“Aw, okay. But why?”
“It’s a special privilege you’ll only have once you get to be my age. And anyhow, someone needs to test the taste. It needs just a tad more vanilla.”
As Katie carefully measured the vanilla extract, I watched Mrs. Gardener settle down into a kitchen chair.
Her eyes started drooping as she said, “I’m feeling a wee bit sleepy all of a sudden. I’ll let you two finish up, okay? You seem to have things well in hand.” Within moments she fell fast asleep, sitting up with her mouth ajar.
Who knew one could bring down a matronly bodyguard with mere cookie dough? Katie and I chuckled while the old woman snored from her chair.
It wasn’t long after she fell asleep that I heard the front door open and close. It took a few moments, but finally Declan stepped into the entryway and smiled at the scene before him. Neither of us said anything at first. We just looked at each other, and I swear by the way Declan peered at me, something was going through his mind. But what was it?
Chapter 13
Declan
Walk over to him and kiss him, a voice whispered in my head. Just do it and let the chips fall wherever they may.
Except that I couldn’t do it, not even when Ivan looked up from where he was seated at the counter and met my eyes.
I saw the pleasure in Ivan’s face as he looked at me, saw too the way Ivan’s blue eyes widened in concern as they took in my appearance in one of those all-encompassing glances of his. And at that moment I wanted nothing more than to kiss him until neither of us could breathe. Kiss him until I lost sight of the fires of my past.
Then I noticed Mrs. Gardener sitting at the table. She looked like she had been dozing off, and when Katie greeted me with an enthusiastic, “Hi!” the old woman nearly jumped up.
“Oh dear,” Mrs. Gardener said, glancing at her wristwatch. “How long was I out for?”
“Only a minute,” Katie said, giggling. “You ate two spoonfuls of cookie dough then fell straight to sleep.”
Mrs. Gardener blushed in embarrassment. “Sugar does that to me these days, yet I still can’t help but eat it! Well, no harm, as this nice young man makes quite the sitter himself.”
Ivan smiled at her compliment and said, “I would hope so after all these years working with kids.”
I patted Mrs. Gardener on the shoulder and slipped her payment into her pocket. “You head back home now, okay? Sleep off those cookies.”
Mrs. Gardener stood up, glad to get some rest. “All right, I’ll be going then. Katie, you be good, and remember what I said—”
“Yep,” Katie began, “Don’t eat the raw cookie dough. Do as you say, not as you do.”
Mrs. Gardener chuckled, ruffled Katie’s hair, then headed out, leaving me alone with Katie—and for the first time in my own house—Ivan.
I turned to Ivan and smiled. He smiled back, warmly, innocently, and I yearned for the comfort and tenderness that I instinctively knew he could provide.
I was on the verge of throwing caution to the wind to kiss him when the smoke alarm went off. The three of us collectively looked for the source of the smoke until we realized it was coming from the oven.
Katie yelped and Ivan jumped into action to try to save the batch of cookies they must have forgotten was baking. Ivan donned some oven mitts and took the tray out, groaning when he saw the results.
It was obvious that they had intended to make chocolate chip cookies but ended up making charcoal cookies instead, and neither of them looked too pleased about it.
“It happens to the best of us,” I reassured them, having seen my share of kitchen fires, but I quickly fell silent when both pairs of eyes glared over at me.
Guess they weren’t as easily appeased, so I raised my hands in mock surrender and made my escape upstairs to shower and change while they cooked up a new batch.
Once I returned, Katie said, “Look, Daddy. The others came out perfect. Have one.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” I said, grabbing a handful before Ivan slapped my hand away, which of course made Katie laugh upon seeing me punished.
“We said one,” Ivan said, his tone stern as if he were talking to a misbehaving child. “The others are to take to practice as it’s Katie’s turn to bring the snacks.”
It was the first time I heard about this, but I was relieved that it had already been dealt with. Trust Ivan to give me a helping hand when I hadn’t even known yet that I would need it.
We shared a smile until I remembered how close I came to kissing him earlier. From that point on I restrained myself as I helped them cover the cookies so they’d be preserved for school.
*
After Ivan left, I decided to finally have a talk with Katie at bedtime about my developing relationship with Ivan. From the way things were moving forward, it would have to happen sooner or later. When the time came, however, I wasn’t sure how to start the topic. So imagine my surprise when she ventured there herself.
After I tucked her in, she pouted at me and asked, “Daddy, how come you aren’t visiting with Mr. Davis much anymore? Why’s it up to me to make you two see each other? Did something bad happen to make you stop?”
It probably shouldn’t have surprised me that Katie had noticed, as she had always been surprisingly perceptive. Yet the question caught me off guard as I stared down at her solemn face and wondered how to respond.
Should I skim the surface of the subject, or outright tell her?
I cleared my throat to do just that, but she cut me off.
“I think you like him the same way I like Tommy, so I don’t get why you don’t visit with him anymore.”
Well, that made two of us, and for a moment I was so dumbfounded that I literally had my mouth hanging open. My thoughts were in a jumble and as I searched for the right words to say to her, two things registered at the same time.
