Although, yeah, okay, Ithinkof him like that.
Guilty.
The three of us are a tight team, and working like this today will help me stitch my frayed edges back together in a healthy way. There’s something very calming about the guy’s demeanor. If he’s with me at an event instead of Casey, he alwaysmanages to soothe me and keep me focused and on track, as if he’s channeling Casey’s energy.
Despite me telling him he can call me George in private, he always refers to me as sir, or Governor, or Mr. Forrester. Even when we were practicing law together, he had a difficult time not defaulting to sir with me, although back then I did hear him refer to me by first name when talking about me withothers.
I also like that Declan’s always respectful and deferential with Case. He was like that with Ellen, too, always calling her ma’am, or Mrs. Forrester, despite Ellen telling him he didn’t have to be so formal. He does rarely call Casey by her first name when it’s just the three of us outside the office, but at work or in front of others—even before I was Governor—it’s always either ma’amor Ms. Blaine.
A lot of younger guys—and too many older ones—don’t understand Casey can chew them up and spit them out without even mussing her hair or smudging her lipstick. I’ve seen her do it, too. Especially cocky little assholes who’ve obviously never had a woman stand up to them before.
It’s even funnier to watch Declan sit back and smirk as he watches them make the mistake, and the epiccarnage Casey creates as a result. The kid’s a quick learner.
He’s already going through notes with me from yesterday as Casey works on our breakfast. She enjoys cooking for me, because she never cooks for just herself. I’ve tried to help her cook before, but she shoos me away, so I opt to sit and talk with her. Or, in this case, with Declan.
I put this uninterrupted time with them to good use.I didn’t bring my A-game yesterday and I know it. That makes me feel guilty.
Once we’re all eating, I take a deep breath. “Thank you, again, for yesterday and today. I really appreciate everything both of you are doing for me.”
I’d swear Declan blushes a little. He ducks his head but I spot his pleased smile. “You’re welcome, sir.”
For a moment, I almost let myself pretend there’s a capitalSthere. That’s when it hits me that when we’re around others at work, the guy is absolutely an Alpha when it comes to him dealing with staff, or lawmakers, or other issues he normally handles as part of his job. He was like that as an attorney, too.
When we’re alone in one of our sessions like this, though, whether at night or on a weekend, it’s like he has a mask he can take off and set asideand has no problem deferring to me and Casey.
In some ways, he reminds me of Ellen. She was only submissive to me. Anyone else would never think she’d willingly drop to her knees for me.
I get that same vibe from Declan in this moment, and part of me savors it. I don’t understand why it took me until now to recognize it.
Well, actually, I do. Before, I had Ellen. After…
Another part of mewants to curl up and die, because it reminds me so much of everything I’ve lost and will likely never again have with anyone.
I catch Casey eyeing me. “You all right?” she asks.
I nod. “Dec, I’m sorry, please give me those East Tennessee poll numbers again.”
“Yes, sir.” He starts reading them, not a hint of impatience in his tone.
I close my eyes and listen and, this time, try to absorb whathe’s telling me.
* * * *
“Dad, are you even listening to me?”
I open my eyes. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m listening.”
I was, sort of. I was listening more to the sound of Aussie’s voice than her actual words. She sounds so much like Ellen it nearly breaks my heart.
“Then what’d I just say?”
“Blah blah, blah blah-blah, blah.”
I smile as she gives me an irritated snort that sounds just like Ellen’s.“Dad.Seriously?”
“You were pro-conning me about your sorority’s fundraiser, honey. Yes, I was listening.”
“You didn’t sound like it.”
