Man's Best Friend (The Dogmothers #5) - Roxanne St. Claire Page 0,84
from Declan.
Is the sunroom floor laid on concrete?
What the heck? She stared at the question, so out of the blue she had to think about the answer. Yes, she finally typed back as she recalled seeing a concrete subfloor when they reconstructed that wing after the fire. She wanted to ask why…but wasn’t sure she wanted to know. But his next text came in a second.
Can you open one of the French doors in there for me?
She pushed up, holding the phone and frowning. “I’ll be right back,” she said, heading to the other side of the house.
Walking into the bright, glass-walled room that had been redesigned as an indoor garden that had gone dormant after her grandmother died, she caught sight of Declan, Connor, and Braden standing out on the patio in a group.
Braden was pointing up to the second-story veranda covering the patio, and she suddenly slowed her step, imagining the conversation.
That’s where it collapsed on Dad.
Trapped him right where the fire was raging.
He never had a chance.
Is this why they’re here? Tracing footsteps, looking into the past, remembering…
Her heart dropped at the thought. When would he forget? Would he ever forget? How could they get anywhere if he slid back into the dark place?
Letting out a sigh and bracing herself for whatever they might say to her, she went to the French doors, only then noticing a huge wooden crate between the men. It had to be seven feet long and three feet high.
As she unlocked the door, her gaze fell on the words printed on the side.
Aqua Paws.
“Is that…” Words failed her.
“Underwater treadmill,” Declan said with that crazy-slow grin. Only this time, it wasn’t Evie’s knees that went weak. It was her heart.
“How? It’s so much, and…Declan.” She literally didn’t know where to begin to thank him.
“Waterford gets a massive discount at the canine equipment warehouse outside of Holly Hills,” he told her. “The chief said the first responders’ charity wanted to contribute, so we can donate it in the department’s name to the vet school when we’re done. And I covered the rest.”
“Declan,” she whispered.
“Evie,” he echoed, coming closer to plant an unexpected kiss on her lips. “You didn’t think I was going to let our boy not have everything he needs.”
“Come on, Daddio, let’s haul this thing in and get it set up,” Connor said. “We’re all on duty in two hours.”
She stepped back and watched in stunned silence as the three muscular men carried in the heavy crate, then unloaded and assembled the treadmill and small pool. Braden dragged the garden hose in and connected it to a spigot long ago installed for watering plants, and voilà.
Judah had an underwater treadmill…and Evie had one more reason to adore Declan Mahoney.
When Connor and Braden left, Declan put his arms around her, cuddling her close for a kiss.
She looked up at him, her whole body humming with need. Not sexual need, not emotional need, but the need to make this decision.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” she asked.
“That Judah will be better in no time?”
“No. Well, yes. But that’s not all it means.”
He frowned, waiting.
“That right there?” She pointed at the treadmill. “It’s all the proof I need that you’re going to be a wonderful, caring, generous, amazing…” She closed her eyes to whisper, “Father.”
He sucked in a breath. “You’ve thought enough?”
“More than enough.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. “I am so sure.”
“Evie.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “I have a twenty-four-hour shift. I’ll be back tomorrow by six, and then…”
“Let the games begin.”
“We’re gonna win this game, E. You and me and…” His gaze dropped to her belly. “Junior.”
She put her hand over the spot where he looked, fully committed to the dream.
Chapter Twenty-one
Declan was packing up at four fifty-seven on the nose when his phone buzzed with a text.
That couldn’t be good. Either Evie was texting to tell him not to come over, or Chief Winkler wanted yet another freaking personnel form filled out so it would be on his desk when he arrived the next morning.
But it was neither. Instead, the text came from a number he didn’t recognize, but the words seized his attention.
You want to talk about the Gloriana House fire?
Declan blinked at the screen and typed back, Who is this?
The answer came in seconds. Kirby Lewis, former AI.
The arson investigator Braden said was a retired legend. When can we talk? Declan asked.
I’m waiting in the town square by the statue of the dead guy.
The dead guy. Evie’s great-times-three grandfather.