Page 38 of Only You

It was the same thing he kept telling himself in his head over and over, trying his best to keep himself from grabbing her hand and pledging his love to her. Yes, some people would think it was fast, but he had been mooning over her for a year.

He was plating up their food as she descended the stairs.

“I was bringing this up to you,” he said. He wanted to pamper her and show her he could also do heavy lifting in the relationship. Not that they had a relationship. Not really.

“I was going to grab the wine, and I knew you would have your hands full.”

He smiled. “Sure.”

She did just that, and then they went up the stairs. Once again, he followed her and had to bite back a groan. The woman had the most amazing ass. Full, heart-shaped, and those jeans did not hide anything. Each time he followed her up the stairs, he had to order his body back under control. They settled back in the seats beneath the stars.

He waited, pretending to take a massive amount of time to twirl his pasta around his fork. Anticipation skated along his nerves. Never before had it been this important to impresssomeone with his cooking. The simple pomodoro sauce was one of the first non-Irish dishes he’d learned to make as a kid.

Eileen moaned when she tasted the pasta. “Why don’t you serve this in the restaurant?”

He quirked an eyebrow, trying to tamp down on his need. Her enjoyment was the only aphrodisiac he needed. Well, and her. Just her breathing turned him on.

“Irish bar and grill, O’Reilly.”

She chuckled as she scooped up another forkful. After swallowing, she apparently realized that he wasn’t eating.

“What? Do I have food on my face?” She rolled those amazing eyes.

“No. Just…”

Declan didn’t know how much he should reveal to her.

“Just?”

Now, she wasn’t eating. She put her fork down.

“I’m discovering feeding you to be overwhelming.”

She cocked her head to one side. “Overwhelming?”

Nerves had him hesitating, but he decided not to be a wuss and just blurt it out.

“I get enjoyment out of feeding you.”

“Hmm.” That was all she said, but she picked up her fork again. He joined her in eating.

“I guess that’s a chef thing?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I guess. I do like cooking for people I care about.”

“Oh,” she said, but he felt he had disappointed her somehow.

“But…” he sighed. “There is something different about making something I know is for you.”

She blinked at him. “Different?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t used food to seduce women before me. That would be a lie.”

He felt heat fill his face. She laughed out loud, the joyous sound surrounding him. Declan didn’t mind the embarrassment because Eileen rarely let loose like that.

“I have, but not like this.”

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