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“Still,” I muse “I bet it won’t be a pleasant conversation”

Declan chuckles “You’ve seen enough to know the truth of that And this will probably strain our already-tenuous relationship andwith him more difficult, no doubt”

“Is this project worth it?” I ask him “Worth the trouble it will cause?”

Settling back in his chair, Declan steeples his hands and taps theainst his chin as he considers this “You know, if it were just the personal relationship I was putting at risk, I wouldn’t think twice about it because there’s so little there to salvage But I’one, and it will all fall on me Until that time, I still take my ith this co a fad boutique”

It’s at this moment I realize how much I admire Declan as a businessman His dedication to this company is without question, his loyalty to his na, especially since he doesn’t havefoundation within his family unit

“You can put it on the back burner,” I suggest “That project will always be there”

His eyes bore into ht”

A dinging sound from his laptop indicates a new email, and his eyes are drawn to the screen Then the corners of his rin He leans forward, taps a few times on the keyboard, and eyes me slyly “Our test results are in”

I don’t knohat he’s talking about, then I realize… our STD tests I already knowI did after I found out Caleb was cheating on et tested Of course, he swore up and down he’d always practiced safe sex, but I couldn’t trust his word Not when he’d violated my trust in him as a person

“Want to knock off work early—take these test results out for a test spin?” Declan suggests with a waggle of his eyes

Laughing, I push out of the chair, collectingsmirk “You have a four PM appointment with your depart off work early Plus, I need to run soroceries by my parents’ house after work”

Declan chuckles even as he nods “Keeping ht”

“Always,” I reply with a tart wink

“Dinner tonight?” he suggests “After you go see your parents?”

My belly flutters that he wants to see ht “I’d love that”