Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
DECLAN
My skin thrums with excitement.
This is it. This is me.
Today’s the day I introduce Zoe to my life.
We taxi from the airport up into the Hollywood Hills where my refuge from the world is. She has no idea just how big the estate is or how much I want to share it with her.
When we pull up to the wrought-iron gate, she gasps. “This is your house?”
I grin. It’s big and ostentatious—especially when it’s just me living here. But I love it. I’d be devastated if I ever had to give it up.
This was the hideaway I bought with my biggest movie cheque. An Edwardian mansion in the Hollywood Hills wasn’t where I’d pictured myself living, but the moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it.
It’s huge, it’s quirky, and it’s all mine.
The gates open, and we drive up to the entrance where I help her out the car and then grab our luggage. I unlock the front door, and push it open.
“This is insane.” Zoe’s eyes are wide as she looks around the entranceway. I can’t help but smile. She could afford a place like this, but she’s so self-conscious about her wealth, she’d never do it.
Me, on the other hand? I’ve always liked the finer things in life. And a big house in the Hollywood Hills fits the picture.
I frown at the sound of heels clipping on the tiled floor and turn toward the staircase.
A glance back at Zoe makes my heart sink. Her gaze is fixed on the blonde making her way toward us.
Annabelle.
My second ex-wife.
Who definitely shouldn’t be in this house..
“What in the ever-loving FUCK are you doing here?” I yell.
She recoils. “You weren’t here. I thought?—”
“You thought wrong. Get your shit and get out. And return the key you’re not supposed to have.”
Annabelle tilts her head, and a soft smile spreads on her lips. “Declan, baby.”
“We’ve been divorced for five years. You got more than you were entitled to. Get the fuck out of my house.”
“I need somewhere to stay.”
“You have friends. Go crash with one of them. What happened to the house you got in the divorce?”
She pouts. “It’s complicated.”
“Just get out, Annabelle. We were done a long time ago. ”
Fixing her gaze on Zoe, she smirks. “Don’t think you’ll get a ring on his finger.”
I glare at her. “Zoe’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The only thing I regret is the ring I put on your finger. Biggest. Mistake. Ever.”
Her nostrils flare, and I know I’ve hit her hard.
While I have so many regrets about my first marriage—Ciara didn’t deserve the way this life chewed her up and spat her out—Annabelle was a big old drunken mistake. I’m not sure I was sober at any point in our relationship. That’s on me, but she was just as toxic, and we were bad together. There was never a future there. And when we divorced, she did her best to suck me dry, but our pre-nup held tight and she only got what she was entitled to. It was still more than enough to set her up for life. If she’s run out of money, she’s only got herself to blame.
“Get out of my house. Text me where you’re staying so I can send you whatever you brought here. I’ll be having the locks changed so you can’t get back in.”
Her eyes flare with anger and she storms toward the front door.
“Good riddance,” I call.
The doorjamb rattles as she slams it shut, and I snort. “I’m so sorry, Zo.”
I turn toward her.
Instead of the upset woman I expect to find, Zoe’s got her lips clamped together as if she’s trying not to laugh.
“I’m glad you find it funny.”
Zoe snorts, and then holds her hand over her nose, her mouth falling open in horror. It’s enough to set me off, and I grasp her arm, laughing right along with her.
“So, that was your ex-wife?” she asks.
“One of them.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, Lordy. What have I got myself into?”
“I haven’t seen the other one in years. Annabelle is the only pain in my ass, though I’ll make it clear she needs to stay far away from me. She’s got a nerve coming here. She never even lived here when we were married.”
Zoe’s expression softens. “She didn’t?”
“No. This is and has always been my place. We lived in an apartment together. I don’t even know how she got a key, but I’ll sure as hell be finding out.” I huff out a breath. “Take a seat in the living room and I’ll organise some coffee and something to eat.”
Zoe draws closer, cupping my face between her hands. “It’s not your fault. I’m okay.”
The tension eases, and I roll my shoulders. She always knows how to disarm me. “I’m sorry, babe. She sets me on edge.”
“I can see. But she’s gone now.” After a gentle kiss, she heads toward the living room, and I race up to my bedroom, taking two stairs at a time.
Relief floods through me that she doesn’t appear to have slept in my bed. It wouldn’t feel right bringing Zoe here if she had. I’d need to burn the mattress.
One of the guest bedrooms is trashed. The bedding is a mess. And food wrappers litter the room. It’s like she’d hunkered down in here and barely left .
Maybe that’s what happened here.
