Chapter 7
Seven
E ileen smeared a bit of lip gloss on her mouth, then took in her appearance. It wasn’t Wednesday like they had planned, but the following Monday. There had been a significant gang bust on Wednesday afternoon, which required all hands on deck. Declan hadn’t complained. He just told her Monday would work for him.
Now, she was nervous. He would be there in less than five minutes and her stomach kept turning over. She hadn’t been this nervous about a date in…she couldn’t remember. Maybe ever? There was just something about Declan that made her anxious, but not in a scary way. Eileen just never knew what to make of him.
Her phone vibrated, and she saw her mother’s face. This was going to be tricky. She loved her mother, and she did stay out of her business, but she would pick up on something being off tonight.
Pulling in a deep breath, she clicked to answer.
“Hey, Ma.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Why would you say that?”
A beat of silence went by. “Okay, I’ll let that go. I just wanted to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat tonight. Your father is out with his old cop buddies, and I felt like a pizza.”
“I have a date.”
Another beat of silence.
“Not another cop.”
She frowned. “No. You know I don’t date cops.”
“You dated Bryan.”
“That was at the academy, and it taught me enough about guys I work with. Anyway, he’ll be here soon.”
“You might as well tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“Tell me who it is. Eddie will tell me.”
“No grilling Eddie,” she said, although she was smiling. Eddie’s mother was kind of scary, so he had a rational fear of women—his words, not hers. It was probably why they worked so well together.
“You know that boy tells me stuff without me asking.”
“Fine. Declan Fitzpatrick.”
The silence almost vibrated over the phone. “The one who owns the bar and grill?”
“Yes.”
“He comes from a firemen family.” She said it like they were completely different creatures. The truth was, she never understood the rivalry. Eileen always felt like they were two sides of the same coin. Of course, it was more of a dick-measuring thing, and since she didn’t have one, Eileen figured that was why she couldn’t truly understand it.
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, but he’s a chef and cooks for me.”
“Good because you can not cook.”
“Hey!”
“Just telling you the truth, baby girl. Your talent lies elsewhere. Where are you going?”
“Not sure. He said casual and told me to wear jeans.”
“So outside.”
Or he liked her ass in her jeans, but she decided not to tell her mom that.
“Listen, he’s going to be here any moment.”
“Okay. Have a good time, but not too good.”
Another eye roll from Eileen. “Don’t worry. I’m saving myself for marriage.”
There was no doubting the sarcasm in her voice.
“Why would you do that?” Yes, her mother had been unconventional for a girl who went to a Catholic elementary school. “I just meant no drinking and driving.”
Yes, Eileen was a cop, so she should know better. But her Uncle Jerry had been a cop who was killed in a drunk driving incident. He was the drunk driver. Thankfully, it had been a one-car accident, and he had been alone.
“No problem. I’m not driving. Love you.”
“Love you.”
Once she hung up, she looked at herself again in the mirror and nodded. She was sure she would have an amazing time, and Declan had said he liked her style.
Just as she had calmed her nerves with that pep talk, the doorbell rang, and butterflies sprang to life.
Get yourself together, O’Reilly.
Drawing in a deep breath, she walked to the door. Before she could open it, she heard Declan talking to someone.
“You better treat that girl right.”
Oh, God, that Mrs. Kilpatrick was a menace.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thought you spent the night the other night.”
“Nope. Just brought the detective some Shepherd’s pie. She’d had a long day.”
And just like that, a lump rose in her throat. Yes, she’d had a long day last Sunday. But he had also had a long day. It wasn’t easy dealing with grief. To have someone who paid enough attention to her to know when she needed support. It wasn’t the fault of those around her. Eileen knew it was her own doing. It came from being the only girl in her family. Add in her job, and it was a mess in her head. She knew she could ask for support, but her pride kept her from doing it.
Somehow, Declan had understood just what she needed that night. No more. No less. He’d asked her out, but he hadn’t acted like she owed him anything for the kindness he had shown her. Her heart turned over.
She pushed those thoughts aside because otherwise, she would stand there for hours mooning over the man who was presently being accosted by her neighbor.
Rolling her shoulders, she opened the door. Declan had been facing her neighbor’s stoop, saying something, but it didn’t register with Eileen. Instead, the man was all she saw. He’d dressed casually, a pair of jeans and a dress shirt. That wasn’t what held her attention. It was his hair.
God, the man had hair like Thor. It was long and thick with just the right amount of curl. Never before had she fantasized about running her fingers through a man’s hair, but she’d had insane dreams about being wrapped in those long strands. When he turned to face her, he was smiling, his eyes dancing with humor. It quickly dissolved as his gaze traveled down her body, then back up again. Heat filled his expression, and her entire body shimmered in response. She had seen lust in a man’s gaze before, but there was something different with Declan.
