Page 59 of Only You

She said nothing. She couldn’t. His voice was deeper as if he remembered a moment…just one moment that changed his life.

“You came in one night. This was after you got shot protecting my sister-in-law. You were exhausted. You looked like you wanted to sleep for ten thousand years.”

“So I looked like crap, and you fell in love? Sounds sus.”

He took one hand in his. “You were exhausted, but you gave me crap about being from a firefighter family, but then you told me my Shepherd’s pie was better than anyone else’s—including your ma’s.”

“I complimented your food. Do you fall for every woman who says they like your food?”

“You don’t remember what all you said.”

She shook her head, but she was lying again.

“I won’t call you a liar again, but I’ll tell you. We were talking about that five-alarm fire at an apartment complex. You remember that one?”

She nodded. It had taken too many lives, including one firefighter.

“You asked if my brothers were there, and I said something like yeah, the heroes are at work. You stared me straight in the eye and told me that I did important work. My family agrees with you, by the way, but not everyone sees it that way. I get a lot of shit from some of the firefighters. You were different. You said, ‘Just because you’re not spraying your hose doesn’tmean you aren’t important, Declan. Giving people nourishment is vital, and you should be proud.’”

She blinked as the backs of her eyes started to burn. She would not cry.

“Maybe people think that way, but they don’t say it. Even as you made an inappropriate joke about firefighters, you raised me up. I didn’t realize it, but lust transformed into love. Right at that moment.”

“Because I complimented you?”

“Not just me. I know you are the best tipper. They all tell me. I see the way you treat everyone. Like everyone belongs.”

“Everyone has a role to play.”

His mouth curled. “I fell in lust with you from the first moment I saw you. You stepped into my restaurant, all sassy and badassy, and those suits of yours.” He rolled his eyes. “I must say, detective, you have the best ass I’ve ever seen. “

“Declan,” she whispered, her face flaming. God, he made her blush by giving her a compliment.

“This is where you tell me how wonderful I am.”

“It’s fast.”

He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we’re on the same page.”

Fear rattled around in her chest as her heartbeat vibrated through her. She wasn’t so much of a badass now, was she?

“Or, maybe you aren’t.”

“No. Wait. I am falling for you, Declan. It’s just that I’m gun-shy on declarations. The last time I did it, I was in my twenties, and the guy couldn’t handle me or my aspirations.” It was her turn to study him. “You don’t have a problem if I say I want to be the precinct captain?”

“What? Why would I? I’d be freaking proud of you. I have a feeling there haven’t been many women who have done that.”

She shook her head. “I’m one of the few women who even made it into homicide.”

“See,” he said as he brushed his mouth over hers, “definitely badass.”

She settled a hand on his chest. His heart was beating as hard as hers was. “I come with the baggage of the job.”

“Yeah. You also can’t cook.”

“Why did you come here tonight?”

“I had to see you.”

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