framed her face, her blue eyes sparkling as she stood cheek to cheek with me in that first photo.

We’re both holding cotton candy in different poses, and as I flip through my phone, it switches like a flip book, changing the way we’re standing and holding the spun-sugar treat.

“You’ll actually meet her on Thursday. Her boyfriend plays for the Rebels. ”

“Really? Who is he?”

Clicking the side button on my phone, I darken the screen and set it down. “Owen Marsh.” The shocked look on Declan’s face returns. With a frown I ask, “I take it you know him?”

His features return to stony, and he builds himself a cracker sandwich before he shrugs. “Know of him.”

Hmm. Sounds a little ominous, but I decide not to press the issue. What he’s heard is none of my business—I’m sure it’s just baseball stuff.

“Family is so important,” Declan muses, leaning his elbow against the back of the couch. “You’re lucky you have a sibling. I grew up an only child.”

My jaw slackens, surprised he’s opening up to me, but I’ll take anything I can get from him. “I’d be lost without my sister. What was growing up as an only child like?”

His answer comes without hesitation. “Lonely.”

What do I say to that?

“I’m sorry,” are the two words that slip out, and I immediately regret them by the way his face twists.

“Don’t ever apologize for something you have nothing to do with, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart. There’s that nickname again.

“I just meant it in a factual way,” he continues. “We traveled and moved a lot, and I was constantly having to make new friends. If I’d had a sibling, it would have made things easier. It’s the reason I don’t want Sailor to be an only child.”

The question that’s been plaguing my mind flickers to the forefront again like a neon sign. This time, though, I ask it.

“What’s the deal with Sailor's mom?” I blurt, then mentally kick myself. That was not the way to ask. “I’m sorry. If that’s too personal?—“

“How can it be too personal when you care for Sailor day in and day out? You should know about her mother.” Declan sighs deeply.

“Addison left almost two years ago. We’d only been dating for a couple weeks when she got pregnant with Sail.

We tried to make things work, but ultimately she decided her dream of becoming an actress was more important than being a mom.

So she walked away. Left her engagement ring, her house key, and a note that said ‘I’m sorry.

One day I hope both of you forgive me’, on the kitchen table. ”

My hand covers my mouth in awe and annoyance, and as much as I shouldn’t be focusing on the words engagement ring , I can’t help but feel a spike of jealousy.

They were engaged—and she walked away from them both . So many emotions are running through me right now but at the forefront is anger. “That’s horrible. I’m so sorry, Declan. You and Sailor don’t deserve that.”

“Addison was Sailor’s entire world.” He stares off into the dark with a bit of sadness.

“Did you know one year olds understand far more than we think? I watched her spirit get crushed when I told her mommy wasn’t coming home.

After about two weeks, she finally stopped anticipating the door opening every evening, waiting for her to get home from work.

I’m not sure I knew heartbreak until I watched her go through that. ”

Shuffling a little closer to him, I take his hand in mine. “Does she ever visit? Call?”

Declan looks down at our hands. My heart pounds and I think maybe I’ve crossed a line—maybe he doesn’t want this comfort from me—but he doesn’t move it.

Instead, he shakes his head. “She’ll call every few months.

She just did a few days ago, actually, but I’ve stopped answering.

She doesn’t just get to pop into Sailor’s life whenever it’s convenient for her. That’s not how parenting works.”

“You’re right. It’s not,” I say with conviction. “And I’m proud of you for advocating for Sailor.”

“I’m her father. I’ll always protect her. Even if it’s from the woman who gave birth to her.”

Picking up more fruit from the platter between us with his free hand, Declan takes a bite, effectively ending the conversation. Giving him a tight smile, I squeeze his hand then let it go, and scoot back into my original spot on the couch.

Trying to lighten things up, I keep my voice chipper and playful. “So what’s the plan for Thursday, then?” I pick up a piece of salami, and roll it up before I bite it in half.

“We’re flying private. Blake bought a team jet, so we’ll meet at Valley-Ridge Airport on Thursday morning and head out as a team.”

“Is everyone staying at the same hotel?”

“Yeah, we always do.” His tone changes mid-sentence, growing more gravely. “I rented the penthouse, like I told you, to make sure we’re all together for Sailor’s comfort, but so you have privacy.”

The butterflies in my stomach stir to life.

For the second time tonight, there’s not enough air in the room. It grows charged—electrified. The thought of sharing a hotel room with Declan makes my heart start to pound when it shouldn’t.

“Sounds good,” I tell him, and it comes out as barely a whisper.

His eyes drop to my lips, and on instinct, my tongue jets out to wet them.

Kiss me. I mentally beg.

Be bold, make the first move , Hartley’s voice flickers through my mind.

But I’m frozen in place.

A moment passes by.

Then two.

Then three.

And then it’s gone completely.

Standing, Declan shoves his hand through his hair. He towers over me, and—unless I’m completely misreading everything—he’s fighting these feelings as much as I am. I can see the conflict etched across his features.

I want to scream, just kiss me , but the words don’t formulate.

“I should turn in—early morning tomorrow,” Declan’s voice is strained, and he’s suddenly avoiding eye contact. “I’ll make sure the guest room is ready, then I’ll come clean up this mess.”

“Okay,” is the only word I manage to say before he gives me a tight smile and practically runs from the room, leaving me in his dimly lit living room on the couch.

I wasn’t imagining that—there’s no way. He wants me, just like I want him. But he’s fighting it.

Now the question is, will either of us ever act on it?