5. Declan #2
“When I left home, it was to create a support system for the goals and dreams of six other people. My plan was to build the money, network, and contacts so that you, your siblings, and mine could literally do whatever you wanted. So that you could all leave Cara. So you could break away from my grandfather’s insistence that everyone had to stay on that island for the rest of their lives and never connect with the rest of the world. ”
Astrid swallows hard again. “I know that, Declan. We all know what you’ve done for us.
And I’m grateful. I really am. But I don’t understand what that has to do with this.
With us being married.” She takes a deep breath, her gaze focused on my chin.
“You disagreed with your grandfather on seemingly everything. His insistence that we all stay in Cara and live small, quiet, content lives. The way he refused to interact with the bigger world. The way he felt that Cara was safer and happier if it was under the radar. Why would you agree with him on this insane marriage plan of all things?”
I want to cup her cheek so badly. I want to tell her how incredible I think she is. How proud I am of her.
I’ve known of Astrid forever. She’s always been Linnea’s little sister and Alfred’s youngest granddaughter. Before I left home, there were many occasions when she and her family were with mine. But I didn’t really notice her. And I certainly didn’t fall in love with her.
Not until that fateful day when she took the fall at the Olympic trials that changed her life.
I was concerned, of course. I made sure she had the best medical care and rehab.
I personally hired Miles to be her therapist. And then her bodyguard as she made her rehab journey public and became an influencer.
But then my concern turned into a much bigger emotion as I watched her take a terrible situation and turn it into a triumph. I watched her grow stronger physically and emotionally, then inspire others.
And somewhere along the way, concern and pride turned into something much deeper.
She’s gorgeous, and I’m more physically attracted to her than I’ve ever been to anyone, but it’s her spirit and her heart that made me fall in love with her, even from a distance.
I curl my hand into a fist to keep from touching her and say, “I’ve met all of the goals I had when I left home.
My siblings, and all of yours, are out there making the world a better place.
They’ll never want for anything, and they can do all of the amazing things they’re passionate about with every resource they need.
“Our country now has friends, allies, and partners around the world. Now that Torin is king, he’s meeting with them, establishing relationships in the business, tech, manufacturing, and political spheres.”
I take a deep breath. “But that all came at a price. I had to stay away from home and my family for years. I had to deal with my grandfather feeling I was disloyal and ungrateful to him and our country. I didn’t go home because I didn’t want to argue with him, I didn’t want to upset my grandmother and mother, and frankly, because I knew how hard it would be to leave every time. ”
Astrid is watching me with a strange expression. She looks confused. “You missed home?”
“Of course. Staying away was incredibly hard. But it was for a very good cause.” I spread my arms. “And now, it’s done.
I’ve accomplished everything I needed to.
I don’t need to stay away now. I can rebuild those relationships with my family.
I hope. And I can spend time with my mother and with my grandparents that isn’t overshadowed by politics and business.
” I pause, then say, “And I can make a family of my own.”
She flinches slightly at that, and I feel the knot in my stomach turn into a lead ball.
Part of the marriage arrangement that my grandfather proposed included us having a baby. A child who is part of both the O’Grady and the Olsen bloodlines. Astrid knew that when she said yes.
“You want…” She stops, clears her throat, then asks, “You want to be a dad?”
“I do. I’ve missed out on so much with my family. The idea of having kids who are friends with my siblings’ kids, seeing my mother as a grandmother, seeing my kids making memories in the same places I did growing up…” I pause, then nod. “Yes, I want all of that.”
I’d gotten a taste at Christmastime right after we were married. We’d gone to Cara to be with everyone, and I’d spent a holiday with my mother, siblings, and grandparents for the first time in nearly two decades.
We’d gathered in the great room around the fireplace with the tree, just like we had when I was growing up. Everyone had been there. I got to meet my siblings’ spouses and see how in love they are. There had been talking and laughing. Stories. Jokes. Food I hadn’t had in years.
The room was full of family, friends, and love.
I was nearly overwhelmed.
And I wanted more of it.
Astrid is shaking her head. “But you never go back.”
