But he didn’t. He has accepted responsibility for what happened and is open to all the messiness that is bound to follow. Which is why I’m not scared.
How can I be scared with him beside me?
The sea is choppy when we finally arrive, gray, reflecting the clouds rolling in from the horizon. I know why he chose this beach. We park at the side of the road and scramble down a narrow almost-path between trees and overgrown foliage to reach the beach. Once we’re on the sand, we’re invisible from anyone driving by if we stay close to the overhang.
We take off our shoes and socks and wander down to the water. I squeal when the sea creeps over my feet, leaving a frothy trail in its wake as it retreats.
“How is it so cold?”
Declan laughs. He should laugh more often; he looks younger when the faint lines fanning from the corners of his eyes are from amusement and not from the weight of life piling up on his shoulders.
“This is the Irish Sea. We’re closer to the North Pole.”
I step back from the eater’s edge, curling my toes into the damp sand to warm them up while I figure out if he’s serious or not.
Before I can react, he scoops me up into his arms and pretends to toss me into the water. I squeal again, wrapping my arms around his neck and clinging on. He kisses me there in the shallows, his heart thudding against my chest.
“You make me feel young again, Amelia.”
“You’re not old.”
He sets me down, our bodies sliding together, and this time, I don’t feel the cold water creeping up to my ankles. He cups my face in his hands and kisses me tenderly. And I stand on tiptoes and drag my fingers through his hair.
“Do you bring all your housekeepers to this beach?” I arch an eyebrow, our lips still touching. “Is it some kind of test to see how I react to the Arctic temperatures?”
He smiles, but when he speaks, his tone is serious. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever brought here.” The breeze whips my hair around my face, and he brushes it away from my eyes. “You’re very special, Amelia. I want you to know that.”
My blood is pumping around my veins. I’m really doing this. I’m here on a beach in Ireland, kissing my new boss when I should be keeping his home in order. I saw the job description; at no point did it mention personally taking care of the boss.
I can almost hear Carol’s voice in my head:“What the holy fuck do you think you’re doing, Mia? What’s going to happen when you get tired of screwing around with each other? What happens when you meet his sons and realize you’re more attracted to them than their father, huh?”
I love Carol to death, but right now, her voice of reason isn’t what I need.
I know what I’m doing.
And even if I don’t, even if I’ve got this so fucking wrong, I’m going to hate myself tomorrow or the next day when Declan introduces me to his girlfriend. I’m in too deep to back down. Mypussy is aching for him. My panties are wet. He only has to look at me, and I’m a gooey mess of want and desire and a whole heap of other stuff that I haven’t yet figured out.
And what Carol doesn’t know can’t hurt her, as the saying goes.
So, I push all thoughts of my best friend from my mind and hear myself saying, “How special?”
He peers into my eyes for so long I start to feel giddy. Then, “Any man would be lucky to have you. I want you to promise me that you’ll always know your worth.”
“Sounds serious.” I hold his gaze. “Is this your way of telling me?—”
He cuts me off with a kiss that’s so hard, so desperate, that I can’t breathe. “It’s my way of telling you how much I want you.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” I tease.
“I thought…”
Before he can finish, the first raindrops hit my back. I realize how gloomy the sky has turned while we’ve been wrapped in each other’s arms, but Declan doesn’t miss a beat. Shrugging off his jacket, he holds it over my head, and we run back towards the road. But he pulls me away from the overgrown path and underneath the overhang.
We peer out at the drizzly rain, snuggled together in the sandy shelter, fat raindrops dripping from the branches overhead.
Then Declan pulls me around to face him, and his cold hands are underneath my sweater and teasing my nipples, and our tongues are already clashing.
“I’m all yours, Amelia.” His voice is husky. “You have no fucking idea…”
