Page 36 of Only You

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thought you spent the night the other night.”

“Nope. Just brought the detective some Shepherd’s pie. She’d had a long day.”

And just like that, a lump rose in her throat. Yes, she’d had a long day last Sunday. But he had also had a long day. It wasn’t easy dealing with grief. To have someone who paid enough attention to her to know when she needed support. It wasn’t the fault of those around her. Eileen knew it was her own doing. It came from being the only girl in her family. Add in her job, and it was a mess in her head. She knew she could ask for support, but her pride kept her from doing it.

Somehow, Declan had understood just what she needed that night. No more. No less. He’d asked her out, but he hadn’t acted like she owed him anything for the kindness he had shown her. Her heart turned over.

She pushed those thoughts aside because otherwise, she would stand there for hours mooning over the man who was presently being accosted by her neighbor.

Rolling her shoulders, she opened the door. Declan had been facing her neighbor’s stoop, saying something, but it didn’t register with Eileen. Instead, the man was all she saw. He’d dressed casually, a pair of jeans and a dress shirt. That wasn’t what held her attention. It was his hair.

God, the man had hair like Thor. It was long and thick with just the right amount of curl. Never before had she fantasized about running her fingers through a man’s hair, but she’d had insane dreams about being wrapped in those long strands. When he turned to face her, he was smiling, his eyes dancing with humor. It quickly dissolved as his gaze traveled down her body, then back up again. Heat filled his expression, and her entire body shimmered in response. She had seen lust in a man’s gaze before, but there was something different with Declan.

She looked down at her outfit, then back up at him. “You said casual.”

“I did.”

“Is there something wrong?”

He shook his head. “I forgot that you stun me no matter what you wear.”

Her stomach filled with butterflies. Again.

“Let me grab my coat and purse.”

He nodded and waited. He didn’t try to get into her house or insist on getting them for her. Yes, some women liked that, and there was nothing wrong with that. Declan seemed to understand her need for control.

Once her jacket was on, she set her alarm and stepped out on the stoop. Turning, she locked the door.

“You smell nice,” Declan murmured.

She faced him with a smile. “Thank you.”

“Night, Mrs. Kilpatrick.”

She waved them off as Declan led her to his car. After opening the door for her, he waited for her to be seated before shutting the door and then hurrying around to the other side.

As he drove, she waited for him to tell her where they were going. When he didn’t, she decided to rip that Band-Aid off.

“So, where are we going tonight?”

He glanced over at her, a small smile playing about his mouth. This man and his smiles.

“It’s a surprise.”

She wanted to growl. “Good. I like surprises.”

He laughed as he turned onto a familiar street. “No, you don’t.”

She smiled because she didn’t. She frowned when he drove by his restaurant and hooked a left on the side street. He then turned into a parking lot behind his restaurant. She had known it was there, but it was for employees and residents.

“You brought me to your restaurant.”

“Nope.”

Then, the maddening man slipped out of the car and walked around the back. He opened the door just as she was undoing her seatbelt.

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