Chapter 31

Declan didn't think he'd like working with his brother, but this was the second project they'd done together at Renee's house and for the first time, Ronan didn't make him feel like an idiot. While Ronan definitely had more construction experience and knowledge, he didn't treat Declan like his dumb little brother.

It was a nice change. They had the old picture window out quickly and Ronan volunteered to take it in his truck to dump it later. Then they insulated and with minimal cursing, got the new one in. The whole time, Sadie sat in the chair, legs hanging over the arm and stared at them. When he'd told her she could stay and watch, he'd been sure she'd get bored within a few minutes, but she didn't.

"Wow," she said as they balanced the new window in place and Ronan screwed it in.

Declan glanced over his shoulder. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Uh-huh."

Renee had disappeared from the dining room table and was banging around in the kitchen. Probably making chicken nuggets for Sadie.

"Were you serious about a job?" Ronan asked over the whine of the drill.

"Yeah."

"Sadie, go wash up for lunch," Renee called from the kitchen doorway.

"Aw. I wanna keep watching."

Declan looked at her. "We're pretty much done with this one. There's not much left to do." He'd already decided to wait until she was at school to cut and install the new trim.

Resigned, she hopped up and ran to the bathroom.

"Sandwiches good for you guys?" Renee asked.

Declan smiled at her. "That'd be great. Thanks."

"You do one window and you think you deserve food?" Ronan asked.

"She's offering. I'm not dumb enough to say no. And neither are you."

"Got me there."

Once the window was secured, they stood back and looked at it.

"Looks good," Declan said.

"You need help with the others?"

"Nah. They're all small double hungs. But I appreciate the offer."

"You still need a guy to do the capping?"

"You know it. I hate that shit. It's tedious and too easy to make it look messed up."

"I'll send you my guy's number. He works fast and relatively cheap."

"Thanks."

Ronan picked up his tools. "Walk me out to the truck. I want to run something by you."

Declan grabbed the plastic they'd taken off the window and balled it up as they walked to the door. Outside, he asked, "What's going on?"

After putting his tools in the cab of the truck, he said, "I'm thinking of starting my own company."

"Okay."

"With Brendan digging around the Cahills, I don't want to quit just yet, but if shit hits the fan, I'll be the first one out on my ass. I want to have a contingency. If you're serious about steady construction work, it'd be great if you can start running things while we build it up."

Whoa. Declan's heart thumped. Ronan wanted to start a company with him? "You mean, we'd be partners?"

"Yeah. Not equal since you don't have a pot to piss in and have no equity coming in. I'll front the business costs. You front the sweat equity to hustle jobs."

"I know how to hustle. You sure now is a good time for this? With Chloe trying to buy the bar?"

"Like you said, it's time to move on."

"I don't know shit about starting or running a business. Let me know what you need me to do."

"Come by later this week and we'll start mapping it out. I have plenty of connections, so we can start with those. Spread word that we're taking on jobs." He glanced back at the house. "How much more work you got here?"

Declan shrugged. "Painting and the windows. That's about it. The kitchen needs to be done at some point. But not now."

"You gonna make cabinets for her, too?"

"I don't know. Lumber costs money. We checked out some reclaimed cabinets."

"Custom are better."

"You should know." He nudged Ronan's shoulder. "We should get back in. Renee made lunch and if we don't eat it, I'm gonna hear about it."

They turned back toward the house. "Thanks for having faith in me."

"You proved yourself on my house, and I see what you're doing here. You're good."

"Don't mention anything to Renee, though, okay? I want to have things in place first."

Ronan nodded.

As they walked to the front door, Declan began to wonder what it would be like to own a house like this, to come home and know it was his. Then his brain began to spiral. This was Renee's house. Could it be his too? She wouldn't want to move. Would she be able to see him as an equal if it was her house?

Being a serious adult was really fucking sucky. He didn't like all the questions and doubts. He missed the simplicity of being the slacker.

But then he walked through the door and Sadie's voice carried through the house as she talked a mile a minute and Renee was urging her to eat her nuggets.

Renee looked through the kitchen door and smiled at him. "Where'd you guys go? Lunch is ready."

