But she had to say something.She grabbed onto the other part of his statement.“They know about me?”
“Yeah.”He smiled, not seeming at all concerned she hadn’t said the words back.“We know everything about each other.It’s part of our bond.”He brushed a kiss on her forehead.“Mila’s here too, and you said you wanted to meet her.”
The woman who had saved him after the tsunami.Yeah, Chelsea wanted to thank her.
She let out a deep breath.“All right.Lead the way.”
***
The group was gathered by the fence line, surveying the damage with varying levels of displeasure on their faces.
Formidable was the word that came to Chelsea’s mind.
As she and Ethan walked out from under the shade of the peppermints, the group turned as one to watch them.Ethan raised a hand in greeting and Mila waved back, but the men gave various versions of a nod.
Mila was petite with her long, brown hair tied back in a ponytail.She wore jeans, a casual T-shirt and sneakers.
The man with his arm around Mila’s waist had to be Dobby, and the blond with the preppy look must be Rhys, but she couldn’t pick the others from Ethan’s descriptions of them.
As they approached the group, Ethan let go of her hand and hugged Dobby.“Thanks for coming.”
“Looks like you need a hand.”
Ethan nodded.“This is Chelsea.”
Dobby grinned, turning his severe expression into one of friendliness.“It’s great to meet you finally.I’m Dobby.This is Mila.”
Before Chelsea could respond, the tall blond man stepped forward with a smile.“Ethan failed to convey how beautiful you are.”
Ethan backhanded him playfully.“This lothario is Rhys, the sweet talker of the group.”
Chelsea smiled.“What did he say?”
“A few things.”A man of Middle Eastern descent stepped up.“I’m Heath, and these other two are Noah—” The tall man with long, dark hair tucked into a man bun and a bushy beard raised his hand— “and Connor.He’s our dog-whisperer.”Shortblond hair, lankier than the others, with an easy smile.
“Mitch had a family thing,” Dobby said, and the rest of the men scowled.
Chelsea glanced at Ethan, but he didn’t explain the issue.“Nice to meet you all.Why don’t you come inside?”She led them towards the house and Mila fell into step beside her.
“I don’t want to sound weird, but I’m so thrilled to meet you.Ethan spoke of you a lot during his rehabilitation and I feel like I know you already.I’m glad you got back in touch.”
This woman had saved Ethan’s life.“I’m glad he was around to reconnect.Thank you for saving him.”
Mila waved her hand.“I didn’t really.I just found him after the tsunami receded and showed the team where he was.They carried him to safety before the next wave hit.”
Chills ran through Chelsea.“It was that bad?”
Mila nodded.“It’s not a day I like to remember.”
Chelsea squeezed her hand and then led them into the house via the front door.She switched on the kettle.“Tea or coffee?”
“The usual?”Ethan asked.
Nods all around.
“Two espressos, two white teas, a black tea and two flat whites.”Ethan grinned.“I’ll help.”
“No, I’ve got this,” Chelsea told him.“You fill them in on what’s been happening.”She could handle making a few hot drinks.She placed the last biscuit packet on the table and then searched the remaining cupboards until she found Aunt Maggie’s recipe book.She clutched it to her chest.This afternoon she’d bake and have decent biscuits in the house.
