His Wicked Pleasure (7 page)

“I know what you mean,” Kristie glanced towards Declan, who was sitting with her brothers and laughing. He seemed completely at home with everyone. “I’m trying my hardest to avoid liking him.”

“Well good luck with that,” said Lorie as she shook her head in disbelief. “Let me know how that works for you. Seriously, have you seen the way that man looks at you? Girl, if he isn’t the real deal, I’d be shocked.”

Kristie stopped picking up the dishes and stared at Declan as her thoughts and emotions warred inside of her. Finally, shaking her head, she said, “Ugh, I’m planning on doing my best to fight this inner battle. Part of me wants him and part of me is terrified of being hurt all over again. I am honestly not strong enough for that type of pain. I know I could fall hard for him.”

“I get it,” said Lorie as she glanced towards her brothers, who were also sitting with Paul. “Maybe I should pull back a little. I don’t want him getting the wrong idea.”

“Exactly,” Kristie confirmed as she walked inside the house. She dropped off the dishes before she grabbed a sweatshirt for herself and another for her sister.

Heading back outside, she passed the sweatshirt to Lorie as she asked, “Hey, where the heck is Daniella?”
 

“No idea,” Lorie shrugged, “but I’m not concerned.”

“Well ladies,” they jumped slightly as Paul interrupted them. He looked tired and his raspy voice sounded tired as well as he added, “Thank you so much for having us over.”

Declan stepped towards Kristie and captured her hand before he turned her to face him. “Thank you for having me over; I had a great time.” He pulled her in for a hug. Breathing her in, he whispered, “I want to see you again.”

“Sure, we’ll plan something soon,” she replied in a sweet tone as she wrapped her arm around his waist and walked him through her house to the front door. When she reached it, she gazed up into his face and then, standing on her tiptoes, she placed a succulent kiss on his lips and whispered, “Get home safely.”

Declan’s eyes filled with heat and he leaned into her, “I don’t have to go home.”

Laughing, Kristie said, “Yes, you do,” and she closed the door on his startled expression. Leaning against the door, she heard him laugh and then heard him walk away with Paul.

She grinned at the warmth spreading through her as she walked back to the yard and helped her siblings tidy up. When they were finished, Kristie and Lorie said good night to their brothers and walked upstairs. Turning to face Kristie at the top of the stairs, Lorie said, “It’s not going to be easy ignoring either Paul or Declan. I’m already suffering from withdrawal.”

Chapter Six

The sound of the alarm buzzing loudly in her ear woke Kristie and she fumbled around on the nightstand until she found her cell phone. Frowning when she realized how early it was on a Sunday morning, the frown quickly turned to a smile. She opened her eyes wide as an overwhelming sensation of butterflies took up residence in her stomach. Her sweaty palms hit the button on her phone while her heart pounded out of her chest.

‘
Good morning gorgeous. Be dressed and ready. I’ll be at your house in an hour. I have a surprise for you. xx Declan’

She stretched and grinned. This was the perfect way to wake up. Sitting up against her pillow, she typed,
‘Good morning, you’re up early. xx Kristie’

Instantly, the phone buzzed again,
‘Wanted to catch you before you made plans.’

‘How do you know I don’t have plans already?’
She had planned to sleep in but other than that, she really didn’t have plans...still...it paid to make him think she wasn’t waiting for him.

‘I know. I’m psychic like that. Go get ready.’

‘How should I dress?’ She replied with a huge smile as she imagined him laying on his bed in a pair of superman boxers and a smile. Shaking her head to rid her mind of that image, she closed her eyes and waited for his response.

‘Anyway you want. You always look great.’
Kristie blushed as she read his reply. He really did make her feel beautiful.

‘xoxo See you soon. K’

Kristie tossed the phone down on the bed and then headed into the bathroom to take a shower. When she was done, she walked outside onto her terrace to get a feel of the weather before she dressed. It was beautiful out with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. A slight chill was in the air but she knew it would warm up before the end of the day.

Walking to her huge closet, she decided on a flowing maxi skirt and matched it with a sexy, mid-drift, crocheted sweater and strappy sandals. The moment she was ready, she quietly walked downstairs and opened the front door to find the sexiest man alive leaning against the hood of his black pickup truck. She took a moment to drink Declan in, with his light blue Levi’s, black boots, and form-fitted, black t-shirt. From where she stood, his muscular arms seemed larger than life and it caused her to groan inwardly. The moment their eyes met, Declan straightened and smiled. “Good morning beautiful.”

Kristie couldn’t help but smile back and, in a sweet voice, she replied, “Good morning.” She strolled over to him, stood on her toes and kissed him gently on the lips before she stepped away.

Running his fingers through his hair, Declan looked at Kristie before he opened his mouth to say something. A look of confusion washed over his face and he closed his mouth without saying anything. He opened it again, shook his head before closing his mouth and then he asked, “Um, did you shrink or something? You seem to be a few inches shorter than I remember.”

“Shrink?” asked Kristie. She glanced down at herself before she looked off in the distance as she tried to gather her thoughts before responding. Then it hit her; she’s always worn heels around him. She offered him a small, shy smile and replied, “It’s the shoes, not me per se.”

