Anna's four-year relationship with her boyfriend, Jeremy, abruptly ends, and Anna is convinced by her best friend Libby to try her luck on a dating app called 'Swiper'. An Anna/Declan story. No relation to the events of the movie Leap Year (2010), just using the characters for an alternate universe story.
NOTE: I will be changing up the POV's in this story and to make it clear when that POV changes, they will be separated by this: ~ISR~?~ISR~ (The person's POV will be the name of that character in place of the ?)
BIG THANKS TO SHAWNA FOR YOUR EDITING HELP!
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these characters, just borrowing them from the 2010 Movie, "Leap Year". Starring Matthew Goode and Amy Adams.
I Swiped Right
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
~ISR~Anna~ISR~
Monday morning was rather rushed, and we didn't have time to do much of anything, other than grab a quick coffee and a bagel each. I had to head into the realtor's office to check in with Shawna on upcoming projects, while Declan went to the Caragh to start taping off the trim and baseboards. In preparation for painting the final B&B room. He didn't think of it, but I packed a change of clothes for us both. I had to dress for work, but I was not going to paint in five-inch heels and a skirt. He had the secondary interviews as well happening at 10:30AM, before he started his shift in the kitchen.
We made our way up to the room, and I took in the job he'd done taping off the trim. Declan stood by the door, crunching on an apple, as I tried to uncap the paint can. I wanted to check the paint to make sure it was the right colour I'd ordered in the first place. I looked over at him as he crunched on an apple.
"Ya should change first." He challenged, walking over to me and holding the apple between his teeth while he took over opening the can.
"I've done it before, I'll be fine Dec!" I promised, standing while Declan worked at the lid.
I swayed slightly, feeling a little nauseous. But I steadied myself and continued on. "I'm fine, really." I replied, holding my hand out for the lid. Declan handed it to me and I took a step toward the light to see it better, but the can lid slipped and landed on the floor, splattering paint on my $600-dollar shoes.
"Crap!" I hollered, grabbing a paper towel in an attempt to wipe the small bits of splatter off.
Declan watched on in amusement. "Told ya." He smiled, leaning against the wall, the roll of paint tape around his wrist, and once again biting from his apple.
"These shoes are so expensive, damnit." I mumbled.
"Put 'em in the wash, they'll be grand." He announced nonchalantly, taking the final bite.
"You do not put these shoes in the wash." I retorted. When I realized the paint was not going to come off, I felt like crying.
"They're just shoes, Love. We can buy more." He comforted, pulling me into his arms. "Why don't you change now, and we'll do the interviews before ya get started, aye?" He murmured as I hid my head in his chest.
"I'm sorry, I know they're just shoes, but I love them." I blubbered pathetically.
"Come 'ere, let's take em off." He declared, bending down to unstrap the ankle buckle, as my hands rested on his shoulders for balance.
I slipped into the bathroom at the end of the hall and changed in my yoga pants and an old t-shirt of Declan's.
"Wait, shouldn't I be dressed nicer for the interviews?" I posed, coming out of the bathroom to see Declan in the hall waiting for me.
"Yer fine, Love, they're not gonna care." He comforted once more, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
We were sat in his office, waiting for the arrival of the possible new employees, just relaxing, when Declan stood from his seat behind the desk and pulled me close for a cuddle.
"What are the notes on them again?" I posed, my head against his chest as his arms wound tightly around me.
"Well, I think Sam will be the best fit. She has the most experience and I didn't think she was flirting with me or anything, so that was a good start." He began.
"Yeah, no offence, Dec, but you don't seem to notice that very well!" I replied with a giggle.
"I know, so I feel like I'm missing something, but I think she likes Alec." He confessed.
"Really? What makes you think that?"
Declan relayed to me how she subtly asked about the rules regarding inter-work relationships and when she did, it was as they were leaving his office. Alec was behind the bar and she was looking at him rather intently.
"That's so cute!" I gushed, pulling back to look at him.
"I'm worried though." He confessed.
"About what?" I pondered.
"Alec is a little hard edged about a new female server after Aimee, and I don't want him to be indifferent to Sam if she is hired. He might see her flirting as a rouse. Like Aimee did to him."
"Right, well maybe I can talk to him in a subtle way, and make it clear that just because a girl flirts, doesn't mean she doesn't honestly like him?" I offered.
"I don't know how receptive he's going to be to that, Love."
"Great, so we risk hurting her because he's still effected by what Aimee did."
"I'm afraid of that, yes." He finished, as there was a knock on the door.
Declan set it up so we were going to meet his contender in third place first. Alec was at the door, announcing the arrival of all three, and Mark was led in first for the interview.
"Ohh, are you who would be training me? Damn." He commented, as his eyes travelled the length of my body. I was rather creeped out, and crossed my arms over my chest as my eyes met Declan's.
