Not Pretending Anymore(31)

I wasn’t sure I would take him up on it if he asked me out again. Casual sex with Will Daniels wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but I didn’t want to waste time with someone who’d already written off the possibility of a relationship. So, if he asked me to hang out again, I’d have to see how I felt.

My phone vibrated.



Declan: I was hoping to catch you tonight. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.



My heart fluttered.



Molly: I’m at happy hour.



Declan: With Will?



Molly: Well, he’s here, but we’re not really together. It’s a bunch of people.



Declan: What’s up with that?



My first inclination was to be honest and tell him about the date. But the selfish part of me wanted an excuse to see Declan tonight and stick it to Will at the same time.



Molly: I’m thinking I could use your presence here, if you don’t mind showing up.



Declan: You mean as your “date”?



Molly: I know you’re seeing Julia now, so no worries if you don’t feel comfortable with our previous agreement.



The dots moved around as he typed.



Declan: Julia is not my girlfriend. She’s not ready for that. We’re just having fun right now.



Molly: So she won’t mind if I borrow you? ;-)



My heart thundered in my chest as I waited for his response.



Declan: I’ll be there in twenty.

***

“Act surprised to see me,” Declan whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arm around my waist from behind. He moved his mouth to my cheek and planted a soft kiss.

I turned in his arms. “Uh…Declan. You’re here. This is…a nice surprise.”

He brushed a lock of hair from my face and smiled. “Is it? I hope you don’t mind me dropping by like this. You’d mentioned the other day you were coming here for happy hour. I was only a few blocks away and thought I’d surprise you.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m glad you did.”

I’d been standing next to my friend Emma, and I caught her mouth hanging open in my peripheral vision. It made sense, since I’d just finished catching her up about the date I’d had with Will, and now another man had his hands on me in an intimate way—another gorgeous man.

“Umm. Declan…this is my friend Emma. We work together at the hospital.”

Declan flashed his dazzling smile and extended his hand. “Good to meet you, Emma. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting.”

“You’re not at all. Molly and I just finished catching up. I was on vacation the last two weeks.” She gave me the stink eye. “It’s amazing how much you can miss in just fourteen days.”

“I bet.” Declan motioned to my almost-empty glass. “I’m going to order a drink. Is that your usual pinot?”

“It is.”

He pointed to Emma. “What can I get you, Emma?”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

Declan grinned. “Of course I do. Rule number one: make sure you keep the friends of the woman you’re crushing on liquored up and happy.”

Emma laughed. “I like that rule. I’ll take a vodka cranberry. Thank you.”

While Declan spoke to the bartender, Emma whispered to me, “Umm…is there something you forgot to mention?”

Emma was a good friend, but I didn’t think this was the time or place to explain the truth about my relationship with Declan. Plus, I was a little embarrassed that I’d resorted to these childish games. “It’s…new. We’re keeping things casual and just having fun.”

“Fun, huh?”

I nodded.

Emma brought her drink to her lips and spoke. “Well, you know who doesn’t look like he’s having fun at this moment?”

“Who?”

Her eyes shifted to look over my shoulder. “Dr. Dandy. And he’s heading this way.”





CHAPTER 12




* * *



Declan



Well, that certainly didn’t take long.

By the time I turned around, with the drinks I’d ordered in my hands, Dr. Dickface had already walked over ready to piss on Molly like she was a fire hydrant. God, I didn’t like this guy.

“It’s Declan, right?” he said as I approached.

I passed Emma her drink and gave Will my hand. Shaking extra firmly, I smiled. “It is. How you doing, Bill?”

He frowned. “It’s Will.”

“Will…right, okay. Sorry about that.” I shifted to Molly and held her glass of wine out to her. “Here you go, babe.”

Molly’s eyes widened. She looked like she might shit her pants. So while I wanted to put my free hand on her ass in front of this guy, I refrained for her sake.

The four of us stared at each other as I sipped my drink. Well, this is uncomfortable.

“So, Declan, are you from the downtown area?”

“I live on the west side.”

“Ah…Molly’s side of town.”