4. Declan
Chapter 4
Declan
D amn, she looks good. Tired, but really good. Riley has grown up and is absolutely beautiful – and off limits. She’s still my dead best friend’s twin sister. I shake my head as I watch her car pull out of the parking lot and turn down Hibiscus Harbor Boulevard.
Since Jax took the lady that tried to slap him to the police station to book her into jail, my night is over and it’s time to head home to Bella. She’s gonna be mad at me for being so late.
Climbing into my patrol car, I head towards home on the quiet streets of Hibiscus Harbor in the opposite direction that Riley left. It takes me no time to make it home and as I suspected, Bella is pissed at me.
“Hi, Baby.”
She ignores me and stays sitting on the couch not looking at me. Yep, she’s mad.
“Bella. I’m sorry. I have to work. You know that,” I say as I unclip my gun belt and put my gun into the locked cabinet.
She’s still mad and refusing to even look at me so I kick off my boots and change into my swim trucks and go in search of Bella.
“Let’s go for a swim, baby.”
I watch her think about it for a moment and then give me the side eye to see if I’m serious.
“I promise. I’m off for the next two days. It’s only you and me. Just the two of us. Now, let’s go swimming.” I open the back sliding door onto my screen covered patio and pool area. When she hears the door open, all is forgiven, and she grabs her teddy bear and meets me on the patio.
“There she is.” I start scratching her back end just where she likes it, and her back leg starts thumping on the patio floor; teddy bear still hanging out of her mouth.
The breeder told me when I got her that Great Danes are very sensitive.
He wasn’t kidding.
Bella gets the zoomies and starts running around the pool with her teddy bear still in her mouth. She absolutely refuses to get in the pool. Baths are also unacceptable. But she loves to run around the pool while I do laps and try to splash her.
After both of us are adequately exercised, I dry her off with my towel. It’s her favorite part of pool time even though she doesn’t get wet. “Ready for a cookie?”
That’s the magic word in this house and will definitely get you slobbered on if you’re not careful.
I grab a cookie from her treat jar that my mother made me and settle on the couch with a beer flipping through the television channels, but not really paying attention. My mind is on Riley. How beautiful she is and how surprised I was to see her at the event tonight. She looks amazing and hearing her voice for the first time in five years… it made my stomach drop.
And now she says she’s moved back home. Does that mean she’s living with her parents, or did she move into her own place? And where is this place? Is she dating anyone? Married? Why did she move back home? Is something wrong or did something happen?
None of the answers to these questions are any of my business. Hell, I shouldn’t even be thinking about her. Although, truth be told – I’ve never stopped thinking about her.
I shake my head as I finish off the rest of my beer and Bella and I head to bed.
The August Florida sun is almost unbearable and for some stupid ass reason, I’m out here mowing my yard – sweat pouring off of me and my shirt sticking to my chest. I’m listening to the latest zombie audiobook when it pauses and my phone rings.
I hit the button on my ear bud, “Hello?” It’s too damn bright out here to even attempt to see who is calling me on my phone’s screen.
“Hey. What are you doing?” Jax asks.
I release the lawn mower handle, and it shuts off. “Mowing. Why?”
“It’s too damn hot to be mowing.” He states the obvious.
“I know. What’s up?”
“I’m doing overtime tonight and they’re looking for more volunteers. Interested?” Jax loves his overtime, and he should now that he owns that boat.
“Nah, man. I’m good. I might stop by Hooplas tonight.” I wipe the sweat from my forehead with the bottom of my t-shirt.
“Ya sure? Time and a half.”
“No. I’m good. Thanks for letting me know, though.”
“Alright. I’ll let the captain know. See ya Monday.”
“Bye.” I hang up the phone and look at the little bit of yard I have left to mow and seriously contemplate letting it just grow wild, but decide that if I don’t do it now, I’ll regret it later when the mower won’t go through the thick, long grass.
After finishing the lawn, I jump in the pool to cool off and it feels amazing. Bella has refused to come outside because it’s too hot for her, and rightfully so. She’s a dark gray color and I don’t want her out in this sun and heat. Sometimes, though, I think she’s part cat.
I jump in the shower and make some lunch for both of us as my phone rings again. This time, I can see that it’s Trevor.
“Yo. What’s up Doc?”
“Yeah. Like that never gets old,” he replies deadpan.
I laugh at him. I’ve been answering his calls like this since he graduated med school. “What’s up, man?”
“Well, I happen to have a rare Saturday night off and have no idea what to do with myself. Got any plans?”
“Well, that sounds sad. What do you have in mind?”
“Nothing too crazy. I’ve got shift in the morning, but maybe play some pool at Hooplas?”
“Yeah. That sounds good. I was heading in that direction in about an hour already. I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good.”
“See ya.” He hangs up and I set the phone down. Bella sees that and stretches as she gets off the couch.
“Sorry, girl. Maybe next time you can go with me. Eat your lunch.”
She wanders over to her bowl, sniffs the food in it, looks at me, and then walks away. Apparently, she is part cat.