Page 40 of Only You

“And being a woman in a male-dominated field.”

She glanced up at him, a little surprised.

“What? I know that has to be hard. I know it is for BeeBee.”

“Oh, the girl your brother has a crush on?”

“Yes!” He laughed. “See, they both act like they aren’t hot for each other, but they are.” He shook his head. “Not that I can talk.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been trying to ask you out for at least six months.”

She almost dropped the dish she had been drying. She carefully set it down and looked at him. “What?”

Again, his cheeks turned ruddy. She had to admit that a blushing Declan was just as cute as a regular Declan. Either way, she wanted him.

“Listen, this is embarrassing, but what I said about the food was true. I’ve been trying to get to you since I met you.”

“During your sister-in-law’s investigation?”

He nodded. She frowned. “Declan, you don’t have to make up stories.”

“I’m not. I promise.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “It’s embarrassing to admit that for the first time since I was about fourteen, I lacked the nerve to ask you out.”

“But you finally did?”

He nodded as he raised his hand to brush the back of his fingers over her cheek. “I’d have a plan, and then I would look into your eyes and lose every word I had memorized to say to you.”

“Uh. Same.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “I’ve also been busy with getting a new partner.” Her last partner had retired, and she and Eddie had been getting to know each other. “But I knew I was using that as an excuse.”

He cupped her jaw with one hand as he moved closer.

Close enough to kiss.

It was the one thought she had the second or two before she felt his mouth brush over hers. She knew that he had probably planned a simple kiss, one that hinted at the passionthey shared but kept banked. But that was all it took. One…two…then something changed. Heat coursed through her entire body as her head spun. Declan slanted his mouth over hers and deepened the kiss. His tongue stole inside. Eileen could taste the wine…and him. All Declan. She slipped her hands up to his shoulders as he pulled her closer. As he turned them so that her back was to the counter, their bodies pressed together.

Oh, hello.He was definitely hard. Her nipples pebbled, ached. Before she was ready, he wrenched himself away. They were both breathing heavily.

“Damn,” he said. He took a step away, his eyes wide. She immediately felt cold. Lifting her hand, she touched her lips. “Sorry.”

“Why?”

His gaze connected with hers. “I was a little rough there.”

She laughed. It was all she could do because he always made her feel that way. Around him, even if she had the worst day, the world seemed brighter and lighter.

“In case you didn’t notice, I liked it.”

He drew in a breath, then released it. “I was trying to go slow.”

“Again, why? It’s not like we just met.” Eileen reached up to grab his shirt and tug him back. “And it’s not like I asked you to stop.”

Then she kissed him again. She wasn’t sure that she would ever be this close to him and be able not to kiss him. Now that she knew how he tasted, she was afraid she might have just turned into an addict.

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