Chapter 29

For days after their make-out session on the porch, Declan was all business. Well, not all business. But he'd been painting the living room and hadn't tried to get in her pants once. Not that he was supposed to, but she'd expected him to. They'd fallen into a rhythm again of hanging out during the day and reading at night. And while they'd kissed, they remained fully clothed.

She busted her ass to work ahead on paying customers so she could finally dig into Chloe's books. Today was a perfect day because Declan had plans with Ty, so he wouldn't be there to distract her.

Renee had ledger books spread out all over her dining room table. Books stacked on open books. When she first started looking at the spreadsheets Chloe sent via email, she saw no red flags. But then she opened the old ledgers and knew something was off.

She tried to convince herself she was assuming there was something there because Chloe thought there was. But as she was getting Sadie ready for bed, the nagging feeling wouldn't go away. She didn't know what wasn't right, but her gut told her there was something hinky going on.

It was late when Declan came back. When she heard him come through the front door, she blinked and checked the time on her phone. Eleven. "Hey. Have a good time?"

"What's all this?" he asked.

"Chloe's books."

His face went stony for a second before he covered it. She didn't know what his problem was with her helping Chloe.

"You've been at this all day and night?"

"Kind of. Not nonstop. I just got into it after putting Sadie to bed and..." She waved her hands over the books. "There's something here. I know it."

His eyes hardened again.

"What's your problem? Chloe asked for a simple favor and since my kid got a brand-new yard, it's not too much to ask."

"It doesn't look simple." He huffed out a breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. "When I went over to Ronan's last week, it was to yell at him for getting Chloe to ask you to do this."

"What?" she practically screamed, and then lowered her voice so she didn't wake Sadie. "What is wrong with you?"

"There are things you don't know. I told you my brothers believe the Cahills know what happened to my dad and Alan might've had something to do with it."

"What does that have to do with the Black Rose?"

He looked at the books scattered on the table. "I was worried that this wasn't just about Chloe. She reassured me the bar has nothing to do with the Cahills but the owners of the bar and Cahill were friends. That's how my brothers gathered information. And then Ronan admitted Danny Cahill came after Chloe."

"Oh my God." She sank to a chair and tried to process everything. "When?"

"I don't know. I guess when Alan died. He didn't make any real threats, but he made her uncomfortable." He stepped closer and cradled her jaw. "I never want you to be in that position. Definitely not for my family."

Worry spiked in her at his words. Obviously, she would never put herself or Sadie in danger, but she was just looking at numbers. Then she remembered what Brendan had asked at lunch that day.

"Why did Brendan ask me about campaign contributions when he was here? Does that have something to do with this?" She swept her arm over the mess on the table.

"I think he's fishing. Trying to figure out what Cahill was doing. But as usual, Brendan doesn't tell anyone anything."

She stared at the piles, unsure of her next move.

Declan rubbed her back. "I wasn't trying to freak you out. I just want to make sure you're safe."

"I get it. Thanks."

He grabbed her hand. "Want to read or watch TV?"

"Reading sounds good if you'll do the reading. My eyes are tired from all the numbers."

"Go put on your jammies and meet me in my room."

She stood and shot him a look. "We agreed no funny business when Sadie is here."

"No funny business. I've been well-behaved. We can lay together and read. Talk nice to me and I'll massage your sore muscles since you've been hunched over these books all day."

Oh, man. A massage sounded heavenly. But she also knew where that would lead with Declan.

He swatted her butt. "Get your mind out of the gutter."

"Why? Yours doesn't want company?"

"I see how it is. You'll pay for that."

She slid away and headed to her room to change. "Yeah, sure. You don't scare me."

But in some ways, he did. He was making her life too easy, too much fun. What would it be like when he left? She shoved the idea from her head and slid into comfy sleep shorts and a tank top. It was starting to get chilly out, but she knew she would be plenty warm lying next to Declan.

With her ereader in hand, she stopped in the kitchen for a glass of water before heading to Declan's room. She heard the water running, so she had some time until he got out of the shower. Stretching out on his bed, she closed her eyes and numbers danced on the backs of her eyelids. It was like moving pieces of a jigsaw puzzle around. She just needed to find the right position.

