Foundation for Three

by Vella Day

  “When is this hot date?”

  “Not sure, but I’ll let you know when he asks.” She still couldn’t tell if Pete was even interested. All he’d seen was a woman who’d broken down on him.

  “When he does ask you out, try to have some fun. And for God’s sake, don’t do your psychobabble shit on him.”

  Psychobabble shit? Ouch. “Don’t worry. I know how to act with a man.” Not really, but a lecture was the last thing she needed—especially with everything going on in her head.

  “Not even close, sis. Oh. One more thing. I know you’re old and shit, but this isn’t the nineteen forties. Women have been liberated. They vote now. They even ask men out.” Zoey would have commented had her sister taken a breath. “You can, and probably should be the aggressor in bed. Men like that. Doormats are passé. Don’t slap his hand if he wants some action.”

  Her mouth opened. If she followed all of Courtney’s advice, she might end up like her sister—alone and unhappy. At least Zoey was only alone. “I’m not a prude. Don’t forget Mark and Dave.”

  “Two men do not a party girl make.”

  Zoey didn’t want to be a party girl. “There were others.” Just not memorable ones. Zoey wanted to be open-minded. Was Courtney right? Her sister’s concern might have merit, but she’d think about it later.

  “Hey. Someone’s at my door, Zoe.” Zoey hadn’t heard anyone knock, but Courtney could have been in the bedroom. “Thanks for listening. As always.”

  “Love you,” Zoey said.

  “Back at you.” Then her sister hung up.

  Zoey smiled. Talking with Courtney did her soul good, but it also made her realize how much she missed having someone to confide in.

  While Zoey finished off her glass of wine she let her mind drift to what she wanted in life. Was she looking for something permanent? She was only thirty-two, but there were times when she wanted to have someone to dream about and have him dream about her right back. Maybe she did have things backward. Expecting the man to ask her out might be old-fashioned, but she wasn’t aggressive by nature. I asked Thad out. Why not Pete?

  Because she wanted to be certain of the consequences before she acted. For now, she’d pick up Thad tomorrow morning and have no expectations other than to help him with whatever he needed. She wouldn’t worry about Saturday night.

  Good luck with that, girl.

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning around eleven, Zoey’s cell rang. As soon as she saw it was Thad, her nerves skyrocketed. It was stupid to be nervous. All she was doing was giving a friend a ride home. She inhaled, ran her palms down her thighs, and then answered with as cheery a voice as she could muster. “Donovan’s taxi service. How may I help you?” Normally, she didn’t do something this spontaneous, but she felt like it this time. Maybe the “incident” had made her see just how fragile life could be.

  Thad chuckled and the tension in her muscles released. “It’s Thad Dalton.” Ooh, he sounded so formal and in control. Healthy now.

  He had to know she recognized him by the caller ID and by the way she’d answered. “Are you ready to go home?” There. She sounded more like herself, instead of a giddy schoolgirl.

  “Yup. All cleared and paperwork done. If I can convince you to give me a lift, I’d appreciate it. I’m downstairs by the front hospital entrance.”

  “Be right there.” After she informed Rachel that her return for the day was questionable, Zoey rushed to the lobby to meet Thad. Other than when she’d been in the ER, she hadn’t taken a day off in months. It was rather freeing. Maybe that was what caused her light-hearted behavior. Stop it. She wished she didn’t always analyze her every thought. Even Zoey knew it wasn’t healthy.

  As soon as she stepped off the elevator, she caught sight of Thad standing a few feet away from an empty wheelchair. He was quite handsome in his civilian clothes, and his unshaven face gave him a kind of bad boy chic. The bullet hole and bloodstains must have ruined his police uniform shirt, which would explain his different attire. If Pete had brought his clothes, he’d forgotten Thad’s boots. He still had on his black laced-up cop shoes, which looked out of place with his worn jeans. He’s still cute. Thad’s arm was in a blue sling, but she bet he wouldn’t keep it on for long. He seemed the type to chafe under confinement.

