“Declan Wild!” she says loudly. “What an honor—can we get you a drink?”
Declan’s perfect lips twitch as his gaze flicks to her, but he simply shakes his head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m about to leave. I’m looking for Max,” he tells Jared. “Need to see him before I go.”
Jared nods, reaches through Liam and Murph, and somehow manages to snag Max by the shoulder. Max is laughing with Dean about something, but he turns around. When he sees Declan standing there amongst us, he immediately gets off his stool and steps over to him.
“Hey, Wild.” He offers him his beer. “Have a drink with us.”
Declan tries to decline, but Max has already shoved the bottle into his hand, and Ashley’s peppering him with questions.
Where in Louisiana did you grow up?
Do you miss the south?
Rumor has it you’re going to retire soon. Is it true?
I’m sure he’s going to give her some quick lip service answer and get the hell away from us.
Instead, he surprises me.
“I grew up by Covington. I do miss the south sometimes. And as for retirement, I don’t make decisions like that mid-season,” he says in a deep, sexy voice that I swear my ovaries just responded to with a little leap of joy.
I’m not the only one. Ashley’s lips part as she stares up at him, and behind the bar, Blaire freezes in place with a customer’s drink in her hand. When I catch her eye, she mouths, “Oh. My. God.”
I nod back at her. Yes, Declan Wild’s voice matches his gorgeous looks and star status.
And the crazy thing is, Blaire’s happily married, I don’t want any man but Hunter, and Ashley—whether she’ll admit it or not—has a thing for Jared.
So, if Declan Wild can have this kind of an effect on women whoaren’tinterested in sleeping with him, I wonder what it will be like for a woman whodoeswant him in her bed. My guess is that will be quite the ride.
“Hey.” Hunter’s eyes flash with amusement as he looks at me. “Did I get this wrong or did you, Blaire, and Ashley all just swoon?”
I tuck my hand in the crook of his elbow and lean my head on his shoulder. “You got it right. We were totally swooning. Because Declan Wild is swoon-worthy.”
“So let me get this straight—you’re crushing on the star of our rival?”
“No.” I beckon to him so his ear is right next to my mouth before I add, “My crushing is reserved for you.”
“I like that answer.” His hot breath on my skin makes me break out in shivers.
* * *
We hang out at the Riverway for hours, and it’s nice to see Hunter catch up with his brothers. Liam leaves early to get home to his wife and daughter, but the rest of us stay until closing. Jared and Max had gotten permission to stay the night, and they go to Liam’s so they can see their niece in the morning. Hunter tells them good night, and the three of them make plans to meet for an early breakfast.
I hug Ashley before Hunter and I head out to his truck. I insist on driving even though he says he only had one beer.
I believe him when he says he’s sober, but taking the wheel gives me a sense of purpose on our drive back to his place, where I have a feeling we’re going to have some sort of come to Jesus talk.
As soon as we walk into the townhouse, we go find Theo. Turns out he’s hungry for a snack, so I feed him while Hunter cleans his litter box. Then, Theo happily settles on the top of his cat tower for a nap in the living room.
And Hunter and I start talking over each other.
“Princess, I’m sorry…” he starts.
“What was that kiss about?” I begin.
He holds up a hand. “I don’t know what came over me. That crazy fan was hounding me, and I felt so out of control. Then, I saw you in the crowd, and I just…” He pulls up short and takes a seat on the living room couch.
I follow and sit on the other end of the couch. “You just…what?” I ask him.
