Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Yes, and they all go to a regular high school, juggling fame, fortune, and fifteen-year-old super fans, all while trying to pass algebra.” Rowan delivered the summary with all the solemnity of a State of the Union address.
“Sounds like a surefire hit.”
“I hope so.” Rowan shrugged as he closed the back of the SUV. “It’s an Ambrose Sterling production, so it’s bound to be good. However, Dad won’t shut up about how college is the more secure choice.”
“He loves you and wants you to be happy.”
“Yeah, and if you love something, set it free,” Rowan countered in a sing-song voice. I’d seen that quote on numerous motivational posters over the years, but it hit a little closer to the bone now. If I cared for Declan, did that by necessity mean letting him go? Encouraging him to get back to riding even if I was terrified of that outcome?
I wasn’t sure, and I stood in the driveway thinking after Rowan retreated to the house to fetch Eric. Wren emerged a few minutes later wearing a heavy backpack and toting an enormous tray of deadly-looking plants.
“Well, I think that’s everything.” Wren bustled over to Sean’s truck and lovingly set the plants on the floor of the backseat. “Thank goodness Sean’s driving. I can’t risk my experiments on the bus.”
“Of course not.” I helped Wren heft their backpack in next to the plants.
“Guard the kitchen in my absence.” Eyes narrowing, Wren frowned.
“Eh?”
“While you were at work, Declan attempted cooking. I’m concerned.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him.” I tried to sound detached and not like I intended to spend every spare minute with the guy.
Finally, Rowan and Eric departed for the airport while Sean, Denver, and Wren headed south to Salem, the state capital, for the science competition. Alone at last with Declan, I rapped gently on his cracked door.
“Come in.” I opened the door the rest of the way to find him sprawled on his bed, petting Oz, with a gold mining reality show on the TV he’d finally agreed to. A neat line of paint samples danced on the wall next to the TV, with sketches of potential room decor below each sample.
“You’re letting Rowan decorate?” I gestured at the wall.
“Possibly. He was so nervous about the audition that decorating seemed like a good distraction for him, so I asked him for paint suggestions. He kind of ran with it.”
“He is a force of nature.” My chest warmed over Declan caring about Rowan’s nerves. “And what’s this I hear about you cooking?”
“Ugh. The short one tattled on me.” Declan laughed good-naturedly. “I made us the one thing I’m good at. Brownies with some add-ins. And despite Wren’s clucking, they turned out fine and I cleaned up my mess.”
“I didn’t know you baked.” I lounged against the doorway, enjoying simply looking at Declan. As usual, he wore loose sweatpants and a motocross-related hoodie, but his expressive face never failed to captivate me.
“Don’t get your expectations up,” he warned. “Mom always used to have an unused stash of baking mixes in the pantry, and with the long hours my sister and I were home alone as teens, I got good at making brownies and turning boxed cake mix into cupcakes. You can laugh, but I thought I’d make us a dessert for tonight.”
“You did?” My pulse fluttered. “And I’m definitely not laughing.”
“Well, it’s our weekend alone. And Valentine’s weekend as well. I thought about suggesting we go out to eat, but we probably don’t want to risk being seen.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, but inside, I was conflicted. Declan had cared enough about the holiday to bake for me, but that closet door continued to loom large. “Staying in is probably our best bet.”
“Yep.” Sitting up, he grabbed his cane from next to the bed. Oz jumped to the floor and finally deigned me worthy of a greeting with a furry tail wag. Declan followed the dog to the doorway, but his greeting was a sly kiss and a smile. “This weekend is going to be epic. What goes with brownies with some caramel candies added?”
“Everything.” I chuckled and kissed him back longer because we could. No one to catch us necking in the hallway. “My sweet tooth says brownies can be dinner, but let’s see what we can make together.”
We found some frozen cordon bleu chicken breasts and paired those with some twice-baked potatoes cooked at the same oven temperature. I was plotting to use the baking time for more kissing, but Declan got a call from someone related to his racing world.
I left him in the kitchen for privacy and busied myself setting the table. Eric kept the wine glasses and some prettier dishes in the china hutch, and I took the time to make the table look nice with candles and Declan’s pan of brownies front and center.