  “Hey,” she said as she neared. He swung around and smiled. She didn’t want to feel that zing of attraction, but it came nonetheless.

  He studied her for a moment, looking like he was trying to decide whether to ask her something or not. His weight shifted. “It’s close to noon, and I’m hunkering for a big juicy burger worse than anything. Mind if we stop at Red Robin on the way home? My treat.” His brows rose.

  This isn’t a date. It made sense he’d ask her to lunch. He’d mentioned his need for good food, and she was his only way to get it. “Sounds great.”

  Not only did she need to eat, this would give her a chance to get to know Thad better. Visiting him in a hospital room wasn’t the same as sitting across from him at a restaurant. While she spent her days trying to learn what made a person tick, her clients usually came to her voluntarily. It was her job to understand what was bothering them. Thad and she were equals here, which was a concept that excited her.

  Her problem was that when she was with the opposite sex, she kept forgetting that men didn’t like her to pry into their innermost thoughts. None of them seemed to get that this was her way of expressing interest. “I’m parked out front.”

  Outside, the day was clear and surprisingly warm. She’d only lived in Montana a few years, but September seemed to be the time of year where it could be warm one day and quite chilly the next, a combination that made planning outdoor activities challenging. She was about to ask if he wanted to wait by the entrance while she picked him up, but he was perfectly capable of walking. Men like Thad wouldn’t like the implication that he was less than able.

  As she moved to her parking spot, she tilted her face to the sun and let the warmth soak in. Good thing she’d gotten up a few minutes early to clean her car. Not only had she found some dirty hand towels from when she’d come in from a run, she’d tossed a bunch of other junk behind her front seat—like flares, a can of Fix-A-Flat, and an automatic tire inflator. The last three items now sat neatly in the trunk. Breaking down in Montana could be deadly, and Zoey believed in being prepared for the worst emergency.

  She was about to open the passenger side door for him when she caught herself. Cops liked control—even injured ones.

  She slid into her side, and as soon as Thad joined her, she started the engine. The restaurant was situated diagonally across from the police station, about four miles from the hospital, so the drive would be a short one. After they ate, would he want to stop in the precinct to say “hi” to his coworkers? She could definitely picture him finding something he had to do, leaving her with a free afternoon. That possibility should make her happy, but it didn’t.

  “Pete said you liked to ride motorcycles.” That wasn’t what she really wanted to talk about, but he wouldn’t appreciate it if she brought up the shooting again or his ex-wife.

  “Don’t remind me.” He lifted his arm.

  “Sorry.” Courtney was right. Zoey needed to get out more. “I can’t imagine what I’d do if I were incapacitated. Are you in much pain?”

  “Not much, but if I banged the wound, I’d be cursing up a storm.”

  She would, too. “Do you like to read?” Did he even have time for hobbies? Her friend Amber said Cade never did.

  “I do too much of that at work, though I imagine fiction would be a lot more entertaining than studying police files.”

  “Tell me about it. Reading about a person’s history never made for late night fun for me either.” She headed down Arbor Way, and then turned right on Second Street. “Do you like to go to the movies?” She was trying to come up with things he could do while he healed. Hopefully, he didn’t think she was asking him out on another date.

&nbs
p; He cleared his throat. “Kind of pathetic to go by myself, don’t you think?”

  Not really. “I guess so.” She went by herself quite often. Was he hinting that he wanted to go with her? If he was, then he needed to just say so. Courtney’s comment about her asking out a man rang in her head. Zoey might consider that option, but only after she knew for sure he’d say yes. A thank you date didn’t count in her opinion.

  Zoey pulled into the lot behind the building then undid her seatbelt. As she reached behind her seat to get her purse, her door opened, startling her a little.

  “You need help?” Thad asked.

  “Just getting my purse.” She twisted around and nabbed the handle. “Got it!”

  As she sat back up, she had to think long and hard about the last time someone had opened her car door for her. Maybe it was when Cade, Stone, and Amber had walked her to her vehicle a few weeks ago. Sad. Zoey had been alone too long.

