6. Liz #2
"You're thoughtful visiting her,” he murmured.
“I liked Helen. I’d hoped she'd be my neighbor for a long time.”
“And instead you got my grumpiest cousin," Reese said. “He’s like a year-round grinch.”
I looked at her over my shoulder, then back at Declan and winked. "Exactly.”
“Poor replacement, huh? Though we did hear that you’re not letting him sleep.”
“We reached a truce, didn’t we?” Declan asked, looking me straight in the eyes.
I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the way my stomach cartwheeled. “Yes, we did.”
His eyes were full of amusement as he handed me back my phone.
"I’m going,” I said with a wave. “Thank you. And again, sorry for my interruption."
“Wait," Reese said, looking at her cousins and sister. She ran her hand through her wavy tresses. Her hair was shiny, like she came out of a salon, which she probably had. "We can ask her opinion, right? As a third party, she’ll be objective."
I laughed. Well, I’d kissed Declan, so I wasn't sure about the objective part.
"Declan, do you mind if we share secrets with your neighbor?" Reese asked.
Declan threw his head back, laughing.
Ha! Good to know he laughed effortlessly around his family.
“Want to join us at the island?” Reese asked me. “Or are you in a hurry?”
I frowned slightly. "I'm not in a hurry, but I don't want to stay too long. I made donuts, and I want to take them to Helen while they’re fresh."
Travis straightened up. “Donuts? Where?”
“I left them on the front step.”
Luke’s jaw dropped. “Damn. I liked you on principle because you were giving Declan shit, but now I’m rethinking it.”
Sam and Kimberly both looked straight at the door.
I burst out laughing. “I thought it was easier. I made two boxes. I can bring one to you guys.”
Kimberly rubbed her palms together. “You know what? Bring them in. This conversation needs donuts.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll do it,” Declan said, immediately heading out to the door.
I glanced at him, zeroing in on that glorious ass of his. My God, he’s perfection.
When I focused back on the island, I realized all Maxwells were watching me. Travis flashed me a half smile, Luke seemed to bite back a laugh, and Reese was grinning.
Oh boy. I’ve been found out.
Declan returned with one of the boxes, opening it on the counter.
“These look incredible, and so professional. You made them?” Reese asked.
“Yes. I’m a baker. Helen loves them, so I thought I’d take a few to her and her friends at the home.”
Reese stopped in the act of biting into the donut she’d grabbed.
“Now I feel guilty for making you share them with us,” Kimberly said.
“Zero regrets here,” Sam exclaimed after swallowing a bite. Travis, Declan, and Luke were too busy devouring their donuts to say anything.
This group is fun!
“But not guilty enough not to eat it,” Reese added at last, taking a mouthful.
I rested my elbows on the counter, glancing at her. “I’m all ears.”
"We don't want to keep you too long with our dramatic backstory. So, the CliffsNotes version is this: My dad moved to London many years ago. He’d never been too involved in our lives. He took Mom’s death very hard—she passed away when we were kids.
" Her shoulders slumped, and Travis immediately put an arm around her.
"Anyway, when I was visiting in Paris, I met up with him in London, and it turns out that he got married two months ago and will be having a baby girl soon.”
"That's a lot to process," I said slowly, reaching for a donut. “And Kimberly is right. The conversation does need a treat.”
"Wait, we didn't tell you what our problem was," Kimberly said.
“Oh, okay.”
"We’re not sure how to tell our family. Dad asked us to do it for him. We’re especially worried about our grandmother. Dad's mom,” Reese explained.
“I'm not sure what to say. I mean, I don't know your grandmother.”
“Gran is a very sharp woman. Great sense of humor, takes no shit. Can always tell when we lie to her.”
“Even through omission,” Travis added.
“Has all the guys in the family by the balls,” Reese went on nonchalantly.
The guys started protesting at the same time. It was comical to watch them. Travis and Luke were both talking loudly, using their hands. Sam raised his voice even higher, but he was grinning. I couldn’t make out who was saying what. Declan was silent, eyes trained on Reese.
“Oh, this one is going to glare me to death,” she said, waggling her finger at Declan. “They can deny it all they want, but it's true. Anyway, we’re brainstorming how to tell her. And the rest of the family. It’s just us who know so far.”
I looked at all of them sympathetically. My God, they were adorable. Something shifted inside me at the sight. They were seriously debating how to best break the news to their family.
I mean, my family was close too, but this took the meaning to a whole new level.
“What are your thoughts so far?” I asked, completely engrossed in this.
“We thought about telling my uncle first, our dad’s brother—these doofuses’ father—who lives here in Chicago, and then having him tell Gran,” Reese suggested.
“Except we still have to tell Dad,” Travis said. “That on its own will be… interesting.”
“We hold a family dinner and tell everyone,” Declan added. “I’ll do it.”
Luke chuckled. “That’s going to go down well. ‘Hey, everyone. Welcome to dinner. By the way, Uncle Harvey got married and will have a daughter soon. Dig in.’”
Declan cocked a brow. “What’s wrong with that?”
Travis patted his shoulder. “The fact that you can’t even tell makes you a lost cause. No point explaining it to you.”
“Cousin, since I’ve been gone, you seem to have become even more insensitive,” Kimberly replied.
“Impossible,” Sam said. “He was at rock bottom to begin with.”
“Hey, I don’t think that’s a bad strategy. It’s honest,” I pointed out. “It does lack a bit of tact though. I mean, this is huge news.”
Declan cocked a brow. “Whose side are you on?”
“No one’s. I’m the objective third party, remember?”
His eyes zeroed in on my lips. I fidgeted in my spot, fixating on Reese, trying to ignore the sudden spike in my pulse.
“The other option is for me to take Gran for a walk and tell her. I think she’d appreciate it,” Reese said.
“That sounds much better,” I agreed. “More intimate, and she’d probably like that.”
“Excellent. And it lets us off the hook,” Luke added.
Reese stared at him. “You were fighting me on it before Liz came in. Said it’s better to do it as a group.”
Luke shrugged. “I changed my mind.”
I grinned. “My donuts are known to have a pacifying effect.”
Travis bit into a donut, giving me a thumbs-up. “These are delicious. Do you have a website where people can order?”
“No, but I will be opening my own bakery. Hopefully this century.”
"I'll keep that in mind," Travis said.
“I still think we should do it as a group over dinner,” Declan said.
Glancing at my watch, I realized time was flying, and I really did want to see Helen and spend some time with her. “I really should go,” I said.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” Declan said in that low, dangerously sexy voice.
“No need. I mean, the door is just there.” I jerked my thumb behind me. He was looking at me so intently that I felt his presence as if he was standing right next to me.
“Okay. But we have an unfinished conversation. We’ll continue it when you return?”
I nodded. Oh boy. I was fighting the impulse to fan myself.
As I walked out, I felt all eyes on me, and I was certain I’d feel my ears burning moments after I closed the door.