“Probably.”
“And your family would want to be…”
“Yeah,” he said on a laugh. “Whatever a family could be to a kid, mine would be it on steroids.”
“And what if you met someone, and you wanted a family with her?”
He stared at her.
“You could meet and marry a twenty-five-year-old or thirty-year-old, Declan. How would she feel about you having a kid with another woman who—”
He pressed his fingers against her lips. “Shhh. You’re getting worked up about a hypothetical woman who, I can already tell you, would be exactly like every other woman I’ve ever dated.”
“Which is…”
He tipped his head, looking surprised she didn’t know. “Not Evie.”
“Declan.” She pressed his hands as an indescribable pleasure danced through her at the words.
“Sorry, it’s true. Like you, I’ve tried and wanted and given things a chance, but in the end, I only wanted…you.” He lifted their joined hands, drawing her fingers closer and stroking her knuckles. “And I don’t know how to tell you how good it feels to admit that.”
Holding his gaze, she nodded. “We sure did ruin each other for everyone else.”
“Truth.” He kissed her knuckles and pointed at her. “And you, sweet doctor, are dead tired.”
She touched her face. “Can you tell?”
“Yep. I know you. I’m going to follow you home and make sure you don’t fall asleep at the wheel, then pick you up tomorrow for Sunday dinner.”
“Whoa, you have it all figured out, don’t you?”
He laughed. “Tomorrow, maybe. After that? It’s a blur.”
“Okay. But one quick stop first?”
“Where to?”
She pointed in the direction of the animal hospital. “Let’s say good night to Judah and make sure he’s sleeping and comfortable.”
“See that?” He dropped some money on the check and reached for her hand to bring her out of the booth. “It’s like we have a kid already.”
If only it were that easy.
Chapter Seventeen
“Wait. What? Is that a legit Bloody Mary that just went into your mouth?” Connor leaned in and sniffed the drink. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you actually drink a drink, bro.”
Declan shrugged, leaning against the kitchen counter, where he had a perfect view of Evie chatting with Molly, Ella, Darcy, and Pru, passing baby Danny back and forth and laughing at his antics. When Evie held him, he had to force himself not to stare.
“So you’re losing control, huh?” Connor continued, then glanced over his shoulder to follow Declan’s gaze. “Ahhh. Now it makes sense.”
Declan narrowed his eyes. “Don’t make me stuff this celery stick down your throat.”
Connor laughed. “Man, I haven’t heard you make a threat like that for years. You’re back, dude.”
“What’s so funny?” Braden asked, sliding into the conversation.
“Declan is losing control and making jokes.”
Braden’s brows shot up in silent disbelief.
“I’m not losing anything. I’m in a good mood.” He had been since walking Evie to her door last night, and making out with her in the entryway of Gloriana House until they damn near lay down on the curved steps. They somehow managed to say good night, still dressed but aching for more.
“Well, I’m either going to make things better or worse,” Braden said, still not smiling. “I got a lead on Kirby Lewis, the arson investigator.”
“Yeah?” Declan lowered his drink, interested.
“Rumor has it he lives up near Boone, but no one knows how to get in touch with him. I have a good friend at NCSBI who has a girlfriend who works in personnel, and she might be able to ‘find’ his address.” He used air quotes.
“Which sounds ‘illegal.’” Declan air quoted back.
Connor nodded. “Maybe get him a message that Declan wants to talk?”
“I’d be more comfortable with that than stealing his address,” Declan agreed.
“I figured that,” Braden said. “Let me see what I can find out. I should know something next week.”
“Thanks.” Declan looked from one brother to the other, a punch of gratitude hitting him. “And no news could ruin my day.” He glanced at Evie. “Not much could right now.”
Connor chuckled. “We can tell.”
“Yeah, the whole family’s talking about how chill you seem,” Braden said.
Declan looked skyward with a half laugh, half snort. “Y’all need to get lives, then.”
“We did,” Braden said, holding up his ringed left hand. “And now you know what we’re thinking.”
“What are we thinking?” Cassie Santorini—well, now Cassie Mahoney, since she’d married Braden last year—stepped into the circle, sliding a possessive arm around her husband.
“That Dec seems really happy,” Braden told her, tugging her into his side. Naturally, his whole face lit up as he beamed at the woman who’d come into this family when her mother married Uncle Daniel, and now had the distinct honor of being a Santorini and a Mahoney.
“Oh, you do look happy,” Cassie said, her dark Greek eyes dancing. “Everyone notices. Daniel says he hasn’t seen you this animated since…well, for a long time.”
“I’m animated?”
“Drinking vodka? Lookin’ fly? And hey, I saw you kiss Yiayia when you walked in.” Cassie tsked. “Pretty wild stuff, Dec.”
“Fly? Seriously, Cass?” Declan snorted. “And I gave Yiayia a polite hello kiss. You’re the ones who break into Zorba dances at the first note of a song.”
Braden poked Declan’s shoulder. “Don’t fight it, bro. You’re going down.”
Who said he wanted to fight it? “I suppose there’s money on the table.”
“Oodles of it,” Cassie assured him.
At the noisy laughter that comment caused, the group of women and a baby looked over and migrated across the kitchen.
“What’s so funny?” Ella demanded, then pointed at Declan’s drink. “Virgin?”
He pointed back at her. “I could ask the same thing.”
While everyone laughed, Ella reached over and put a hand on his forehead. “Call a doctor. Declan must be sick ’cause he’s cracking real honest-to-God jokes.”
“He always makes jokes,” Evie said, sweetly coming to his defense.
“Maybe with you,” Connor said.
“Don’t pay any attention to this crew, E,” he said, draping his arm over her shoulders because it felt natural, and he couldn’t care
