Page 45 of Only You

“Which I could do in a ride share. Damn.” She sighed. “I don’t have my gun.”

“Do I need to drop you off at home?”

She shook her head. “I’ll have Eddie drop me off after we work the scene. That way, I can throw on some work clothes.”

“Do you want some guacamole with your toast?”

“That would be fabulous.”

He grabbed one of the small containers out of the fridge that he’d made up the day before and handed it to her.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

There was something almost normal about this moment. It was like they had been doing this for decades. And Declan found that he didn’t mind it one bit.

By the timethey reached the crime scene, Eileen had polished off the toast. The man was a god of good food. It was just before dawn, so the crime scene was illuminated by lights set up by the police. Another alley not too far from Fleet Street.

“Thanks for bringing me. And for breakfast and dinner. And for the hot monkey sex.”

His face flushed again, and she fought a giggle. She shouldn’t find joy like this at a crime scene, but there was something so wonderful about making Declan blush. The man had a dirty mouth in bed, and he knew just how to make a woman come multiple times, but he blushed when she teased him. It was so delicious.

“I’d like to do it all again,” he said.

“Which part?”

He stared into her eyes, solemn, especially for Declan, and filled with intensity. “All of it.”

Her heart turned over at his tone. God, the man made her head spin with just three words.

“I would like that too.”

“I assume you’ll have a long day.”

She nodded and waited. This is where guys got a little pushy. Maybe not right off the bat, but she had trigger words. Things like: Pretty women shouldn’t want to hang out with dead bodies. Those words always got to her.

“Don’t forget to eat.”

When he said nothing else, she nodded and leaned across the console. She needed one more taste before she went to deal with the horror of another murder.

“I’ll text you,” she said.

He nodded. Then, she slipped out of the car and headed to the crime scene. She could feel his attention on her, watching as if he wanted to ensure she made it to the crime scene without incident. It was stupid because she could handle herself, but it warmed her heart. Men didn’t tend to take care of her.

Once she reached the tape, she glanced back and waved. It was then that he pulled away and headed back to his place.

“Oh, my, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this happening,” her cousin Ritchie said. God, she couldn’t get away from the O’Reillys.

“Murders happen every day, Richard.”

“No. I don’t think anyone would ever say you were known to do the walk of shame.”

True. She rarely stayed over at her lovers’ homes. And if she had them at her house, she would suggest they leave. Eileen wasn’t a snuggler, although last night proved her wrong. She hadn’t wanted to leave Declan’s place unless he was going with her.

“Wonder what Zane and Zac would say about it?”

“About as much as Margie would say about you slobbering all over Fiona.”

Oh, yeah. She loved Ritchie, but he couldn’t keep it in his pants. He’d been dating Margie for about three years, and she knew what he was like. She would believe Eileen if she came in and told her about him cheating.

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