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“Can we do something in between?”
“Of course.”
He rubbed his hands together. “I’d like to cook your dinner.”
“You cook?” she asked, grimacing. What could Ted cook that she’d eat?
“Oh yes, next to veterinarian medicine, cooking is my avocation. You’ll see.”
“I’m so happy,” she said, doubtful. “I hate to cook.”
“We have to get to Spencer’s before it closes,” he said. “Grab a sweater. It’s getting cold out there already.”
“I love the winter here,” she said. “Bring it on!”
They walked two blocks to the grocery store, hand in hand.
“This reminds me of what winter must be like up north,” Kelly said. “You can smell the smoke from people’s fireplaces. Look, at the water! Someone’s out fishing after dark.”
“I love watching the boats,” Ted said. “I wish I lived on the water.”
“If you did, you wouldn’t be living in that big house. You’d be in a shack on stilts.”
“Maggie Angel’s cottage is up on stilts. Or really, concrete pilings. Did you know that?”
“She’s back in the marsh,” Kelly said, a little defensively. “And this is a good time to tell you that we’re going into business with each other.”
“You and Maggie Angel?”
“Yep, she and me. We’re moving the rescue over to her property. There’s a dry, high spot, and my dad is giving us his old hunting lodge for the building.”
“Wow, you’re serious, then.”
“Oh yes, we’re serious. Try not to annoy her if you can help it.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
“Do you want to tell me what prompted you to come to my house tonight?”
“Not really,” he said, glancing at her. “Is that okay?”
“It’s okay. But whatever it is, don’t do it again, okay?”
“I won’t,” Ted said, his fingers crossed behind his back, just in case.
***
Once she was safe at home in her apartment, Amber Greely locked the door and closed the drapes across the front. Ted had really scared her for some reason. She never had gotten that vibe from him in the time they’d worked together, but having him show up like that on her day off really spooked her. Just to be safe, she was going to call the sheriff. There was a little unpleasant history with Justin’s brother, Dave Chastain, and he was the sheriff for her jurisdiction.
She had his private cell phone number somewhere in the mess on her desk, but she put her hands to it fast, on a pink Post-it. He answered on the second ring.
“Amber, what’s up?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, Dave. This is business, okay. I’m not calling you to party.”
“Ha! I figured that, Amber. What’s wrong?”
She told him the story, about fixing fences with the wild horse group and then having Ted LeBlanc show up just as they were going to start their social hour.
