Page 46 of See You Maybe
James glared at him, but his grip lessened. “Breathe. He’s leaving.”
Declan shook him off, torn between wanting to go after Chris and murder him for trying to take an obviously incapacitated Olivia home, and rushing to where the girls were attempting to get Olivia to walk to the door. Luke stretched out his arm to wrap around Olivia, and with an audible crack in his mind, Declan’s control snapped.
His long legs ate the distance between them, and ignoring the shocked looks of those around them, he swept Olivia up into his arms. Declan had a fleeting sense that he was making a huge mistake, but the instant Olivia’s body relaxed into him and her head rested against his shoulder… everything inside him settled.
Could he really be blamed for lowering his nose to Olivia’s hair.
Her familiar scent—Wild White Rose—filled his senses.
Declan ignored the curious looks as he strode swiftly toward the waiting SUV and gently placed her on the back seat, before climbing in and pulling her into his arms.
CHAPTER TWELVE
County Kerry, Ireland—12 years ago
Not twenty minutes back on the road after their picnic, Rose had spotted a waterfall in the distance, and since Declan had already discovered he couldn’t say no to her if it put a smile on her face, they had parked and hiked to the top.
“Why would you ever leave here?” Rose asked, as she gazed out at the green hills. “No offense, Dublin is great, but this is…”
Declan drew her to stand in front of him, his arms looped loosely around her waist and kissed her temple. “I wish I could stay down here forever,” he admitted. “I never feel like myself as much as I do when I’m here.”
He rubbed a cheek against her hair, his nose filling with her scent. It was addictive, and for a moment, he wished he could freeze this perfect moment in time.
Dusk was falling by the time they made it back to the car.
“We'll have to stop at the pub for dinner,” Declan said, as they approached the outskirts of the town closest to his house. “I don't have anything at the cottage. I thought we’d get some pre-made meals, but someone wanted to hunt for a pot of gold,” he teased.
“If ever there was a pot of gold, it was in that forest,” she insisted. “The air was green. Green! Air isn’t supposed to have a color. It was definitely a sign that fairies were nearby.”
“Uh huh.” He rolled his eyes playfully. “Like any self-respecting fairy would show themselves to a tourist.”
Rose stuck her tongue out at him over the roof of the car. Declan shook his head and led her across the street to a pub. Each time the door opened lively Gaelic folk music spilled out into the night.
“How do you feel about fish and chips?”
“I thought that was a British thing.”
Declan widened his eyes in mock horror and said in a dramatic whisper. “Better not say that around here. You’ll get us run out of town.”
She mimed zipping her lips shut, and he laughed.
“Maggie’s Hearth has the best fish and chips in the world.” He stuck his lower lip out and batted his eyes. “You don’t want to be responsible for me being barred for life, do you?”
“Never.”
He winked and led her into the small building, choosing a table in the back while she visited the restroom to wash her hands.
“House special and a pint of Harp, please.” Declan was already salivating in anticipation of his all-time favorite meal.
“And for your wife?” the young server asked, as she glanced at Rose returning.
“She’ll have the same.” Declan didn’t know why he didn’t correct the woman’s mistake, but like everything else this week, he went with what felt right.
“I take it you’ve been here a lot,” Rose said, as the server returned with the beer.
He lifted his chin in thanks before taking a sip. “Not as much as I’d like. I try to get back here at least once a year, but it’s getting harder with work.”
The young woman returned with two steaming plates.