✧

I sleep in till nine o'clock. It's definitely more of a luxury than getting up at the crack of dawn. I don't feel as cranky as I usually do, which is a good sign that it's going to be a good day.

The cafe is shut this week and it's time to decorate and transform the shop into something new, fresh and inviting. I know my mother ordered paint samples and other items she wants me and Declan to start building.

On my walk to work I start panicking over seeing him on Saturday night. When Eddie walked out of my room Declan stared me down as if I personally offended him. I still haven't got my head around what that was. But I know I need to brush it under the carpet so I can focus on today.

It's a bright morning and I know that today will be filled with success. That's if I know what the hell to do with the cafe.

Instead of heading round the front of the shop, I enter through the back. My headphones are buried in my ears as I unlock the door and press on it, only for the door to be locked. I frown at the door and use my key again. This time it opens.

I press onto the door and step into the back room of the cafe. Even though music is blasting through my ears, the hairs on my arms begin to stand. Someone is here.

My throat dries and I creep my head around the door, taking a breath of relief when I see Declan on a ladder as he paints the ceiling. Right, mum told me that she gave him a key so he could pop in and do what he needed.

I didn't expect him to be here at ten o'clock. What time did he arrive?

As I step forward, I take out my headphones and place them in my pocket. Declan glances over when he hears my feet shuffle against the floor. Now I take him in because instead of wearing a suit, he's wearing the world's tightest t-shirt.

He might as well be shirtless because I can see everything. Broad shoulders, thick arms and veiny skin. I gulp silently as he offers me a smile.

"Hi," I say. "You startled me."

Declan leans on the top of the ladder and quirks a brow lazily in my direction. "Sorry, I thought I'd come in early."

"Since when?" I ask as I shrug off my bag and leave it by the door.

He checks his watch and blows out a short breath. "Since eight."

My eyes widen. "Oh, I didn't realise you'd be here that early."

"Well, I'm an early riser. Would rather be here than wasting my day, we've got a lot of work to do." He nods and clutches the brush in his hands, then dips it in the white paint. "I tried to cover the furniture as best as I could."

I glance around and nod. "I see that. I presume my mother gave you an in depth explanation of everything she wants?"

Declan smiles but he doesn't look at me. "Of course she did, she's the boss."

That makes me breathe through my nose deeply. "She really is. So what's the plan?"

"First to paint the ceiling white, then focus on the walls. We picked up a really nice light olive green colour and then have this side as a feature wall," Declan gestures to the side and I nod. "We're having the furniture collected tomorrow and then ordering in new pieces, Hazel said she's going to pop to some charity shops to find some retro items."

I smile at his words. "Sounds good. I'm pleased that she can finally turn this shop into what she's always wanted," I comment as I glance around.

It is definitely in need of some tender loving care. It's been years since we replaced the furniture or thought about changing the plants and the art decor. We picked out things because they were cheap and easily accessible but now she can have it exactly the way she wants it.

"She wants you to add your touch to it too."

"I know," I nod. "She said I could choose which plants and greenery I want. Really honoured to have that responsibility."

Declan chuckles gently. "It is a very important job to have if you want this place to look like a friendly jungle."

"That's exactly the aesthetic we're going for." My eyes light up and he flashes me a grin.

"Come grab that roller and help me," he says pointing to a set on the counter. He begins to walk down the ladder. "You take the ladder, I'll jump on one of the tables."

I take the roller in my hand and shake my head. "It's alright, I can take the table."

"With how clumsy you are? No chance."

My mouth falls open. "Excuse me? I accidentally dropped tools on my foot once. Once."

"One time too many," he says deeply.

I step forward to react but Declan leans into the ladder, the paint sitting on the top rocks forward and backwards until the white liquid coats his navy t-shirt. I snort to myself as he slams it back down on the surface. "Fuck sake." He grumbles.

"And you said I was clumsy?" My lips twist into a smug smile.

We both glance down at his stained t-shirt, smudged everywhere and now his hands covered too. He huffs out a sigh and looks at me, I can't fight the permanent smirk. "Could you grab me some tissues please?"

I breathe out through my nose and turn away towards the back room, trying to find the biggest blue roll I can find. Demi might have cleaned up this room a few weeks ago, but it's already a mess.

When I grab the tissue and head back out into the cafe, my eyes collide with Declan's bare chest. His bare fucking chest. I suck down a silent breath and take in every little detail.

Toned, jacked and fucking delicious.

Holy shit. Everything inside me contracts at the way his abs are outlined with those gorgeous defined muscles and his huge arms. Oh God, they're so fucking big and thick.

This is not what I needed to see today. This is not what I needed to see.

Suddenly my head hits something hard and I curse under my breath, stepping away to rub my forehead that is beginning to throb.

"There's a wall there." Declan calls out with a playful tone.

I squeeze my eyes shut and pray that the ground will open up and swallow me whole. "Yep, got that. Thanks." I respond bluntly before rubbing the spot that is now heating up beneath my fingers.

My cheeks are burning brighter than the sun and I can't meet Declan's eye as I hand him the tissue roll. Why did he decide this was the exact moment to take off his t-shirt? To be fair, if I looked like him... I'd be topless all the time.

"Here," I say.

"Thanks," he takes it from me and wipes his paint covered hands against the tissue. "You alright?"

I drop my hand from my head and pretend I didn't just walk straight into a wall, staring at his body in the process. "All good," I nod and tilt my gaze to his, forcing a smile. "I'll get started over here."

Anything to get away from that body I want to ogle for the foreseeable.

I take the paint pot and pour it into a tray so I can use the roller, then I climb onto the sturdiest table and start on the ceiling. Trying my hardest not to sneak glances at Declan as he cleans himself up.