I'd tied the length of the t-shirt of Declan's I was wearing around my waist in a knot, which rested at my lower back so it was tighter around me, but not so much that it warranted that level of interest. Declan growled at his comment and I could tell he was refraining from strangling the poor guy.
"Mark. Thanks for coming in, but that comment is one reason you will not be working here. Thank you." I stated plainly.
"What? But why?" He asked in shock.
"You just hit on my fiancé, and it's just not appropriate to do so in the workplace as it is a form of sexual harassment."
After we excused Mark, the second candidate was brought in and she clearly did to Declan, what Mark did to me. Don't people realize that it's sexual harassment to be so bold, especially in an interview? She was politely dismissed, before Declan pulled me over to the door to see Alec and Sam flirting at the bar.
"I would hate to interrupt her." He smiled at me and nodded in reply.
"Why don't we offer for her to help out with the dinner rush tonight? A trial run, as it were?" I suggested.
Declan agreed and it was set in motion.
~ISR~Declan~ISR~
After my shift, I saw that Sam was doing well and Alec was receptive to her. I think the lad might have a crush of his own. I headed upstairs to check on Anna and the painting. She was a short little thing and I'd asked her not to get on the ladder alone. So, she was painting all along the baseboards and I would do the top trim. When I walked into the room, Anna was sitting on the floor, her head in her hands. I grew concerned, when she looked up and was looked pale as a sheet.
"What's wrong, Darlin'? Ya don't look too good." I pointed out, kneeling next to her.
"I just felt really nauseated is all, and needed to stop." She explained.
"Well, let's get ya out of the room, away from the smell of the paint, that can't be making ya feel any better." I compromised. She nodded in acquiescence and I helped her off the floor, cradling her in my arms. "We'll go see your dad, and you can sit with him for a bit, while I make you guys some dinner." I proposed.
Anna didn't seem to have any energy and after a little bit of a cuddle with her on the couch and a talk with Jack, I left them to get some dinner. When I entered the kitchen, Eoghan was at the grill filling orders and seemed surprised to see me.
"Hey! What you doing back here, didn't you get enough already?" He teased.
"Yeah, just gonna make some dinner for me, Anna and Jack. She's not feeling too good; nauseous." I clarified.
"Oh, poor thing. Why don't you take her some of that chicken stew? It's lighter than most dishes." Eoghan suggested and I agreed.
I cooked up some steak, vegetables and potatoes for Jack and I. Setting everything on a tray, I carried it up to the apartment. When I entered, Anna was laying back on the couch, asleep.
"She been out long?" I posed, as Jack took the proffered plate, I offered him.
"About twenty minutes." He confirmed. I nodded in reply. We ate quietly, letting Anna rest, the television on in the background.
"Did she say if she was still feeling nauseous?" I whispered, finishing my steak and taking a gulp of my Guinness.
"She didn't say it was worse. Do you think she's coming down with something?" Jack posed.
"I don't think she's sick, no." I stated, with a smile.
"What do you…?" Jack trailed off. "Oh, you think she's pregnant?" He queried and I nodded.
"Oh, Declan, if she is, that's fantastic." He stated happily. Still keeping his voice low.
"I also really hope she is, but I don't think it's on her radar yet." I confessed.
"Well it will be now; you have to bring it up." He smiled.
"Anyway, there is some soup for her here, I'm going to finish painting. She's not to paint anymore, so if she wakes, text me please?" I posed, gathering our empty plates.
Taking the dishes back down to the kitchen, I checked in with Alec. I wanted to know what he thought of Sam.
"She's great. I mean she's flirting with me, but it's not like when Aimee did it." He confessed, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Good, because she's hired." I stated flatly. "I was worried at first." I added.
"About what?" Alec posed, wiping down the bar and pouring me another Guinness.
"That ya would not be receptive to her actually." I stated, sipping from my beer.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked in confusion.
"Well, ya got burned by Aimee and had to deal with Kira, so I was afraid ye'd be prejudiced against Sam because of their actions." I clarified.
"I think I was, at first. To the idea anyway, but after meeting her and hanging around her, I can see she's different. She's cute too." He smiled, a blush flooding his cheeks.
I just smiled behind the rim of my glass, when I felt someone next to me. "Hi handsome!" A whiny voice greeted. I harrumphed in reply.
"Can I buy you a drink?" She flirted.
"No." I replied flatly, turning inward and away from her, hoping she'd get the hint. A few seconds later, I felt my phone vibrate and pulled it out of my front pocket.
It was a text message from Jack. 'Anna awake. Ate. Heading down to you.' Was all it said. Turning to the stairs, I watched as she hit the last step and skipped over to me.
