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Declan chuckled. “Plus it would complicate…things.”
“Things like…?”
“You and me. The whole town’s going to assume we’re sleeping together if I’m living under your roof.”
Holly leaned onto the railing, staring out across the front yard. “Honestly, I’m not one to care too much what other people think I’m doing or with whom, but if it makes you feel better I will not take advantage of you as long as you’re my tenant.”
“Oh, so I’d be your tenant, huh? And how much rent will you be charging me?”
“That’s something we can negotiate, depending on how long you stay. Oh, by the way, your check is on the kitchen counter for services rendered.”
“I hope it wasn’t for the full three thousand because I hardly did anything.”
“I’m not going to debate this with you because I don’t have a lot of time before my family comes looking for me. Would you like to use my guest room, all business, no benefits?”
Several moments ticked by before he said, “Pending further negotiations, I think I would.”
“Perfect. I’ll be home later this afternoon.”
“I’ll cook dinner.”
Holly’s jaw dropped. “Is your cooking edible?”
“I do all right.”
“Then we might want to hold off on negotiations until after I’ve tried your food.”
“Deal. I’ll see you tonight, then.”
Holly ended the call and turned to find Merry leaning against the front door, smirking.
“Busted.”
CHAPTER 26
Declan went over the list on his phone one more time as he stood in front of the dairy case, leaning his forearms onto the cart handle for support. His cart had a bag of dry cat food, litter, and various food items he needed for the dish he planned to prepare tonight. He wasn’t sure how he’d ended up staying with Holly Winters of all people, but he couldn’t deny the hum of excitement coursing through him as he imagined her reaction when she came home tonight.
“Declan?”
Declan stiffened, recognizing his mom’s voice before he turned her way. She stood behind a grocery cart, wearing a red sweater and black slacks, her dark hair piled up on top of her head in a bun.
“I’ve been trying to catch you at the store. Did your friend Holly tell you?”
Declan swallowed, glancing around the store but there was no one around to overhear. “She mentioned you stopped by.”
“I see. I thought after talking to your father we might have a chance to clear the air.”
Declan met her gaze from across the cart. “What else is there to say? He lied and I punished you because I believed you were selfish and cruel. How can we overcome ten years of bullshit?”
“By talking about it?”
“If you really wanted to talk, then why didn’t you tell me what he did years ago?”
She sighed. “I didn’t tell you because it had nothing to do with you. There are only two people in a marriage, and children, even grown ones, shouldn’t be a part of that.”
He shook his head. “You stayed because of me.”
“That’s partly true. I’ve loved your father since I was fifteen, and even though we drifted apart through the years we always found our way back to each other. I needed space to heal and forgive him, but your dad didn’t understand that. He does now.”
