She turns her head back to mine. “What?”
“Why did you look away when I talked about Oliver?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s talk about you.”
I lean back in my chair, but the baby makes it look less like leaning and more like a balloon tilting. I may not have shown until much later, but I more than made up for it in the last two months. I’ve not just popped, I’ve expanded like a blimp.
Each day it’s as if someone is inflating my stomach a bit more.
“There’s not a chance in hell I’m letting this go. Do you know what my last month has been like? Boring. Completely lacking in gossip or anything fun. Sure, Declan … entertains me … but since Ellie is on total bed rest until she gives birth, I get a few video calls or whatever Dec relays, which is horrible. He’s truly bad at telling me the town news.”
She laughs. “There’s no news. Nothing about anyone in this town at least.”
I narrow my eyes. “Is it about Sean?”
Her lips part just a bit, and I internally smile. I knew it. He was here this week to drop off some stuff before he has to stay for six months. I got to see him for a minute or two, but then he and Declan went downstairs to talk. I don’t know what it was about, but it was clear that Sean was not his normal, happy-go-lucky self.
“Sean?”
“Yes, your best friend. My boyfriend’s brother.”
Devney sinks down, head falling forward into her hands. “Syd …”
Concern fills me and I get up, move around the desk, knocking some papers off as I go, and settle into the seat beside her. “What’s wrong?”
She looks back to me, tears brimming. “I don’t know what happened.”
“Did you guys fight?”
“I wish. I mean, we did … after … but, now? What am I supposed to do?”
The anguish in her voice makes my stomach hurt. “I don’t know what you’re saying, Dev. You have to tell me something. What does after mean?”
I really hope it isn’t what I think it is. Although, it would be well overdue. Still, their friendship will never be the same, and Sean needs Devney as much as she needs him. They have been best friends forever.
“He kissed me.”
I bite back the smile that threatens to form. Finally, the man has done something to give her pause to think the feelings are there.
“Like a friendly kiss?”
She shakes her head quickly. “No, we were drinking and … I don’t know … I said something about how hot he is and he said something about how he is always attracted to girls who look like me. We laughed, and then I said, ‘Well, it has to be tough kissing your best friend, right?’”
Yeah, I don’t think it’s all that difficult for him. She’s ridiculously beautiful. “And?”
“And then he cupped my face with one hand, and it was like one of those movie frames where you know they’re going to kiss. He said, ‘I don’t know, but I’d like to see if it’s tough to kiss you.’” She plays with the hem of her shirt, and I can hear the confliction in her voice. “I looked up at him, and at that moment, I needed him to do it. I wanted him to kiss me. And God, when he did, I thought I would die. How can a man kiss like that? How can a woman ever be the same after feeling that way? It was like I couldn’t think, breathe, or focus on anything but him. I was so lost that I didn’t care about anything else.”
I take her hand, offering her some support. “The Arrowood boys sort of do that to you.”
“I have Oliver, Syd. He’s great, and he loves me so much. He’s been … so good to me. He doesn’t play ball and run all over the country, fucking God only knows how many girls. Sean does. Sean is my best friend who I bitch about Oliver to. It doesn’t make sense, but …”
Oh, this poor girl. She has no idea what she’s in for. However, I know better than anyone that you have to talk it out sometimes. “But?”
“Since that kiss, all I want is to see him. I want to kiss him again and see if it was the drinks or … more? And yet, he’s called, but I can’t talk to him. I love Oliver. I love him so much, and he doesn’t deserve that. Oliver makes me happy.”
I’ve never loved anyone else other than Declan, so I don’t know if can I empathize, but Oliver does love her, and I know she loves him.
“What are you going to do?” I ask.
“I’m going to have to tell Oliver. I owe him that, and … he was talking about marriage the other day. I was telling Sean that he was going to propose soon.”
Jesus. Is that what finally pushed Sean over the edge? I wonder if he knew that, once she was married, he’d never have a chance with her.
“What would you say?” I ask her.
Devney releases a heavy sigh and shakes her head softly. “I don’t know …”
I would bet my ass a week ago, the answer would’ve been clear as day.
“Maybe take some time,” I suggest.