"Hi, Love, you feeling better?" I called, opening my arms to her. The annoying blonde beside me made a rude comment under her breath. But I heard it clearly. Something along the lines of, 'She's got no boobs.' It just made me want to laugh. What did this broad think? That insulting my fiancé would make me want her? Crazy.
Anna snuggled against me, her eyes meeting mine as I bent to kiss her sweetly. When I pulled back, I saw her eye the blonde before speaking to me.
"I am, I don't know what came over me though." She admitted, as I pulled her closer.
"I will finish the painting. You stay away from that room, please." I admonished teasingly.
"I can still help!" She whined adorably.
"I'm sure you can, but you shouldn't." I started.
"Why?" She pouted. I laughed lightly at the indignant look on her face, kissing her pout.
"Because I think I know why you were nauseous." I explained. She pulled away slightly to look at me. "Anna, I think ya might be pregnant, Love." I offered, cupping her cheeks in my hands.
"But…but…" She mumbled. "Shit! I am!" She cried suddenly and my eyebrows rose up, almost meeting my hairline.
"And, why do ya think that it's so certain?" I cajoled, my arms around her waist, resting below the knot in her shirt.
"I think I missed a few of my birth control pills. I'm sorry." She replied, her bottom lip trembling.
"Anna?" I began, resting my forehead against hers. "If ya are, Darlin', ya do know how happy that would make me, don't ya?" I confessed.
"Really? It's not too soon?" She cried, worrying her lip between her teeth.
"Not at all, sweetheart. I love ya, Anna." I replied in earnest as she wound her arms around my shoulders.
"I think I should head home then, pick up some pregnancy tests on the way." She smiled.
"Aye. I hope you have some news for me then, when I get home."
A Month and a half later…
(12 Days before the wedding)
~ISR~
Anna was indeed pregnant and Declan was ecstatic. Their doctor confirmed that she was ten weeks along. Which meant that she must have conceived about three weeks into their relationship. Her expected due date was December. They had their next appointment with her doctor on the same day and time that Anna was expecting his parents and brother to arrive from Ireland. She didn't want to spoil the surprise, so she took that date for the appointment.
"I can't wait to see the little one on the sonogram." He smiled, as they cuddled on the couch in their apartment that Sunday afternoon.
"Do you want to know the sex? I mean when we can find out?" Anna posed.
"I don't care either way, as long as he or she is healthy." He replied. The perma-smile on his face infectious.
"I want to know, so I can plan the nursery." Anna admitted shyly.
"Then we'll find out." He smiled once more. His head rested on her belly, as she ran her hands through his hair.
"Anna?" He called, getting her attention.
"Hmmmm…" She replied, waiting for him to continue.
"If it's a girl…" He started, lifting his head to look at her. "If it's a girl, I'd like to name her Charlotte." He finished
"After my mom?" She smiled, as he wiped a stray tear off her cheek. He just nodded, sitting up more fully, to cuddle her to his chest.
"What about a middle name?" She posed, tracing the buttons on his shirt.
"Anne, after my mother. It's her middle name."
"I like that, Charlotte Anne." She announced. "And what about if it's a boy?" She added.
"Charles Jackson." He put it simply. "Charlie for short." He added.
"How is your dad represented in that though?" She posed thoughtfully.
"Well, clearly Jack is after yer dad, but the 'on' is part of John. Kinda, so it's in there, right?" He laughed lightly at the look on her face.
"I do love that name. What's your dad's middle name?" Anna posed and Declan shook his head. "What's your dad's middle name?" She pushed.
"Edgar…" He stated sadly. "I'm sorry but I'm not naming my kid Edgar." He announced, as she threw her head back in laughter before agreeing.
~ISR~Anna~ISR~
The rest of the week was busy, as we finished up on last minute decorations for each of the rooms at the B&B and as the weather proved to be nicer, there were more open houses to take up my time. By Friday night, I was so exhausted but pregnancy hormones were running amok. I was horny. Declan wasn't sure if he would be home before 9:00PM and it was only 6:00PM. After taking a long shower, I pulled on one of Declan's t-shirts before I crawled onto the bed, when an idea hit me.
I hadn't done this since before I met Declan but it was all I could think to do to relieve the ache. Jumping off the bed and running to the closet, I pulled a shoebox down and pulled out my vibrator. After checking to see that it had batteries, I settled back against the pillows and lifted the t-shirt up. Placing the head of the cock shaped vibrator against my clit, I pressed the 'on' button. The vibrations rattled through me and I writhed and moaned as it teased my aching nub. I don't know how long I was at it, but I pushed the head inside and pumped a few times before pulling it back out and running it over my clit once more. The only noise in the room were my panting breaths the subtle buzzing of the vibrator.