But of course I do... and his back.

Holy fucking shit. His back. Rippling with muscles I didn't even know could exist. Smooth lightly tan and even skin. His shoulders look even bigger and broader from this angle. I had no idea I had a thing for backs.

My core clenches and I feel blood rush around my body. Now is not the time to get a fucking boner. Please, please, please, please. Spare me this one damn time.

I feel my nostrils begin to flare and I turn back to the tray and use the roller to collect the paint. If I focus on literally watching paint dry and not the half-naked man standing beside me, then I'll be sweet for the rest of the day.

Who am I fucking kidding?

"You good on that table?" Declan's voice snaps me out of my thoughts as he faces me again.

"Hmmm?"

He stares at my feet on the table and arches a brow. "That doesn't look sturdy."

I wave him off with the roller, only for white paint to splatter the floor and his bare chest. Someone fucking murder me right now because I don't want to be here anymore, I officially want off this planet.

"Sorry," I groan. "Shit, I'm sorry."

He barks out a laugh and shakes his head. "It's fine. Not like I'm not already covered head to toe in this shit."

I have to practically tear my eyes away from that handsome chest because I'll start drooling again and fall head first off this table. I swallow harshly and turn back to the ceiling with my roller.

Declan gets to work beside me but not before he puts on the radio to help us work. If he talks I'll be distracted so I'm grateful for the comfortable silence because I want the ceiling to be over and done with as soon as possible.

After an hour of shuffling around the cafe on the table and Declan on the ladder, we finally have a fresh white ceiling. I slump back in a chair as Declan washes his hands and then digs through a bag to find a t-shirt. Thank the Lord.

He slides it over his body and then chucks me a bottle of water before sitting down beside me. I need to rest before I get up and do anything else, my arms are absolutely killing me. Declan's arms are probably not even twitching with the amount of muscle he's packing in those legs for arms.

"Thank you," I say, cracking the lid and taking a gulp.

When I look at Declan, I'm relieved that he's covering that God-like body.

I might have gone into cardiac arrest if it was for a second more.

"Have you always worked at the cafe?" He asks out of the blue.

My throat clears as I twist in the chair to face him, his intrigued eyes are set on me. "More or less, yeah," I nod. "I'd come here after school to work, help sort things in the back room. Then when everyone went to University, I stayed here to help out. I guess I missed out a little but this business means a lot to me."

Declan hums and rests his elbow on the arm of the chair, his finger running over his lips and down his chin. "If you didn't have the business, what do you think you would be doing?"

I blink at my question, completely off guard. "Ohh..." I trail off and then pull a face. "I don't know, I've never been asked that question before."

"There was nothing you really enjoyed in school?"

My teeth clamp down on the inside of my cheek as I ponder for a moment. "I mean I enjoyed the more creative sides of things in school, I flunked maths and science. Thank God I can count change."

Declan smiles at my words. "Creative like what?"

I shrug. "You'll laugh."

"Never."

"Well," I take down a quick breath. "I enjoyed drama, it was my favourite class."

He flashes me a light expression but he doesn't seem shocked, like he already knew. "Really?"

"Yeah," I press my head into my hand as I rest it on the back of the chair. "Most people understand because apparently I'm a drama queen. But obviously I couldn't go into anything like that now, I missed an opportunity. Life goes on."

"But is being here what you want?"

I lick my bottom lip. "It makes my mother happy, working together with the business. I'd be distraught if we lost it. It's better to be here than to wish what could have been."

Declan doesn't speak for a few moments, he sits there and watches me. "But you should be making yourself happy."

A sad laugh passes my lips. "Everything has had to take a back seat lately, I can't even remember the last time I did something normal like go out for dinner without worrying, or to a bar or a night out. Life is too consuming right now, let alone thinking about what I might have wanted to do."

"But enough time for a one-night stand?" He says suddenly, his tone clipped.

I almost choke because, where the hell did that come from?

My eyes widen and stare back at him in horror. I'm glad that his expression is the exact same as mine. Oh God, I pray he didn't hear us. The thought makes me nauseous and I might have to cancel this entire business deal.

The entire phrase could be passed as a joke but not when his words are harsh and not playful.

"Sorry," Declan says quickly, shaking his head. "That was incredibly inappropriate and none of my business."

I don't even know what to say. His eyes are frightening me right now.

So I stand up and walk towards the counter, reminding myself to breathe because I will start hyperventilating. I hear his footsteps behind me as I loop around the counter but I don't get far when his hand wraps around my wrist.

Something shocks me back to life, the room vibrating all around us.

I turn to him and the look in his eye has changed. He looks guilty. "I'm sorry," he says again. "I-I don't know why I said that. It wasn't a dig, I was being nosy."

My eyes narrow towards him. What is up with him lately?

It feels like he's judging me for sleeping around. He's right, it is none of his business.

He grips my wrist a little tighter, almost like he's fearful I'm going to pull away. "It's fine," I say quietly. "I really don't care about your opinion on me, Declan."

I pull my hand away from his touch, the way his fingers brush the inside of my wrist makes me shudder.

"What are we doing next?" I ask bluntly, avoiding his eyes.

"Luca," he says gently. "I don't have a bad opinion about you, I don't care what you do in your spare time. It was a terrible combination of words."

After a moment I drag my eyes towards his and nod. "Okay, fine. I'm over it. Let's work."

For the rest of the day we work in silence. I hate every second of it.

✧

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Author's Note

Uhhhh oh. Declan really out here showing his jealousy side😬

Luca walking straight into the wall whilst looking at Declan's body is my favourite. Of course he had to say, 'There's a wall there'. He's enjoying it far too much hahah🤣

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We're getting Declan's POV next! woo😉

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