  The sun had disappeared behind a random cloud so she buttoned up her jacket and eased out of the car. “Thank you.”

  “Gotta feel useful.”

  That seemed to be Thad’s core personality—being needed.

  Inside, the place was quite crowded, mostly with uniformed cops. As soon as they’d been seated at the cozy table, two men came over.

  “Ma’am.” The man who spoke was the taller of the two. “Sorry to barge in, but it’s good to see Thad up and about.”

  Thad’s neck flushed a dull red, but since he hadn’t shaved in a few days, it was difficult to be sure.

  He faced her. “This rude guy is my partner, Jeremy Warner, and the other ugly dude is Nick Rodgers.”

  Both were good-looking men. “Nice to meet you.”

  “When are you coming back, Thad?” Jeremy asked.

  Thad glanced at her, smiled, and then returned his attention to his partner. “You appreciating me now that you have to hang out with Nick?”

  Jeremy shook his head. “Guy doesn’t drink coffee. What kind of cop is that?”

  Nick chuckled. “Let’s leave him to his lunch. Seems to me, he got the good end of the deal. I’m stuck with you, knucklehead.” Nick nodded at her, and then led Jeremy away.

  Zoey liked how the men seemed so comfortable around each other. “You appear to have a good relationship with your coworkers.”

  “Better have when my life is in their hands.”

  She hadn’t thought of it that way. “Do you swap partners often?” She had no idea how the RHPD worked, other than what little information Amber had provided her.

  He seemed to work to keep from grinning. Only then did she realize her slip.

  “No. Nick’s regular partner’s father passed away, so he asked if Jeremy could ride with him until Dale returns.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  He shrugged. “Different experiences are what keeps a cop sharp. Each detective has his own way of handling danger. Nick will be good for Jeremy.”

  She liked that Thad was looking out for others. The waitress came by, and they both ordered coffee and a burger. Zoey only wanted hers with lettuce and tomato, but Thad had the works, including fries.

  “How do you stay so fit when you eat like that?” she asked.

  “You think I eat like this all the time? Hell, no. I’m lucky to slam down a few eggs in the morning, and maybe grab a chicken sandwich at lunch. If I’m home for dinner, I’ll cook some fish. When I’m on patrol, I try to eat salads, though I’m not sure with the dressing if that’s much better than a juicy burger.”

  “That must be tough. I love to cook and I, too, try to use only healthy ingredients when I can get them.” She’d been about to say she’d cook him a meal, but she refrained.

  “That’s why I run and work out.”

  “I bet you’ll be able to run in a few days.”

  “I’m hoping.”

  The waitress brought their drinks. Zoey dumped in a packet of sugar and some cream, instantly feeling guilty. He really did drink his black. Starting tomorrow, she needed to get back out and run. With all that had happened at work, coupled with the shooting, she’d slacked off.

  Thad placed his hands on the cup, as if he enjoyed the warmth. “Tell me how you ended up in Rock Hard, Montana.” He leaned back in his seat and kept his gaze focused on her.

  Crap. She couldn’t say she wanted to move as far away from Connecticut as possible because of a failed relationship. That wouldn’t paint her in a very good light, even though it was the truth. That was one reason why she and newcomer, Amber Delacroix, had hit it off. They both came to town after some emotional fiasco. At least Zoey hadn’t married her men. In all honesty, her issues with Dave and Mark were just the tip of the iceberg.

  “Wow. This must be some story.” Thad cocked a brow.

  “What do you mean?” He couldn’t be that perceptive. She hadn’t even said a word.

  “With the way you’ve nearly mangled the napkin and how your eyes are darting around, it’s some tale.”

  “I’m thinking.” What and how much to tell.

  “Pete said you were from Connecticut. Your hometown anywhere near New York City?”

  Now she relaxed. She could talk about geography. “Yes. Right outside.” Tell him the truth. He won’t judge. “I worked on Staten Island. The pace there was rather hectic, and after a rather unsuccessful relationship I had with two men, I applied to several places out west. I started working for a clinic here, but after almost two years, I decided I wanted to go out on my own.” That wasn’t so hard. Her story seemed similar to Pete’s, actually.

