“I think you might be getting your wish. Maybe those mountains are starting to call my name after all.”

38. Declan

Chapter 38

Declan

I can barely believe my ears, but I’m fucking ecstatic to hear the words that just came out of my mother’s mouth. My eyes shoot to Hannah’s, who rewards me with a smile that could light up the darkest corners of the universe. I wasn’t trying to put her up to anything, and I don’t know what she said to my mom to get her to change her mind, but I’m beyond grateful—and all I want to do is plant my lips on Hannah’s soft mouth to show her just how much this means to me.

But I can’t. Not here, not in front of my mother and the rest of the team… and certainly not with Dunaway watching.

Still, when my eyes meet Hannah’s again, something passes between us, an electric current of unspoken promises, but neither of us says anything or makes a move until my mother clears her throat.

“I’m getting a little thirsty, so I think I’m going to go get a soda from the concessions,” she says. “Do either of you want anything?”

“I’m okay, but thanks. And be careful,” I tell her, and she pats my hand affectionately.

“I’m a big girl. I think I can handle the concession stand,” she says and winks at me before she walks away, leaving me alone with Hannah.

My hand instinctively reaches for Hannah’s, but I force myself to stop. The desire to touch her is so overwhelming that it feels like a magnetic pull drawing me toward her. She looks so damn good in my jersey, and I’m so grateful for whatever she said to my mother that it’s easy to forget where we are and how many people are around us.

I’m dying to know what they talked about, because this is a huge shift.

I stick my hands in my pockets to keep myself from touching her. There will be plenty of time for that later when we’re alone again. “So what did you say to my mom?”

Hannah chuckles and shrugs. “Nothing too special, honestly. She mentioned that you were trying to talk her into moving here, and I told her that it’s because you miss her. And that Denver’s a nice place to live.”

“That’s all it took?” I ask, arching one eyebrow.

“That’s it.”

“Wow. Well, thanks. Seriously. I didn’t think she’d ever say yes, but maybe she just needed someone with a more persuasive tongue.”

Hannah’s lips twitch upward, and she drops her voice to whisper, “And here I thought you were the one with the persuasive tongue.”