by Jill Snow
“I can’t make you any promises right now, but this.” He looked straight into her eyes. “I will never hurt you. Not intentionally. My job is acting, but this is real. I like you, a lot. I think you feel the same. So let’s just take it day at a time.”
Still breathless, she nodded. She was rewarded by the cutest smile.
Chapter 41
The next couple of weeks turned into a familiar routine. Zoe found herself working harder in the garage to finish on time. She delegated more work to Jim as well, which made him grumpy. She didn’t care.
She spent most of her time chasing down their debtors so she could find the money to cover what she had lost. Mr. Epstein had been in touch to say he agreed there were some issues with the accounts, but he would need more time to check into them. He had asked her for back copies of old accounts and receipts. In the end, she put every paper record she could find in a cardboard box and dropped it off at his home. She took a couple of cooked meals with her, telling him to put them in the freezer. She also invited him over to dinner one evening with herself, Declan and Dominic.
Declan did what he said he would and went to every game with Dominic. Dominic made the team, and not only did he get a new uniform and sneakers, but so did the entire team. Zoe had tried arguing with Declan, but he insisted that sponsoring a school team was a tax write off. She didn’t know if that was true, but she was relieved she didn’t have to come up with the money for Dom’s uniform.
They didn’t get much time alone, but Declan didn’t complain. In fact, he just fit himself into her life and soon it was hard to imagine him not being there. He spent time with Gertie and Joe, too. Kathy told her about him visiting Flower Meadows on a daily basis. He helped the residents to weed and tend the garden. Everything about him seemed to scream “nice guy”.
Declan whistled tunelessly as he cooked. It was his turn to cook for Dominic and Zoe. They had decided to eat in Zoe’s house most nights to avoid the reporters. But they took turns doing the cooking. He couldn’t believe he was so happy especially given his latest movie had been put back. At least that was the official version. The unofficial version was the production company was worried the Action Hero franchise had lost popularity and the fifth movie could be a flop. A couple of months ago, this news would have shocked him to the core. But now he didn’t care. He had better things to think about like Zoe.
Thinking of her seemed to prompt a call. Declan picked up his cell.
“Hi babe. Don’t tell me you’re going to be late?”
“No, but I forgot to tell you Mr. Epstein is joining us. Do you have enough for four?”
“That depends on how much you eat.”
She giggled at his teasing. He was always telling her to eat more but she couldn’t keep up with him and Dominic.
“Thanks. And don’t worry about dessert. Mr. Epstein is bringing it.”
“Okay, but don’t be late. Bye,” Declan said, shutting his cell off. He had cooked enough for an army as he’d planned on putting some of it in the freezer. That way Zoe would have something easy to reheat on the nights she got in late.
“Dom, set the table for four please.”
“Aw, I am in the middle of Minecraft.”
“Minecraft can wait. You need to come fix the table or I’ll switch off the internet.”
“Jeez, okay.”
Declan hid a grin. He had complained just like Dom when his ma had called him to do chores. What would his ma make of all this? She’d be so excited to see he was getting close to someone.
The sauce bubbled over. Distracted, he pulled it off the stove. Everything was ready. Cauliflower in cheese sauce, fresh fish and garlic potatoes.
Mr. Epstein proved to be an interesting dinner guest. He told them stories of his grandparents who had come over to live in America after the first world war. His father had died fighting in the second world war and he’d been awarded the Purple Heart. His wife died some years back and his sons were busy with their own families, which left him on his own a lot.
“Zoe, did you ever bring Mr. Epstein over to meet Gertie and the rest of Kathy’s gang?” Declan asked, an idea forming in his mind.
“No, but I thought about it. Would you want to do that someday? Gertie is nice, but I’m warning you, she is very direct.”
“She’s scary,” he warned. “But she has a heart of gold. I can take you over if you like. I have a few jobs I said I would do in the garden.”
“You’re a regular green thumb,” Zoe teased him. His cheeks warmed as he basked in her approval. She was everything he could want in a woman.
“I would like that very much,” Mr. Epstein said. “But for now, I should be off. I am so full I, won’t eat for a week.”
Declan let Zoe see their guest out as he cleared up.
“Let me do that, you cooked,” she said, coming back into the kitchen.
“And you’ve been working all day. Go in and put your feet up. I’ll bring you a cup of tea in a while.”
Zoe didn’t argue.
“Dominic, help Declan please.”
“Aw man I was just going to play.” Whatever else he was about to say was cut off by a look from Declan. Although he tried not to interfere, he found it hard to take a step back when Dominic was being rude to Zoe.
When everything was cleared up and Dominic was in bed, Declan went into the living room to find Zoe fast asleep on the couch. She looked gorgeous.
He sat beside her, not wanting to wake her, but needing to be near her. His life had changed so much since meeting her…when? Was it really less than two months ago? He got up every morning looking forward to what the day would bring. Not only had he gotten involved in the local basketball team, but he spent a lot of time in the retirement home too. He loved how Conor and Emily had provided such a haven for the elderly. He wanted to do something similar.
