Page 115 of See You Maybe
“Who is Olivia?” Anne asked, looking confused.
“She's the CFO of the company Declan bought here in Atlanta.” Cara’s smile was suspiciously innocent. “Olivia’s kind and smart, not to mention stunning. You’d like her, Anne.”
“Cara,” Declan’s voice promised retribution.
“Watch your tone.” Wes glared darkly at him from where he’d been observing silently.
“I’m definitely missing something,” Anne’s eyes bounced between him and Cara. “Is she not those things, Declan?”
“Olivia is extremely intelligent,” Declan said through gritted teeth. He wasn’t about to fall into the trap of mentioning how beautiful Olivia was.
“She smells absolutely incredible,” Cara added in an off-hand tone, but Declan felt her eyes boring into him.
“Did you sniff her?” Siobhan teased.
“She did actually,” Dahlia snorted.
Luke shook his head. “Who raised you?”
“Olivia didn’t mind. She told me where to find it on the internet. It’s a French perfume—Wild White Rose. Apparently, she’s always worn it.” Cara’s eyes were still on Declan, and she’d over enunciated the name of the perfume…
The pressure in his chest grew. There was no possibility Cara knew about Ireland. Yet the way she was looking at him… The others in the room were picking up on the tension between them.
“Her perfume is important, why?” James frowned at his sister.
Declan stared back at Cara, unblinking. Silently imploring his sister to not reveal whatever it was she believed she knew.
Cara’s face cleared. “It's not important. I just thought it was interesting. I might order some.”
Declan’s shoulders relaxed, as Wes kissed his wife’s cheek. “Don’t even think about doing away with my honeysuckle, you little weirdo.”
Cara tipped her head back to smile at her husband. “You love that I’m a weirdo.”
“I do,” Wes agreed, kissing her on the lips this time.
“Gross,” James muttered.
“Didn't we put rules in place about what forms of affection are allowed in front of us?” Luke folded his arms over his chest.
“Shut up.” Dahlia pinched his side. Luke laughed and leaned down to kiss her.
Anne beamed at the happy couples, but Declan could feel his mother watching him.
Fantastic.
Declan was the first to leave, and his mother walked out with him.
“Are you sleeping with her? Is that what your sister was insinuating? How will that affect things between you and Fiona?” Siobhan asked. “If Bloom Communications is what you want, don’t let yourself get distracted this close to the end.”
“When have I ever allowed myself to be distracted?” Declan demanded. “When have I ever let my personal wishes get in the way of what needed to be done for this family?”
Siobhan’s face was troubled. “A stór, if this isn’t what you want any more, you don't have to pursue it. It's all right to let it go.”
Declan's blood simmered, and he reminded himself not to shout at his mother. “I am rightfully the CEO of Bloom Communications. I was raised to be the CEO. You made sure of that,” he hissed. “It’s a little late to ask me what I want. What I want has never been a factor in anything.”
His mother’s eyes grew wide. “Perhaps I made a mistake sending you to live with your father. I wanted you away from the troubles at home, and your father convinced me… But maybe it was the wrong choice. If you honestly believe that you never had a choice… that it was all you could ever do…” His mother clasped his arm. “A chroi, there is more to life than work.”
Angry frustration buzzed inside him. He wanted to explode.