Page 48 of See You Maybe

“At the Celtic Crown, your cousin Colum mentioned him.”

He ran a hand over the top of his head. “You don’t miss much, do you? To answer your question, I don’t know why she left me the cottage instead of him. Most of the other grandchildren got money.” A lot of money and the reins to the empire his grandmother and grandfather had built of bars and restaurants. But he couldn’t tell Rose that.

“After my grandfather died, she came here to live full time. She said she didn’t want to live in their home in Dublin without him.”

At the time, he’d thought it was ridiculous, but now… Declan was already having a hard time imagining what life would look like without Rose in it. Maybe it was a mistake to have brought her here. Where her presence would linger long after she was gone.

Declan carried in their bags and retrieved the small cup he’d purchased for her. “It’s not much, but you seemed to like it.”

Her eyes glistened as she gently unwrapped the tissue paper protecting the fragile cup. “I thought maybe as a souvenir…” He gave her a crooked smile, feeling suddenly, uncharacteristically unsure. “So, you could remember…”

“I love it.” Her smile was a little watery. “But I will never forget.”

“Tell me about this job you’re starting.” Declan wanted to know, but he also didn’t. He hated the thought of what was taking her away, but her eyes lit up every time she mentioned it, and he wanted every bit of information he could get about Rose—it was all he’d have to remember her by.

“It’s not that it’s so exciting,” she said, slightly out of breath after their climb up the hill. She leaned against the wall of the ruins to catch her breath. “But there is incredible opportunity to grow and actually make a difference within a company. I’m really lucky. Richard, that’s my friend Jessica’s uncle, is really taking a chance on me.”

Rose’s gaze grew vacant as she stared back the way they came. The constant drizzle hadn’t dissuaded her from exploring, though they were somewhat protected now by the stones. Her head was haloed by dark frizz, and Declan didn’t think he’d ever seen anything more beautiful.

“I can’t let him down. It’s too important.”

“To succeed?” Declan asked, moving closer. Her cheeks were pink from the exertion, and he had the sudden urge to kiss her.

“Yes. I have to prove that?—”

“It was all worth it,” he finished for her. Her surprised eyes met his, and for a moment he thought he could drown in them. Rose nodded.

“I get it. You want to prove to everyone that the sacrifices you made had a purpose.”

If anyone in the world could understand that drive, Declan could. He lifted a hand, and ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. “You will. You’ll be a star. I have no doubt.”

“I sound arrogant, don’t I?” She sighed.

He shook his head, suddenly fascinated by the drops of rain still clinging to the tendrils and smoothed her damp hair back off her face with his hand. “You sound like someone with ambition. Be proud of that. You have a goal, and you shouldn’t let anything or anyone get in the way.”

Her breath caught as his thumb dragged across her bottom lip, pulling it to one side.

“I don’t think I’m better than anyone. That’s not what it’s about.” Rose watched his mouth hovering inches above hers. Her lids grew heavy, and her pupils dilated so that the irises looked like midnight. Declan settled his hips against her, using his weight to press her into the wall. Her nipples hardened against his chest, and he let out a low growl of satisfaction.

“Is it okay if I think you are?” Declan’s teeth caught her lower lip, and then his tongue stroked over hers slowly, taking time to taste her.

Rose moaned into his mouth, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders. When he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathing hard, and she cast a quick glance around to ensure they were still alone.

But when her gaze returned to him, he saw her eyes were worried. “It’ll probably be so boring compared to…”

Understanding hit him. God, she was adorable. “Being a bouncer?” Declan’s lips quirked up, and her cheeks turned scarlet.

He laughed, and braced his hands on either side of her head, and gave her a little of the truth. “I'm not really a bouncer.”

“Right.” Her voice was slightly breathless, and her hips arched into him.

“I was only helping my cousin that night.”

“Mmhmm.” Rose slid her hands around to cup his ass, pulling him toward her. Lust shot through him like a lightning bolt, and he crushed her mouth with his. He kissed her until he couldn’t breathe, and she wore the dreamy expression he'd become addicted to.

“Technically, I work for my father.”

“Oh.” She lifted her head slightly off the wall. He wanted to smile as she blinked, trying to follow the conversation, but his own body was screaming at him to sink into her heat and lose himself.