Gazing down at Zoe, he knew he should really wake her and send her to bed before he got going. She had an early start in the morning. She was devoted to the garage but, as far as he was concerned, it was for all the wrong reasons. Dominic wasn’t interested in taking it over and there didn’t seem to be a real future in a small business like hers. She would work herself into an early grave if they let her.
Chapter 42
Zoe woke up to find him watching her. She yawned, embarrassed that she’d fallen asleep.
“Sorry, I think I ate too much. Dinner was amazing. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Where did you learn to cook like that?”
“Mam taught us all how to cook. She said she wasn’t going to rear a set of boys who thought women were born to be household slaves.”
“I like her already.” Zoe bit her lip. What will she think of her super rich son getting involved with a mechanic?
“What’s on your mind? You have that look on your face again.”
“What look?” she said playing for time.
“What’s on your mind? My mam is really friendly. She won’t bite.”
“Yeah but how will she feel about you going out with someone like me?”
“Someone kind, caring, gorgeous, intelligent and smart? I think she will be disappointed don’t you?” he said obviously trying to make a joke of it.
“But that’s just it. I am not intelligent or smart. I am totally useless with numbers.”
“You run your own business. You are rearing a child alone. From where I am standing, you are doing a great job.”
“But I’m not. I’ve made a mess of the accounts. I should have known I couldn’t do it alone. I have dyscalculia. It’s a bit like being dyslexic, only with numbers.”
“I never heard of it. Can it be cured?”
“No, I will never be a math whiz but I thought I knew enough to get by. Well, muddle by I should say. I am a bit of a dunce.” She stopped talking. She couldn’t believe she had opened up and told him all of that. She’d never told anyone before. The kids at school had always teased her for being stupid.
She waited for his reaction. Was he going to head out the door and never come back?
“Zoe Clark, I never want to hear you describe yourself like that again. You are a wonderful woman. You’re kind, generous, hard-working, soft hearted, and very smart. I don’t give a fig what your school reports said. You run a business and that takes brains and guts. I really admire you. A lot of people do. Not every nineteen-year-old would have taken on their kid brother like you did.”
She wanted to believe him. But it was easier to believe the negative voice in her head. The one that said he would leave too, now that he knew the real her.
He leaned in closer, his eyes focused on hers. Then she saw his gaze drop to her lips before looking into her eyes once more. He was hesitating as if waiting for her approval.
She leaned up to meet him and he kissed her. Zoe felt like she was being lit up from the inside out. The electricity zipping between them was unbelievable. When he finally broke the kiss, he whispered “I have been waiting to do that since I first danced with you.”
She snuggled into his side, liking the feel of his arms around her. He held her so close, she could feel his heart beating.
Chapter 43
Zoe couldn’t help but snuggle closer to Declan even as she tried to clamp down her fears. She was getting in too deep, her feelings for the man beside her scaring her.
“Zoe, what is it?”
“What?” She hadn’t said anything out loud had she?
“You made that big sigh again. You do that when something is on your mind. Why don’t you tell me what it is? Maybe I can help.”
She looked everywhere but at his face. She couldn’t talk to him about Noah and their plans. How her life had changed so much after her dad had died.
“Just thinking about work, that’s all.”
“I think it’s more than that but I will wait until you are ready to tell me.”
She didn’t reply but squeezed his hand. He squeezed back and the two of them cuddled closer as they watched something on TV. If asked, Zoe wouldn’t have been able to tell anyone the name of the show. All too soon it was over and the time had come for Declan to leave.
They stood up from the sofa as Zoe yawned.
“I can take a hint, you don’t need to keep yawning.”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. Oh you are teasing me.”
“I am, you are very cute when your cheeks go pink like that.”
Zoe put a hand up to her cheek. What she wanted to do was pull him down into a kiss …
“Listen darling, I need to ask you something. I don’t know if this is the right time, but I have to go back to LA tomorrow.”
That was quick. He was leaving already. She pulled away from him, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. I have this meeting with a scriptwriter who wrote this really great part I want to play. Then there are a couple of things I have to do for Mark to prepare for the premiere next weekend. So I’ll be away for a few days.”
So this was goodbye. She stood up.
“I better not keep you then.”
Declan stared at her, wondering why she was doing an impression of a refrigerator. One minute she was snuggling into him and now it was if she had a reinforced steel cage around her. Had he messed up? Didn’t she like him kissing her?
He took a step toward her, but the look on her face suggested that wasn’t a good idea.
“Well, I should go but—”
“You don’t need to make excuses. I’m tired too. Thanks again for cooking dinner.”
“Zoe, what’s wrong? Did I do something?”
“No. I’m just tired.”
“Okay.” But it wasn’t okay. It was something more than that. “Listen, now might not be the right time but I was hoping you would come to the premiere with me.”
Her expression changed from stony to utterly bewildered.
“As my date,” he clarified, wondering what she was thinking.
“You mean, you want to see me again?”