She looked down at her outfit, then back up at him. “You said casual.”
“I did.”
“Is there something wrong?”
He shook his head. “I forgot that you stun me no matter what you wear.”
Her stomach filled with butterflies. Again.
“Let me grab my coat and purse.”
He nodded and waited. He didn’t try to get into her house or insist on getting them for her. Yes, some women liked that, and there was nothing wrong with that. Declan seemed to understand her need for control.
Once her jacket was on, she set her alarm and stepped out on the stoop. Turning, she locked the door.
“You smell nice,” Declan murmured.
She faced him with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Night, Mrs. Kilpatrick.”
She waved them off as Declan led her to his car. After opening the door for her, he waited for her to be seated before shutting the door and then hurrying around to the other side.
As he drove, she waited for him to tell her where they were going. When he didn’t, she decided to rip that Band-Aid off.
“So, where are we going tonight?”
He glanced over at her, a small smile playing about his mouth. This man and his smiles.
“It’s a surprise.”
She wanted to growl. “Good. I like surprises.”
He laughed as he turned onto a familiar street. “No, you don’t.”
She smiled because she didn’t. She frowned when he drove by his restaurant and hooked a left on the side street. He then turned into a parking lot behind his restaurant. She had known it was there, but it was for employees and residents.
“You brought me to your restaurant.”
“Nope.”
Then, the maddening man slipped out of the car and walked around the back. He opened the door just as she was undoing her seatbelt.
Declan held out his hand and waited. Eileen didn’t hesitate, anticipation simmering within her. She might not like surprises, but she was always curious to discover things. And that included what was going on tonight.
There were two doors in the back of the restaurant. One was clearly for the kitchen because of the signs about deliveries. He unlocked the other door and held it open for her.
As she stepped inside, she blinked.
“Oh, damn, I meant to leave the light on.”
Declan stepped around her, his arm brushing against her, his tantalizing scent wrapping around her. Eileen fought the need to lean closer and get a bigger sniff. The light let her see the stairs to her left. She looked back over her shoulder.
“I take it we go up the stairs?”
He nodded. She started up the stairs and thought she heard a groan behind her. Frowning, she continued on. When they reached the top floor, she stepped into an apartment. It was more like a loft with an open floor plan. There was a bank of windows that looked out on the street below. There were plants everywhere, some herbs and some regular plants. As she stepped into the space further, she noticed the oversized leather sectional. Pictures littered every surface, from the credenza and side tables to the walls. His family was there for everyone to see. This area probably got fantastic morning light since the windows faced east.
As she turned, she noticed a door against the one wall and assumed it was the bedroom. Also, something smelled…amazing. And she knew it wasn’t from downstairs. It smelled like…
“I heard that you like spaghetti and meatballs.”
She glanced over at him and blinked. “I do. Who did you hear that from?”
“I do not reveal my sources. I need to start some water going on the stove, then we can get some wine and go upstairs.”
“Upstairs?”
He nodded to the far left of the room. There was another staircase.
“Can you drink?”
“Yeah, I’m supposed to be off tomorrow.”
“Are you okay with a cab? It will go best with the red sauce.”
She snorted. “Yeah. I’m not about to say no to the chef who knows how to pair food with drink.”
He poured the wine. “Do you want to eat right now?”
“It smells like it’s almost done.”
“The sauce has been simmering all day. It’s the reason pasta was a good idea, it cooks fast. I also have some antipasto to eat.”
Her mouth watered. She loved Irish food but had a true love affair with Italian food. So much so that she had an Italian trip savings. She planned to eat her way through Italy one noodle at a time. That is, if she could ever find the time to go.
“That sounds amazing.”
He pulled out a tray. “Grab your drink, and we can go upstairs.”
“I had no idea you lived up here.”
“Not a lot of people do,” he said. “The employees know not to tell anyone. At first, I did it because of the savings. When I opened the restaurant, I had to sink all my money into it. I worked on the apartment, thinking I would rent it out later, but I like the idea of being so close to work. I don’t have to rush anywhere.”
The moment Eileen stepped onto the roof, she blinked again. It looked out over the city and to the harbor, lights sparkling in the dark night. He had set it up nicely, with a scattering of tables, one that had candles on it. Declan set the plate down on it and removed the plastic.
“This is amazing,” she said, looking around the area. A couch was on the far end, along with Edison lights strung overhead.
When he didn’t say anything, she faced him once more. Was he blushing? “The view or the food?”
“All of it,” she said with a laugh. “Now, watch me destroy this platter of food.”
