Evenif they were already planning a divorce, that meant something. It meantsomething to Declan, anyway.
Andit was starting to sound like it meant something to Ash.
“I’llsee what I’ve got,” Declan promised. If Ash wanted one of his sweaters, then Ashwould have one.
“Youreally don’t have to. I was just saying.”
“Can’thurt to look. I probably brought a ton of stuff with me that I never wear. Ifyou want it, you might as well have it.”
Atiny, shy smile spread over Ash’s face.
Declanhad never seen that particular smile before. It made his heart flutter in a wayhe didn’t entirely understand.
Heswallowed, looking away from Ash.
“Well…I’m thinking it’s time for a shower and bed, unless you want first dibs?”
Ashshook his head, the shy smile fading.
Declanwanted to see it again, so he definitely had to find him an old sweater.Something well-loved. He got the feeling Ash would appreciate that.
“I’mgonna sit for a while. Maybe make a hot chocolate. You want one for when you’redone in the shower?”
“I’dlove one.” Declan beamed. “Thanks, man.”
“Yeah,well, we need to warm you up somehow.” Ash shrugged. “Leave me some hot water.”
“Willdo,” Declan promised, heading down the hall.
Despitehis momentary blip of weirdness about kissing Ash, he couldn’t have been morecontent than he was right now.
ChapterFourteen
Bythe time their first Saturday night in Hope Springs rolled around, Ash wasexhausted. He’d worked every Black Friday, every pre- and post-Christmas saleat his old store, every single year for the past ten, and none of them had lefthim quite as deeply bone-tired as he was now.
Notin a bad way, though. He was used to being wrecked after working retail overthe holidays, used to having more or less lost faith in humanity by the timeChristmas rolled around.
Thiswas different. He was overwhelmed by the love and support people here had shownboth him and Declan, how eager they’d been to come in and look around, how quickthey’d been to learn his name and call him by it like he was an old friend.
He’dbeen almost moved to tears more times this week than he had been in the entirerest of his retail career, and every time, it’d been over something wonderful.
Allthe same, he intended to spend most of Sunday asleep.
Ashgroaned loudly as he sat down on the couch next to Declan, sinking into thecushions with a sigh. The other problem with running a two-man operation wasthat he didn’t really have anyone to delegate to. He’d gotten into the habit ofgetting other people to stack shelves under his direction, instead of doing ithimself, and he was a little out of shape.
“Yousound like I feel,” Declan said from beside him, not even moving as Ash satdown.
“It’sbeen a long week.” Ash sighed, shifting in an attempt to get comfortable, butknowing he wasn’t going to be until he’d had a hot shower and a long night’srest.
Atleast the shower here was pretty good. This place had apparently been standingsince the mid-thirties, and in some places it showed. Not that it was all bad.It had character.
Thatwas what people called creaking pipes and peeling wallpaper, right?
“Youwant a shoulder massage?” Declan asked.
Ashturned to look at him, surprised by the offer.
“I’mserious,” Declan said. “You look like you could use it, and I need youfunctional on Monday, because I can’t do this alone.”
