Declan: Steamy Friends to Lovers Romance (Lucky Irish Book 4)

by Anna Castor

  Bree interrupted. “I know. It’s like that U2 song, ‘With or Without You’.” Bree gave it her all as she bellowed the song lyrics, “With or without you, ah, ah… I can’t liveeeee.”

  They both laughed. Ever since Fianna had retired from show jumping with her horse, Stormchaser, she had a stick up her bum. Like living in the spare room of her sister in Austin, Texas wasn’t good enough.

  “I swear, if I hear her yapping about the Mills men one more time, I’m putting her down in a headlock,” Gwenn said after changing lanes. She wasn’t kidding. Bree could easily see Gwenn do it. Working in a male dominated environment had made the youngest Ryan sister strong, although still feminine.

  “Ro still get’s her riled up, Gwennie.”

  “Well, maybe she just needs to get over it. I’m sick and tired about hearing these same stupid arguments between them. Like any of it all matters. There are far more important things in this world….”

  Gwenn cleared her throat, and silence filled the car. Bree knew her sister had encountered awful situations abroad. Being in the military had changed her, not particularly in a bad way. But it had toughened her, made her grow up in a really short time.

  A few times, Bree had asked her about her experiences, but Gwenn had said she’d rather not talk about it. So for Gwenn to mention misdoings in the world was a big thing. Bree glanced over at Gwenn. “What are your plans now?”

  “I’m thinking about doing one last tour, Bree.”

  Bree’s heart skipped. She fisted her seat belt and took a deep breath. All the Ryan women had been thankful Gwenn and Kera had made it back in one piece. It had been just yesterday that they’ve hugged each other for the first time since months and months. And now Gwenn was throwing it out there that she was putting her life on the line again?

  “I know. I didn’t want to blurt it out like that. I’m sorry,” Gwenn said.

  Bree looked out of her window. She was searching for the words, but minute after minute passed. She jumped when a car door slammed shut. She looked over at Gwenn’s vacated seat and then over to Gwenn, who walked in front of the windshield. Apparently, Gwenn had parked the car in front of her apartment building without Bree even noticing. Damn, she was a mess.

  She followed her sister in. Kera greeted them when they entered Bree’s apartment on the second floor.

  “Hey, sis! I’ve grabbed your last bag of chips, hope you don’t mind.” The second oldest Ryan sister had made herself comfortable with a bottle of wine and a half filled glass on the coffee table in front of her. Her legs were crossed and a bowl of chips sat on her lap.

  “It’s okay, Ker,” Bree said.

  Kera scrutinized Bree’s foul mood and placed the bowl of chips next to her glass of wine, almost tumbling it over. She rose to her feet. “What’s the matter? Did something happen with that guy?”

  Bree chuckled. “No, no problem. If anything, I’ve almost assaulted him with a putter.”

  Gwenn snorted and took the seat next to Kera on the sofa. The one-bedroom apartment wasn’t all that much, but it was what Bree could afford on her teacher’s salary. She took two steps forward and sat on a bar stool at her kitchen counter.

  “Did you know Gwenn wants to sign up for another deployment?”

  Kera shook her head, and it made her coppery bob swish. “No? What are you up to, Gwenn? Tomorrow is our welcome home party at Lucky’s and you’re already thinking about going back?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Gwenn said and crossed her arms.

  “You better talk about it. You can’t get us all worked up and then say nothing. Are you going or what?”

  Gwenn sighed. “It’s just… I know I’m going to get stir crazy over here. Doing nothing. Pretending to be normal. When I’m not. I can’t see myself working a nine to five. Do you?” Gwenn took Kera’s glass and chugged it.

  “Just give it time. I know what you mean. I’ve been to the desert. I’ve seen a lot of shit too, you know. Don’t you think for one second I don’t get you. Because I do. More than any of our sisters.” Kera looked over her shoulder to Bree. “No offense.”

  Bree took two wineglasses from the counter and filled herself and Gwenn a glass of wine. “None taken.”

  “When you’re in that hellhole, it’s all you know… It’s all you’ll have to know. Coming back home often spooks some of us more. The reality of being back home, in somewhat tranquility, scares the living shit out of some of us.”

