The Intern: Enemies To Lovers

“Not even me,” Ford admitted.

“That’s ’cause Daddy doesn’t bake good, and he likes to leave out ingredients”-she put her hands over her mouth, like she was attempting a whisper-“like the chocolate chips.”

“Ford,” I said, teasing him, “how could you?”

Jenner pointed at Ford and said, “A strong contestant for the Worst Dad Award.”

“Hey, hey,” Sydney shot back, rubbing her hand over Ford’s chest. “I dare you to find a better dad than this one.”

While Jenner and Dominick challenged that statement, Hannah rose on her tiptoes and said softly in my ear, “Is it time I rescue you and take you somewhere private for a second or-”

“Yes.”

She giggled. “Thought so.” Her arms lowered, and she linked our fingers. “Bestie, I’m going to return Mr. Declan in a few minutes, okay? Make sure to keep this group in line while we’re gone. Don’t let them do anything we wouldn’t do.”

“I’m on it,” Everly replied.

Hannah led me through the house and up a staircase and down a hallway, where she opened the last door on the right, closing it once we stepped inside.

After a quick peek around, I said, “Was this your bedroom?”

“Yep, and Mom hasn’t changed a thing.” She sat on the bed, setting the gift beside her. “She keeps saying she’s going to redecorate and make it into an official guest room, but she never will. I think she’s secretly hoping Cam and I will move back in.” Her hand went up in the air. “That’ll never happen, in case you’re worried.”

“If you move anywhere, it’ll be into my place, not back here.”

Her brows rose. “Do you think you could handle waking up next to me every morning?”

“I’d look forward to it.”

I broke eye contact to walk around the space, checking out her swim team trophies and the framed photos of her and her friends. There was a chair in the corner that had bags hanging over the side and several shelves of paperbacks. The door to her closet was cracked open, and there were still clothes inside.

“How many secrets does this room hold?”

“Oh God,” she sighed. “Millions.”

“Any worth sharing?”

She shrugged. “I plead the Fifth.”

“Fair enough.” I stood in the center of the room. “If you’re still her baby, how is Mom going to react when she finds out you’re dating an older man?”

“Mom already knows. I don’t keep much from her.” She crossed her legs and tapped the spot next to her, inviting me to join her on the bed. “She’s dying to meet you, which is going to happen the second we go back downstairs. Dad, too, but I’ll admit, he’s not the nice one. That’s Mom.”

“I hear dads never are-not that I have much experience in that department.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Uncle David and Aunt Sue have already filled them in on your accomplishments, I’m sure. They’re going to love you.”

I nipped her bottom lip. “Will they love me as much as you do?”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Impossible.”

“Give me those lips,” I demanded.

She slammed our mouths together.

As her taste instantly hit my tongue, her vanilla scent filled my nose, and I breathed her in, listening to each of her exhales releasing with tiny moans.

Fuck, I can’t get enough of this girl.

She slowly pulled away, resting her forehead against mine. “I know I already said this, but I’m so happy you’re here.” She leaned back, taking me in. “Part of me still can’t even believe it. Or that”-she ran her thumb across my mouth-“I can kiss this whenever I want.”

“It’s yours, Hannah.”

She was quiet for a few moments. “I hope that’s still true when I’m in studying hell and days go by without us seeing each other.” The emotion I’d seen earlier returned to her face. “The next few months are going to be hard, Declan.”

I gripped her back, pulling her closer. “I know what you’re about to go through, and I assure you, nothing is going to change between us.”

She searched my eyes. “What if I can only see you once or twice a week?” She took a breath. “Or less?”

“Well, I can’t promise I won’t turn into a growling asshole”-I gripped her harder-“but I can promise we’ll get through it and we’ll be fine. There’s no reason for you to worry.” I kissed her. “I mean it.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Now, open your gift.”

She reached inside the bag, taking out the long, rectangular box. The lid then came off, and she moved the tissue paper aside, that glow returning to her face the moment she realized it was a briefcase.

Her hand went over her mouth. “Oh my God, it’s beautiful.”

“There’s a story behind this present.” I waited for her eyes to lock with mine before I continued, “When I was a kid, my parents took me on vacation to Maine. We were walking through Old Port, a quaint section in Portland, and we came across this small store that specialized in handmade leather goods. I’ll never forget when I passed that window, seeing this huge-at least what had seemed huge at the time-briefcase inside. I made my parents stop and go in and look at it with me, and I said to them, ‘When I graduate law school, I want a briefcase just like that one.’ ” My fingers slid into her hair, holding the back of her head. “Right before I graduated, my father looked up the store. They were still in business, and he asked them to make me a briefcase.”

“It’s the one you use now, isn’t it? The one that has your initials next to the lock?”

I nodded. “I reached out to the owner a few weeks ago, and I had him make this for you.”

Her eyes got so big. “I can’t believe you had this made just for me.”

I rubbed my fingers over the HD that I’d had engraved next to the lock. I then opened the top, so she could see the way I’d customized the interior. “I wanted you to have something that was made just for you. Something with superior craftsmanship. That’ll last as long as you want it to.”

“Declan …” She ran her hand over each section, the flaps of organization I’d had added to hold her pens and notebooks and files and tablet. She finally landed on the bottom, where the date of her graduation was engraved along with the USC logo. “This is … I don’t even know what to say.” She glanced up. “It’s the nicest, most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me.”

My hand moved to her cheek, holding her steady. “Every time you walk into a courtroom is going to feel different. Some days, you’re going to feel confident as hell. Some days, you’re going to wish you’d had another week to prepare. Some cases are going to be automatic wins. Some, you’re going to have to fight like hell. But one thing will remain consistent, and that’s your presentation-the suit covering your body, the expression locked on your face, and the briefcase in your hand.” I leaned my face close to hers. “If you ever need it-and I’m not saying you will, but if you do-that handle can feel like my fingers, and you can squeeze it as hard as you need to, baby, and I’ll always be there for you.”

She circled her arms around me, aligning our bodies, burying her face in my neck.

When she held on, she clutched me so fucking tightly.

“I love you, Hannah.”

“I love you more,” she whispered back.