Page 49 of Only You

An eye roll. “This was after I was married. I didn’t know the friend before that.”

“Oh, yeah.” See. He knew she had been assigned Wendy’s case earlier that year, and that’s how she had shown up in his orbit.

“Anyway, I was saying it was nice to snuggle with Brando.”

“Gross. But go on.”

“This friend said that Eileen didn’t like spending the night or having a guy spend the night. She actually said she wasn’t a cuddler.”

Everything seemed to stop around him. Or he didn’t notice much else other than those words. Wasn’t a cuddler? He had pulled her close and kept her that way all night long. She hadn’t protested or even suggested that he take her home. He remembered her sigh of contentment as she settled on his chest the night before.

“I take it Eileen spent the entire night?”

“Well, until she got called to a scene.”

Her eyes widened. “And?”

He shrugged. “I drove her there.”

His sister’s lips twitched. “So, why am I here?”

“I need some advice and wanted to talk to you in person.”

“And? Jeez, Declan, just spit it out.”

“That Sunday after the party, I took her dinner. Then I cooked her dinner.”

“And breakfast.”

“Hardly cooking. Toast with a mashed-up avocado.”

“Believe me, that’s big. When I was with that idiot I was engaged to, he never did things like that. But Brando does things like that all the time. It’s amazing.”

“So, if I sent her lunch, you don’t think that would be too much?”

There was a beat of silence. “Oh…ohhhhh. Declan.”

There was excitement in her voice.

“What?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. Listen, she would probably appreciate it. More, send her partner something too.”

“I don’t know what he likes.”

Mike was playing with his hair, which he had yet to put up.

“Let me think. Eileen said they came in and ate one day, and you weren’t here. It was the day all you losers went fishing.”

“Love you too, sis.” Sarcasm was easy to hear in his voice. He didn’t even try to hide it.

“Be nice. I’m trying to help you.”

“Sorry.”

“Okay. She said she had your shepherd’s pie—because that’s her go-to. Although I know she loves Italian food. So keep that in mind.”

“I made Italian last night. I remembered you mentioning it.”

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