Page 22 of Hostile Witness
She smirked. “Is that what this is, Detective?”
“We’re pet parents now and sharing a checking account.”
She leaned back in her seat and gave him an appraising look. “Is there a Mrs. Kelley who’ll be upset I ate Thai with her husband? Or worse yet, be livid that I kissed him on the front lawn?”
He gulped hard as the spicy Thai warmed his throat. “Not anymore and I just might keep it that way.”
Tia’s eyebrows drew together. “That’s a shame. I was hoping to introduce you to one of my teacher friends. She likes you law-enforcement types.”
He coughed on a noodle. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Tia stabbed a couple of snow peas with her fork. “What if she comes to visit and just happens to meet you?”
He dropped his fork onto his plate and leaned forward. “Don’t.”
His eyes had turneddark and brooding. She must’ve hit a nerve. Tia looked down at her food. “I apologize. I, um... it’s just that she’s a lovely person and looking to settle down. I didn’t mean to be pushy.”
He gave her a curt nod and picked his fork up. “I’m divorced and still working through it. If I decide to change my marital status, I assure you I am quite capable of finding my own woman. How’s your love life?”
Ouch.He’d turned that table, and she deserved it. “Um, no divorce but I was clueless to things that were going on in my last relationship. I’m definitely staying single for the long term.” Dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she snuck a peek at his eyes. They’d softened a fraction. “That’s part of the reason I wanted a dog. You know... company.”
He leaned back in his chair. “And the added security doesn’t hurt a bit while we’re catching Lieutenant Plante’s killer.”
Tia shifted uneasily in her seat. “Yes, that too.”
He abruptly snapped the lid onto his unfinished Thai and slid it into the bag. “You think you’ll be all right with Flynn tonight?”
“Oh, sure. We’re buddies. No need for you to hang around.”
“All right. I promised my grandmother I’d take her shopping after her dinner hour.”
“That’s nice of you. Does she live nearby?”
“She does. Over at Happy Acres Retirement Community.”
Tia wrinkled her nose. “Really? I volunteer there on Thursday evenings. What’s your grandmother’s name?”
“Nancy Ryan. She has an apartment there.”
Tia sat back and stared at him. “Nan? Your grandmother is Nan?”
He cocked his head. “You know her?”
“She’s in my Thursday reading club. I love her.” Tia shook her head. “What a small world. Is she why you moved here a year ago?”
He nodded. “More or less. After I moved back, Nan informed me of her move to Happy Acres and turned the house over to me.”
Tia grinned. “She’s a real spitfire. Her love for life is an inspiration.”
Ethan rocked back on his heels and smiled. “Yes, she is. I’m planning an eightieth birthday party for her. Her wish list is a bit bizarre.”
“Meaning?”
“Confidential,” he winked.
“Oh, come on. I know how to keep my mouth shut.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “She wants to be arrested on her birthday.”