Page 56 of See You Maybe

His father cocked his head, and almost as if he’d read Declan’s mind, he continued. “The twins are only eight years old. What makes you think they have the makings of the kind of leader Bloom Communications will need?”

“What makes you think I do?” Declan shot back.

Approval flickered in his father’s eyes. “Your little brothers are smart. Extremely smart, and there is a toughness in them… but they are their mother's sons.”

Declan narrowed his eyes at his father. He knew his father still loved Anne, and Declan easily understood why. Even after Anne ended the relationship with David Bloom and moved the twins to Atlanta, she had remained a loving and nurturing mother to Declan and treated him the same as her biological sons. He loved her too.

“Don’t misunderstand me,” his father’s voice was sharp. “I respect the hell out of Anne, but she’s soft. She didn’t want this life, and that will always factor into how Luke and James view my business. My blood runs through their veins, but that softness will always be in them. You don’t have that.”

Declan's brow furrowed, but he didn't argue. He understood what his father meant. Siobhan was anything but soft. His mother loved him fiercely, but in the world she grew up in, there was no room for weakness. Growing up, even as an adjunct member of the McGrath family, he’d understood that at a young age. The mantra of both sides of his family was family loyalty above all else.

“Be proud of who you are.” Declan sat up straighter. “You want to take care of your family, don't you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“They'll need looking after. I'm not a young man, Declan, and this company will be turned over to you earlier than it would normally be.”

Declan’s alarm must have showed because his father chuckled. “I'm not sick. But the majority of my life is over. You are the future of this family.”

“You might fall in love again,” Declan said. “Maybe you’ll meet someone like my mother… have another child.”

David Bloom's expression changed, and Declan felt like a door had slammed shut. “I won't fall in love again, and I'm happy about that. I love each of my children and their mothers, but it’s important for you to remember that love is weakness.”

Declan was tempted to roll his eyes. His father loved women and was infamous for his many relationships.

“I'm not talking about sex. Or even companionship,” his father snapped, further cementing Declan’s belief that his father knew everything. “I'm talking true, soul-deep love. It will be a draw on your energy. A hold that will make you question your decisions. Blunt the killer instinct necessary to survive in our world.”

David Bloom drew in a breath, looking as though he’d surprised himself as much as Declan with his words.

A week before term was to start in Ireland, at the end of summer, Siobhan informed Declan that he would live permanently in the United States with his father.

“Are you all right?” Rose placed a palm on his chest, pulling him from the memory.

Declan hadn’t thought about that night in years. No surprise why it came to him now. “My father is harder on me than he is on my brothers, but I understand why. I can take it. Most of the time, I relish the challenge. The battle between us.”

“What about your sister?”

“Cara?” Declan thought for a minute. “Her mother is… fragile. I think my father has a hard time differentiating between the two of them.” He laughed. “He doesn’t know her as well as he thinks. Cara can be terrifying… not that I’d ever admit it to her.”

Declan felt her smile against his bare skin, and she pressed a kiss to his ribs. “I think it’s wonderful how much you love your family.”

“I would do anything for them,” he admitted.

Rose yawned. “I’m jealous. I would like to be loved like that.”

Her words were light, and he knew she didn’t mean them to be the dagger to his heart that they were.

“I love you, Rose. I know it’s crazy for us to be saying it so quickly. But I do.”

Declan felt dampness trickle down his side. He squeezed his eyes shut, determined not to fall apart along with her, because if he thought too closely about losing her, he would.

“I love you too, Declan. It’s just bad timing,” she whispered, her voice a little broken. “I wasn’t saying it was your fault.” She suddenly sat up and looked down at him. “We both have these big plans…” Her voice broke. “I just wish it didn’t hurt so much.”

Declan reached up and pulled her mouth down to his, tasting the tears on her lips.

“I know, Petal. If there was a way…”

“Maybe someday, right?”