“Who rides a horse to the pub?” I ask, reaching out to pet him. He neighs a greeting, rubbing his nose into my hand.

“I do. That’s Cathmor.”

“Of course you do,” I say. I mean, really? A horse? He comes riding across the field on his mighty steed to have it out with the woman who crossed him. It is so 1800ish that it isn’t even funny. Doesn’t he know that we live in the 21st century? I let out a disgruntled noise, knowing I’m being a bitch, but I don’t like the way he came in demanding to speak to me. Dropping my hand from the beautiful horse, I turn and make my way to the field. Once there, I whip around to find myself face to face with Declan. My breath hitches as his eyes watch me, his chest rising and falling, and his mouth still in such a straight line. I wish he’d smile more. He makes me nervous when he is staring at me like this.

“Amberlyn—” he starts to say.

I cut him off before he can finish. “Before you say what you need to, I’d like to say that I don’t like the way you talked to me. I am not beneath you. You don’t demand anything of me or push me around!”

His head falls to the side, his eyes still locked with mine, but then he nods. “I’m sorry. I let my emotions take over.”

“Thank you,” I say, mimicking his stance and crossing my arms across my chest as I look away. “Now, as you were saying?”

He chuckles. It has me looking up at him quickly, surprised. His mouth is turned up in the most beautiful smile ever. His anger and his standoffish stance are gone, and what is left behind is breathtaking. His eyes are so light, even in the darkness, and his smile radiant. I am in awe as he says, “I love how you treat me. It is refreshing. I also admire the fact that you can’t be pushed around. I respect you, Amberlyn, a lot.”

That has me dropping my arms and tucking them in my pocket. “Thank you.”

“I’ll admit that I’m spoiled and usually get what I want, but you’ve never treated me that way. I like that you put me in my place. I should have never spoken to you like that. Thank you for reminding me of that.”

“To me you’re just a regular guy, like I’ve said before.”

“I know and I like that, but I don’t like being lied to, Amberlyn.”

I look up quickly. “I never lied to you.”

“No? Then what would you call it? Withholding information?”

I shrug as I look away again. “Okay, maybe I did withhold some information, but it wasn’t like you came out and asked.”

“Maybe so, but I don’t like what happened, not one bit, and it is taking everything out of me not to go find him and fuckin’ kill him,” he says, his accent flaring more so than before with his voice laced with anger.

“I know.”

“Why did you lie to me? I thought we were friends, at least.”

I shrug again as I shake my head. “I just felt so embarrassed, like, how stupid could I be? Why did I go out with him alone after what Fiona told me about your sister? Why did I allow him to get so close to me—where I was in reach of him grabbing me? You know? Is it my fault because I allowed him to kiss me before without really putting up any kind of boundaries?”

He is shaking his head before I can finish talking. Stepping closer, he says, “No, he is trash, filth. Amberlyn, you did nothing wrong. He did. A man should respect a woman. Something that Casey Burke obviously has no clue on how to do.”

I know he is right, but I still doubt the fact, even though everyone has told me the same thing. I just feel so stupid and wish I were a better judge of character. “I just don’t want to look bad in your eyes, and I feel like that is exactly what happened. I not only turned you down, but I went out with a guy you obviously hate. I mean, how do we come back from that? Do you even want to be anywhere near me?”

When his hand cups my chin, I look up, surprised to find him much closer than he was a second ago. Looking deep in my eyes, Declan holds my face tenderly as he says, “You’ll never look bad in my eyes, Amberlyn. I’m smitten with you if you haven’t noticed. I have been since the moment I saw you. I never want anything to happen to you. I’m sorry about what happened, but I can promise it never will again. Not while I’m around. And the answer is yes… I want to be near you, very much so.”

I can only blink as he holds my gaze, his other hand coming up to cup my cheek. “I’d like to take you out to dinner and get to know you. See if this thing I have for you is real because yeah, you did turn me down and you did go out with someone I despise, but that’s all in the past, done with, over. All I care about at this moment is your lips forming the word yes.”

I know my eyes are wide and my mouth is hanging open in complete shock as I dumbly ask, “Really?”

His mouth curves up as he slowly nods, his lips only inches from mine. “Yes, I promise it will be worth your while.”

I don’t doubt that at all. “Then yes, I’d like that.”

He smiles as he drops his hands from my face and takes my hands in his. Bringing my knuckles to his lips, he kisses each one before looking back up into my eyes. He leans in, his mouth so close that my lips part as I await his kiss. I can feel his breath against my mouth as he whispers, “Tomorrow?”

I’m breathless as I agree. “Sure.”

“Wonderful. Let me walk you back to the pub.”

Wait, what? His hand intertwines with mine and I’m still gasping for breath, unsure on what just happened. “You’re not going to kiss me?”

I. Did. Not. Just. Ask. That.

Oh my god, someone kill me now. What the hell is wrong with me? I close my eyes, covering my face with my free hand, but Declan laughs as he uncovers it, taking my chin between his forefinger and thumb. Holding my gaze, he says, “Not yet, but did you want me to?”

My heart skips a beat as I smile, looking deep in his eyes. “Yeah, I do.”

He smiles. “Good to know. Yes, of course I want to, but I want to wait.”

My brow comes up as I look at him questionably. “For?”

“The moment it will mean the most, when you’ll least expect it.”

Breathlessly, I grin like a fool as my heart swells in my chest. I’m glad he didn’t kiss me, because I want to wait for that moment too. I don’t know why but as he holds my gaze, I know it will be a moment worth waiting for.