Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Evie
Declan is a man of few words, yes, but he’s also unerringly polite. His utter lack of manners right now has me grasping for some way to recover the moment.
“Jack is back from filming a movie overseas. What was this one about?” I’m so happy to see my dear friend and relieved he looks so healthy.
He’s been through a lot these last few years and in the midst of it, he’s still supported me so well. My heart is full just having him here, and Charlie will be happy, too. He’s old enough he should remember his Uncle Jack, especially since we do video calls every few weeks.
“It was another Task Force Freedom movie.” He gives me a chagrined look. “Not exactly Oscar-quality work, but they’re great.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, when you already have an Oscar, you don’t have to constantly do that work. Being a badass action hero has its place.” I pat his shoulder as though in consolation and he laughs in that charming, self-deprecating way he’s a master of.
And Declan? He still hasn’t spoken.
There is no part of me that believes he’s starstruck.
For one, he’s met Jack before. When he’s not filming movies or traveling for press junkets or whatever else, Jack spends most of his leisure time at his home in Silverton.
It’s a whopping forty-five minutes from here, so he’ll pop over to see me and Charlie or bring us dinner and check in.
For two, I cannot imagine a person less inclined to be wowed by a celebrity.
Declan is serious and focused and disciplined and responsible.
He is nearly the complete opposite of darling May, who is still low-key hyperventilating at Jack’s presence.
I’ll make sure he stops by to chat with her before he leaves.
“How are things at the clinic?” Jack asks, his voice congenial and smooth. He is a master at awkward social encounters, no doubt, and thank goodness.
After a beat when Declan yet again doesn’t respond, I rush in with, “Oh, they’re great. Really.”
“Yes. Evie does excellent work. She and Maggie keep the rest of us on task.”
If I didn’t see the words coming from the human man in front of me, I’d think someone had played a recording from a computer. Next, we’ll need to oil his hinges and change a gear in that big brain of his.
I try to give him a “what is wrong with you?” look, but he won’t meet my eye. Jack will, and he raises a brow. I widen my eyes to say “I have no idea.”
“Good to see you, Jack. Evie, we’ll talk again soon.” Declan gives me a curt nod, and then he leaves.
Just like that, poof! His rusty robot act turned into a genie.
Jack’s expression is mischievous. “So that’s the groom-to-be?”
I sink down into the chair I was sitting in minutes ago. “I mean, he was. No idea what just happened there.”
Jack sits in Declan’s seat and slides Declan’s abandoned coffee back so he can lean his elbows on the table. Even the fact that Declan didn’t take his mug with him is a sign he was more than a little off.
“You have no idea what just happened? Really, Evie?”
His tone says I should know exactly, but how? I haven’t spent all that much time outside of work with Declan, let alone dated the man. I don’t know Declan in a we’re about to get married capacity. This is all new to me, too.
“How would I possibly know?” I don’t see how I could, nor why Jack appears to feel he does.
He leans back, knees spread wide, fully comfortable in himself. It’s a stark contrast to the buttoned-up way Declan holds himself, even when he’s not at work.
“The guy just got hit with the big green monster.”
“Which is?”
He chuckles low. “He’s jealous, Evie. He doesn’t know you’re like an annoying little sister to me. He thinks he might have competition for his role as Mister Evie Hansen.”
I roll my eyes at him again, but inside, there’s a not-small flutter. “There’s no way. He— We— It’s not like that.” For him.
It’s not like that for him.
I haven’t admitted my feelings for Declan to Jack, but right now, it feels like he can see all the way through me down to the place I’ve hidden those thoughts away.
“I understand it hasn’t been like that, but I challenge the premise that it isn’t now. Maybe not fully, sure, but why would he do this? You’re not paying him, right?”
I scowl. “No. And even if I could, he’s got money. All the Ryans do. Plus he’s a doctor—pretty decent paycheck.”
“Exactly. So why else?”
“Because he’s a good man. He cares about his employees and he cares about Charlie.” My heart squeezes thinking about how sweet he is to my baby.
Jack lets my words settle around us. Of course I hear it. No man in his right mind marries a woman for so little. And yet, when I pressed Declan on it, he had me convinced.