“There’s more, Syd. I mean, not with Sean, but more that I need to tell him and you and everyone really, but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Can you just give me some time?”
Of course I can, although a part of me is champing at the bit to know what she has to tell us. “Can you assure me you’re okay?”
Devney nods. “I am, but it’s … hard to talk about, and I’m not ready yet.”
“I have no room to push anyone to admit something before they’re ready.” My hand moves to my stomach where my secret hid for quite a while.
“Thank you. I need to sort out whatever I’m feeling for Sean and then I can deal with everything else.”
My hand reaches out to take hers and before I can say anything else, I hear a crash in the hall. “Sydney!” Declan’s roar comes from outside my office door.
Great. He came home early. Damn it.
“Can you cover for me?” I ask sheepishly.
She stands and goes out to the waiting area. “Hey, Dec. Long time no see? Aren’t you supposed to be in New York?”
He is quiet for a second. “Hey, Dev, yes, but it seems I have to put a tracking device on someone.”
“Yeah, I could see you doing that.”
I stay quiet, hoping he won’t figure out I’m here.
“Where is she?” Dec asks, a bit of the anger dissipating from his tone.
“Oh, she’s in there.” I hear Devney say as the door flies open. And then I hear her laugh. “Next time don’t lie to me.”
“Lie?” I yell. “What the hell did I lie about?”
“You said you didn’t know you were pregnant when you did.”
I should fire her, but then I’d really be screwed.
Declan steps into the door frame, brow raised, and a look of relief and irritation mixing in those green eyes. Like I’m screwed right now.
I smile at him.
He doesn’t return it. “Really, Syd?”
“What?” I ask innocently.
“You couldn’t help yourself? You couldn’t just stay home?” he says, entering and then tosses a folder onto my desk.
I shrug. “I needed to do some stuff here. Calm down.”
“Calm down? You promised you would stay home and work in the barn so I could go into New York without worrying.”
I smile at him and his loose tie around his neck—the one we had a lot of fun with last night—and his hair, which is pushed back as though he’s run his hands through it a hundred times, and I see love.
“Yes, well, I got bored, and you weren’t supposed to be home until after dinner.”
He looks heavenward and groans.
My hands rest on my protruding stomach as my son flips around. “You’re upsetting Deacon.”
He steps closer and then squats in front of me. “I’m sorry, Son, but your mother is an exasperating woman and I am going to tie her to the bed.”
“She might like that …”
He looks up at me, a sly grin painting his face. “Not for pleasure.”
“What a pity. We can even use this tie ag
ain.” I take the silk between my fingers and pull it tight. “It worked well last night.”
“Woman.”
Declan and I have a lot of things to work out, but together, we’re happy. Sure, he drives me crazy with being overprotective, but I love having him with me. So much so that we’ve made big moves to make our lives permanent.
“Did you get the paperwork?” I ask, hoping to smooth his ire.
He gets to his feet and then pulls me into his arms. “Yes, Milo had a courier meet me outside of the city, which is why it didn’t take me the extra time you thought you had to deceive me.”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t deceive you. I merely failed to mention my outing.”
“Right. We’ll go with that. Anyway, as soon as you sign the paperwork, we’ll be one step closer.”
He kisses me quickly and then grabs the folder he brought with him. I take a seat and then pull out the documents. I read them and then smile when I get to the end.
“You’re sure about this?”
Declan crouches in front of me again. “I’m wondering if we filed the wrong paperwork.”
“What?”
He has doubts? I don’t understand. He’s the one who wanted to approach his brothers about entailing his portion of his family’s farm once it’s eligible. It would give us more land, and protect Connor and Ellie from having anyone around them. Since Connor decided to stay in Sugarloaf, we thought doing the same deal with his brothers was kind of perfect.
Does he regret it? Did he fall back in love with New York City an hour ago?
“I’m thinking that what we set up is fine, but I’d rather sign a different paper.”
“And which one is that?”
“A marriage license.”
My jaw drops, and my breath hitches. “What?”
He pulls a little black velvet box from his pants pocket and then repositions himself to be on one knee.
