Lauren frowned.“I wasn’t going to say anything, because I thought I might be imagining it.”She pressed her lips together as the team came inside and Mila flopped onto the sofa across from them.
“Ugh.I thought my fitness had improved this year.”
Dobby bent down and brushed a kiss on her lips.“Your fitness is plenty good enough for me.”
She blushed and swatted him away, taking a long drink from her water bottle.
Chelsea made the introductions as the living room filled with people.
Ethan grinned at Lauren.“So good to see you again.”
“Likewise.You’ve all been busy.”
Chelsea nodded.“I really appreciate your help.”
Mila grinned.“It looks good, doesn’t it?All you need is some good rain to get the grass to spring back and some flowers in the beds and you won’t know the cottage side had been neglected.”
“Yeah.”Rain was forecast for early next week.She turned back to Lauren.“What were you going to say before they came in?”
“It’s possibly nothing.”
Ethan moved closer, his gaze laser sharp on Lauren.“What do you know?”
Lauren leaned back.“Geez, Ethan.Tone it down.”
The entire room had gone silent and everyone was watching them.Chelsea shifted in her seat, suddenly aware of how lethal all these men were.She squeezed Lauren’s knee and whispered, “Ignore them.”
“Impossible.”Lauren coughed.“And now I’m wondering what they might do if I tell you.”
Ethan made a hand gesture to the team.“Food’s in the fridge.”As one, the men stopped staring and moved to prepare dinner, but every one of them was still listening.
Chelsea let out a breath.
Ethan squeezed her shoulder.“Sorry, Lauren.I didn’t mean to be so aggressive.”
Lauren sipped her wine and, despite her bravado, Chelsea noticed a slight tremor in her hand.
“They’re a lot when they get into protective mode, aren’t they?”Mila said with a smile.
“I’ll say.”Lauren sighed.“I caught up with Leyton yesterday.”
It took Chelsea a moment to remember Leyton was the planning person at the council.“What happened?”
“I asked him if he knew anything about the retirement village planned for Lilydale.He said it was a rumour and when I told him that was good because you were back in town, he grew kind of pale.He made an excuse to leave and hurried away.”
“He knows something,” Ethan said.
Lauren nodded.“That’s what I thought, so I followed him to his office and heard him mention the name Johann, but then someone spoke to me and I missed the conversation.”
Interesting.It made sense Leyton would be involved because the zoning on the property would need to be changed for the units.
“Sounds like we’re paying Leyton a visit,” Ethan said.
“No, you aren’t,” Lauren said.“I’ll tell Josh and he can deal with it.”
“Are you worried about me or Leyton?”Ethan asked.
“Leyton.”She stared at him as if daring Ethan to deny it.
