I denied it, saying she was probably mistaking my sister’s “aura” for mine.
But she wasn’t wrong. My night with Declan was more than just a sexual awakening. It was an experience that’s etched itself into my soul, making me wonder if I’ll ever find anyone who can make me feel the things he did.
Which makes the truth of who he is even more painful to swallow.
“Who was it?” Genevieve presses. “Someone from the conference?”
“Not exactly.” I pause, picking at a loose thread on my cardigan. “Just someone stranded at the same hotel because of the snowstorm. We met at the bar. He was older. Gorgeous. Confident.” I can’t stop the smile from pulling on my lips. “Flirtatious. So damn sexy. Like he stepped straight out of a romance book.”
“Damn.” She fans herself. “Sounds intense.”
“It was. We stayed at the bar for hours and talked about everything that popped into our heads. Or,Italked. He just listened. Seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. Itwas…refreshing. Regardless, I had no intention of it becoming more than just an enjoyable conversation.”
“But?” she prods.
“But when he walked me back to my room to make sure I made it safely, I knew I’d regret it if I let him walk away. So I didn’t. Then I spent the next several hours having the best sex of my life.”
“That good?”
I nod. “If sex were a sport, that man would win a gold medal in each and every event. And there were quite a few events, if you know what I mean.”
“Damn.” Genevieve fans herself again, giggling.
I love seeing her like this. So carefree. So…happy.
It’s so different from how she was this time last year. Recently divorced. Determined to avoid anything remotely resembling romance. Instead, she decided to focus solely on the one thing shedidwant.
A baby.
She probably never expected her best friend, Finn, to be the one to give it to her. I knew it was only a matter of time before she finally realized what’s been in front of her all her life.
“So what happened after?” she presses.
“He had an early flight the next morning. When I woke up, he was gone. At first, I wondered if I imagined it. But then…”
“Yes?”
“I found the note he left.”
“What did it say?” she asks, practically bouncing on her seat.
I open the drawer and retrieve the note, handing it to her.
She flashes me a grin before focusing on the paper. “‘Dear, Claire. Last night was unexpected. And unforgettable. One of the best nights I’ve had in a long time. All my best, Declan. Here’s my number. Maybe our paths will cross again. I hope they do.’” She lifts her excited eyes to mine. “Did you call him?”
“I thought about it.”
“What’s stopping you?” She sets the letter on my desk and I put it back in the drawer. “Because he’s older? Or because you think you need to spend every waking hour of your life working? Because I?—”
“At first, yes to both of those things,” I admit.
“At first?”
I slowly nod.
“So youdidcall?”
“I didn’t have to. I ran into him again. Last night, actually.”