“I know you believe he’s a good guy. I had my people at Saint Security check into him, and I saw no red flags.
You’ve known him for a year. Your lawyer says it’ll help.
All good things. But before you tie the knot with this guy, please get him to verbalize what he wants here.
Why he’s doing it. It cannot be completely out of the goodness of his heart—I don’t buy it. ”
Jack’s putting words to a thread of concern that’s been tugging at me since the first mention of this. I’m not looking forward to it, but I agree.
“Is he thinking he’s just signing up for an easy booty call? Or—” He throws his hands up when I shoot daggers at him.
“I’m not saying you’re like that, obviously, but I don’t know the guy.” He’s still holding his hands up like I’ve got a weapon.
“I literally asked him how he was going to handle that and he said, ‘Your needs come first,’ and that was it. I didn’t push because it was a little awkward, but he made it clear he has no plans to date on the side and no expectations.”
It sounds unbelievable to me, too.
My heart sinks and I flop down, my forehead resting against my hands on the table. “Ugh.”
Jack roughly pats my head, which makes me smile. When I rally and sit upright, he’s got an expression of sympathy for me.
“I think you should spell that out before you tie the knot. Does he expect anything from you? And if he does…”
“It’s not an exchange of goods, Jack. I’m not sleeping with him to thank him.” I whisper-yell it, grateful the grind of espresso beans provides some audio cover.
Jack snatches one of my hands and cups it in his.
“Hey. I’m not saying you would. But I think when something seems too good to be true, it is.
And based on what I just saw, the guy is down bad for you.
So it’s conceivable to me that he might be…
hoping. And I’m not sure that’s a good situation for you. ”
A swirl of excitement and dread twists in my belly.
“I appreciate that.” Because I’m not going to admit that it’s really roles reversed.
I think Declan is protective of me and likes me as a person.
I have never once gotten the sense that he sees me as anything other than a capable employee and the mother of one of his favorite tiny people.
And though initially I felt his daily greeting of Charlie and help with my bag might be something, I’ve come to realize it’s just who Declan is.
I’ve also seen him help people clear snow from their cars, the elderly cross a street, provide quick medical care when someone fell in the park, and go above and beyond for every single patient and employee at the clinic.
He leaves early every other Wednesday to go volunteer his expertise at the local free clinic for uninsured and undocumented folks where the other Dr. Martinez works now. He’s just… good like that.
So, me?
I’m not special to him. I happen to fit into the selfless, service-oriented framework he has for his life.
I can accept that. I think.
But I’m not about to admit it’ll be a challenge for me. Not to anyone, let alone to Jack, who will likely try to dissuade me from wading into this if I’ve got feelings.
“You know I’ll marry you, right? I should’ve said something, but I assumed you knew.” His expression is almost embarrassed. Like he’s failed me by not making that clear sooner.
“Aw. Thanks. But I’m not sure entering your world would actually be a positive.”
He scowls. “Rude.”
I chuckle, relieved some of the tightness in my chest eases when I do. “You know what I mean.”
And because he is stunningly self-aware for an A-list celebrity, he nods. “I do.”
“Imagine the trolls taking to your socials,” I say with a smile. “Combing through every post, every sighting, flagging when we could’ve been meeting.”
He winces. “Asking why I didn’t bring you over to any location shoots.”
“Right.” I nod. “Then hackers would get into your emails and texts—”
He points at me. “Good luck with that.”
“They’ll try,” I point out with raised brows.
He grimaces then nods. The sobering reality is obvious.
“Then by the time we’re in front of the judge, Trevor’s lawyer would have a whole file on all our encounters and whereabouts and…”
Jack sighs. “It’d be pretty obvious we’re not a real thing. I know.”
I don’t want to tank your chances is what he doesn’t say aloud. I hear it, though, and reach out to clasp his hand.
Maybe it’s incredibly stupid that I’m more inclined to marry Declan, whom I’ve known for a year and have feelings for, than Jack, whom I’ve known for several years and who knows all the gory details of my past and is one of the only people I let close enough to consider a real friend, but I’m going to.
Even if it will end up in a broken heart.