Foundation for Three by Vella Day Page A

side in a flash. “You don’t have to do that. I got it.”
    He was doing his macho thing again. “I know, but I want to thank you for the nice time.”
    “Uh-uh. You think I need help.”
    She couldn’t deny it. “You were shot.”
    He gently shook his head and grabbed the remaining bag. “Come on, Miss Helper.”
    Inside, the place was spacious but sparsely decorated. She loved everything about the comfortable looking living room except the flowered wallpaper. She bet Pete’s mom had picked it out and now he didn’t have the heart to change it.
    A long hallway led off the living room to an open concept kitchen that was totally updated, a dining area that had a crystal chandelier in need of dusting, and a den of sorts that had a humongous television, above a fireplace. As for the furniture, it looked like the men had gone to a thrift store and bought whatever suited their fancy. They didn’t seem to care that nothing matched.
    “We’re not home enough to worry about decorating,” Thad said, acting as if he could guess her reaction before she said anything.
    “You don’t need to explain. I get it. I like comfortable.”
    Once they placed all the packages on the large center island in the kitchen, she helped him unpack. She had no idea what her next step should be. Was he waiting for her to leave or should she hang out for a few hours to help him prepare dinner? Or would Pete be home by then?
    Once more, Thad put the items away using his right hand. It was possible he wouldn’t have used his left even if his left hadn’t been injured.
    Zoey inwardly sighed. The girls would be arriving for happy hour soon. Zoey had already called Jamie Henderson, the point person, to let her know she might not make it. She was pleased that Jamie, who was a hospice nurse at the hospital, had returned to her usual activities of organizing the group. It had only been three weeks since Ben, Jamie’s former boyfriend, had inadvertently shot Jamie while he was trying to kill Amber. The emotional toll had yet to sink in.
    Thad seemed quite settled, so maybe Zoey could leave. But do I want to? No, but with all that had happened, she was equally excited to be with her friends and tell them about her day.
    When she’d first encountered Thad, Zoey decided she wanted to get to know him better. He was really nice, but she never thought he was that interested in her. After their lunch today, and with the way he touched her during the dart game, just maybe he liked her back.
    Zoey seriously needed help reading a man’s clues. “I guess I should be going. You seem to have everything under control.” She held her breath.
    “You’re welcome to stay.” His lowered his chin and looked up at her, but no tension filled his face. It was as if her decision didn’t matter.
    Adrenaline rushed through her, but the high was immediately blocked by an intrusion of common sense. She wasn’t ready yet. She needed space to think. “What time Saturday?” Being evasive was so passive, but her jumbled nerves would only muck up the great time they’d had together if she stayed any longer.
    “How about Pete and I pick you up at four thirty? Dress warm. The barn can be drafty.”
    “You bet.”
    Saturday would be yet another adventure. For the last two years, she’d barely dated, and in the span of a week, she’d met two great guys. The problem was that she’d have to pick just one. Or did she?

Chapter Ten

    “Y ou played darts with the cop who was just shot?” Jamie asked. Her voice came out a tad loud, and a few people in nearby tables turned their heads.
    Zoey leaned forward. “As for being able to throwing darts, Thad has healed quite nicely already. Or else he was pretending the wound didn’t hurt. The bullet hit here.” Zoey pointed to the fleshy part of her forearm.
    Jamie winced. It was understandable she’d be sensitive around the topic of a shooting after her own gunshot wound. The worst part of the whole ordeal was that Jamie had