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“Not usually, but she doesn’t mind when I use the spare key—Why am I explaining this to you?” Delilah pointed to her chest. “Me, best friend. You, booty call!” she finished, swinging that finger his way.
“What is going on out here?” Holly called, a raspy edge to her voice as she stumbled out of her room.
Declan watched Delilah hold up the cups of coffee she carried in each hand. “Happy birthday, Bestie! I got you a mocha, but apparently Declan already gave you a little birthday delight by the looks of things.”
Mortified, he scraped a hand over his face, glaring at the back of Delilah’s head. The woman had no tact whatsoever. Holly looked past Delilah, and catching Declan’s gaze her eyes widened and Declan would have laughed if he wasn’t incredibly uncomfortable.
“De, why don’t we go out onto the front porch to drink these and let Declan put some clothes on.”
“I know you can’t see over the counter, but I’m wearing boxer briefs. I’m not naked!”
“Close enough,” Delilah said. “Those boxers leave little to the imagination and girl, I gotta say—”
“Ahem!” Holly interrupted, taking a coffee cup from her. “Get out there and stop making Declan uncomfortable, you pervert! Wait, no, you should apologize.”
“I should?” Delilah asked, and Declan could see by her profile that one eyebrow was cocked.
“Yes! While I do not care if you let yourself into my place, you do not have the right to ogle him like a lecherous fiend. I wouldn’t let anyone treat you that way if the tables were turned.”
“When I stay over, I don’t walk around in my skivvies, but fine.” Delilah turned all the way around to address him. “I apologize for being skeezy and making you uncomfortable.”
Declan nodded. “I appreciate that, but it was more being caught off guard than truly offended.”
“See, not offended!”
Holly took Delilah by the arm and started dragging her out of the room. “I can’t believe you just walked in.”
“Hey, you told me he was crashing with you, not that you were bumping uglies,” Delilah said, her voice carrying down the hallway.
“Ugh, I hate that turn of phrase.”
“Besides, who knew what he had going on under that shirt? I couldn’t help staring because that man’s chest is vavavoom, and he should take it as a compliment.”
“No, he should not and that is sexist to say!” The front door opened with a loud whine and a jingle. “I’m going to smother you in the snow until you get your head right.”
Declan shook his head, trying to hold back the laughter bubbling up in his throat. He didn’t care if Delilah thought he was attractive, but he was a little concerned she’d mentioned discovering him half naked cooking and people would draw their own conclusions.
What does it matter at this point? Might as well accept the inevitable that being with Holly even casually is going to draw attention.
Declan went to his room and grabbed a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, dressing swiftly. When he got back, he dropped a hefty spoonful of butter in the pan and went back to stirring his ingredients.
The front door opened and closed again, and he heard the soft fall of Holly’s feet before she came around the corner, a sheepish smile on her face before setting the to-go coffee cup in her hand on the counter.
“I’m so sorry about that. I should have mentioned she sometimes stops by to have coffee with me, but she usually knocks. I hadn’t told her about our recent development.”
“It’s fine, she didn’t have to go.”
“Actually, she has a substitute job so she did. Hey!” Holly took a drink from her cup before she continued. “Being a substitute is a great way to get in with the school district. If you’re interested, we could have D over for dinner one night and you could pick her brain.”
“I’ll think about that,” he said, crossing the kitchen to kiss her forehead. “It was nice of her to deliver you coffee for your birthday.”
“Delilah and I share a common obsession with wake-up juice and always buy each other a drink to celebrate our birthdays. Iced for her in July, hot for me.” Holly wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing him to her. “However, the cat is really out of the bag about us. Merry and Noel know and now Delilah knows, and although they won’t say anything, I think our favorite neighbor is getting suspicious.”
Declan held her loosely against him, cocking his head to the side. “I’m trying to get right with some people knowing my business, so don’t worry about me.” He kissed her forehead. “Although I hope she doesn’t mention seeing me in my underwear to your sister.”
“Ninety-five percent chance you’re safe, unless alcohol is involved and then all bets are off.”
“Well, at least I’m fairly certain she’ll have good things to say, based on your conversation on her way out.”