For one, how could I not know Katie was crushing on a boy? Had I really thought she’d be a withdrawn young girl forever? And that brought me to my second realization, which had me expelling a breath of relief.
Katie had no problems with me liking another man.
Dear God, she didn’t even find it strange in the least as she had stated her case so matter-of-factly. I realized then that I had worried all this time for nothing, as Katie loved me and to her love was a simple thing.
Damn. I felt like slapping myself in the face for how silly I had been about the whole thing.
“Well,” I began, trying to find the words. “Not everyone is okay with two men… you know, getting close to each other. I thought it might be weird for you too.”
Katie frowned at me. “You’re both happy when you’re together, and it makes me happy too. Not to mention I get to spend more time with Hamlet…”
I shook my head and laughed. “Always an ulterior motive with you, huh?”
Katie gave me a mischievous grin which I returned as I kissed her goodnight and turned the lights off. I was still tired and wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed myself, but I had to do something first—something that I had wasted enough time avoiding.
I snagged the cordless phone and carried it to my room to make the call.
It was such a relief having Katie’s blessing that I truly had nothing else standing in my way now. All I needed was for Ivan to agree. I waited while the phone rang, all the while wondering what I would say.
My time for thinking was up.
“Hello?”
The voice sounded sleepy but I didn’t feel too repentant at the thought of having interrupted Ivan’s sleep. Thoughts of him certainly kept me up at night, so it was only fair.
“Hi, Ivan. It’s me. Katie’s father.”
I rolled my eyes.
Not a good start.
Introducing myself as ‘Katie’s father’ was surely the best way to remind Ivan that he was a teacher, and as such, he shouldn’t even consider agreeing to what I was about to ask. I cleared my throat and tried again.
“It’s Declan
, calling to first offer you an apology for how weird I’ve been these last two weeks and how ill-mannered of me it was to not even bother to explain myself.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation,” Ivan said.
I wasn’t quite convinced. “It’s nice of you to want to let me off the hook, but still, I’m sorry either way. I’ve been distant because I thought it would be best for Katie. I didn’t want to put you in the awkward position of mixing business and pleasure.”
I could think of a few other positions I’d like to put Ivan in, but I shut the thought down the moment it danced through my perverted mind.
I had called to apologize, not to fantasize about the man whose voice alone was enough to send my pulse racing. I was a civilized person and I would act as such even if it killed me.
I continued with my explanation. “But little did I know that Katie actually likes us being together. She is in full support of me being happy and has even ventured to remark that we seem to like each other the same way she likes Tommy. She noticed how happy we seem around each other. Is she wrong?”
Ivan cleared his throat and I closed my eyes, waiting for the answer.
“Katie isn’t wrong,” Ivan said carefully. “I enjoy your company and won’t mind seeing more of you.”
“Great. So do you want to go out tomorrow night? By ourselves? I have a sitter for Katie.” I didn’t actually, as I hadn’t planned on asking him out, but the whim overtook me. Now that words were set loose, I found myself unwilling to take them back.
Ivan took a moment to respond, and I wondered if I had made a mistake.
Was he seriously considering my offer, or was he just thinking of a way to let me down gently?
“Sorry,” Ivan began. “I just needed a moment to process everything. Are you asking me out? Like… out on a date?”
I nodded sheepishly, then realized that Ivan couldn’t see me nod through the telephone so I hurried to answer.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m asking. I’m thinking tomorrow night at five. Nothing fancy. Will you go?”
Silence.
Perhaps Ivan too was nodding in reply and after a moment, the little laugh on the other end of the line seemed to confirm that.
“Yes, it would be my pleasure to go out with you, Declan.”
I heard the grin in Ivan’s voice. I was grinning like a madman too.
Ivan had accepted and I had a date for tomorrow night with the man I had fantasized about for the last few months. It felt like a small miracle in the making.
Chapter 14
Ivan
If I changed my clothes one more time, I was going to be well and truly late. But the urge to change again was so strong that I had to grab my bedroom door and pry myself out of the room before I gave in to it.
Though my nerves were on edge and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, the thought of being alone with Declan for an evening was enough to send a warm shaft of pleasure through my body.
All would be well, I assured myself as I left my bedroom and entered the living room.
“Hamlet, how do I look?”
Hamlet croaked and eyed me inquisitively.
I hadn’t quite managed to keep it completely casual as Declan had suggested, but I did at least strike a bargain somewhere between a semi-casual and bad boy look.
It was my only leather jacket and I wore it sparingly, as it made me look and feel like anything but an elementary school teacher.
But that had been the whole point of the ensemble, to take me to a different place and transform me into a man who looked confident.
When I pulled up at Declan’s house a few minutes later, I relished the look on his face when he saw me, and I wanted to smirk as he looked me over in appreciation.
Call me a show off, but it felt good to be lusted after, especially when I had been doing a great deal of lusting myself at the mere thought of being alone with Declan.
“You ready?” he asked, and I nodded mutely.
