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“She’s the best employee I have.”
“The only one, actually, but I’ll let that slide because I’m just happy to see you two getting in touch with your actual feelings. If you’d like to take him in the back and finish this conversation, I can open the shop.”
“Never mind, you need to give her a raise,” Declan said, picking Holly up and carrying her into the back. Holly slipped her arms around his neck and held on, until he closed the door behind him and let her slide down his body.
“Now, where were we?”
“You told me that you love me.”
“And do you have anything to say in response?”
“Of course I love you. Couldn’t you tell?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I need things spelled out for me.”
“I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U.”
Declan cradled her face in his palms, shaking his head. “There’s that wonderful, infuriatingly sexy smart mouth I love so much.”
“You know my love language is affirmation, right? So I’m going to need to hear all that at least five times a day.”
“Only five?” he teased, his lips grazing hers.
“Maybe seven, depending on my mood.”
“I can do that.” He kissed her again and pulled back reluctantly. “I’d better get out of here before you’re swamped with customers.”
Holly beat him to the door and locked it. “Not quite yet.”
Declan laughed, catching Holly when she launched herself at him. “People are going to wonder where the boss is.”
“I’ll let them know I had pressing business to attend to. Like making out with my very large, extremely hot boyfriend because I can’t help myself.”
“Who could argue with that?”
CHAPTER 37
With the designated wedding dances out of the way, the reception was in full swing. While the older relatives sat at the tables scattered around the community center, young people and kids were tearing up the dance floor.
And Holly was right in the thick of them, her arms wrapped around Declan’s neck.
“I still think it was rigged,” he griped for what seemed like the hundredth time and Holly rolled her eyes.
“Babe, I got second place. Let it go.”
“You cannot tell me their display was better than yours. It was just a bunch of cut-outs of their cat.”
Holly’s neighbors across the street had won best outdoor display with their large wooden depictions of their cat and family, which the judges found unique, but Declan hadn’t gotten over it.
“It could have been worse. Theodore James could have won. And technically I got first prize for Mistletoe Hardware’s window display and second prize for my shop. If you consider those wins, I kicked a lot of butt this year.”
“You did, and I enjoyed watching that crotchety dick next door stomp back inside with nothing.”
Holly caught the startled eye of the older woman dancing next to them and mouthed Sorry.
“Honestly, I feel bad for him,” Holly said.
“You shouldn’t. Some people are just awful and can’t be changed.”
