Page 99 of The Havenport Collection

Declan

I t had been a long day. I hadn’t slept the night before, replaying my conversation with my father over and over and thinking about how I could get Astrid to at least talk to me.

I thought after leaving the note and the sledgehammer at her door I would hear something.

But Astrid was tough—that was what I liked about her.

She was going to make me work for it, and I respected that.

I was up at four to get to work, since I was going out on the water today.

We had some ground to make up if we were going to make our quotas by the end of the quarter, and I was still covering for Paul.

I couldn’t afford to keep his boat docked another day.

Also, I had an ulterior motive. Out on the water, working my ass off with the crew, wet and cold and fighting the elements, would keep me from thinking about Astrid, about the business, or about how thoroughly I had ruined everything.

It was after six p.m. when we got back to port. I was exhausted and looking forward to a hot shower and a glass of whiskey. I had a ton of work to do in my office, but I didn’t have it in me to slog through a few more hours. I was bone-tired and emotionally spent.

We docked, and I took a look around as the crew and Vince emptied the hull with the crane.

I disembarked and made my way up to my office to grab my laptop before heading out.

I watched from my window as my crew cleaned the boats, stowed nets, and organized equipment.

It was a well-oiled machine, and we would be up early to do it all again tomorrow.

It wasn’t glamorous but it was who I was. And I loved being CEO.

As I pulled into my driveway, the yard was bathed in a warm, orange glow from the setting sun. I thought I saw someone by the door. Were my eyes playing tricks on me?

Astrid stepped off the porch and started walking toward me. Was I hallucinating? It had been a long day and I was sleep-deprived. But it was her, clad in a black pantsuit, sky-high heels, and red lipstick. She looked beautiful and terrifying.

She stopped a few feet in front of me, her eyes roving down my body and back up to my face. We stood in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before I broke down and spoke.

“Astrid. What are you doing here?”

She said nothing, just continued to stare. I drank in the sight of her—her long legs, her high cheekbones, and her long graceful neck, highlighted by her trendy haircut. It was her all right, and she was even more gorgeous than I remembered.

“I came to see you,” she said in a businesslike manner. “Can we talk?”

I nodded and gestured for her to follow me. We entered the house, and Ginger greeted her like she had been gone for years. In fairness to Ginger, it felt that way to me too.

I had no idea what to say or do. “Can I get you anything?” I asked.

She shook her head and turned around to face me.

“I came to talk to you, Declan. I am unhappy with how we left things.” Her posture was perfectly straight, and she never broke eye contact.

I worried what happened at the gala would break her again— make her retreat—but the woman standing in front of me was the confident, self-possessed woman I had fallen for.

I exhaled. “Me too.” I gestured for her to sit down, but she remained standing. I braced my hands on the kitchen island, expecting a verbal assault.

Her face softened slightly. “The last time I was here you didn’t give me a chance to speak. I came here because there are things I need to say to you.”

I nodded. “I know. I’m so sorry. I hate what I said and—”

She held up her hand. “Stop talking,” she barked.

I nodded. Damn, she was hot when she was in lawyer mode.

“You hurt me,” she said, pausing to let the words sink in. “I was confused and overwhelmed, and instead of supporting me, you pushed me away.”

I walked over to her. “I’m so sorry, Astrid.”

She shot me a glare and I shut up. “I didn’t stand up for myself, and that is something I deeply regret. Because if I have learned one thing in the past few months, it’s that I’m powerful and I will not be pushed around.”

“Of course.” I could barely get the words out of my mouth. “I didn’t mean to…”

She cocked her head to the side and shot me a stern look. I immediately stopped talking and sat down on the couch.

She started to pace around the living room, and I was mesmerized by her long legs in those sexy-ass pants and heels. I smiled.

“Do I need counsel for this conversation?” I asked playfully.

She stopped pacing and smirked. “Probably. I am a very skilled negotiator.”

“Trust me. I know when I’m outmatched.”

“You’re a lot smarter than you look, Quinn.” Her lips curled into a sexy smirk and I was completely sunk.

I loved this woman. There was no denying it, no hiding it. I only hoped she would be willing to give us another chance after I messed things up so badly.

“Astrid. I hate how we left things between us.”

“Oh really?” she said. “You didn’t enjoy steamrolling me, denying me any agency over my life, and then pushing me away?”

That hurt. It was true, but it hurt. I could see it in her face.

Not only had I broken her heart but I had taken away her power, the one thing Astrid held so dear.

I had been feeling shitty for weeks. I knew it was wrong.

But I thought it was for the best. I now knew just how wrong I was.

I hurt Astrid deeply, and that made me feel even worse.

“Stop apologizing and listen,” she snapped.

She took a breath and paused, clearly trying to compose herself. “I am Astrid goddamn Wentworth. I go after what I want. I always have and I always will. And you are what I want, Declan Quinn.”

I sat there, shocked. Of all the things I had imagined, this conversation was not one of them.

“If you don’t want me, that’s fine. I’ll leave. But if you pushed me away because of some stupid bullshit about not being good enough, then fuck you.”

