Page 52 of Only You

Warmth filled her chest. The captain wasn’t a man who threw out compliments. You had to earn those, and him saying that to her made her day.

“So, why so serious?” Then something horrible hit her. “You aren’t sick, are you?”

His eyes widened. “No. Nothing like that. I know that this job isn’t easy, especially as a woman. For me, as a black man, it was hard, but it will be even worse for a woman. It’s a drain on you and your family.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, the O’Reillys have been serving as long as there has been a police department.”

“I’m talking about if you should want to get married. Have kids.”

Declan flashed through her mind for some reason, but she pushed that aside. She couldn’t get distracted by that man or what his talented hands could do. Especially while she was discussing things with the captain.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. I just think you need to understand what will be expected of them. This job almost split Mary and me.”

Surprise hit her hard. Mary was the captain’s wife. Sweet, funny, and dedicated to her family, she taught psychology at one of the local universities.

“I see you had no idea, and I’m glad. It wasn’t too long after I was picked for captain here. I had to prove myself.” He shook his head as his gaze moved over to a framed pic on his desk. She knew it was Mary and their two boys. Then, his attention shifted back to Eileen. “Make sure they know the score if you get seriously involved with someone. This case has a chance to make a name for you and Eddie. You are the lead. Remember that. But also remember the press might start looking into you. Followingyou because they are sure if they harass you, they will get you to spill your secrets.”

Eileen shook her head. “That’s never going to happen.”

“I know that, but it won’t stop the press if this case goes sideways.”

She nodded.

“I thought that’s why you wanted to leave.”

“Because I had a date last night?” Who drove her to the crime scene this morning. That was abnormal but it wasn’t a problem for most other people.

“You did?” He shook his head. “I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about how you’re gonna work for your brothers.”

“Wait. What?”

His eyes narrowed as he studied her. “There’s a rumor going through the precinct that you’re planning on jumping ship.”

“To work for Zac and Zane?”

He nodded.

“No. Never in a million years. I do not want to deal with those nut jobs. Or the jobs they take.” She rolled her eyes. “They do some investigating, mainly protection or security assessments. Also, I would rather work security at a mall before I worked for them. Who would think I’d want to work for them?”

His mouth twitched. “Those were a lot of words.”

She felt her cheeks burning. “Sorry, but no. I like to be here, working for everyone.”

“Okay. Well, someone is spreading the rumor.”

“It’s not me, and I’ll check in with the two of them. I do not want to leave, and they have never suggested it.”

He sighed, relief easy to hear. “Good. Now, get back out there and find out who is killing women. I would hate it if the FBI came in on this one.”

She nodded and headed out. Eileen stood just outside of his door and looked over the precinct. Who the hell was telling people that she wanted to leave?

That’s when she noticed one of the servers from Declan’s restaurant standing by her desk. She knew the young woman was working through college by waiting tables. Did she have anything she needed to tell them about the case?

Excitement lit through her as she stepped toward her desk, only to have her way blocked by Bryan. Ugh, this was getting to be a problem.

“Captain Mathers seemed like he had something to talk to you about.

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