  Gwenn nodded her head as she stared in front of her. Kera laid her hand on her sister’s shoulder and nudged her. Gwenn blinked a few times and looked over at Kera. “Sorry, wasn’t really going to enlist again. I mean, I don’t think I would…”

  “Just give it time, sis,” Kera said.

  “Maybe the party tomorrow will do you some good,” Bree said.

  “Yeah, well, if it wasn’t for Mom going to Brazil for a few months and renting her place out, I would have stayed there instead of staying on your sofa. At least then I’d be able to tune everyone out,” Gwenn said.

  “Ah, so you don’t want to trade places with me and stay with Cait and Fi?” Kera chuckled.

  “No damn way!”

  The three sisters laughed at Gwenn’s outburst.

  “Who do you think I should take home with me tonight?”

  Ronan nudged Declan’s shoulder with his knuckles. When Declan still didn’t answer his twin, Ro finally had enough of his sulking.

  “I know I’m supposed to be the fun twin—and normally, I don’t mind. Because hey, it gets me lots and lots of pussy. But ye don’t have to make it so easy for me. What crawled up yer arse?”

  “Ye know what’s botherin’ me,” Declan said.

  “Shit. Not that again. I’m outta here,” Ronan said and slid from his seat at their booth in their family’s pub. He marched straight to the bar, joining the group of women he’d eyed moments ago.

  “Hate to say it, but Ro’s right, Cuz. Snap out of it,” Aiden said. Declan stopped staring at the tabletop he’d littered with the peelings from his beer bottle label. He shot a glance at his cousin Aiden, who brought a hand to his faux-hawk.

  He slid his fingers through his inky strands. Aiden usually did this before saying or doing something he’d rather not. It was almost as if the motion somehow calmed him.

  “I heard Bree went on a date with her colleague last night?”

  “Yeah.” Declan watched Bree talking with Pops on the other side of the pub. His shoulders slumped. Bree was laughing at something his grandfather said and acted like she had the time of her life.

  “Cait said Bree might be interested for real in this guy.”

  “Nah, I don’t believe it for a minute, Cuz,” Aiden said before he shook his head. He grabbed his beer bottle from the table and took a gulp. Declan gazed around the welcome home party for Gwenn and Kera. All the Ryan sisters were here, as were Declan’s brothers and most of his cousins.

  Bree’s mom was still in Brazil for work and unfortunately missed out on everything. He wondered how emotional Bree’s sisters at the airport had been two nights ago. Normally, he would’ve known because he would have trailed along with Bree to pick up her sisters. And if he couldn’t make it because of his work, Bree would have checked in with him throughout the day. How he missed her calls in the morning. Waking up with Bree’s voice… it was the best thing. And then he fucked it all up.

  “I don’t know how to fix this. Fuck. I’m normally real good at fixing things. Mending critical situations, bringing people together—it’s what I do for a living,” Declan said, shaking his head.

  Aiden ran his hand through his hair again. “Bree’s hurting. She keeps her distance. But she’s obviously still in love with you. Anyone with eyes can see that. I always wondered how you didn’t see it.”

  “Maybe I did see it. I was a dumbass for not acting on it…. But it doesn’t matter anyway if she always loved me and if I always loved her back or not. Bree’s no longer in love with me. She’s dating that
chump from work.”

  He looked over at Bree, who stood at the bar, now talking to Fianna. Bree’s raven curls were bouncing over her breasts while she waved animatedly during her story. Her black dress showed off her curves, and he took his fill. Declan couldn’t look away when she glanced over her shoulder and their eyes met. Bree broke their eye contact first and started a conversation with Aiden’s brother, Keenan, who’d joined them.

  Declan drowned the rest of his beer and clanked his bottle on the tabletop.

  “Aye, stop staring and get yer arse over there.”

  Declan winced at the booming sound of his grandfather’s voice. Pops sat his colossal frame down at Ronan’s vacated spot and swirled his whiskey glass in his calloused hand on the tabletop. After narrowing his bushy gray brows at Declan, he jutted his chin at him.

  “Can’t stand seein’ our Squirt with anyone other than ye, Dec. It not only pains me eyes, it hurts me heart.”