She must have been counting on me not coming here anytime soon. I guess it has been months since I was in town, and that’s how my life has always been—here then gone for shoots and promo.
I’ll talk to the housekeeper when she’s in about cleaning up. She can have a bonus for dealing with this crap.
Thankfully the kitchen is stocked—so the housekeeper has been in while Annabelle’s here. I’ll have to address that too.
After making some coffee and a sandwich for Zoe, I head out the back to where my groundskeeper lives. He’s the holder of spare keys, and I want answers.
He gives me a cautious smile as I approach.
“How did Annabelle get in?” There’s no point in beating around the bush.
At least he has the decency to look sheepish. “I gave her a key. It’s completely my fault.”
I set my jaw. “What on earth did she tell you to convince you to do that?”
He looks at the floor.
“What did she promise you?”
Charlie’s been a part of my life for years. Once I bought this place, I needed a groundskeeper who could maintain it—any effort on my part would have been a token gesture, and there’s far too much garden for me to deal with it.
“She said you’d given her permission to stay—told me the man she was with had been stalking her and she needed somewhere safe.”
I sigh. “You didn’t call me. ”
“What can I say? I’m a soft touch.”
I don’t have the heart to let him go. And I get it. The only wife he ever knew me with was Annabelle, even though she never lived in this house. He’s an older man she’s taken advantage of.
“No one stays here unless I bring them.”
He nods. “I’m sorry, Declan. Maybe I’m getting too old in the tooth for this. I only did it because I knew she used to be your wife.”
“We’ve been divorced for five years. She’s not my problem anymore.” I grasp his shoulder. “Don’t let one bad judgment put you off. You know how much I value the way you look after this estate.”
He rises his gaze to meet mine. “How long are you staying this time?”
I grin. “Not long. I’m just here for a premiere. I’ll bring my lady out to meet you at some point. We’ll be staying for a few days.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. I’m going to head back in, but please, Charlie. No one gets access to this house unless it’s me or my lady.”
He gives me a nod, and I walk back inside. Zoe looks up from her spot on the couch and smiles. “Everything okay?”
“It will be in a minute.”
Her brows knit, but I sit beside her and pull her toward me, kissing her with every bit of passion I can muster. She laughs against my lips before I deepen the kiss.
When I let her up for air, I hold her close, and she laughs softly .
I run my hand over her head. “Now everything’s right with the world.”
She sighs contentedly when she climbs into my big, comfortable bed.
“Your ex didn’t sleep in here, did she?”
I shake my head. “No, she slept down the hall. The room’s a mess. My housekeeper will sort it tomorrow.”
She laughs. “Housekeeper. Groundskeeper. Assistant. It’s like a foreign language.”
“I’ve never gone too crazy. I like doing things for myself.”
Zoe snuggles down under the covers. “Come here and show me.”
After sliding into bed, I spoon my naked body behind hers, placing my hand on her swollen belly.
“Declan?” Zoe lets out a yawn.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Did you know when you do that, the baby settles. It’s like you have the magic touch.”
I chuckle, kissing her bare shoulder. “She knows her daddy already.”
“She?”
“We’re having a girl.”
Zoe laughs softly. “So confident.”
“A father knows.”
“You’re so full of it.”
I nuzzle her behind her ear, and she sighs. “Maybe, but don’t tell our daughter. ”
“Only three months until we find out for real. Our baby is modest. Unlike you.”
Laughter bursts from me, and she grunts, rolling onto her back before I help her to get to her other side. “I asked for that,” I smirk.
“You can’t help yourself. I’m beginning to think you’d give up clothing if you could.”
Her blue eyes twinkle with mischief. I’m so crazy about her. To think I could have missed all this if she hadn’t fallen pregnant.
When I say nothing, her brow furrows.
“I really love you. You know that, right?” I say. Her eyes fill with tears, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing.
“What did you do?” she asks.
“Shit. Nothing. I just meant that I really love you. And I know things were weird at first, but I’m glad you’re pregnant. I’m glad it brought us together, and I’m so stupidly happy—more than I’ve ever been.”
A smile shifts her lips.
“I just hope I’m making you happy.”
She nods. “These past months have been wonderful. I love you so much.”
Her lips, just begging to be kissed, twitch. I smile before claiming them with my own, pouring my love into her. Being with Zoe has made me realise just how much I’ve been missing all my life—it’s always been about the surface and not what’s underneath.
What I have with Zoe is real.
The kiss deepens, and when I finally let her up for air, a wicked grin appears on her face.
“Uh-oh. What’s that for?” I ask.
“Now you’ve woken me up, and you’re already naked, so …”