Not Pretending Anymore by Vi Keeland
CHAPTER 6
Molly
“Holy crap. Some woman who just pushed out a watermelon is going to be pregnant again too soon.”
Daisy and I were sitting at the nurses’ station next to each other, but I had no idea what she was talking about. I looked up from the computer screen and traced her line of sight.
Oh my. A man was strutting down the hall carrying an enormous bouquet of flowers. He had on a well-fitted, three-piece suit with the knot of the tie slightly loosened, and a five o’clock shadow peppered his carved jawline. Not just any carved jawline—Declan’s carved jawline. Spotting me, he flashed a million-dollar smile and two cavernous dimples.
“Actually…” Daisy whispered. “I think he just got me pregnant.”
I’d had no idea he was coming since he was supposed to call first. So between the surprise of seeing him and how amazing he looked, I seemed to be incapable of speaking. Instead, I sat and stared until he walked right up to me.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
Daisy’s eyes widened as I stood.
“Declan…what are you doing here?”
He held up a bag I hadn’t even noticed in his hand. “I made you dinner…or I guess it would be your lunch.” He extended the flowers to me. “And brought you these.”
“They’re beautiful. But…you didn’t have to do that. I didn’t realize you were coming.”
“I wanted to surprise you. Did you take your break yet?”
I shook my head. “No. But I can go in, like, fifteen minutes. I just need to finish up a few things here.”
Daisy, whom I’d forgotten was still sitting next to me, stood up and plucked the patient’s chart from my hands.
“I’ll finish for you.”
“Oh…okay. Thanks, Daisy.”
Declan’s ears perked up hearing the name. “Daisy, huh?” he said. “I’m Declan, Molly’s date for dinner this evening.”
“Nice to meet you, Declan.”
“You, too. I appreciate you covering for my girl so I can eat with her. I work days, and she works nights, so I miss seeing her face.”
Daisy seemed unable to stop smiling. “That’s so sweet. Take as long as you want. It’s pretty quiet tonight, so I can handle things on my own.”
Declan held out his hand for me to take over the counter and led me to his side. “Lead the way, beautiful.”
As soon as we were out of earshot, he leaned to me. “So that’s Ivy, huh? She doesn’t hold a candle to you. If Dr. Dickalicious picks that over you, he’s not only blind, he’s a moron.”
For some odd reason, my heart was racing. I wasn’t sure if it was the surprise visit, the act we were putting on at work, or the fact that I’d actually sort of swooned when Declan walked in the way he had. The man had such a big presence.
“That’s very sweet of you to say, even if you’re full of shit,” I said. “But I hate to tell you, we seem to be having one of those rare nights where none of our patients are in labor, so Will isn’t even here. I wish you would’ve called first so I could’ve saved you the trip.”
Declan shrugged. “It’s okay. I wanted to check in on you, anyway. Today was your dad’s first day of chemo, right? You mentioned he was going to call you afterward. I figured you might want to talk about it.”
I led Declan into the break room. Technically, it was supposed to be for employees only, but no one really cared, especially on the overnight shift. He began his food prep, just like he did in the kitchen at home. Taking a Tupperware out of the bag, he popped it into the microwave and pulled out a chair for me to sit in while he warmed up whatever he’d brought.
“Did you get to talk to him?” he asked.
“I did. We talked for almost a half hour, which is honestly the longest conversation I can remember us having in a decade. Mostly we discussed his treatment plan, and which doctors we liked and didn’t like. It was sort of more like a doctor and a nurse going over a patient’s medical records than a father and daughter talking, but I guess it’s a start.”
He nodded. “It’s good that you have common ground to ease into things.” The microwave dinged, and he removed the dish and set it down in front of me. “Homemade gnocchi in cream sauce.”
“Wow. Homemade? Like, you made the pasta, too?”
“Yup. Told you I’m the perfect roomie.”
I forked two pasta dumplings and slipped them into my mouth. If Declan hadn’t been standing there to watch my reaction, I might’ve let my eyes roll into the back of my head and moaned a little. It was that good.
“This is absolutely delicious.”
He sat down across from me and smiled. “Good. Eat up.”
I forked more pasta. “You want to share?”
“Nah. You eat. I already had some. But tell me how you left things with your father. Did you make a plan to visit him in person?”
I sighed. “He invited me to come over for dinner.”
“That’s good. When?”
“Tuesday.”
Declan scratched his chin. “I have a meeting, but I can probably reschedule it.”
“No, you don’t have to do that. I can go on my own.”
He took out his cell and started to type. When he was done, he tossed it on the table. “Done. I emailed the guy and asked him if we can do it Friday instead. I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
I shoveled more gnocchi into my mouth. “You’re really a good friend, Declan.” Even though we’d only known each other a couple of weeks, I somehow knew I could count on him.