Stroking his perfectly trimmed beard, his mouth curved with tenderness. “Well now that explains it.” Bending at his knees in a mock gesture, he kissed her on the lips and said, “I always wanted my very own Barbie doll.” His eyes twinkled with laughter as he continued, “My parents never bought me one but here you are in the flesh.”

Pushing his hand away, she giggled as she rolled her eyes before she walked towards his truck.

“Wait, I’m not finished,” he said laughter ringing in his voice as he caught up to her and pushed her against his truck. “Now that I have my very own Barbie doll, I’m a happy man. Wishes and dreams really do come true.”

Looking up at his handsome smile, she asked in a childish voice, “Really? Don’t you think I’m too short for you?”

“No Barbie Doll, I think you’re perfect just the way you are.” He sealed his words with a kiss and she felt her toes curl at how hot his kiss was.

When they broke free, she beamed at him as she said, “That is such a sweet thing to say. Thank you for saying that.”

“I love when you smile,” he said bending down and stealing another kiss. “I get to see those scrumptious dimples of yours.”

Kristie blushed and climbed into the truck as he walked around to the driver’s side. She put her head down while buckling up her seatbelt to give her cheeks time to return to their normal color. Shifting in her seat until she got cozy, she cast a glance towards Declan. His muscular arms drew her gaze and she wondered how it would feel to be held in those arms all night long. Squeezing her eyes shut, she forced that delicious image out of her mind and tried to think of something else.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Declan’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Kristie smiled over at Declan and laughed, “A penny? Haven’t you heard of inflation? People pay me thousands of dollars for my thoughts.”

Raising a dark brow in her direction, he replied, “Thousands? I don’t think I can afford your services.”

“Good to know,” said Kristie as her heart fluttered with anxiousness over where he was taking her. She was usually the one in control and now she wasn’t as they drove down her long driveway and headed towards the main road. Her stomach felt like a million and one butterflies had taken up residence and it caused her to let out a slight groan.

Suddenly, being alone with this sexy man made her extremely nervous. Feeling the heat of his eyes on her a few times, she adjusted her position and let out a breath. “So, where’s your sidekick today?” she managed in a shaky voice.

“He’s on his way to pick up your sister. They’re going to meet up with us in a couple of hours but, until then, you’re stuck with just me. Do you think you can handle it?”

“Handle what?” Kristie laughed. She really enjoyed teasing him.

Declan turned his head slightly when they were stopped at a red light and wiggled his brows in a crazy way. “Being stuck with me. Only me.”

Feeling like the incredibly shrinking woman, she looked at him for a moment before speaking. “Handle-shmandle. You’re not that scary.”

“I don’t want to scare you,” He replied in a sheepish voice.

“Suddenly I feel like you’re leaving something out of that sentence.”

Feeling a chill run down his spine at the truth behind Kristie’s statement, Declan took her small hand in his rather large one and brought it to his lips before he kissed it. “I just don’t want you to be nervous around me. I promise to be the perfect gentleman.” He paused for a moment, turned his head towards hers and smiled. “That is...for today.”

Rubbing her damp palms on her skirt, Kristie did her best to relax but failed with a capital ‘F’. Feeling the need to reply to his innuendo in some way, she grinned and asked, “Today?”

“Yes, today. I can’t make a promise yet for any other day. Only today.”

“I see.” She looked out the window as they headed towards the highway and silently wondered where they were going. Her phone vibrated in her purse, pulling her out of her thoughts. Looking at the caller ID, she apologized to Declan before she answered the call, “Hello?”

‘Hi Kristie.’

‘Hi Paolo,’
replied Kristie with a huge smile with excitement laced in her tone.

‘I hope I’m not bothering you.’

‘No. You’re not bothering me at all,’
Kristie assured as she fidgeted anxiously in her seat.

‘I have the photos from your photo-shoot and was wondering if we could meet for lunch tomorrow around noon?’

Feeling excitement coarse through her body, she beamed,
‘Lunch tomorrow sounds perfect. Why don’t we meet at Michael’s.’

‘Great. I’ll reserve us a table.’

‘See you tomorrow. Bye.’

Ending the call, she held onto her phone and smiled from ear to ear, which caused Declan to grab the steering wheel a little tighter. Looking at his white knuckles, he gritted his teeth and said in a voice he wasn’t sure was his, “Important little call I see.”

Smiling brightly, she looked over at him with her adorable dimples present. He groaned as he felt a warmth flood his nether region. She answered, “Yes, it sure was.”

Not wanting to sound jealous or possessive, he did his best to dismiss it and turned on the radio. “What kind of music do you like?”

“Country.”

“Me too,” said Declan. He pressed the button for scan and spent a few minutes searching for a country station without success.

“This is New York. We only have one country music station that I know of.” She knocked his hand away and then scanned for a few moments. Finally, with a soft cry of delight, she found the station and sat back. She smiled out the window, completely relaxed as the sound of Brad Paisley’s voice emanated through the trucks speakers.