And I fall a little harder for my future husband. Because Declan’s cousins and brother and their wives are, in a word, awesome.
When Declan, Brayden, and the girls come back inside, Declan joins our group.
“Cam and Vannah, did you decide on godparents yet?” he says in a teasing tone.
He steps closer to me, and the heat from his body reaches me. I subtly try to pull away.
But Declan doesn’t let me. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, almost the same way Cam’s is around Savannah’s. And a tiny part of me mourns the fact that this upcoming marriage won’t be real like his brother’s is.
Cam, who doesn’t look like he misses anything, stares at Declan’s arm before he looks at me and grins.
But Savannah elbows him. “Leave your big brother alone,” she says before turning back to Declan. “Yes, we’ve decided on godparents,” she says. “We were going to wait to tell everyone, but…” She glances at Cam, who shrugs.
“We can tell them now, babe, if you want.”
She smiles at him. “I do. Declan…” She turns back to him. “We’d be honored if you would be our little one’s godfather. We’re going to ask my sister, Molly, to be godmother.”
Declan’s eyes widen in obvious surprise. “I was joking around,” he says. “I was sure you’d ask Bray.”
Cam looks over at Brayden, who playfully salutes Declan. “Oldest brother gets dibs,” Brayden says.
“What do you say?” Cam asks Declan. “Are you in?”
“Absolutely.” Declan pulls Cam in for a hug and then kisses Savannah on the cheek. “I can’t wait.”
“Let’s eat!” Luke calls out, and everyone rushes out of the room.
Everyone but Declan and me.
I shift so I can face him. “Congratulations,” I say softly.
He looks at me. “Thanks.”
“You’re great with kids,” I say.
“You think so?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
He studies my face. “That’s something I knew I liked about you right away,” he says. “You don’t hide anything.”
“Kind of ironic, don’t you think?” I say. “Considering that we’re about to enter into an enormous lie together.”
“How did your dad take the news?”
“He’s thrilled. And the amazing thing is—I’m being completely honest with him. He knows I’m not actually dating you, and he’s still so optimistic. He genuinely thinks I’m going to thank him in a year.”
“For forcing you to obtain a husband?”
I laugh. “I guess so.” Then I stop laughing. “After my mom died, my father went into this shell. He never got over her death.”
Declan reaches out and takes my hand in his. “I’m sorry, Mia. I didn’t know your mother had passed away.”
I bite my lip. “Thank you.”
“So the contract she drew up for you…I can see how it would hold more meaning.”
“Yes. My dad would never dishonor her memory by changing the terms.”
