Curiously, Declan found himself listening to Yvette touch on the subject he had been wondering after, but nothing she said gave him any indication that she had actually found someone herself. In fact, she almost seemed irritated by the fact that everyone around her seemed to have someone. He had long since gotten over that issue, personally, but he could understand how working with people who had their other half could get tiring. There wasn't a whole lot of room to get together when everyone seemed to have plans already. It was half of the reason why Declan had never wanted to be attached at the hip with whoever he ended up with. It was also why he and Henry worked so well together. Neither had that other person to answer to yet, and although there had been a few over the years, neither man had completely thrown their work away for a relationship.
Her smile brought him out of his thoughts and he chuckled. "I might be," he joked in return, "but I'll have you know that I'm actually rather known for it now. So as much as I'd like to impress you, at least I'm telling the truth, eh?" Declan grinned, turning his attention on her building fast enough that he hoped she might not be able to comment on the fact that he had just admitted to his attempt to make her think better of him.
"Your friend must be very clever," he mused aloud. "This place really great."
Declan looked down at the approaching animal, his eyebrows lifting. Really, it was lucky he wasn't allergic to the poor things Yvette had had to take in. Then, this probably would never work. But he was getting ahead of himself, now.
He released her hand so she could pick up the cat, offering a gentle pat on the head by way of greeting Jax. When she suggested they go on and see the rest of it, he waited for her to aim for the back, then held the door open for her so that they could go into the back. Unsure what to do with his hands now, Declan stuffed them into the pockets of his trousers as he ambled between the rows of animals. Now and then, he would linger in front of one or the other, but after only a couple of them, he spoke again.
"So," he started, tone rather quiet though he didn't look over at her until he finished his question, "is it wrong of me to be happy that you haven't mentioned being in a relationship?" When his chin lifted and his gaze found hers, Declan smiled almost apologetically, but he had to admit that, really, he was glad.