I wanted to make a smart remark, maybe something along the lines of being born ready, but considering that I had trouble even remembering to breathe, it was no wonder I couldn’t get any words out.
So much for looking badass.
This was perhaps the single most exhilarating thing I had ever done in my life up to this point, I suddenly realized, and I felt like congratulating myself on having the courage to do it.
I got into Declan’s pickup and returned his smile.
Declan commented, “You look good. Got all dressed up just for me?”
Arrogant bastard as always. “Or perhaps I dressed up for my damn self,” I said mildly, trying not to let my amusement show as I felt sure that would only encourage Declan further. “So where are we going?”
“To learn to cook.”
“To what now?”
Declan smiled. “After returning home the other day to find that you and Katie had almost burnt my house down, I figured that a lesson or two was in order to avoid such disasters in the future. I’ve hired a private chef who is going to give us a crash course in preparing authentic Japanese cuisine. After the lesson, we’ll be preparing dinner for ourselves. Think you’re up for it?”
“Of course,” I said, caught off guard by the unique date he was taking me on. Not that I was complaining. “And even if I wasn’t up for it, then it would be a lucky thing I have a capable fireman nearby to prevent me from burning down the restaurant.”
Declan winked at me then focused on the road.
As we drove toward Northern Lights, the atmosphere and excitement of the evening seeped into my veins. It was a ridiculously romantic place, especially when the sun was setting.
Northern Lights was a shopping center along the waterfront that could only be accessed by foot. No traffic, no rush, just a nice place to spend a quiet evening. It was filled with beautiful sites ranging from ponds of koi to little bridges and water fountains. The restaurants were varied, with upscale to casual dining alike, and the very atmosphere of the place had somehow struck a balance between ritzy and homey.
Popcorn vendors milled about plying their products and filling the air with a buttery scent. It was enough to remind me that I had barely eaten all day because of how bundled together my nerves had been.
Still, the beauty of this place kept my mind occupied. Paintings and sculptures hung on display in windows, hats were sold from brightly colored carts, and a magic shop lent to an upbeat and playful feeling. And only a short walk away was a beach lit by the colors of a fast-approaching sunset.
I averted my eyes from the beach and followed Declan into a small restaurant to meet our culinary teacher.
It was perfect, the way the afternoon floated by, the way I felt at ease with Declan. Our cooking lesson started promptly. The chef’s instructions were clipped and serious, yet Declan took it all in stride and made the whole experience enjoyable.
“Perhaps if he didn’t twist the corners of his mustache so tightly, he’d be a bit less wound up,” Declan commented to me when the chef went off to grab some ingredients. I chuckled, so fixated on Declan that I found any little thing he said to be funny.
Soon we had our stir-fry cooked up, and Declan suggested we take our food to-go so we could eat it down at the beach.
With the warmth of Declan next to me and the cool sea breeze at our front, I was happy to exist in this little slice of paradise that consisted of the here and now.
I was on my second glass of wine when Declan touched me, a casual caress of my hands which he squeezed gently before releasing, yet the contact sent my desires reeling.
I wanted more and was ready for as much as Declan was willing to give me, but I struggled for the words. I could only watch the way Declan’s eyes darkened as he looked at me and waited for some unknown cue.
Under the pressure of his stare I blurted out, “So, um… Do you want to go back to my place for a drink?”
Declan hesitated. “I’d love to, but I told the sitter I wouldn’t be out too late…”
Well, ouch. Even I could recognize rejection when I heard it.
“However,” Declan continued, “I could call the sitter and ask her if she’s willing to stay the night with Katie. I don’t think she’ll have a problem with it since she lives right next door anyway. But I would need to make sure before I could say yes.”
“I see. Then make sure,” I suggested, relieved he wasn’t making up an excuse. “I’ll clean up here while you make the call.”
I got up to gather our trash, then hurried off to dispose of it before I chickened out. I realized that if the sitter was willing to stay, then that meant that I could possibly keep Declan for the whole night.
An image of all the things we could do in an entire night flashed through my mind and I almost dropped the plates. By the time I got a hold of myself and returned, I found Declan sitting in the same spot on the sand, looking pleased. I sat next to him, awaiting his answer.
“I’m free to take you up on your offer,” Declan said. “And Katie says hello and to tell Hamlet she says goodnight.”
“Didn’t she also say to give Hamlet a kiss from her?” I joked. “She always dares me to kiss him.”
“No. But I dare you to kiss me.”
I heard the words, but it took a moment to register them before I turned to him to see if he was kidding. And invitation to kiss him? As if I could say no.
We both leaned in, and a moment later our lips touched, warm and soft, eager and ravenous. There was nothing tentative about Declan’s kisses.
Like the man they came from, they were demanding and hot and filled with intentions that not even a novice like me could misinterpret as Declan pulled me closer and hungrily stroked my tongue.
God, it felt good.
Damn good.
So good that I wanted more as I strained closer.
I couldn’t have planned it better if it had been up to me to choose the time and place. As I closed my eyes and savored the sensation of Declan’s kisses, the world around me slowly ceased to exist as the pleasure took over.
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