Reckless Hearts (Oak Harbor #2)(47)
Will frowns. “You think it won’t work out?”
“No!” I reach over to take his hand. I bring it to my lips and drop a light kiss on his knuckles. “I’m saying, whatever happens, your work is beautiful. You should be proud of everything you’ve made.”
Will exhales, relaxing. He squeezes my hand, and gives a rueful look. “I am. I’m just nervous, I guess. It’s a big change, and I think a part of me is still wondering who I’m kidding.”
“Well, I love them, so sign me up,” I declare. “And either way, it’ll be fun to see your buddy again, right? I can’t wait to hear all the stories about what you were like, all buttoned up in New York.”
Will’s smile slips, but before I can reassure him again, my phone buzzes. “Ooh, it’s Eva!” I bounce in my seat, excited. “She gets in later today, it’s going to be so much fun,” I say, typing out a quick text. “We’re having a girls’ night in, and then brunch tomorrow, just like we always do. I’ve missed her!”
“That’s great. Do I get to meet this mysterious best friend?” Will asks, teasing. “Or are you girls going to be painting your nails and having pillow fights all weekend?”
I snort with laughter. “Um, you’ve been watching too much porn if you think that’s all we do. More like plotting world domination and eating carbs.”
“I stand corrected.” He grins.
“And yes, I’d love you to meet her,” I add, feeling shy. “Consider it a standing invitation. When I’m hanging out with Lottie and Sawyer, too.”
“Then count me in.”
We drive on, and I feel that glow, still so warm in my chest. I’ve never had someone I wanted to introduce to the people in my life—never dated anyone long enough for it to even be a possibility. But I love the thought of spending time with everyone together. It’s great how he’s fit so seamlessly into life in Oak Harbor, but I have to admit, I’m excited to meet his friend, Declan, too. Will showed up out of nowhere, and hasn’t said much about the life he left behind. I’m curious about his past, so hopefully Declan will have plenty of stories to tell about Will’s history—especially after a couple of cold beers.
We arrive around three, in plenty of time. Declan’s showroom is in the arts district, on a great street lined with cool design stores and boutiques.
“This is it.” Will peers out the window, looking nervous again. “I should probably go around back. There’ll be a delivery entrance for me to unload.”
I kiss him on the cheek. “You can let me out here, I want to go sneak a look. See you inside?”
Will nods and lets me out before driving on. I push open the front doors and take a look around. Inside, it’s a massive converted warehouse space, with all the original steel beams and exposed brick, the perfect backdrop for the amazing furniture pieces set up around the floor. It’s more like an art gallery than a store, and I get excited just looking around at the funky lighting and hip, streamlined samples on display. Will’s pieces would fit in perfectly here, with their rustic, masculine look. I know from selling houses how much is about selling a lifestyle, that vision of your future world, and anyone walking in here would want the whole package: a cool loft downtown, with Will’s chair set up by the record player, or his table set up for a dinner party or big event with friends.
“Are you looking for anything in particular?”
I turn. A guy with sandy brown hair and a friendly expression is juggling an armful of paperwork. He looks exactly like this space: casual and thrown together, but with the tailored details that give away an eye for design. “If you give me just a minute, I can help you out,” he adds. “Let me guess . . . new apartment, you’re looking for something sleek and modern?”
“Good call,” I laugh. “But no, I’m just here with a friend. Boyfriend,” I correct myself, the word unfamiliar on my lips.
Unfamiliar, but nice.
“Are you Declan?” I ask, looking around.
He smiles. “The one and only.”
“Great! I’m here with Will,” I explain. “He’s just unloading around back. I’m Delilah.”
Declan’s face brightens. “Great to meet you.” He reaches out to shake my hand. “I can’t wait to see. He showed me some of his pieces, years ago. I always said he should make a go of it, but he was already climbing that Wall Street ladder. He insisted it was just a hobby.”
“I can’t believe he worked in finance,” I laugh, shaking my head. “The guy looks like he was born in jeans, with a hunk of wood in his hand.”
Declan arches an eyebrow. “I guess he wasn’t kidding. The guy I knew had a car service on speed dial and would drop five hundred dollars on sushi without blinking an eye.”
A door opens in the back of the room, and Will enters. He sees us talking, and strides over fast. “Hey, man.” He greets Declan with a hug, and the old friends slap each other on the back. “What did I miss?” Will asks, looking back and forth between us.
“Don’t worry.” I rest my hand on his shoulder, “I’ve just been hearing about your big city life.” Will tenses under my hand. “It’s a shame there’s no good sushi in Oak Harbor,” I add, teasing. “You’ll have to make do with a good shrimp boil.”