  Declan’s own heart squeezed the moment Bree’s nickname fell from his grandfather’s lips. Their families were still close, and it made their situation even more difficult.

  “She’s happy, Pops.” It pained Declan to admit.

  “Bollocks.”

  Declan searched his grandfather's eyes that showcased such confidence, like he had some inside information.

  “Did you have a talk with Bree?”

  “Yes. Seems like I’m doing all ye work, boy. Talked with her just now.”

  Declan followed Pops’ eyes in Bree’s direction. Bree’s eyes widened, but she almost instantly turned her head from him. It spooked him she’d been out last night with her colleague. His talk with Cait had made him see maybe he could go after what he wanted. But tonight wasn’t the most ideal night to talk with Bree.

  “Told her what I’ve been telling ye arse: youse two belong together.” Pops slammed his fist on the tabletop, making Aiden and Declan jump in their seats.

  Pops shook his head. “Don’t know why ye out here, sittin’ with ye cousin. Or out talkin’ with ye twin. I’m comin’ for Ronan next. All those lasses… not one will make him forget Fianna.”

  “He should know by now, he’s had plenty of girls since—” Aiden chuckled before Pops gave him a smack to the back of his head.

  “A damn disgrace is what it is. A girl like Fianna. Or Bree. How can me own boys hurt them both like that? First Ronan cheats on Fianna. Breaking me lass’ heart. Then ye go on and tell Bree ye don’t love her. I’m telling ye… If I die of a sky rocketed blood pressure, it will all be yer fault.”

  Pops’ round cheeks were blazing red, and his eyes sparkled with fire.

  “Somewhere along the way, we all messed up in bringin’ ye boys up to manhood. How could me boyos do something like that? I just don’t understand.” He clutched his hand to his heart and Declan shot off his seat to kneel in front of him.

  “Pops!”

  “Nothin’ the matter, Boyo. I just need to calm down. Didn’t mean to scare ye.”

  “I don’t like this. Are you feeling pain in your chest? How about your arms?” Declan assessed his grandfather like he would any other person on a call. He could give his grandfather CPR, but he’d rather get him to the nearest hospital straight away.

  “Don’t treat me like I’m sick. I’m just upset!” Pops roared.

  “If ye had spoken to Bree, yer heart would have been broken too.”

  “Pops…” Declan started, but he couldn’t find the right words.

  “What? Am I wrong here? Am I the only one who saw little Squirt and G.I. Joe runnin’ after each other ever since they were yee high?” He waved his hands in the air at the height of two small children. Pops talked like they were still the same children. But Bree was a twenty-six-year-old woman now. She was dating her colleague, Craig. And Declan… he was still secretly pining over Bree.

  “Pops, I know that you’ve always wanted us to be together. But—”

  “But what? Don’t tell me, ye don’t love her. Don’t ye dare lie to yer grandfather.”

  “I’m not. I love Bree. It’s taking me this long to see that I’ve always loved her. I was stupid in thinkin’ we shouldn’t be together because of what happened with Ro and Fi. I didn’t want to mess up our friendship like they did.” Declan sighed and shook his head.

  “But it’s messed up either way, Cuz,” Aiden said.

  “I know. Now we’re not even friends anymore. She’s hurt. I’m hurt. Damn.” He looked over at Pops who folded his arms in front of him, on top of his rounded belly.

  “So make it right,” Pops said. “Get back yer best friend and gain yerself a lover and a soulmate.”

  Bree kept her distance tonight. He looked over at Pops once more and when his grandfather shooed him, he finally stood.

  “Aye, that’s it, Dec. Go on,” Pops said.

  “Good luck, Cuz.”

  Declan nodded at his grandfather and cousin. He stepped up to Bree and Cait, while Bree had her back turned to him. Of course, Cait saw him coming from a mile away, but she was helping him out by not giving him away.

  “Bree, can we talk?”

  Bree’s shoulders tensed before she turned around. A cute blush crept over her throat and ultimately pinked her cheeks. Bree always hated it whenever her body betrayed her and showed her embarrassment.

  It had been the first time she had this reaction to Declan, and he hated it. She never felt embarrassed around Declan before. He was going to close this distance tonight. Enough is enough.

  “Hi, Dec.”

  “Hi, Squirt. I know now is not the best time to talk, or the place to have a talk.”

