CHAPTER THIRTY
“Hey, darling, are you almost home?” Declan asked over the phone.
“I just walked in. What’s up?” I asked as I shuffled out of my coat and shoes, then started for my office to drop off my messenger bag and my students’ homework. “Are you working late again?”
“I am, I’m sorry. I know I promised to take you out tonight to celebrate your divorce being finalized, but some of the board members have called an urgent meeting, and I’m afraid I can’t miss it.”
“Oh, that’s fine. You can make it up to me in other ways,” I said in my most seductive voice.
Declan chuckled, and the sound sent a surge of heat straight to my abdomen. “I can do that.”
“Promises, promises,” I taunted.
I got to my home office—which Declan had surprised me with a few weeks ago—and deposited my bags on the large, artfully styled glass desk.
The office was a quiet and cozy space painted in warm, earthy tones, with an abundance of books, plants, and comfy pillows in all shapes and sizes. The space was right across from Declan’s home library, and right next to it was his private study.
I’d fallen asleep in bed one night while working on my manuscript, and the next morning, he’d surprised me with the fully furnished office space.
It had all my favorite books, movie quotes, and illustrations carefully organized on the walls.
And not once had he asked for my input. He simply knew what I liked and made it happen, and it was detailed and perfect in every way.
I couldn’t have done a better job had I done it myself, and I was so grateful to him.
On the day of my office reveal, he admitted he began working on the area the day after he brought me home from the hospital, and I genuinely sobbed at his motives for creating the space.
He’d explained that he simply wanted me to have a space of my own in case I got bored or wanted some place to isolate and reset, which was a self-care ritual I’d mentioned to him on our first date.
He wanted to provide me with that space—that comfort; and my heart vibrated with so much love and adoration for him that I threw myself in his arms and cried happy tears for an hour.
“Oh, trust me,” Declan said quietly in my ear. “That’s one promise I won’t back away from.”
I laughed and hit the speaker button on my phone, setting it down on my desk as I rummaged through my bag in search of my divorce decree.
Ayana had called me in an excited state this morning, and before the phone was at my ear, she was already shouting the announcement that my divorce was finally granted.
After a month and a half of Seth’s constant refusal to sign and nonstop antics to get my attention—he couldn’t, by the way, he’d been blocked since the day I moved out—he’d finally caved and signed the divorce papers.
I suspected it was Ayana’s threats to make the divorce public that finally got through to him.
But whatever it was, I was eternally grateful.
I was now free to pursue a life with the man I loved.
Though I haven’t had the courage to tell him yet.
I would, eventually. When the time was right.
I needed to know how he felt about me before I made a fool of myself.
Sure, we were fine now, but maybe Declan wasn’t in a rush to settle down with a newly divorced woman.
Although that would be awkward since we were technically already living together.
I’d told him I wanted to get my own place after my divorce was finalized. And he’d told me he’d tie me to the bed if I ever tried to move out. Then, volunteer to ferry my students to and from his bedroom every morning so I could continue to educate them while in captivity.
I smiled at the memory.
God, I loved this man.
“Ah, shit!” Declan swore.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I left the files I need for this meeting at home. I didn’t bring them with me because this meeting wasn’t supposed to happen until next week. I hadn’t finished going over the reports yet.”
“Where are they? I can bring them to you.”
“You would?” he asked, sounding genuinely astonished.
I chuckled. “Yes, Mr. I-can-do-everything-myself-I-don’t-need-an-assistant.”
Declan’s wince was audible over the phone.
It was a constant source of contention between him and his sister.
She wanted him to get a personal assistant to help him manage his time and take on smaller tasks that didn’t need Declan’s immediate attention, and he was adamant that he couldn’t trust anyone with his personal or business documents.
Cassidy had brought up getting them to sign an NDA.
To which Declan had rebutted, saying that NDAs were only useful after the fact, and that they wouldn’t prevent them from causing damage if that was their true objective.
Cassidy had called him a control freak, and he had called her a mad scientist who was clearly sniffing her own creations.
They’d paused, stared at each other, then exploded into laughter.
It was one of the best dinners I’d ever experienced with the pair, but it also made me a little sad that I never had siblings to jest with.
“I’m kidding, babe,” I soothed. “You are very good at multitasking, and you don’t need an assistant if you don't want one.”
He chuckled. “Thank you for believing in me. Now, if you could please tell that to my sister, that would be great.”
“I’ll get right on it,” I quipped. “Where do I find those files you need?”
“Oh, right. They’re in my study. It’s a little black hard drive. It should be right there on my desk as you walk in.”
I picked up my phone and padded barefoot next door to his study. Sure enough, the hard drive was right where he said it would be.
“Found it,” I announced.
“Perfect. I’ll ask Steven to come back and get you, then take you to my office. He shouldn’t be too far away since he’s just dropped you off at home.”
“Oh, right. I forgot about Steven. Should I just give him the hard drive so he can deliver it to you?”
“So I’ll see you in a couple of minutes. The traffic shouldn’t be too bad this time of day,” Declan declared, completely ignoring my question.
“Did you hear what I said about giving the drive to Steven instead?”
“Did you hear me ignore the question?”
I laughed. “Fine, fine. I’ll wait for him downstairs in the parking lot.”
“Good girl,” he rumbled, and I could have sworn my womb pulsed at the gruff command in his voice.
Jeez, calm down, girl. It’s not like we’re starving for sex. Declan’s been putting in the work damn near every night. And most mornings!
With my face bright red with arousal, I ended the call and promptly made my way back down the hall for my shoes and coat.
Declan’s driver, Steven, was one of the sweetest human beings I’d ever met. He’d been driving me to and from the elementary school since I was healed enough to go back to work two weeks ago.
Steven had a charming personality, a warm smile, and a soothing aura that had you instantly letting your guard down without even trying.
He also brought me coffee and a variety of delicious pastries every morning, so he was definitely on my list of top ten people I’d probably help out in a zombie apocalypse.
Steven also insisted on carrying my bags and walking me to my classroom each morning, and while he was usually silent for most of it, I was grateful for his company.
Especially now that Declan was starting to get busy with work and didn’t have the time to drive me to and from like he usually would.
And while Declan had offered me the use of any number of his luxury cars, I still preferred it when he dropped me off at work in the mornings before going to his office.
I got to spend an extra few minutes with him before we took on our respective days.
I think I was desperate for human contact after being alone and sad for so long that even a silent walk from the parking lot to my classroom brought me so much warmth.
I never did get around to driving any of the luxury cars, but even so, Steven’s quiet company was referable.
Much to Declan’s disappointment, I’d declined his offer to buy me whichever car I desired, but did promise him I’d think about it some more since the subject seemed especially important to him.
It felt awkward to be so dependent on him.
And while I was sure he’d never complain, wasn’t depending on a man the very thing I vowed never to do again?
He’d already paid for my divorce lawyer, and though he tried to write it off as if it was nothing, it meant a lot to me.
Deep down, it felt like I owed him for life for helping me regain my freedom.
Additionally, my health insurance was now mysteriously covered in full for the next five years.
And though I know it was his doing, Declan still refused to take credit for it.
Also, wasn’t my insurance information supposed to be private?
I could only imagine the kind of strings he pulled to make that happen.
So yeah, Declan had already done enough for me. Adding a car to the mix would simply be too much.
Moments later, Steven’s black Cadillac Escalade pulled into Declan’s private parking lot, and after a brief greeting and an exchange of chocolate-covered donuts sprinkled with a smattering of edible pink flowers, we were on our way.