Easy Melody (Boudreaux 3)

“I love football,” I reply honestly. “I had season tickets to all of the Denver games when I lived there.”

“Perfect.” He looks over my shoulder at Adam and frowns. “Dude, you’re naked.”

“I’m wearing pants.” Adam looks down and shrugs. “What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?”

“Nothing at all, if you’re Christian Grey,” I reply and roll my eyes. “Bye.”

“Are you going to wear those shoes?” Adam asks. “You’re going to a football game.”

“Yes. I am.” I wave and walk out ahead of Declan, who closes the door behind us and escorts me down to his car. “I expected you to drive something a little more… posh.” I watch him as he starts the car and pulls out into traffic.

“Why?” he asks and takes my hand as he maneuvers his way through the after-work rush. I stare down at our hands and briefly think about pulling away, but his hand feels so good around mine, I leave it.

What’s the harm?

“I know who your family is, Declan.”

“It’s a big family. Hard to miss.”

I roll my eyes and then chuckle. “So, Declan Boudreaux, the youngest son of a billionaire, drives a Jeep?”

“And a fancy bar owner drives a ’68 Camaro.” He laughs and squeezes my hand. “Aren’t we both just full of surprises.”

“I didn’t mean that to sound insulting,” I reply. “I was just surprised.”

“I leave the Bentleys and Maseratis to Beau and Eli.”

“They drive Bentleys?” I ask and then shake my head when he laughs.

“No. Mama and Daddy always had sensible cars. I like my Jeep. It’s fun.”

“I like it too,” I reply, feeling a little embarrassed for the whole conversation.

“How did you come to own your car?” he asks with genuine interest. “She’s a beauty.”

“It was a gift.” From Keith. Declan glances over, but doesn’t press me, and rather than shut up, I keep going. “My ex bought it for me for my last birthday. I was raised by my dad, and I was an only child, so I have a thing for cars and football.”

“Those aren’t bad things to enjoy at all, darlin’,” Declan says with a smile. Rather than rolling his eyes, or accusing me of not being feminine enough the way Keith used to, Declan just smiles at me, accepting me for me.

I haven’t felt that from a man in a very long time. I can feel my guard lowering more and more with Declan and it’s exciting and scary all at the same time. He’s so laid back, easy going, easy to talk to.

When’s the other shoe going to drop?

Stop worrying!

“So your daddy raised you?” he asks as he takes the exit for the Superdome.

“Yes. It was just the two of us. My mom passed away when I was about eight.” I shrug, the way I always do to make it seem like it’s no big deal.

“I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“Doesn’t make it hurt less,” he murmurs and kisses my hand. He finds parking, but before I can climb out, he turns toward me and cups my cheek. “I’m also sorry that you lost your daddy a few months ago. I didn’t have a chance to say that before.”

I blink at him, willing myself not to cry. Who is this guy?

“Thank you.”

“Losing a parent is hard, but I can’t imagine losing both of them.”

“I’m doing okay.”

“You’re doing better than okay, Callie. And you should be proud of that.” He leans in and places a soft, gentle kiss on my lips, then leans back with a wide smile. “Okay, let’s go watch some ball.”

***

“What are you, blind?” I yell at the ref hands cupped around my mouth. “He was off-sides!”

“Why are you cheering for the Lions?” Declan asks with a laugh.

“I always cheer for the underdog,” I reply and sip my beer as he passes me a plastic bowl of nachos. “Yum.”

“See? I promised you dinner and I delivered.”

“You did.” I nod as I chew the cheesy goodness, not even trying to worry about all of the preservatives in what I’m throwing down my throat. “I love game food.”

“Me too. Who is your favorite team?”

“The Seahawks.” I grin and steal a bite of Declan’s hotdog, then hold a cheesy chip up to his lips, which he takes and licks my thumb at the same time.

My nipples are rock hard at a football game. That’s a first.

“I thought you always cheer for the underdog.”

“They’ve done well the past few years,” I concede, “but they were the underdogs for a long time.”

“Have you seen them play?”

“In Denver, but never in Seattle. I’ve never been to Seattle, now that I think of it.”

We sit in companionable silence for a while, watching the game, eating our food. Suddenly, Declan leans down and kisses me, hard and deep, right here in the middle of the stadium.

“What was that for?”

“Kiss cam,” he replies simply and steals my last chip. I glance up, but there is no kiss cam being displayed. “There’s no kiss cam.”

“I could have sworn there was. My mistake.” He grins, in that way he has that says that he knows he’s sexy and charming and doesn’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks.

God, I love that look.

“I really do love what you’ve done with the bar,” Declan says, serious now.