  She had inwardly winced at saying the part about having been with two men. Now, Thad would think she was fair game. Would that be so bad?

  “That’s a big change to go from Connecticut to Montana. The weather is harsher and the population of the entire state here can’t be more than a fraction the size of New York City.”

  When he didn’t drill her on her failed relationship, she was grateful. “I love it here. While I am a water person and enjoyed fishing and swimming in the Sound, I like the mountains better. In Montana, the people are far friendlier and life flows at a slower pace.”

  He lifted a brow. “Slower, huh? Come work for the Police Department. I’ve never worked outside of Montana, but there’s a lot going on every day, all day.”

  Darn. She hadn’t meant to imply his job was easy, and that if he’d worked in New York, it would have been more frantic. “I just meant there’s less traffic here, less pollution, nicer people.”

  He smiled as if he enjoyed seeing her squirm. “I’ve never been to New York. When I have the time and money, I’d love to go sometime.”

  She held her breath. He drank his coffee, but he didn’t seem to be waiting for an invitation for her to be his guide. She exhaled. “It’s a magical place, especially around Christmas. You should see Rockefeller Center with the skating rink and all the festive decorations.” She’d missed that part of the city. “Then there are the museums and plays.” Why bring that up? A macho man like Thad wouldn’t be interested.

  “Never had the chance to see a live play, but I’m not against it.”

  That surprised her. Talking about herself wasn’t her favorite topic. “Have you always worked in the Street Crime Unit?”

  “No.” He drank his coffee. She thought he wasn’t going to give her any more information, until he drew in a big breath. “After the service, I went to college, and then joined the Force here in Rock Hard. Cade Carter and I were actually partners for a bit.”

  “I never knew that.”

  “Many people don’t. I’ll never forget. One time, Cade and I got called out to this robbery that involved a local gang. After we caught the kid, he spilled everything for a reduced sentence. I can’t tell you why I was intrigued by how gangs worked, but I was.”

  Maybe he wanted to help the kids. Underneath it all, Thad was a caregiver, but she bet he’d never admit it. “You then applied for the Street Crime Unit?”

  “Yup. It’s hard, but rewa
rding at the same time.”

  Before she could ask more, the server delivered their tantalizing food. Zoey hadn’t thought she was hungry, but after one bite, she practically inhaled the meal. Thad, too, plowed through his hamburger. When they finished, she looked around and noticed only a handful of cops remained. She hadn’t thought they’d been there that long.

  “That was awesome.” She wiped her mouth. “Great suggestion.”

  He waved for the check then handed the waitress his credit card. “I really don’t feel like heading home just yet. You up for a game of darts?”

  Was he kidding? “Darts? Me?”

  “Oh, shit. You gotta be back at work? I wasn’t even thinking.”

  “No. I cancelled my appointments for the rest of the afternoon. I didn’t know if you’d need me to drive you around.”

  “You bad or something?”

  For cancelling her appointments, offering to drive him around, or at playing darts? She bet it was the latter. “I’m not any good. I’m more of the cerebral type.”

  His jaw twitched like he was working hard not to give a flip answer. “I like the Rodin type.”

  She grinned, liking his wit. “Cute.” Zoey could hear her weekly get-together girls telling her to take a chance. Hell, she bet Thad could use a diversion. Why not? She wanted to repay him. Be honest. It was more than that. She liked him. “Well, if you don’t think the bar owners will mind me putting holes in their walls with the dart, I’m game.”

  His smile reached his eyes. Boy was she in trouble now.

  Chapter Nine

  Thad appreciated that Zoey had cancelled her appointments for him. It meant she cared. During lunch, he’d expected her to drill him about the shooting, about Peggy, and about his work in general, but she hadn’t. Instead, she really seemed interested in learning about him, about who he was beyond his job. Quite a refreshing change from the women he’d been out with lately.