Now she had extra pieces, thinking about the Cahills and campaign contributions. Just enough to leave nagging thoughts in the back of her mind.

"Did you fall asleep on me?" Declan asked.

She cracked open an eye just in time to see him drop his towel before stepping into a pair of shorts. "Just thinking."

But now numbers were the last thing on her mind.

"Ready to read?"

"Mm-hmm." She scooted over and turned to her side as he got on the bed.

He took the ereader from her but asked, "You want your massage first?"

"No massage needed."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." She curled up next to him and laid her head on his chest. It had quickly become one of her favorite places to be. Declan's voice washed over her and its calming effect caused her mind to completely shut down. She couldn't hold the thread of the story at all.

Declan wanted to keep reading—the plot was in a pivotal point—but Renee had fallen asleep. He set down the book and listened to her breathing. He wanted this all the time. But he needed to change his approach. Living here was the problem. Although his family often teased him about being jobless and homeless, they weren't completely wrong.

He had to become the man Renee needed. And that had to start with him leaving. He couldn't be sponging off her as a roommate. He knew he was pulling his weight, but he wasn't paying rent. Somehow, he didn't think she would take money from him. He needed to figure out how to be her equal.

If that was even possible.

Closing his eyes, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and relaxed as he planned his next steps.

Suddenly, Renee shot up.

"What?" he asked.

She flicked up a hand to silence him and he thought she was in the middle of a dream. Like she was sleep-talking or something.

"I got it."

"Got what?"

"Money laundering."

"Babe, lay back down. You're not making sense."

She jumped off the bed. "No. The books. I'm not sure, but I think it's money laundering."

He pushed to sit up. "Dude. You're still not making any sense. You're tired. You fell asleep. I think you need to go to bed." Even if it's not with me.

But it was like he wasn't even in the room. She scooped up her hair and pulled it into a ponytail. "Just give me a little bit. I need to check."

And then she was gone. He sighed and got out of bed to follow her. Of course, she was hunched over the books on the table again. He stood in the doorway to the kitchen as she flipped books around, shoved one out of the way, grabbed another.

He sighed. He'd lost her. She was in her own world. He went back to his room, grabbed her glass of water, refilled it, and delivered it to the table. She muttered a thanks but didn't look up.

Declan went back to bed and made some plans. If he wanted to make Renee his, he needed to make changes.

After a fitful night's sleep, he went to the kitchen to make coffee. He glanced into the dining room to see Renee slumped over the books, sound asleep. She was gonna regret that. He checked the time. Sadie would be getting up soon. He scooped Renee up and carried her to bed. She barely stirred. She must've been truly exhausted.

Then he knocked on Sadie's door. When he didn't get an answer, he swung the door open. Sadie was curled up hugging Larry the Lion. He didn't know how Renee usually woke her up. Sadie just always seemed to be awake.

"Hey, Sadie. Time to get up." She didn't move, so he stepped up to the bed and touched her shoulder. "Sadie."

"Grr."

He chuckled. "Did you growl at me?"

"I don't wanna go to school."

"First, you love school. Second, school isn't for hours yet. If you get up now, I'll take you out to breakfast and then you can play in the yard."

She rubbed her eyes as she sat up. "Pancakes?"

"Whatever you want."

"Is Mom coming, too?"

"Mom's really tired. She stayed up too late working. I was thinking we could sneak out so she can sleep."

"Like a secret mission."

"Sure." He loved her imagination. "Get dressed and brush your teeth. I'm going to leave your mom a note so she doesn't worry."

He started the pot of coffee, assuming Renee wouldn't sleep too late because she never did. Then he scribbled a quick note and left it on her nightstand. By the time he got dressed, Sadie was ready to go.

They walked to the car and Sadie buckled herself in.

"Do I need to check that?" he asked, pointing to the car seat.

"No. I always do it myself. I'm not a baby."

She was so offended that he had to smother his smile. "I'm just being safe."

As he closed the door, he could've sworn she rolled her eyes at him.

He drove to Super Cup, the diner he'd gone to his whole childhood. Sadie climbed into the booth across from his and sat on her knees. "You need a booster thing?"

"No," she said, with a hint of question as she glanced up at him.

