“I heard you two talking the other day, and he said he loved you still.”
“As friends. Declan and I have been friends since we were kids. We only started dating because our parents thought we would be a good match. We didn’t do anything too intimate together. Hell, he only kissed me once. He’s a good man, but he wasn’t the one for me, and I wasn’t the one for him.”
“Oh…” I didn’t know how to respond to that because that was the one thing that stopped me from falling into his arms every time he tried to steal a moment alone.
“I really don’t know what to tell ye. It’s clear ye’re both interested, but ye both live so far away from each other.”
“It just a phase, it’ll pass. I’ve been there before,” I whispered, thinking I’d never felt the way I did now.
“Give it time then. If it’s going to develop into something, it will. I tried to make yer brother give us time, but he wasn’t happy with it at all. At first, I wasn’t going for it, but after what happened I agreed with him.”
“I’m glad. My brother is so different now that you’ve come along. He wasn’t good-humored at all and so difficult to deal with. Now he’s smiling and a little friendlier. Plus, he normally threatens any guy that wants to speak with me, but he doesn’t give Declan the warning glare.”
“I know I was afraid of the two meeting. It wasn’t bad at all.”
“Dante wasn’t happy that you two were still talking after you two met, but he knew that Declan wouldn’t have helped him if he wanted you still.”
“Ladies, enough gabbing. We have a wedding to hold. My son isn’t a very patient man. You two can talk tomorrow.”
“Why not after the ceremony?”
“Do you think your brother is going to let her out of his sight after the wedding? He wants to check into a hotel after it’s over.”
“Really?”
“I assume you want that as well.”
“Oh…” I blushed. “It’s just that it feels awkward being here with Dante sleeping in the same room with my long-time family friends.”
“I understand. When Stefano and I married his mama lived with us. It was very uncomfortable. It took a long time for me to get over the fact that she knew what we were doing. You’ll be fine. I’m proud that my son chose such a wonderful young lady, no matter the unorthodox way it happened.”
“Thank ye,” Regan said, holding back tears.
Chapter 8
Declan
I knew it was Regan’s wedding, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Silvia. She had to be the most beautiful woman to ever exist, and I had to have her. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold back.
Dante and Regan were going to stay at a hotel while the rest of them stayed at our place. A part of me wanted her to leave with them, but then I knew I would miss her. I couldn’t believe a week had changed my life. My eyes strayed to her throughout the ceremony. The way her long black hair was pinned up halfway revealing her slender neck, but I swear, goose pimples ran up it. She twisted her head just a bit, giving me a little more of her perfect face to look at. Fuck, my cock ached and stretched my slacks. There could be no going back if I did what I wanted to her perfect little body.
I kept my distance for the rest of the evening, but I watched her. Every moment I had, my eyes drifted toward her every time she brought her glass to her lips and took a drink. Every single morsel that past her lips had passed through my gaze. I wanted to taste her so painfully that I had to excuse myself from the small after wedding gathering to check on the animals. As a peace offering and a sort of thank ye, he sent help to manage the work since I couldn’t do it myself.
My injuries weren’t too severe, but I had to heal. When I walked out there, the sheep were being herded back in by my sheepdog, Bailey. “How’s it going?” I asked Liam, the new ranch hand, stretching out my hand for him to shake. He removed his glove first before shaking mine and then slipped them back on. I noticed a scar on it before he quickly tightened.
“Old injury,” he remarked when he caught me staring at it with silent questions. He smiled then answered the question I asked aloud, “It’s going well, Mr. Sullivan. Most of the chores for the day have been done. Do you need something?” He was a strange American man who made me nervous, but my father was the one to hire him, and so I trusted his judgment.