Nikolai had told him his men had now doubled down on the search for Koslov. This included having Linus concentrate all his efforts on finding the vengeful Russian.
Declan didn’t want to think too deeply about what Nikolai would do to Koslov once they located him.
The truth was, Declan would just be relieved not to have Fawn, and now River, in danger because of something Declan had done.
“Danny said he’ll call round later,” he changed the subject. “Something about bringing a game console over so that he and River can play a game together. During their conversation earlier, they apparently discovered they have a liking for the same video game.”
“I’m sure River will be thrilled to have Danny’s company,” she answered affectionately.
“Does that mean he likes Danny as much as Danny likes him, and in the same way?”
She smiled. “I believe it does, yes.”
Declan chuckled. “I find it amazing that they have discovered that attraction in the middle of what is otherwise a damn awful situation.”
“If the end result is that River also gets a new kidney and can live a normal life, then the whole of the last three years of uncertainty will have been worth it,” she assured. “If, somewhere in all that, River and Danny decide they more than like each other too, then so much the better.”
Having seen how close brother and sister were, Declan knew it would break Fawn’s heart if she lost her brother because they were unable to find a compatible kidney donor.
Not happening, if Declan had anything to do with it.
And he did.
He really would give River one of his own kidneys if it managed to take away that hollow desperation from Fawn’s eyes.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Fawn could feelthe sudden tension in the bedroom as they both fell silent.
The air felt charged.
As if a threatening storm were about to break.
A rumbling volcano to erupt.
Or a tsunami to wash over and totally engulf them.
All those things felt as if some life-changing event was about to happen.
“Before we discuss anything else, I want to deal with a comment you made to me earlier,” Declan rasped.
Fawn eyed him warily. “I think I can guess what that comment was, and I want to apologize. I was upset at the time, and a little bewildered by all the assistance suddenly being offered when, for too long, River and I have been trying to manage this situation on our own. That’s no excuse for what I said to you, but it is the truth,” she told him honestly.
One salt-and-pepper eyebrow rose over those Irish-blue eyes. “So, you don’t really think I’m trying to buy you?”
Fawn inwardly cringed at ever having said that to a man she already knew to be totally selfless. He had shown that when he stepped in front of Thea Morgan, and by doing so had been shot with the two bullets meant for her.
“I never thought that. I was feeling defensive and a bit overwhelmed by all these offers of help after feeling, for so long, as if we were completely alone. I lashed out. Which was totally unfair of me.” She stepped closer to Declan and placed her hand on his chest, immediately feeling the strong and steady beat of his heart against her fingers. “But if this thing between us works out and you ever feel the urge to buy me a luxury eight-berth yacht, all with en suite bathrooms, with a galley and salon fit for a king, and maybe a helipad, then please rest assured I won’t try to stop you,” she confided teasingly.
Declan stared down at her for several long seconds before his lips twitched, then he smiled, before he burst into full-blown laughter.
Fawn was more than a little relieved to feel the tension between them disappearing.
He tilted his head. “You miss being aboard a boat, hm?”
She shrugged. “A little. Our childhood might sound unorthodox to a lot of people, and it probably was, but we had so much fun,” she added wistfully. “I miss the simplicity of those days.”
Declan put his arms about her waist and folded her tightly against him. “This ‘thing’ between us is going to work, and maybe we can look into me buying you a luxury yacht as a wedding present.”