Of course he wanted to see her again. He was crazy about her. Couldn’t she tell?
“Why would you ask that? I just kissed you. I don’t go around kissing girls I don’t want to see again,” he said, trying to get her to smile. He took her hand, half expecting her to pull away but she didn’t.
“Okay crazy girl, I not only want to see you again but I want you to come to LA. To see where I live and come to the premiere.”
“But I…I have to work.”
“Take some time off. When was the last time you played hooky?”
She shrugged. He guessed it was so long ago, she couldn’t remember.
“I think Jim can cope while you’re gone. Dominic will enjoy it. Although, I can’t get him tickets to the premiere due to the age rating.”
“You want Dominic to come, too?”
“Well, he makes a good chaperone. Maria and Joseph will be there too, although they don’t stay in the house at night. What do you say? Will you come?”
She just stared at him.
“Well, think about it. I’ll ring you.”
He kissed her lightly on the lips and was gone before she could say no.
Chapter 44
The next few days seemed to last forever. He missed Zoe like crazy and even the meeting with the scriptwriters for the Irish Rebel didn’t seem exciting.
“I thought you wanted this part, Declan?”
“I do Maria but I can’t stop thinking of Zoe.”
Maria chuckled. “You got it bad this time. Why don’t you call her and find out if she is coming to visit.”
“I think I will.”
He picked up the phone and amazingly she said yes. He arranged to fly down the next morning and pick up a rental car. They would drive back the following day, he thought it might be too much for Zoe if he used the jet. Anyway the scenery was lovely and it would give the three of them precious private time to chat.
He wanted to call in and see Conor and Emily now they were back from their honeymoon.
He put down his cell and danced Maria around the room.
“She said yes.”
“Let me go Declan. Go and pack your bag.”
“Yes Ma’am.” He went off whistling.
He decided to call to see Conor and Emily before calling to Zoe the next day. When he arrived, she was waiting. She looked rather nervous.
“You okay?”
“Yes, just a bit nervous about meeting your friends.”
He bent over and kissed her on the nose. “They will love you. Are you ready to go?”
She nodded and then shook her head.
“Which is it? Yes, you are or no you’re not?”
“Declan, can you come in and sit down for a minute. I need to tell you something.”
Zoe bit her lip at the look on his face but it was pointless her going to LA with him until she got this out in the open. She had Dominic to think of too. It was one thing her heart getting broken again but quite another to hurt her brother.
“Zoe, what is it? You have a funny look on your face.”
“Sit down and I will tell you. I wanted you to know something about me before we take this any further.”
“Sounds serious. Sorry I shouldn’t joke but you have me worried. Are you trying to tell me you don’t want to come with me?”
“NO. Sorry I didn’t mean to shout. It’s not that at all. I just…I have to tell you about Noah.”
“Who?”
“My ex-boyfriend, the guy I thought I was going to marry.”
“Oh you want to go out with him again?”
“No silly but I need to tell you about him, to explain.”
Declan sat on the couch, a confused look on his face. She couldn’t blame him. She wasn’t making any sense and was handling this all wrong.
She sat beside him and took his hand.
“The other night you asked me what I was worried about and I told you it was about work. I didn
’t tell you the truth. I mean I didn’t lie, I am worried about the garage but that wasn’t what was on my mind.”
He didn’t say anything. She took a deep breath.
“The thing is, the last time I had these sort of feelings, I got hurt. Badly.”
“I don't want to ever hurt you Zoe,” he said softly but his sincerity rang through in his tone.
“I know that and when I am with you, I believe it. But when I am on my own, well my mind starts going places it shouldn’t.”
“Tell me.”
“Noah was my first serious boyfriend. My only serious boyfriend. We met in high school and he took me to the prom. At first we were just too teenagers hanging out but then it became more serious. We grew closer. His parents weren’t thrilled about us.”
“Why?”
“You said you would listen.”
“Sorry, I just can't understand why any parent wouldn’t like you. Did they think you were too young?”
“I guess that was part of it but mainly they were concerned as Noah had prospects. That was the word they used. A lot. He came from one of the wealthier families and his parents had plans for him to go to Harvard and then become a lawyer. In Boston or New York. His father was an attorney and had his own practice. He wanted to hand that practice over to Noah but only once he had proved himself in another practice on the East Coast.”
“Poor guy.”
Surprised she looked at him waiting for an explanation.
“His parents sound like they had his whole life mapped out. What did he have to say?”
Zoe paused. She hadn’t expected that reaction from Declan.
“I guess he was fine with it. He wanted to be an attorney and good grades came easy to him. He wasn’t a sports Jock, he liked to study. He was popular so nobody called him a geek or gave him a hard time.”
“So?”
“So, Noah asked me to go to Boston with him when he got his place in Harvard. He wanted us to get married. My dad wasn’t happy. He liked Noah a lot but he felt he was immature and too tied to his parents. Noah’s parents hated the idea. They had a much worse impression of me than my father had of Noah.”
