Page 64 of Only You

“We’re here for the crime scene.”

“Badges?”

The man frowned and opened his mouth to complain. The woman pulled out her badge. It read Jillian Roberts.

“That’s me, and I vouch for Walters. Francisco said there was something we had to take care of here.”

“Come on in,” he said, stepping back and giving them room. “They’re in the kitchen at the end of the hall.”

Jillian nodded, and the two of them stopped to put booties on.

“Just an FYI, it’s only a box with pictures.”

The two shared a look, then abandoned putting on the booties. They walked down the hall, and he followed.

“Eileen?” Jillian asked.

“Hey, Jill, Ned. The only person who touched the box was me. My fingerprints will be on the pictures.” She looked atDeclan, then made her way over to him. “You can leave after you talk to Eddie.”

He shook his head. “Nope.” Once again, he brushed his mouth over hers. “I’ll answer his questions, then wait.”

He turned and walked into the living room without letting her dismiss him again.

When Eddie finally caught up with him, her partner was smiling at him. “Perfect way to play it, man.”

“Not playing at anything.” He couldn’t keep the anger out of his voice.

Eddie’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean in a bad way. I think most men let her boss them around. You refusing to leave is a good thing. That’s all. No need to get pissed.”

“So, I’m not supposed to get pissed at the fact that Eileen is being targeted by some maniac? Because you and I both know that’s what those pictures are.”

“Did you see them?”

“No. I saw the box. She thought it was goodies from the crazy lady next door.”

Francisco nodded, telling Declan that he was confirming the story. Which pissed him off. “She’s not lying to you.”

“I didn’t say she was, but we have to confirm the story. That way, everything is above board. My worry is that the box got here before she got home.”

“Well, since she challenged him on TV, it isn’t that insane that he decided to do this.”

There was a beat of silence. “This was planned.”

“Well, yes.”

“Before the asshole saw her on TV. Add that someone disabled her doorbell camera. That seems thought out. As in, no matter what, that box was getting here tonight. He wanted that contact.”

Declan swallowed, and his blood turned frigid. He didn’t know much about police work, but from what he had seen in TV shows and movies, it was never good when the bad guy was super focused on one person.

“Yeah. I see that you understand the situation. She’s gonna try and push you away.”

“Fuck that.”

Eddie chuckled. “Good. Eileen is the best partner I’ve ever had. She’s smart and always works hard. She needs people in her corner.”

Declan nodded because he planned on being in that corner for as long as she would have him. He was starting to realize that, for him, this was it. He was ready to pledge his entire life to her, but he knew better than to tell her that. Eileen had too much on her plate at the moment.

“You said you didn’t see the pics?”

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