Chapter Fifteen
Ilooked upwhen the door to the office opened and watched as a courier came in.
“Hi, can I help you?” I said, forcing myself to smile even though I didn’t feel like it.
“Chelsea Archer?”
“Yes,” I replied, confused when he held out a tablet and a stylus.
“Delivery for you.” The courier was young, maybe in his early twenties, good looking, and he knew it because he grinned at me.
I ignored his flirty grin and scribbled my name on the screen. Once I pressed okay, he took a box out of his messenger bag and handed it to me.
“Have a nice day,” he said with a wink.
“You too,” I muttered. I didn’t bother to smile at him again because that would only encourage him to linger and flirt more. And I really wasn’t in the mood.
After dinner last night, Landen was true to his word. He lounged on my couch with me and watchedHomicide Hunter. Then we made out for a little while, but he seemed distant, as though he wasn’t as into it as I was, which effectively killed my mood. I understood he was under a lot of stress and dealing with some major issues with his company and possible criminal charges against one of his employees. I’d never been in that position, so I didn’t know how that would affect me if I were in his shoes, so maybe I would have been just as distracted.
Still, it stung that he withdrew from me like that.
Vaguely, I heard the courier leave the office as I stared down at the box, unsure what it might be or who sent it. I reached into my desk for scissors and cut through the tape around the box.
When I opened it, I gaped. I reached inside and pulled out what appeared to be a t-shirt. When I shook it open, I laughed aloud.
On the front it said, “My, my, my.” One of Lt. Joe Kenda’s catchphrases that never failed to make me smile. And now it was on a shirt. For me.
A smile spread across my face as I dove back into the box and found two mugs. One said “Cup of Joe” on one side and had Joe Kenda’s picture on the back. The other cup had the same phrase as the t-shirt. Then I saw the other package. I ripped it open and laughed again when I saw that they were socks with what appeared to be hundreds of Joe Kenda heads printed all over them.
They were great. A little goofy and perfect for me. I could see myself curled up on my couch wearing the tee, cotton shorts, and the socks as I drank tea from my mug and watched aHomicide Huntermarathon.
Then I saw the white envelope in the bottom with my name scrawled across it in a familiar script and my heart actually skipped a beat. It was a new sensation for me, one that I’d never experienced before. Hell, I’d always rolled my eyes when I read that in a romance novel, thinking that was a stupid turn of phrase because it was impossible.
But Landen Weber proved me wrong because my heartbeat stuttered in my chest once again as I lifted the envelope and opened it.
Inside, on a single sheet of white paper, he’d written-
I thought that a devoted fan like you should have some official Joe Kenda merchandise. I hope you like it.
-Landen
Just like that, my worries about Landen’s withdrawal dissipated. I didn’t hesitate to pick up my phone and find his name in the contact list.
“Good morning, Chelsea,” he greeted me.
I could practically hear the smile in his voice, something that I wished I could see because I’d rarely seen a happy expression on his face before I’d started spending time with him away from the office.
“I love my present,” I responded without greeting him. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
He chuckled and the low, warm sound created a corresponding warmth in my chest. I’d heard him laugh more in the last two weeks than in the entire year since I started at Chris’ office.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“And I’m keeping one of the mugs at the office,” I stated.
This time his laughter was louder and freer. “Good.”
I paused. “How’s your day going?” I asked.
