Chapter Twelve

Declan had never been more attractive to me as I watched him help Kyle every step of the way. Even if it meant he wasn’t finishing as quickly as my bladder and my muddy, wet feet had hoped. My admiration for him grew as I witnessed him encouraging Kyle to make it to the top of the rope climb, or how he painstakingly inched along with him on the rings even though I knew he could have zipped through them. But I was almost in tears when I watched him go back for a struggling Kyle carrying a huge sandbag up several flights of stairs. When they emerged together, Declan was bearing the weight of both sandbags.

Jill grabbed my hand with tears in her eyes. “Hold on to that one.”

Oh, how I wanted to, but my heart wasn’t so sure if it could handle another heartbreak.

The last obstacle we could see before we headed toward the finish line to wait was the javelin throw. Declan’s first toss was on point. It took Kyle a few tries, but with Declan’s coaching he completed the task.

Jill and I waited patiently, or not so patiently, for our guys to come around the last bend. We watched several participants finish the final obstacle, which was the herculean pull. It seemed cruel after everything else they had to do that at the finale they had to hoist a massive weight up a few stories. And then in their weakened state they had to jump over a line of fire. That made me nervous. I knew Jill was. She was so nervous she was gripping my arm, and I was a virtual stranger to her. But I felt like we had a kinship despite our very short acquaintance.

The rain was still coming down, but somehow the line of fire blazed. We were standing close enough to it to feel some heat from it. I couldn’t believe Declan was going to be jumping over that any moment and that after almost twelve years he was going to kiss me. I popped a breath mint in my mouth to prepare physically. Emotionally there wasn’t any preparation I could do. I knew this was a game changing moment. My heart felt like it had run the race.

Then Declan and Kyle appeared and my heart picked up the pace like it was going for a first-place win. I reached for my phone and took some more pictures of Declan and Kyle. Thankfully the case was waterproof. Kyle looked so relieved to see the end was near. Declan looked alive and sexier than I had ever seen him, even though he was filthy from head to toe. His sheer prowess was overwhelming. What was I getting myself into?

Declan’s eyes caught mine for a brief second before he helped Kyle hoist his weight. His eyes were telling me to get ready. I gulped down a huge amount of nerves. I wasn’t sure I had ever been this nervous or excited by a kiss.

Once Declan hoisted his own weight, he and Kyle sprinted toward the fire. Jill and I moved to stand on the other side of it. I put away my umbrella and captured as many photos as I could of Declan jumping over the blaze with command. Such satisfaction filled his features. He high-fived Kyle before he set his sights on me. I stood just feet away from him.

I had just enough time to shove my phone in my bag before he was running to me and picking me up. I didn’t know how he had the strength to hold me up. He lifted me high enough, but with enough care of the belly that came between us, that my face looked down at his mud streaked one. I ran my hands across his handsome face and through his drenched hair. My hands knew him, my body knew him. A rush of emotion hit me and showed up in the form of tears. His eyes spoke of knowing me.

There in the noisy crowd, unspoken thoughts were said as the rain trickled down every inch of our skin and clung to our clothes, leaving no mystery to the shape beneath them. Our silent communication spoke of loss, regret, but mostly desire. Declan lowered me until all he had to do was lean in and capture my lips. He did so with a passion I had never felt. His lips, though the same, spoke differently than they used to. He was no longer a boy who at times felt unsure. This man knew exactly what he wanted. His pressing mouth compelled mine to part. I heard a small moan of pleasure as his lips consumed my very being. For a moment, I forgot that there was ever anybody but him. No man had ever touched me in such a way, not even him.

His brief kiss filled me up. And as soon as his lips danced off mine it was like the play button was clicked and the world around us started up again.

“Congratulations,” I whispered, still in his arms.

He brushed my lips. “Thank you.” He gently set me down, but took my hand.

We walked together to receive his medal for finishing and his “Finisher” t-shirt. Kyle and Jill were there. Both gave us sly grins. I’m sure we made a spectacle of ourselves, but we weren’t the only ones giving congratulatory kisses. Though ours had very little to do with the race.

Kyle and Declan proudly wore their medals. I took pictures of them together. Jill gave me her number so I could text them to her and so we could keep in touch. I was happy to have had her company during the two-hour event. Jill couldn’t wait to send them to her husband.

Jill hugged Declan and thanked him for taking such good care of her son. It was raining so hard now that Jill and Kyle just left. Declan wanted to change out of his filthy clothes first. I wished I had some dry clothes to change into.

Declan must have read my mind. He kissed the side of my head. “I have an extra shirt you can change into, though I do appreciate Mother Nature giving me a taste of your figure.”

I smacked his arm. “Hit the changing tent.”

He left, and I had to use the porta-potty one more time, unfortunately. My body refused to wait. I felt like I was entering a petri dish full of germs. I prayed nothing grew on me or in me. It was a good thing I was in such a euphoric state after that kiss or I may have had some violent thoughts over how uncomfortable and dirty I was. Hugging Declan all but ruined my pretty white shorts and blush blouse. And my leather wedges were never recovering. I didn’t even want to see the state of my hair. Ha. The rain was moving off to the east my foot.

My next worry was how we were going to get out of the field the truck was parked in. It wasn’t a pretty site when Declan and I arrived to what looked like a monster truck rally, except it was filled with sedans spinning their wheels doing their best to get out and onto the road. There were some good Samaritans trying to push people out, but only some were successful.

I bit my lip and looked down at my muddy feet, not sure how I was even going to walk to the truck.

Declan smiled at the mud bath before us and then down at my inadequate footwear. With no warning at all he scooped me up and off my feet. “Miss Dixon, I think I owe you a new pair of shoes.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You owe me a lot more than that. If I ever see a porta potty again it will be too soon.”

He planted a quick kiss on my lips with a wicked grin. “You name it and it’s yours.”

“Anything?”

“I’m at your command.”

“I like the sound of that. I’ll start of easy. I’d like to be dry and I’m starving.”

“I can fix that.” He held me tight against him. He managed to carefully walk us to the truck without slipping.

When he set me in his truck it felt like the baby kicked my ribs. “Ow.” I held my midsection.

“Are you okay?” Declan looked over every inch of me as if assessing me.

“I’m fine, it’s just the baby reminding me he’s here.”

Declan leaned more into the truck trying to keep the moisture off him. “May I?”

I knew what he was asking and I nodded.

I thought he would rest his hand on top of my shirt, but instead he slid it under my shirt. It felt warm and perfect against my damp skin. His touch had me catching my breath. I moved his hand to where he could feel my son. I rested my hand on his. There I watched his eyes fill with wonder as the baby kicked. It was a beautiful moment.

“I can’t wait to meet him.”

Those were the sweetest words ever spoken to me. I leaned in and kissed him. I could taste my tears mixed in with the mint gum he had just chewed as our lips got tangled up. His tongue urged my lips apart. He deepened the kiss, sending my heart rate into a frenzy. The baby got excited too.

Declan felt him and smiled against my lips. “I think your son approves.”

“You think so?”

“The only question now is, what does his mother think?”