A few minutes later, I had nearly emptied the container. I scooped up a few more gnocchi and lifted the fork halfway to my lips. “I want to eat the rest of this, but I’m stuffed.”
“You sure you’re full?” Declan asked.
“Positive.”
“Good.” He leaned across the table and closed his lips around the fork. “Because I lied. I haven’t eaten anything yet. I worked really late, and those damn dumplings take a while to make. I rushed out because I didn’t want to miss your break.” He chewed and kept his face in front of me, leaning over the table. “So feed me the last of that, will ya?”
I laughed, but shoved two more heaping bites of gnocchi into his mouth. We were both so busy with the food and enjoying each other’s company that neither of us heard someone walk into the break room.
Not until a man’s deep voice interrupted. “Hey, Molly…”
I turned to find Will Daniels holding a coffee mug. His eyes moved back and forth between Declan and me.
I cleared my throat. “Hi, Will.”
Declan’s eyes went wide as he realized what was happening, a smug look of “mission accomplished” written all over his face.
Will extended his hand to Declan. “Will Daniels.”
“Declan Tate. Nice to meet you.”
“You’re a friend of Molly’s?”
“We’re dating, actually,” Declan answered without missing a beat.
Will looked over at me, understandably confused. We’d just had coffee last week, and I’d mentioned my roommate, but not that I was dating anyone. I hadn’t mentioned Declan’s name, so he had no way of figuring out that my new “love interest” was the same guy I’d spoken about.
Not knowing what to say, I stammered, “Uh, it’s...new.”
Will forced a smile. “I guess a lot can change in a week.”
“Yeah.”
He turned to Declan. “Whatever you guys nuked in the microwave smells amazing.”
Declan grinned. “Thank you. Gnocchi. I made it.”
“Ah. A chef.” Will walked over to the coffee pot and filled his mug for what felt like ten awkward seconds. He put the top on and said, “Well, I’ll let you two get back to your dinner.”
Then he was gone.
After Will was safely out of earshot, Declan spoke low. “Okay...you want my assessment on Dickalicious?”
“Yeah.”
He continued to whisper. “Doc was definitely jealous. That whole thing was awkward. It was great. He was clearly disappointed and surprised to find you with me.”
Hope filled me. “You think?”
“I don’t think, I know. So this was good. Definitely not a wasted trip.”
“What now?” I asked. “I mean, could this backfire? Now that he thinks I’m taken?”
“I didn’t say we were dating exclusively, just that we were dating. Trust me, next time he gets you alone, he’s going to ask about me. That will be your opportunity to let him know we’re not that serious. I’ll just be present enough to make him realize he needs to hurry, or he’ll lose the opportunity.”
Blowing a breath up into my hair, I said, “Well, this is far simpler than exposing my nipples. And I don’t even have to be disgusted with myself.”
“It’ll be fun, Mollz.” Declan replaced the lid on the gnocchi container. “Speaking of the fun we’re having, I was hoping maybe you wouldn’t mind being home next Wednesday night? That’s a night off for you, right? I was thinking of asking Julia to come over to brainstorm on the campaign at our place. Might be a good opportunity for you and me to…flirt.”
I couldn’t exactly say no; he’d helped me out a lot tonight.
“Oh...yeah. Of course. I can do that. It’s only fair. You just did me a huge favor.”
He smiled wide. “Cool.”
He did look especially handsome in the suit tonight.
Declan stayed until my break was over, and then I went back to work.
Later that night, sure enough, Will caught me at the nurses’ station.
He shuffled through some folders and said, “Declan, was it? He seemed nice.”
My heart pounded. “Yeah. He is. Like I said…it’s new. Nothing serious or anything.”
“He seems pretty serious, though, if he’s bringing you food at midnight...”
“I thought that was nice of him, yes. But it’s not exclusive.”
He put a folder back in its rightful spot, then turned to me and said, “Good to know.” He winked before heading back down the hall.
That thrilled me, but at the same time, I had to wonder what the hell was taking him so long to ask me out. He could have easily done so by now.
A few minutes later, Daisy appeared. “Holy shit, Molly. Spill on your new guy.”
I gave her the same story I’d just given Will—that it was new and the verdict was still out.
“Well, if it doesn’t work out, send him my way, because a man who looks like that and brings you food and flowers is gold.”
I felt like saying, yeah,men like that don’t exist.
But then again, what about Declan was really fake? He does look the way he does, and he is an amazing cook. While tonight’s dinner might have been for show, the Belgian waffles he made me the other night weren’t. And neither was his offer to accompany me to visit my dad, or the fact that he was a really good listener.
My sights were set on Will, but for some reason, as the night wore on, it was Declan I couldn’t stop thinking about.
