“And Sunday, Chelsea stayed overnight…” Theo frowned when Rico smirked. “She fell asleep on the couch watching tv, and she was taking care of Jordan the next day, so I let her sleep. On the couch. I slept upstairs.”
“I didn’t say anything.” The expression on Rico’s face was anything but innocent.
“Anyway…Sunday, I went for a run and took Bandit with me. A car almost ran me off the road. If the dog hadn’t jumped on me, I might have been hit. I passed it off as someone who hadn’t had their coffee yet, but now I wonder.”
“Did you see the license plate or make and model of the car?”
“Big, dark car. That’s about it. I was too busy brushing myself off in the gutter.”
Twisting away from the window, Rico stared hard at him. “Maybe it’s time to have a chat with Aiden Cavanaugh.”
“And tell him what? Some rocks slid down a mountain? I was running in the road? A downed tree fell? The tree would have hit Chelsea if I hadn’t pushed her out of the way, but she wasn’t anywhere nearby with the other two.”
“Yet the tree ended up falling on you.”
“Too random. There may have been some foolish pranks involved, but I don’t think I need to get Aiden involved. I will keep my eyes open a bit wider in the future.”
A ruckus on the front porch stopped their conversation. The front door opened, and Bandit scampered in, followed by a skipping Jordan and Chelsea, who seemed totally out of breath. In her hands was a large bag.
Theo started to lever himself up, but Rico stepped in and grabbed the bag.
“You all set there?”
Those gorgeous blue eyes focused up, and humor appeared on her face. “Thanks, Rico. Hi. Sorry, Bandit was in a running mood on the way back. Guess I’m out of shape.”
Not from where Theo sat. Her long, slim legs were a vision in the conservative khaki shorts she wore, and her snug t-shirt emphasized her small but shapely chest.
“We got subs, garlic bread, and some chicken fingers. Plenty if you want to stay and share some, Rico.”
Jordan got down and played with the kittens while Rico helped Chelsea organize things in the kitchen. Theo fed Bandit and put him out on the back, screened-in porch, so he wouldn’t bother them while they ate. Once the food was gone and cleaned up, Chelsea and Jordan took the kittens into her playroom and Theo escorted Rico out to his vehicle.
“Let me know if you need anything.”
“Chelsea’s been here, so I’ll be fine. She’s also an expert on buying things, so I don’t think I need to worry there.”
“Shopaholic?”
Theo shrugged. “Not sure I’d call it that. It seems she wants to make up for all the birthdays and Christmases she’s missed with Jordan.”
“So she’s set with money? Does she have a job?’
“A job?” Theo scoffed. “No, Chelsea comes from money. Her father left her quite well-off, I’m sure. I think that’s half the problem.”
“Having money?”
“Havingonlymoney.” They’d had a few conversations after they’d gotten married, and it sounded like Chelsea had grown up pampered but lonely. Anything material she had, but someone to love her? That had been absent. Perhaps it was why she’d blossomed so quickly with him. Or was it why she’d thought she was in love?
“I know you said her dad was a piece of work. What about her mom?”
Theo shook his head. “I don’t know. Her mom died when she was younger, like ten maybe. She always got quiet whenever the subject came up, so I didn’t push her on it.”
“You should take the next few days and see about getting back some of what you lost while she’s been away.”
The idea had merit. A few days with Chelsea and Jordan being a family. And all paid for, since his accident had happened during work and on National Park property.
“That might be a great idea. Plus, it would keep me away from Dina.”
Rico chuckled. He got in his truck and drove away.