Suddenly, the bed dipped and my eyes flew open, taking in Declan's smiling face. "What's going on here Bob?" He teased, taking the vibrator from my grasp and pressing it inside of me.
"Declan!" I moaned as he fucked me with the toy.
"Couldn't wait, Love?" he posed, as his lips found my neck.
"No. I wanted you too much." I confessed, worrying my lip between my teeth as he continued to pump the fake cock inside me.
"And how's that workin' for ya?" He teased, pulling the toy from inside and pressing it hard into my clit, causing me to jolt at the feeling.
"It's okay," I added nonchalantly. He threw his head back in a laugh before replying.
"Do ya want me, Anna? Or do ya want, this…what do ya call him?" He posed with a confused expression on his face, taking in the contraption in his hand.
"BOB!" I called out loud.
"You call it BOB? Why's that, Darlin'?" He coerced, pushing it back inside of me and pressing the button, making it faster.
"Ahhh, Dec." I moaned as he pulled it out except for the very tip.
"Tell me," He provoked.
"It's Bob…because…" I panted as he continued to tease me. "Battery. Operated. Boyfriend." I concluded and I looked over at him in shock as he roared with laughter.
The vibrator suddenly stopped and my eyes met his as a crooked smile passed over his lips.
"Well, well, well, would ya look at tha'. BOB's not very reliable, now is he?" He smiled mischievously, tossing the now defunct toy off to the side. I heard it make a thud as it hit the floor.
"I want you. I just couldn't wait." I whined, tugging on his forearms to get him closer.
He slipped off the bed and pulled his shirt, pants and underwear off, before pulling my hand.
"What?" I questioned in confusion.
"On yer hands and knees for me, Love. Ya want me to fuck ya? Hmmm…? Let me see that gorgeous ass." He offered, biting his lip in anticipation.
"Yes!" I replied in excitement, getting in position.
Declan stood at the edge of the bed, and pulled me close, my feet hanging off the edge. I watched in the mirror across the way as he rubbed his cock against me a few times, making himself slick and teasing my already sensitive flesh before slowly pushing inside me. A loud groan of pleasure escaped his lips as his hips met the backs of my thighs an he paused, luxuriating the feel of us joined.
"Oh, Dec." I cried as he initiated a slow, but firm pace.
"Fuck, Anna. Ya always feel so amazing." He growled, his hands running up my back and around, cupping my breasts and kneading the flesh in his hands.
He pulled out and flipped me onto my back, setting a pillow under my hips so I was elevated. My legs were posed over his shoulders as he slipped his cock inside me once more. His pace was fast and hard and within seconds I was coming.
"Oh. Yes!" I moaned as he continued to fuck me.
"Grrrrr…" He growled loudly, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Wha' the hell's so funny?" He smiled, lifting my legs off his shoulders and setting them on the bed. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to mine, taking my top lip between his, like always, as my hands moved up into his hair.
"You growl so much when we have sex, it's so cute!" I taunted, squishing his cheeks, making his lips pouty.
"Right, shall I continue then?" He teased back, pulling the pillow out from under me.
"Yes, please. But, can I be on top?" I simpered.
He simply laid back on the bed beside me, and I crawled over him, lowering myself over his cock.
"Ya, Anna, just like that, Love." He whimpered, as I rode him hard and fast, reaching for my second release.
"So close, Darlin'." He whispered, as he moved one hand from ass to my thigh before pressing his thumb into my clit. I clenched suddenly, my orgasm washing over me in waves as he grunted his release moments later.
"Fucking hell." He groaned, as I lay on his chest. His arms surrounding me.
We lay cuddled for almost twenty minutes before either of us dared to speak, coming down from our highs.
"So," He began, a teasing smile on his lips as I moved to his side.
"So, what?" I urged.
"Tell me about Bob." He joked, tickling my side. I squirmed in his arms before he lay back, his hooded gaze watching me.
"I haven't used it since before I met you but these damn pregnancy hormones!" I wailed, as tears formed in my eyes. "Damnit, now I'm crying again." I complained.
"It's okay love, ya don't need Bob. Besides, I don't have any battery failure problems." He baited, rolling over me slightly and brushing my hair from my face.
"I love you, Declan. I can't wait to marry you." I confessed.
"I love ya too, sweetheart. And we only have about eleven days now. Plus," He started.
"Plus, what?" I pushed.
"Plus, we get to see the babe on Monday." He smiled adorably, cuddling me into his side.
I was struggling with whether or not to tell him about his surprise. Between wanting him with me at the appointment, which I know he wants to be a part of, and being at the pub when his family arrives. I'd have to talk to Libby, get her advice. But for now, I was content as he tucked me into bed and into his embrace, his head buried in my neck as we cuddled close.
