Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Embarrassment overtook the flutter in my chest. I snapped back to my senses. “Shut up p>
I said huffily, resisting the urge to tug my T–shirt down.
The smile left his face. He turned his back on me and walked deeper
into the room.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath–just like he’d done at the mall in Anchorage.
“What are you doing?” While his back was turned, I grabbed the
blanket and draped it over my shoulders, letting it hang down to my
legs.
“You screamed,” Declan explained.
“I was having a nightmare p>
“You yelled at someone to stay away from you p>
“Because I was having a nightmare p>
He was silent for a moment, looking at me thoughtfully. “Was it about what you told me? About your ex p>
My first instinct was to lie–I hated being seen as weak. And Declan clearly wasn’t someone who made me feel safe. But I was still mad at him–for his wrong assumptions about me, for making me tell him about Alex, about the trouble I didn’t want anyone to know.
So I lifted my chin and met his gaze. “Yes. I dreamed Alex found me. Now can you leave? I’ve had enough of uninvited men barging into
my space p>
Even in the dark, I could see Declan’s skin pale.
He stepped back like he’d been hit. Turned to leave. But as he passed my bed, he suddenly stopped–staring at the window like a predator.
“Hey!” I protested as he climbed onto the bed.
He just crawled over to reach the window–but seeing him on my mattress, his legs tangled in my rumpled sheets, created an unsettling sense of intimacy. “I told you to leave,” I said, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.
“Be quiet,” he said.
“Don’t order me around p>
He ignored me. Opened the window. Pulled up the sash. Bone–chilling cold air rushed in. I was too frozen to speak.
I shivered and watched Declan stick his head out and take another
deep breath–like a dog sniffing the wind.
I frowned at him. “What the hell are you doing, Declan? This is really weird p>
He pulled his head back in and locked the window. “Just checking
the lock. Sorry for barging in.” He got off the bed, made a point of
giving me a wide berth as he left, and gently closed the door.
I followed and locked the door. A long time passed before I heard
him lock his own door. My hand was still on the latch.
I didn’t dare face the window behind me–what had drawn Declan
over there? He couldn’t have known Alex was there in my dream. So
why did he go?
Chapter 20
Through the wall, I heard the creak of Declan’s bedsprings as he got into bed. A wave of heat rushed through me. I spun away from the
door.
The window and balcony beside my bed were empty.
It was just a dream, I told myself.
Monday morning, I went downstairs for breakfast. The only empty
stool was next to Declan. I’d successfully avoided him on Sunday. The nightmare from Saturday was almost forgotten.
But seeing the faded blue flannel shirt draped over his broad
shoulders, I remembered what his bare shoulders had looked like in
the moonlight.
A chill ran through me. I froze at the bottom of the stairs–the person. in the valley who liked me least just happened to know my biggest weakness. Sitting next to him and talking felt like putting my throat
to a blade.
I didn’t want to be intimidated. I exhaled and forced myself to cross the dining room. I braced myself for his coldness and dropped heavily onto the stool next to him.
“Good morning,” Declan said quietly.
I blinked and turned to stare at him. “What did you say p>
“Good morning,” he repeated flatly.
An itchy, hot feeling spread through my whole body–anger and embarrassment mixed together. “Don’t do that,” I said quietly. “Don’t suddenly treat me like a normal person. If I wasn’t worth
acknowledging before, don’t give me special treatment just because you know I have a crazy ex p>
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.