He had a feeling he was being played. "Is it one of your mom's rules?"

"Not a rule. She usually gets one, but I don't need it." She straightened up. "I'm big enough."

"Okay." He opened a menu and read to her from the kid's section. She still settled on pancakes.

The waitress came and took their order and for a moment, he sat looking at Sadie wondering what he was supposed to do next.

Luckily for him, the silence didn't last. Sadie filled their morning will tales from school. He learned about all of her classmates, the ones she liked and the ones she didn't (even though Mom said she shouldn't talk like that). Declan decided Sadie was in the right to not like Tristan.

She also taught him he needed to cut up her pancakes for her and keep his hand on the syrup as she poured because she would most definitely overdo it.

But all in all, it was a successful breakfast date.

Renee stretched and looked out the window. The sun was streaming bright. She glanced at the clock. Nine. Nine! She jumped out of bed. She didn't even remember getting in bed.

Then she saw the note. Declan's scribble told her coffee was ready and he and Sadie went out to breakfast so she could sleep in.

She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Her body loved being able to sleep because she was sore after working so late last night. But part of her felt like a slacker because she was supposed to be up with Sadie. Mom guilt was no joke.

But the other part was her fear of leaning on Declan. She'd thought she could count on Graham and look how that turned out. She loved hanging out with Declan and enjoyed that part of her life, but she wasn't sure she was ready for him to be in all parts of her life.

Not in that way. Yet.

Ever?

"Ugh," she said to the empty room. She needed coffee. Then she could attempt to untangle her thoughts.

She dressed and headed to the kitchen. Passing the dining room table, she had a flash of last night. Money laundering. It was there. She almost had it figured out. She itched to dive back in but moved away to get her coffee.

As she took her first sip, she saw Declan pull up. She stood at the front door and watched as he helped Sadie out of the car and she swatted his hand away until he handed her a takeout container. He closed the door and said something to Sadie as she came toward the house, totally focused on the container.

Renee's chest suddenly felt tight. Declan looked up and smiled at her. Her heart squeezed more. Fuck. How was she falling for him? She'd just gotten clear of an entire marriage. She was supposed to be out in the world meeting people, not falling in love again.

In love?

No. She was tired and her emotions were running a little wild. It felt good to see Sadie so happy. She opened the screen door. "Whatcha got there?"

Sadie looked up with a grin. "We brought you French toast."

"Thank you. Did you have a good time?"

"Declan took me to a new place. He didn't make me sit in a booster seat, and I was good. The pancakes were great. Can we go back? I think they were the best pancakes ever. Except for yours."

Renee took a deep breath and met Sadie on the steps to take the container from her. "I'm glad you had fun with Declan."

"Declan said we could play in the yard when we got back. I got hours till school."

"You do and you can."

Sadie raced past her to the backyard. All the way on this side of the house, Renee heard the sliding door bang and pop back open. She was going to have to remind Sadie again not to slam the door. She needed it to last until next year.

Declan studied her face. "Did you get enough sleep?"

"Yeah. Thank you. You didn't need to do that."

"I wanted to. And you were exhausted." He reached out and stroked her cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. I've gotten by on far less sleep." She turned and went back through the house with her breakfast. "So where did you guys go?"

"Super Cup."

"That place is still open?"

"It's a staple of the neighborhood."

From the backyard, Sadie's voice echoed, "Declan! Come play."

He moved past Renee toward the back door.

"You don't need to play with her."

"I told her I would. It would be shitty to back out."

Renee huffed. "Maybe you can teach that one to Graham."

As soon as the words slipped out, she bit her lip. "Sorry. You don't need to hear that. And you don't have to be Sadie's playmate."

"I like playing." He winked and headed out the door.

Standing over the kitchen sink, she ate her slightly cold French toast and watched Declan and Sadie play in the yard. She had no idea what game they were into, but they both looked like they were genuinely having fun. She finished her breakfast and decided to join them.

As unsure as she might be about the feelings she was having for Declan that she was not supposed to be having, she couldn't deny the smile he put on Sadie's face. It was both wonderful and worrisome. She'd always wanted to surround her daughter with as many loving people as possible, but she didn't know how Sadie would respond to having Declan blow into and out of her life.