That look and those sounds made him realize it didn't matter whose name was on the deed. This was home. And he'd do anything to keep it that way.

Declan and Ronan wolfed down their sandwiches quickly. Ronan thanked her for lunch.

"Thanks for helping Declan. Again. And let Chloe know I'm working on the books. I almost have it figured out."

He stiffened. "There's a problem?"

"Maybe. I don't want to get too into it until I figure out more. I just didn't want her to think it's sitting here untouched."

Declan huffed. "You've been practically snuggling with those books." He looked over at his brother. "Like slumped over the books in the middle of the night. The other night she even?—"

Renee shot him a look, knowing exactly where he was going. Turning to Ronan, she finished, "While we were reading, I had a sudden realization about the books."

"Reading, huh? That's what we're calling it?"

Renee felt her cheeks flush.

"Mom reads a lot," Sadie chimed in.

Ronan chuckled. "I bet she does."

"Oh, God," she mumbled and went to the sink to wash dishes. She couldn't even look at these men right now.

Declan started laughing, and Sadie asked, "What's funny?"

"Nothing."

"Sadie, finish lunch. It's school time soon."

"But then I'll miss Declan putting in the windows."

"I'll save one for you for after school, okay?"

"Can I help?"

"Uh. I don't know about that. You can hand me tools, though."

"Cool."

"Eat," Renee repeated.

"I'm gonna head out," Ronan said. "Thanks again for lunch. I'll let Chloe know what you said."

Renee wiped her hands on a towel. "Thanks for the delivery and the help. The window looks really good."

"No problem. Family, you know?" He shrugged and headed out the door.

Renee didn't know what to do with that. These Doyles were certainly good at knocking her off balance. She wasn't family. But the fact that he'd show up for Declan (repeatedly) said a lot about the brothers. She felt a little bad Sadie didn't know that feeling. Ty might be a pain in her ass, but he was still her little brother.

Declan walked Ronan outside and she cleaned up from lunch. While Sadie got ready for school, Renee looked at the books stacked all over her dining room table. She considered how much she was enjoying the puzzle of these books. Sure, the danger Declan hinted at wasn't appealing, but finding answers was. She wondered what the market was for freelance forensic accountants.

She loved making her own hours and being here for Sadie, but after years of boring bookkeeping and tax forms, she was ready for a change.

"Huh," she said to herself. "I guess I'm ready to move on, too."

The thought and saying the words aloud settled her. Kind of like when she'd decided to file for divorce. It was scary but it felt right. And so did this.

She smiled as she rearranged the books on the table so she could dive in once she got back from dropping off Sadie. The answer was in the handwritten ledgers. That much she was sure of.

Declan came in the door. "Hey, what's the best order for me to do the windows in so I don't mess up your day?"

She glanced at the books. "Can you do the bedrooms and kitchen first? Save this for last? I want to dig back in."

"Mom! Come play with me!" Sadie yelled from her room.

Renee smiled. "Duty calls. You need anything?"

"Nope. I'm all good." The smile he gave her sent a tingle down her spine.

That tingle tap danced across her body when he put on his toolbelt. She'd always been a sucker for a man in a tool belt.

"Better watch it. You keep looking at me like that and these windows will be on hold while we read in my bedroom."

She felt her skin flush as he chuckled. "I'm going to play with my daughter now."

But as she walked to Sadie's room, the idea of a little afternoon reading time sounded really good. She'd missed being naked with Declan. And by the time she sat on Sadie's floor to play superheroes, she had a plan.

Once Renee and Sadie were gone, Declan turned up the volume on the radio. Something about loud music made the work go faster. Renee's bedroom window as well as the bathrooms were all done. He had the dining room, Sadie's room, and his room left. His room. It was Renee's guest room. He had to keep reminding himself he wouldn't be here much longer.

But he'd be back. And next time, he wouldn't be in the guest room.

When Renee left to take Sadie to school, he decided to take a break from the windows and return to painting the dining room. He wanted it to look nicer for Renee since she spent so much time there working. It wasn't much of an office for her. She should turn the guest room into an office. How many people visited that she needed a guest room?

