Chapter 97
“Declan,” I say, getting his attention and interrupting his conversation with Lauren on the patio. I nod for him to talk with me in private by the firepit.
Right now is the best time for this conversation with Dani wrapped up in a heated debate about Formula One. I love that she has a tomboy side.
“What’s up?” he asks, walking over to me.
“We’re friends, right?” I ask.
“Yeah. You’re a good guy.”
“As my friend, stop flirting with Dani.”
His face is calculating before he says, “It’s a two-way street.”
I rub my eye because I fucking know Dani flirts with him. “If you kiss her again?—”
“Kiss?” he interrupts.
“You kissed the top of her head at her birthday party.”
“Sorry. That was out of line.”
“Declan, if you kiss her again, I’m going to break your face.”
“Understandable.” His expression says he was going to say something else but is holding back. We hold an awkward moment of silence before he says, “She’s happy with you. I’ve never seen her this happy, and I love seeing her like this.”
I don’t think Declan is trying to make a move for her. I don’t get that vibe. I just can’t stand their little flirtations anymore.
“Thank you for this book club thing we have going on. It’s been good for both of us.”
“One of these days, you two are going to give in.”
Being fully sober. “I don’t know if that’s what either of us needs, but reevaluating has been good.” I pause, needing to talk about something else that’s been weighing on me. “What are we going to do about Adam?”
He shakes his head. “We are so tied to him.” He huffs. “If only I wasn’t leveraged right now with this Dubois deal, I would take over Harris Ventures and tell him to move to a different country.”
“That’s an idea,” I say, completely serious. “Should we raise a fund and take over Harris Ventures?”
“I thought you were retiring.”
“I am.” I chuckle. We’re silent for a moment, likely both considering how we could do it—take over his company and force him out.
That would make my life easier for Real-ity and with Dani.
Declan already owns twenty-five percent of Harris Ventures too.
But then I voice my real concern. “Do you think he will do something truly crazy to Dani?”
“He could,” Declan says too casually. “That’s why I have security on her.”
“What?” I snarl.
“Ever since Sorin’s funeral, when she was talking to me about it. I’m paying for peace of mind.”
“You’re serious.” I breathe, taking in his words.
“I have the best looking after her. Your people.”
“My people?”
“Private Israeli security contractors.”
“You’re not getting a daily report about her movements, are you?”
“I’m not a stalker,” he says. “They are observing at a distance, and if they need to intervene, they will.”
I shake my head, not loving the fact that there are people following us around.
“Peace of mind is priceless,” he says, picking up on my unease.
I nod, agreeing. Dani is on her own a lot. “We can’t tell her. This is our secret.”
Declan nods. “Lauren.” I smile, changing the subject. I’m happy to see him into someone other than Dani. He shrugs. “Does she meet your sobriety requirements? Dani told me about that.”
“She does. Vegan, yogi, very into longevity … She’s interesting.” We hold an awkward stare before he starts walking away. He looks back, chuckling, before saying, “I’m surprised Dani can walk.”
I watch Declan sit back down next to Lauren on his patio, unsure what to make of that comment. There’s a lot of sexual energy at this house this weekend. I chuckle to myself; these sober people only have one other thing to do: fuck.