Chapter 10

Maria

“Declan!” Rose rushed out of the kitchen, panicking. Her brows furrowed almost like something terrible had happened. Declan jumped to his feet and ran to her immediately, placing his hands on her shoulder.

I got up, with the heating blanket still on my cold body. Declan had turned on the heater in the room but it was still cold so I kept the blanket on.

“Hey, Rose, what happened? Are you okay?” His voice was calm, smooth. He took her hands, and worry spread all over his face.

Something inside me tightened.

What the hell? Why am I feeling this way?

And why is he holding her hands like that? Why is he looking at her like that? Why is he talking to her like that?

Ugh!

Something is definitely wrong with me. They are grown-ups, living in the same mansion, I mean it’s only normal that something.. Inti.. Intimate… ugh why does the word taste awfully as it rolled down my tongue?

“It’s Mel.” She whimpered.

Mel? Who is Mel?

“Why what happened to her? Is she okay?” He asked, worry flowing through every word that left his perfectly shaped lips.

Who is Mel and why does she care about her so much? Ugh… Why am I feeling this way? This is awful? Whoever this Mel might be must be in a serious problem if Rose is acting this way and here I am thinking about rubbish.

I think Jason and Chloe's shenanigans as gotten into my head, making me lose my senses.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, actually concerned because the look on Rose’s face was alarming.

“She got into an accident, and she was rushed to the ER. I keep telling that brat not to ride a freaking motorcycle but she never listens! Ah! I swear to the moon if she gets better I am going to kill her!” Rose's emotions switched way faster than Jason’s feelings for me.

Ew! Did I just use my breakup with Jason to make a joke? It’s only been two nights since the breakup? Wow! Did I even love the dude?

“Oh my goodness, that is serious.” I muffled, forgive my thoughts but I am actually worried about who this Mel is and she sounds cool for riding a motorcycle.

“Okay, Jeez, Rose, kill her after she gets better but first, go to the hospital and see your daughter.”Declan like the gentleman that he is took off the apron from her neck, used the clean part to rub the.. I think it’s flour.. He rubbed it off her face, hurriedly walked to the table close to the kitchen, picked up her bag, and handed it over to her. “Go, I'll take care of Ria.”

Ria?

Did he just… Call me Ria?

Oh my God! I think I’m burning from the inside.

Ria? That is so.. Oh my goodness, so sweet. It’s not just the name.. I mean, people call me Ria but no one has ever said it the way it rolled off his lips.

It sounded like something so soft, something filled with affection, deep affection.

Am I delusional? I think I am! I think I am fucking losing my goddamn mind

Because this man, I swear to god, should be around forty five if not forty eight… yes I know I don’t want to imagine that he is fifty because then I would have to admit that I need to go to the hospital to get myself checked but damn! I love the way he called me Ria, I want to hear it again.

“Thank you, darling! You are the best of the best!” Rose cheered, she leaned, tiptoed, and kissed his cheeks and I froze.

Life left me!

Why? Why did she do that? Why did she kiss him? That cheek is MINE!

Not mine but why did she do that and why did he smile so softly? Why did he hold her waist even though it was more like a brush? Why? Is something going on between them?

Why? Why? Why?

“Maria!” Declan’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, turning my attention back to him in reality. His eyes stayed glued on mine, he didn't say another word after he called my name, he just studied me.

“What?” I grunted.

Oh fuck! Why do I sound so pissed? Fuck! No! I hope he doesn't realize it.

“Rose and I grew up together. She is my closest friend, the only family I have… she is my cousin. She offered to help me cook and take care of the house when I moved back to town. She is happily MARRIED with two kids and___

Why is he explaining to me?

“____ Mel is her youngest daughter, nineteen, very wild.” He explained, slowly walking up to me, the heat increasing.

Did he turn on the heater? Why is it so hot and why is he looking at me like that?

“I.. I didn't ask.” I stuttered, looking away because my knees were weak and with his presence overwhelming, I couldn’t guarantee that I won’t lose my senses and do something silly,

Yes, I know I should be sad about my sister and Jason but fuck them… that part is over and as crazy as it sounds, I think I want to explore with this Zaddy.

I have always been the good girl… Can’t I be the bad girl for once?

“I know…Your face did all the asking.” He winked.

My face?

Was it obvious? Was it really that obvious that I was not happy that Rose kissed his cheek?

Oh Fuck me! May the ground open up and swallow me this instant!

I cleared my throat, pretending like he explaining didn't make me happy, “What were you saying before?” I asked.

“Rose didn't make the soup, Do you want me to whisk something for you?” He asked, sincerely, sweetly, manly.

I cleared my throat again.

“Do you have a cold, Ria?” Concern slipped out of his smooth deep masculine voice.

Ria!

He called me Ria again and I lost my senses. My eyes flashed at his, my throat bobbed and I could not understand how to speak or listen. I became an infant… Actually… infants were better. I just went dumb.

His soft chuckle was so deep, my belly tickled. Ugh, fucking say something, Maria!

“I.. I don’t.” Finally, the gods have given me my voice back. “Wait, you want to cook… For me?”

“Yes,” he muttered.

Oh my goodness.

“Can I join you?” I asked.

He halted and turned to me.

“I just.. I feel bad sitting here alone and not doing anything and leaving you in the kitchen and…” I rambled on and on… someone please beg me to stop embarrassing myself in front of this hot man,

“Yes, Ria, you can join me.” He cut me off sweetly with a smile, he is not even trying to hide that smile.