Page 31 of Only You

“Yep. In fact, I ran into someone you might know. Rosemary Kilpatrick.”

“Oh, God,” she said with a chuckle. “Yeah, I know Rosemary. I went to school with her daughter Phyllis.”

“Well, she said hello.”

“I’ll have to check on her then. I know she lost Lloyd a couple of years ago. Phyllis lives down in DC with her husband.”

He released an uneasy breath. Now that he got his mother onto the thought of Rosemary, he might have avoided discussing who he was cooking for. Other than work, he didn’t go out of his way to cook for anyone but family. It had been at least three years since he’d been involved, and his ex had been a calorie counter. Not that anything was wrong with that, but she had an aversion to the idea of him cooking for her.

After her stunning looks and that no-nonsense attitude, he had been amazed by Eileen’s food obsession. The woman was compact, but she ate a lot of food.

“Well, I’ll be home tomorrow if you want to come over.”

“I will.”

“Say hello to Eileen for me.”

“Wait, what makes you think I’m at Eileen’s?”

She chuckled. “I know she lives next door to Rosemary. We’ve had long conversations about how nosey that old woman is. Love you.”

“Love you, Ma.”

He hung up right as he heard the floor creak behind him. When he turned, every thought he had in his brain bled away. God, she was gorgeous. No makeup, just an old FBI shirt he was sure she got from one of her brothers because it was so big. The baggy sweats showed no hint of her figure. Her feet were bare, showing off red toenails.

“I hope you’re okay with me dressing down.”

He’d rather she be naked, but Declan decided to keep that to himself.

“I’m fine with however you want to dress.”

She cocked her head and studied him for a long moment. “I believe that.”

Declan frowned. “Why would I lie about that?”

“Lots of guys do.”

The alarm he had set on his phone went off, and he took his attention away from the totally delectable woman in front of him and retrieved the bread. “Have a seat, detective, and tell me what guys lie about.”

She grabbed a glass and filled it with ice and water. “Want anything? I have Guinness.”

“Water’s fine.”

He did not need to add alcohol to the evening. He was barely keeping it together as it was.

Once they were settled at the kitchen bar, she sighed. “This was an awful day. Thank you for this.”

He studied her for a long moment. “No leads?”

She shook her head as she tore off a piece of bread and dipped it in the stew. Once it passed her lips, she moaned. Damn. He didn’t need that sound knocking around in his brain.

“I can’t really say anything. Open investigation.”

He nodded and understood. It didn’t make him feel any better, but her taking it so seriously meant the world to him. She was a first-class cop. She had proven that when Wendy had had a stalker.

She took a sip of her stew, then she slanted a look at him.

“What?”

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