Do not embarrass yourself.
It was the same thing he kept telling himself in his head over and over, trying his best to keep himself from grabbing her hand and pledging his love to her. Yes, some people would think it was fast, but he had been mooning over her for a year.
He was plating up their food as she descended the stairs.
“I was bringing this up to you,” he said. He wanted to pamper her and show her he could also do heavy lifting in the relationship. Not that they had a relationship. Not really.
“I was going to grab the wine, and I knew you would have your hands full.”
He smiled. “Sure.”
She did just that, and then they went up the stairs. Once again, he followed her and had to bite back a groan. The woman had the most amazing ass. Full, heart-shaped, and those jeans did not hide anything. Each time he followed her up the stairs, he had to order his body back under control. They settled back in the seats beneath the stars.
He waited, pretending to take a massive amount of time to twirl his pasta around his fork. Anticipation skated along his nerves. Never before had it been this important to impress someone with his cooking. The simple pomodoro sauce was one of the first non-Irish dishes he’d learned to make as a kid.
Eileen moaned when she tasted the pasta. “Why don’t you serve this in the restaurant?”
He quirked an eyebrow, trying to tamp down on his need. Her enjoyment was the only aphrodisiac he needed. Well, and her. Just her breathing turned him on.
“Irish bar and grill, O’Reilly.”
She chuckled as she scooped up another forkful. After swallowing, she apparently realized that he wasn’t eating.
“What? Do I have food on my face?” She rolled those amazing eyes.
“No. Just…”
Declan didn’t know how much he should reveal to her.
“Just?”
Now, she wasn’t eating. She put her fork down.
“I’m discovering feeding you to be overwhelming.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Overwhelming?”
Nerves had him hesitating, but he decided not to be a wuss and just blurt it out.
“I get enjoyment out of feeding you.”
“Hmm.” That was all she said, but she picked up her fork again. He joined her in eating.
“I guess that’s a chef thing?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I guess. I do like cooking for people I care about.”
“Oh,” she said, but he felt he had disappointed her somehow.
“But…” he sighed. “There is something different about making something I know is for you.”
She blinked at him. “Different?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t used food to seduce women before me. That would be a lie.”
He felt heat fill his face. She laughed out loud, the joyous sound surrounding him. Declan didn’t mind the embarrassment because Eileen rarely let loose like that.
“I have, but not like this.”
Her smile faded. “Oh, okay.”
Then he realized she took it the wrong way. “No.”
“No?”
God, this woman. He always sounded like an idiot around her. Declan figured it had more to do with the fact that he was trying to operate his brain with half the amount of blood. The rest of it drained to his groin.
“You’re different. It’s not just about seduction with you. I mean…don’t get me wrong. Seduction is definitely on the table.”
“Good to know.”
That pulled a chuckle out of him even as his eager dick twitched. “But I don’t just want to seduce you.”
Now, she looked…he couldn’t come up with one word to describe it. It was a mixture of worry and hope.
“And I’m sorry if I’m being blunt. I don’t have finesse when it comes to you, Eileen. I did all this up here for you, and I only do that for family.”
“Wait, are you telling me you never bring women up here?”
He shook his head. “I tend to avoid having women over at my apartment, let alone up here. It’s my business, which could go wrong if you know what I mean.”
“So this,” she said, waving her hand around before she picked up her wine glass, “is just for me.”
“And family.”
There was a long silence as she sipped her wine and set her glass down. A smile curved her lips. It wasn’t a grin, but one of those secret smiles women gave that told you that you had finally done something right.
“Good to know.”
His chest warmed at those three words.
He followed the woman down the street. She was so freaking high she didn’t notice him, but even if she had been sober, she probably wouldn’t have seen him. He was good at lurking in the shadows. The week had passed, and no other woman had presented herself, or at least not until tonight. Until he found out that his Eileen was with Declan Fitzpatrick. Again.
He felt the cold press of the knife against the palm of his hand. It matched the last one…part of a set. He knew it was risky to copy a murder from the 80s. Still, everyone knew about Eileen’s infatuation with the old murder. This was how she would see they were meant to be together.
As his prey slipped into the alley, he sighed with relief. It wasn’t busy on Fleet Street, thanks to the chilly rain, but he had not wanted to have this woman screaming and attracting attention.
From her dress, she was either working the streets or had no taste in fashion. She was also skinner than he liked his women, but sometimes, the need to kill was greater than having the perfect prey.
She stumbled and cussed. Fucking junkie. At least she would turn out to be easy to take down, not like Irene.
He pulled his knife out of his coat pocket. Excitement filled him, almost leaving him dizzy. Eileen would understand the connection.