AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I told you I would do that,” she said.
“You did most of it.”
Holly let it go and turned to gather up the rest of the dishes, spotting Leo up on the table helping himself to the last piece of Chicken Cordon Bleu. “Looks like Leo was hungry.”
Declan turned and let out an angry pssst. “Leo! Get down from there!”
The cat looked up, licked his lips, and hopped down with a lazy drop onto the chair as Holly approached, picking up the side dish pans. “You should have let him have it at this point. He licked it so it’s technically his.”
“He knows better,” Declan said.
“I see no evidence of that,” she said, scraping the small amount of food left into the trash. “Pretty sure he likes to rule the roost.”
“Nope, he’s just testing boundaries because we’re in a new place. I’m the boss.”
Holly set the dishes in the sink and turned on the water, teasing, “Don’t worry. If you say it enough times, I’m sure it will come true.”
“Wow, such a smart-ass.”
She was in mid-scrub when a hard smack landed across her butt, and she spun his way, the dish brush in her hand and brandished like a weapon. “Really?”
“Hey, I told you it would happen when you least expect it.”
Holly dropped the brush into the sink and rubbed her abused posterior with a wet hand. “Just for that, you can finish the dishes.”
Declan took her hand, stopping her from walking out of the kitchen. “Or we can let these soak a bit and sit down. Talk.”
“What do we need to talk about?”
“Me staying here, for starters. I don’t feel right about it unless I’m paying for my room.”
“I don’t need your money, Declan.”
“Doesn’t matter, I’m not living here rent-free.”
“Fine.” She leaned back against the counter and faced him. “Would four hundred for the room suffice, and we’ll split the utilities?”
“Seems a little low for a one-bedroom apartment, which is essentially what I’m renting.”
“What if you cook three nights a week?”
“Five meals of my choosing sounds acceptable to me.”
“Glad that’s settled,” she said. “What else?”
“I know I said no benefits…”
“I remember.”
“But I can’t stop wanting you.”
Holly’s heartbeat sped up. “What do you suggest, then?”
“We keep our arrangement and us separate. You said that a relationship with me didn’t interest you.”
“And I meant it,” she said.
“Good, because if my dad sells the store and my mom stays with him, I’ll probably leave Mistletoe. The last thing I want to do is hurt you when I do.”