I had to say something but I didn’t know what. Instead I got up and put my arms around her. She sank into me and rested her head on my shoulder, and in that moment, I knew I still had a chance.

“You hurt both of us because of your pride and your bullshit male ego,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry,” I said, holding her closer. “I’m so sorry. I just thought I wasn't good enough for you and…”

She snapped back, breaking the hug, and crossed her arms over her chest. “You are good enough for me if I say you are. Understood?”

I nodded.

“No one has ever taken care of me in my life. And I haven’t needed it. I haven’t wanted it. But I want you. I want Ginger. I want to read books and smoke meat and sip fine whiskey together. I want to spend hours not talking and then have wild sex.”

I grinned, loving her attitude. “But what about the firm?”

She flipped her hair. “Oh, I told them to go fuck themselves. I have multiple other offers. And I have a lawsuit to prepare. I’m not letting this slide. If I'm going down, I'm taking the whole sexist system with me too.”

I tried to suppress the grin that spread across my face. I was so proud of her.

“My entire life has been focused on achieving one goal. And coming here and meeting you made me realize that goal was bullshit. It wasn’t what I wanted.

I was too scared to let myself really want anything.

I came to Havenport and discovered great sex and delicious food and how to live.

I made friends and fell in love with a really bitchy dog. ”

I grabbed her again and kissed her gently. I broke the kiss and smiled at her. Before I knew it she clamped both hands on the sides of my head and pulled me into a far more aggressive kiss. Our lips, tongues, and teeth tangled in a clash of lust and frustration.

She stepped back, and I felt a rush of pride to see that she was breathless.

“You pretend you want to just sit here alone in your fortress of solitude, but I don’t believe you.

You are a big softie under that broody tattooed exterior.

And I love you for it. I love your hard edges, your cranky attitude, and your soft gooey center. ”

I knew this was my chance. “Astrid, I love you too. You love fiercely and truly and unequivocally. And I want you to let me love you back.”

She nodded. “I know who I am, Declan. I don’t need to be a fancy law firm partner.” She put her hands on her hips. “I need you. I need my friends, I need this town. And you don’t get to tell me what I need.”

“I know,” I said, ashamed of how I had acted. “Are you trying to get back together, or are you just yelling at me?” I asked playfully, loving how riled up she was right now.

She stomped her foot. “Both.” Her eyes narrowed but she was smiling.

“I love you because you don’t tell me what to do, you help me figure out what I need.

The day you bought me the sledgehammer…I knew that day I was falling for you.

And that I would never find anyone like you again.

I have spent the last few weeks suffering because you weren’t willing to give us a chance. ”

I gathered her in my arms. “Astrid. I was so wrong. About everything. And I will never, ever, ever, do that again. I respect the hell out of you, and I want you to be the person you want to be. I just hope you let me tag along for the ride. Because that’s what I want.

To be with you every day, getting a front row seat to your awesomeness and taking you home to my bed every night. ”

She hugged me tighter and my heart soared. “And I am ready to grovel. I am ready to do whatever it takes to earn your respect and forgiveness. Because I know I acted like an asshole and I will do anything to make it right.”

She smirked at me. A full-blown, sexy smirk.

And I started to mentally calculate how quickly I could get her out of her pantsuit.

I slowly eased the blazer down her shoulders and draped it on the couch.

I pulled her closer, basking in the smell of her.

She carefully toed off her heels, kicking them aside, without breaking the hold we had on one another.

“I met with Lucas Kim yesterday,” she said.

“I am going to work with him to develop a model for a legal services clinic for the women’s shelter here in town.

We want to be full service, covering all legal needs.

Lucas thinks if we can put the logistics together, we could potentially roll this out to the broader network of DV organizations and shelters statewide. ”

My heart swelled with pride. “Wow, that sounds impressive.”

She looked up at me playfully. “I haven’t done anything yet.

” She took a deep breath. “But it will be impressive. I feel passionately about helping women and children. And, I know you have some weird jealousy thing about Luke, but he’s a great guy, and he also asked me if I would be willing to take on some additional legal work for him as well, on a consulting basis. ”

I began to gently nibble on her long neck, and I could feel her racing heartbeat. “That sounds fantastic. I’m sure he could use someone as brilliant as yourself.”

She arched her back, giving me more access to her neck and collarbones. My hands roamed all over her, grabbing her supple ass and squeezing.

“It looks like I’m actually going to be pretty busy for the next couple of months,” she breathily whispered.

I paused, my mouth on her neck. “Do you need a place to stay?”

She pulled back and threw her arms around my shoulders. “Do you have a lead on an apartment?” she asked flirtatiously. “I’m pretty picky, and I really like ocean views…”

“I think I can make some room for you,” I said, capturing her mouth in a lusty kiss.

And instead of responding, she kissed me back with abandon, giving me everything she had.

We had spoken enough words. I picked her up easily, and she wound her long legs around my waist. I carried her into my bedroom and laid her down gently on my bed.

I had a lot of groveling to do, and this seemed like a great place to start.