Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Picking up my fork and knife, I cut a piece of pizza and popped it into my mouth. “Um…to eat? You’ve never used a fork and knife for your pizza?”
Declan stared at me in disbelief. “How are you a New Yorker? You fold it in half and eat it that way.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “No, that’s only for that thin, greasy pizza in New York City. My pizza, you eat with a knife and a fork.”
“You’ve never been to the right pizza place in New York. I’ll have to fix that.”
My brows shot up. “Are you asking me to go to New York with you for pizza?”
He’d just taken a big bite of his pizza, and was now chewing while I waited for his response. After wiping his mouth, he set the napkin down. “I guess I am. Would you be down for it?”
“A spontaneous trip to New York City? Hell yes, I would!”
Declan’s face broke out into a wide grin. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
We continued to eat and talk. My phone rang when we were just about done, and I took a quick look. “It’s Brystol. Do you mind?”
“No, I don’t mind at all.”
“Hey, Bry, what’s up?”
“A few of us are heading to The Muddled Moose for trivia night. Did you want to come?”
“Trivia night at The Muddled Moose, huh?” I said, as I gave Declan a silent, questioning look.
“Sounds fun,” he whispered.
“Count us in.”
Brystol moaned. “Please don’t bring Sean. You know I can’t stand the guy, and it would just be for show anyway. Trust me, his mother won’t be there.”
I laughed. “I wasn’t going to bring Sean. I was going to bring Declan.”
A loud squeal came through the line, and I pulled my phone away from my ear. Declan clearly heard it because he chuckled.
“Did Sean finally work his balls out of his ass and tell his parents the truth?”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “How do you own a children’s toy store with that mouth of yours?”
“What? I’m not even at the toy store! I’m home. Surely I can speak the way I want in my own home.”
Sighing, I replied, “Of course you can, and no, I don’t think he’s told his mother yet. I’m about to, though.”
“That’s the Harper I know! Okay, be sure you’re at The Muddled Moose by seven-thirty.”
“Do we need to bring anything for the game?”
“Just yourself. See you soon!”
“Sounds good. See ya later.”
I hit End and set my phone on the table. “Do you think Sean will tell your mother?”
Declan leaned back in his chair. “Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“No. He doesn’t have the guts to stand up to Mom.”
Closing my eyes, I sighed.
“But who cares? That shouldn’t stop us from having a great night tonight. Besides, there’s no way in hell my mother will be at trivia night at The Muddled Moose.”
After a few seconds of staring at one another, we both started laughing. “Yeah, I can’t see your mom there either.”
Declan reached for my hand. “Then I say we go and have fun. To hell with what the gossips in town will say. Let them think you’re dating two brothers at the same time.”
“My father might have something to say about that.”
Laughing, Declan nodded. “He is my boss, technically, so…maybe we don’t want to give him any reasons for disliking me. Because I fully plan on dating his daughter.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “I like the sound of that.”
Declan stood, taking my hand in his and pulling me up. He cupped my face and leaned in, his eyes meeting mine. “Now, I’m going to kiss you, Harper Browning.”
My hands smoothed up his arms, and I held on. “Stop talking, Declan, and just kiss me, will you!”
He smiled, and everything in my world felt so right. Our lips pressed together, and I moaned when his tongue met mine.
It started slow, but quickly turned hot and needy. My hands slid down his chest and under his shirt as Declan did his own exploring, dropping one hand and cupping my breast, giving it a soft squeeze that nearly had my legs buckling out from under me. His other hand lowered to my rear end, pulling me closer, and when I felt his arousal, I dug my nails into his chest.
When Declan finally broke the kiss, we stared at one another, panting as if we’d just finished a marathon.
Best. Kiss. Ever.
Declan ran next door to his apartment to change before we headed out for trivia night. After quickly changing into jeans and a sweater, since it was still a little chilly at night and we’d be at a rooftop bar, I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and refreshed the little makeup I had on.
My phone buzzed as I finished, and I picked it up to see it was Sean.