“I don’t go because we don’t go together, and I can’t explain that to them.”
Her frown deepens. “You didn’t even stay in Cara at Christmastime last year when we were there together,” she says. “You left to come back to the States for business.”
“I didn’t have business,” I confess. “I left early because you were uncomfortable.”
Her mouth drops open. “I…wha…I didn’t…” She stops and takes a breath. “I wasn’t uncomfortable.”
“You were sneaking out of our bedroom every night.”
We would retire together to the same room, but not until it was late and everyone else had gone to their rooms. Then, before either of us got into bed, she would sneak out and sleep in another room.
She would return in the morning before anyone woke up and get ready for the day in the en suite bathroom, emerging as if she’d spent the night with me.
“You were definitely uncomfortable,” I say. “I hated that. I didn’t want to ruin Christmas for you.”
She shakes her head as if not fully processing this. “So you left for me?”
“Of course.”
Her eyes go wide. “So I ruined your chance to make amends and heal things with your family?”
“Well… I wouldn’t put it like that,” I say.
“But I did.”
She did. Kind of. I step closer to her. “Let’s just say, now you understand why I do not want the annulment.”
“Argh!” She lets out a frustrated groan. “Dammit, Declan. You’ve been estranged from everyone for eighteen years! I was counting on you being cold-hearted about how the family would feel about us splitting up.”
I step closer. “On the contrary, when I’m with you, I feel…warmer in a lot of ways.”
Okay, that sounded more like innuendo than I intended.
Her mouth opens again, but no sound comes out.
I smirk. I really like surprising this woman.
Then her brows pull together. “It’s just the humidity here. You’ll get used to it.”
I almost laugh. I realize I shouldn’t be surprised that her feeling bad about Christmas didn’t soften her entirely.
Astrid’s a fighter.
She was thrust into the spotlight as a gymnast when she was a kid. The king and her sister decided she would be a great representative for our country, and her grandfather realized that would be the perfect way to get her out of the country.
But she didn’t just go along with the plan. She didn’t do just the bare minimum. She became a world champion. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that she would have been a gold-medal Olympian if she hadn’t gotten hurt.
Then, when it seemed fate had dealt a terrible hand in the form of a serious injury, including vertebral fractures and a partial spinal cord injury, Astrid fought back. She doesn’t just let things happen to her or let other people decide what will happen to her.
Which means, if she wants me to divorce her, my time in Rebel, Louisiana, will probably be a lot more interesting than I even expected.
Suddenly, a loud, high-pitched squeaking sound erupts near our feet.
I look down and am startled to see four animals circling our feet.
A second later, I realize they’re otters.
Real, live otters. One is standing on Astrid’s foot, looking up at her, making a whining noise.
Another is on his back legs, with his front paws on her knee.
The other two are crouching but also watching her and making a noise I’ve never heard before. Is that what otters sound like? Really?
“What the…” Before I even finish the question, I’m grabbing Astrid by the hips and lifting her off the ground, away from the animals.
They have claws. And teeth. And possibly rabies. Or…other things. I don’t really know that much—or anything—about otters.
The one looks like he’s trying to figure out how to climb up her body, though, and she’s wearing those damned shorts with all that exposed bare skin that the others can easily get to.
“Declan!” Astrid gasps, but instinctively, her arms wrap around my neck, and her legs hook around my hips.
Unfortunately, I can’t really enjoy that. I need to get her away from the wild animals that are trying to…I’m not sure what they’re trying to do, but getting away from them seems like the right call no matter what.
I turn and take several steps, but the otters follow, one abruptly running into the path in front of me and making me have to high step to keep from stepping on or kicking him.
I stumble to the side, my hands sliding under Astrid’s ass to keep from dropping her.
Her arms and legs tighten around me. “Declan, it’s—”
I feel a clawed paw tugging at the back of my pants leg. No. It’s trying to grab me?
I look down. “Dammit. Giant rats. Get the hell out of the—”
Suddenly, Astrid takes my face between her hands, turns my head, and covers my mouth with hers.