Page 63 of Only You

She glanced at the box, then nodded.

“Why didn’t you want me to look at them? I can handle things like that. You don’t have to hide the ugly side of your work from me.”

She looked at him, trying to come up with the right words. He didn’t want to see them for the gore of it all. Declan wasn’t someone who got into that.

“Irene is one of them. I didn’t want you to see her that way. You cared about her. She was part of your family at Fitzpatrick’s.”

His gaze softened, and he nodded. A lump rose in her throat, and in that one instant, she knew she would do everything in her power to shield Declan from the horrors she saw every day.

She was also starting to realize she was definitely falling in love with the man. She wasn’t quite sure what to do about that, but she knew he was right. Her coworkers would be there soon, and it would be best if they both got dressed.

“Let’s go put on some clothes. I don’t need techs drooling over that massive chest of yours.”

“You’re the only person I want to see my chest, Eileen.”

She smiled as he followed her up the stairs. That was a good thing because she was starting to realize that she was feeling territorial about him, too. She’d have to figure out how to deal with it some other time. Right now, she had a nut job sending her weird photos.

Thirteen

By the time the cops got there, they were both dressed and ready for them. Her partner was first.

“Come on in,” she said, stepping back. “My fingerprints will be on them. You made it here fast.”

Eddie stopped, looked at her, then at Declan, and then back to Eileen.

“You’re my partner, idiot.”

Then he walked in. He took in the kitchen. Declan had put all the makings of an omelet away. Eileen had said she wasn’t hungry. He would feed her later after this mess.

“Where did you find the box?”

“On my porch.”

“When?”

“It was waiting for me when I got home.”

Again, another look back and forth between them. Then, his gaze settled on Eileen. “Why didn’t you call it right in?”

“I didn’t open it.”

“What? You got a package on your porch with no markings and no return address, and you just set it down and forgot about it?”

Anger vibrated from Eddie’s voice, and while Declan knew her partner was worried about her, he did not like how he talked to her.

“I think you need to watch your tone.”

Eileen and Eddie both looked at him. Eddie looked amused, and Eileen looked irritated. Damn, she was pretty when she was irritated.

“Sure thing, Fitzpatrick.” There was a knock at the door. “Why don’t you go let the techs in? I only called in a few people.”

She nodded.

“Why?”

“The less people who know about this, the better. We don’t want any wannabes coming out of the woodwork targeting Eileen.”

The knocking had stopped, then started again. He turned to get them, but he stopped by Eileen and brushed his mouth over hers. Then, he went to the door. A man and woman stood there.

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