First Ty. Then him. Her parents lived locally. He'd ask her about it when she got back. He was getting ready to pour paint into the pan when Renee came back. "No errands today?" he yelled over the music.

She tapped the button on the speaker. "No errands."

"I was going to get these walls painted, but if you're going back to work, I'll do the other windows."

"Or..." she said with a smile, "we can go to your room and read."

"Read?" His brain glitched for a minute before her meaning hit him. "Now?"

"Unless you'd prefer to paint. I can respect your work ethic."

He set the paint bucket down with a thud. "All work and no play isn't healthy."

She snickered. "Don't I know it."

He undid his toolbelt while she watched, giving him the same horny look she had that morning. "I warned you that look was trouble."

"Are you gonna punish me now?"

"Fuck, yeah. In the best way." He stepped forward and she backed up, so he rushed her and scooped her up, tossing her over his shoulder.

"Declan! Put me down."

"You're not getting away this time." He slapped her ass and she squirmed against him.

In his room, he dropped her on the bed. He peeled off his t-shirt and crawled over her body as she scooted back on the mattress. "How much time do we have?" he asked against her torso as he breathed her in through her clothes.

"Two hours."

"Ugh. Maybe enough time."

He shoved her t-shirt up her body, his hands sliding along her ribs, followed by his mouth. Her legs scrambled around him and he realized she was kicking off her shoes. He unbuttoned her jeans and tugged them over her hips.

She raised her ass to get them off. He peeled them away and dropped them on the floor. She propped herself on an elbow and opened her mouth to say something, but he dove back at her, shouldering her thighs wide so he could put his mouth on her warm, wet pussy.

Fuck, he'd missed this. His tongue made a wide path up tasting all of her. Then he sucked on her clit, pulling a long, low moan from her. Wrapping his arms around the tops of her thighs, keeping her wide open to him, he feasted on every inch of her. He brought her to the edge, her hips following his very movement, her hands gripping his hair.

Then he pushed fingers inside of her stroking her inside and out until she screamed his name and curse words he'd never thought he'd hear from her. He lapped at her as her thighs twitched around him.

He nuzzled the crease where her thigh met her hip. Nipped at the fleshy part of her thigh. Listened to her heavy breathing.

"Get naked," she said. "I want to feel you."

"We'll get there. I'm not finished here yet."

"I'm pretty sure it was obvious how hard I just came."

"Yeah. And I want to see it again."

"Oh, I don't think?—"

"Stop right there. If you can still think, I haven't met my objective." He started slow, knowing she would be sensitive. He worked his way around her clit, suckling parts of her, stroking her gently with his fingers and tongue.

"Really, Declan. Come up here." She tapped his shoulder.

"Shh."

His breath against her made her jolt. So he did it again. Blowing gently. Lick. Nibble. Suck. Suck harder. Over and over.

Her breath was coming in short hard pants again. She was fighting it. "Let go, babe."

"I can't."

He looked up at her face. He moved up her body. Pressed a kiss to her lips while his hand still covered her pussy protectively. "I got you."

He went back down and started again. He pushed his tongue deep inside her, pressing his nose against her clit.

"Oh. God. Declan. I can't. I can't."

"Trust me."

He repeated everything again. Slow build. Licking and suckling. Thrusting and biting.

"Please," she begged.

His tongue and fingers became a flurry of movement. Both of her hands gripped his hair and held him through her spasms and screams. She finally came down and her limbs slid away.

He stood and wiped at his mouth and chin. As he unbuckled his pants, he remembered he was wearing his boots. There was no kicking them off quickly.

Fuck it. He shoved his pants and underwear down his thighs, grabbed a condom from the drawer.

"You doing okay?" he asked.

"I don't know. I've never felt like this." She gave him a soft, sweet, almost sleepy smile.

"You need a nap?"

Her smile widened. "I'm not that sleepy. Get your ass over here."

She beckoned him with a crook of her finger. He rolled on the condom and shoved his pants low enough to be able to climb back on the bed.

He covered Renee's body with his and slid into her. She wrapped her legs around him and they rocked slowly together until he came with her walls throbbing around him. Then they lay wrapped in each other for a long while, saying nothing, but feeling everything.