  He exhaled as she gave him a smile and a nod.

  “You’re right. Maybe, we can meet up later this week for drinks?” She bit her bottom lip and her beautiful blue eyes pulled him in.

  “Or… you can go home with me tonight.” As her eyes narrowed, he quickly added, “I mean, you haven’t seen my place now that it’s finished.” Damn. Why was he so nervous?

  Bree watched Cait’s back as she retreated from their conversation. Bree tucked a curl behind her ear and said, “Okay. I… guess it’s fine. Can I catch a ride with you? I drove here with Gwenn, but she’s obviously staying since it’s her party tonight.”

  His palms got sweaty, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. This was it. They were going to be alone together. She would sit on his couch in his home. They could talk and… He croaked his words, “Sure. I’ll drive you.”

  After saying goodbye to some of their friends and family, he gently placed his hand on her lower back and directed her to the back entrance of Lucky. Why did it feel so different when he touched her now? His hand on her back almost burned from the spark this simple touch ignited.

  They reached his truck and halted their steps next to his vehicle. He stepped in closer. Heaven. Her smell, her rosy cheeks, the almost pitch-black curls falling over her shoulders and resting over her ample breasts.

  As he leaned in to kiss her, her eyes went wide with shock. Like he was crazy. How stupid had he’d been for turning her down in March? Could she really not believe he would kiss her now?

  She took the smallest step back and opened her mouth. Probably to talk him out of it. But he closed the distance and kissed her. He entered her mouth and played with her tongue. Hesitant at first, she softly worked with him. Goosebumps traveled all over his skin.

  Declan grabbed the back of her head and the kiss became even more intense. He was kissing his former best friend, but there was nothing friendly about this kiss. He’d experienced nothing like this.

  The first time he fantasized about Bree, he’d been a horny teenager. She may have been his best friend, but he hadn’t been blind. He blamed his hormones and Bree’s growing curves.

  He loved how eagerly she returned his kiss. Her fingernails bit into his shirt that clung to his biceps. He trailed his other hand over the small of her back, familiarizing himself with the feel of the curve of her apple butt. After a hungry squeeze, she moaned agai
nst his lips. He pulled her against him and she gasped at the contact of his erection against her belly.

  “Let’s go home, Bree.”

  His voice sounded pained. He needed to let go of all the worries he’d had before. Just feel and don’t overthink things. It had been one advice his oldest brother, Brennan, had given him.

  She kissed his jaw before she laid a sweet kiss against his throat. “Okay…”

  He nodded in response and took her hand to lead her into his truck.

  They had idle chitchat during the drive about Bree’s sisters and the welcome home party. He parked the car in his driveway. Both didn’t make a move to get out of the truck. The silence became heavy.

  “Even in the dark, it’s ugly,” Bree said, looking over Declan’s porch. She let out a giggle.

  He agreed. The color was a thorn in the flesh. The vermillion reminded him of the day he’d finished painting his house. It was the day Bree came over and told him she loved him and he’d fucked it all up.

  She crossed one toned leg over the other and her short dress crept up even further. If he hadn’t been paying attention, he’d missed the black lace triangle, peeping from between her upper legs. But he made damn sure to pay attention.

  He leaned over the console and placed his hand on her thigh. He stroked her goose bumped flesh with his thumb.

  “I’m going to repaint it.”

  They sat in the dark with only the dim light of the navigation illuminating the cabin of his truck. Bree swallowed, and other than a quick nod, she didn’t respond. Bree kept staring at his house in front of her.

  His hand on her thigh held the question from Declan if touching her like this was okay. And it revealed Bree’s permission.

  He trailed his hand upwards. Slowly. His fingers were imprinting a map of her body and memorizing every bit of caressed skin. Bree slightly opened her legs to give him room for his quest.

  The sexual tension was palpable. It felt new and exciting. Because in this moment, as their roles shifted from friends to lovers, Bree was a total stranger to him. He had yet to discover her pleasure points. Her likes and dislikes. Her fantasies…

  Bree’s heavy breathing filled the cabin of his truck. She grabbed the door, but didn’t make a move to get out of the truck. She tilted her head against her seat and wet her lips with her tongue.