Page 10 of Only You

Eileen smiled at his mother and opened her mouth to answer when she made eye contact with Declan over his mother’s shoulder.

His mother turned around. “Oh, Declan. Eileen made it!”

Yeah, and she brought some jerk-face idiot who probably thought he had a chance with Eileen.

“I see,” was all he said.

One eyebrow lifted as Eileen studied him.

“I thought Zane was going to be with you tonight.”

His mother shot him a weird look. Declan knew his comment sounded like an accusation.

“I was just explaining to your mother that he had something come up at work. They had an issue with a client.”

He nodded, and then his gaze turned to her date. He hated him on sight. The guy’s smile widened as he stuck out his hand.

“Rowan O’Reilly, Eileen’s favorite cousin.”

The relief coursing through his blood left him dizzy. He took the man’s hand and studied him. There were similarities around the eyes, and they had the same face shape. But he was fairer than Eileen, with light brown hair and light blue eyes.

“That’s not true. Mary Ellen is my favorite cousin.” Eileen’s voice was amused.

“Then I’m your favorite male cousin.”

“Okay. I will give you that.”

“Nice to meet you. Is this your first time to Fitzpatrick’s?”

He shook his head. “But it has been a while. I’m stationed in California.”

Stationed. He had pegged him as military, and he had been right.

“Rowan is in the Navy,” his mother said. “And he knows?—”

“O’Reilly!”

He turned to see Brando hurrying over with little Mike in his arms.

“Santini, good to see you,” he said, giving the man a side hug and then looking down at the baby. “A mini Santini.”

“Come on over. Aunt Joey would love to see you, I’m sure.”

“Do you mind?” he asked Eileen.

“You invited yourself, so go do what you want to.”

“Thanks, cuz,” he said, giving her a kiss on her cheek.

“Oh, I need to find your father so he can’t sneak away when the dancing starts.”

Then, he was alone with Eileen.

“So, your cousin?”

“Yeah. He trained with Marco Santini so when my turncoat brother told me he had something come up, he foisted the golden retriever on me.”

He glanced at her cousin, who was now holding little Mike and talking to Joey, and then Declan turned back to Eileen.

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