“You see, I had this big thing planned to propose today, but someone … went and altered it by leaving the house, causing me to chase her. You see, Sydney Hastings, I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you. I knew, even at my young age, that I could never be good enough for you, but I couldn’t imagine not trying. I’ve failed. I’ve faltered, but my heart has always been yours. I want to wake up each morning with you, sleep each night beside you, and raise our kids as husband and wife. I want you to be my wife. Will you do me the greatest honor and give me my second shot? My path is clear—it’s always the one that leads to you.”
Tears fall down my face, and my heart is so full it could burst. “Yes! Yes! Yes! A million times over!”
He pulls me into his arms, kissing my lips as I breathe him in. This wonderful man. This man who I love so deeply it isn’t even normal is mine, and I’m never letting him go.
* * *
Thank you for reading Declan and Sydney’s story. I hope you love them and the rest of the Arrowood Brothers as much as I do. Sean and Devney’s story is coming next and you are in for one heck of a ride with those two!
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Click here to preorder The One for Me!
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Books by Corinne Michaels
The Salvation Series
Beloved
Beholden
Consolation
Conviction
Defenseless
Evermore: A 1001 Dark Night Novella
Indefinite
Infinite
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Return to Me Series
Say You’ll Stay
Say You Want Me
Say I’m Yours
Say You Won’t Let Go: A Return to Me/Masters and Mercenaries Novella
* * *
Second Time Around Series
We Own Tonight
One Last Time
Not Until You
If I Only Knew
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The Arrowood Brothers
Come Back for Me
Fight for Me
The One for Me (Coming 8/18/20)
Lie for Me (Coming 12/8/20)
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Co-Write with Melanie Harlow
Hold You Close
Imperfect Match
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Standalone Novels
All I Ask
Acknowledgments
To my husband and children. You sacrifice so much for me to continue to live out my dream. Days and nights of me being absent even when I’m here. I’m working on it. I promise. I love you more than my own life.
My readers. There’s no way I can thank you enough. It still blows me away that you read my words. You guys have become a part of my heart and soul.
Bloggers: I don’t think you guys understand what you do for the book world. It’s not a job you get paid for. It’s something you love and you do because of that. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
My beta reader Melissa Saneholtz: Dear God, I don’t know how you still talk to me after all the hell I put you through. Your input and ability to understand my mind when even I don’t blows me away. If it weren’t for our phone calls, I can’t imagine where this book would’ve been. Thank you for helping me untangle the web of my brain.
My assistant, Christy Peckham: How many times can one person be fired and keep coming back? I think we’re running out of times. No, but for real, I couldn’t imagine my life without you. You’re a pain in my ass but it’s because of you that I haven’t fallen apart.
Sommer Stein for once again making these covers perfect and still loving me after we fight because I change my mind a bajillion times.
Michele Ficht and Janice Owen for always finding all the typos and crazy mistakes.
Melanie Harlow, thank you for being the Glinda to my Elphaba or Ethel to my Lucy. Your friendship means the world to me and I love writing with you. I feel so blessed to have you in my life.
Bait, Stabby, and Corinne Michaels Books—I love you more than you’ll ever know.
My agent, Kimberly Brower, I am so happy to have you on my team. Thank you for your guidance and support.
Melissa Erickson, you’re amazing. I love your face. Thank you for always talking me off the ledge that is mighty high.
To my narrators, Andi Arndt and Sebastian York who I swear I heard talking as I wrote this book. You always bring my story to life and always manage to make the most magical audiobooks. Andi, your friendship over these last few years has only grown and I love your heart so much. Thank you for always having my back. To many more concerts and snowed in sleepovers.
Vi, Claire, Mandi, Amy, Kristy, Penelope, Kyla, Rachel, Tijan, Alessandra, Meghan, Laurelin, Kristen, Devney, Jessica, Carrie Ann, Kennedy, Lauren, Susan, Sarina, Beth, Julia, and Natasha—Thank you for keeping me striving to be better and loving me unconditionally. There are no better sister authors than you all.
About the Author
Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
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Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed—reading and writing were her escape from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
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Corinne Michaels, Fight for Me
Fight for Me Page 25