"Despite my brother hating that I'm working here?"
His expression sobers. "He'll come around."
"Will he?" I gather my materials. "He's barely spoken to me in weeks. Ever since the gala photos, he's..."
"Ivy." Declan's warm hand settles on my lower back. "Let me worry about Marcus. Tonight is about celebrating you."
"We're celebrating?"
"Yeah. We're celebrating your successful research." His voice drops lower, intimate. "You."
***
I drive behind Declan to his penthouse, the car practically purring. He used the excuse of changing the battery to repair other things and service them properly.
Over the past few weeks, Declan has shown me what a real relationship looks like. It’s nothing like the light, distant texting between King and me—this is present, tangible. And he’s grownso caring that the guilt of stringing along two men is starting to crush me.
I’ll have to end things with King.
Soon, I tell myself.
When we get to Declan’s penthouse, I turn off the ignition and come out of the car. He gives me a quick kiss that sends shivers down my spine. Holding my hands, he tells me jokes till we get to his front door.
The smell of fried rice—sweet-and-sour sauce and garlic—hits me as we walk in, making my stomach growl. Upbeat music pulses from the speakers. A young man and woman stand in the middle of the kitchen, surrounded by takeout containers and a bottle of cheap champagne. A trash bag, nearly as tall as the woman, is propped beside her.
I can tell it’s Declan’s twin siblings from how much they look like him and the pictures he’s shown me.
“Ivy, meet Rowan and Riley,” he says drily, gesturing at them. “My mischievous brother and sister.”
"Surprise!" Riley shouts, throwing her arms wide. Her bohemian dress swirls around her legs. "We're celebrating!"
Declan stares at the trash bag. "Riley, what did you take?"
She moves to the front of the bag, trying unsuccessfully to block it from view.
"Some things I needed. You let Rowan take whatever he wanted the last time."
"Let me see them."
"You didn't check his."
"You're not Rowan."
"But I hardly ever take anything from you. Why is it the one time I decide to try this month, you want to find out what I took when you never do that with Rowan?"
"Fine. None of you should take anything from here again without asking me first."
The twins glance at each other, then turn to Declan.
"Okay, Dad."
He groans, and they laugh.
"How did you two get in here?" he asks.
Rowan holds up a keyring, his business casual looking a bit rumpled.
"Keys. You gave them to us for emergencies, remember?"
