The Trouble with Angels (Angels Everywhere #2)(27)

When he was with Blythe, heads turned. Ted liked that. His friends envied him because such a beautiful, distinguished woman loved him. Call him a male chauvinist or whatever the popular terminology was these days, but he didn’t care.

Nevertheless, over the last few days he’d found himself smiling whenever he thought about the resident service director naming her car Edith. He chuckled when he remembered the way she’d gotten all feisty when it looked as if Blythe were going to insult her car.

That was the one problem he had with Blythe, Ted admitted. The woman just didn’t seem to have much of a sense of humor. He hoped that would change in time.

Ted found Joy sitting at her desk, reading a letter, her brow furrowed.

"Hello again,” he said, leaning against the doorjamb.

She glanced up in surprise. Her eyes were round and expressive, Ted noted. He liked that, too. One wouldn’t need to guess what she was thinking; it was right there for him to read, plain as a page in a book.

"Hi.” She stood and then seemed surprised to find herself on her feet. She sat down abruptly and stared up at him as if she weren’t sure what to expect.

"May I come in?” Ted asked, enjoying her discomfort.

"Of course. I’m sorry.” She motioned toward the only other chair in the room, as if he needed guidance.

Ted sat down, relaxed against the back of the chair, and crossed his legs. He hoped she’d take the hint. The woman was wired as tight as unwaxed dental floss. "I stopped by to let you know I had Blythe’s car checked out with a body shop.”

"Was there any damage?”

"None that he could see.” Blythe hadn’t believed it and had insisted on a second opinion, but there wasn’t any need for Joy to know that.

"What about a mechanic?”

"Not yet, but I doubt there’s anything to be concerned about.”

"My dad runs a shop no more than three miles from here. If you want, he could look at the engine for you, and he’d do a good job.”

Problem was, Ted would have a difficult time convincing Blythe of that.

"What about…your friend? I hope there weren’t any lingering effects from the accident.”

"No, she’s fine.” Blythe had complained of a headache, but it had disappeared by the following day—until he’d made the mistake of asking her about it. Then, all of a sudden, she’d seemed to be suffering from low back pains as well as intense headache. Soon afterward, she’d mentioned contacting an attorney.

When Blythe had first hinted at a lawsuit, Ted had thought she was joking. Only later had he realized she was serious. It irritated him that she would try to make much more of the incident, and his aggravation must have showed. Keeping his anger in check, he’d pointed out that there hadn’t been any damage to either vehicle and it would be difficult to prove personal injury. He hadn’t mentioned anything about her making an appointment with a doctor. No need to give her more ideas.

"You say your father’s a mechanic,” Ted said. "Then I’d like to suggest he give Edith a thorough checkup.”

"I talked to him about what happened, and he said it wasn’t possible. The only feasible explanation was that I hadn’t put on the emergency brake, but I know I did.” She paused as if attempting to recall the events of that evening. "I could have sworn her engine was running at the time of the accident. I remember how frustrated I felt because I was going back to my office to phone triple A.

"Then not only does Edith start up, but she does so without the key in the ignition, backs out of the parking space all on her own. It was as if she were aiming for your…Blythe’s car. But that’s impossible.”

"Sounds like one for the textbooks to me,” Ted agreed.

"Here’s something else for the books,” she said, holding up the letter she’d been reading when he’d first arrived. "It’s from radio station KIWI. I don’t even listen to that station, unless they’re broadcasting the Lakers games.”

"They wrote you a letter?”

"It’s more than that. The letter says my name was a winner in their drawing for two courtside seats for Friday night’s basketball game.”

"That’s fabulous.” Frankly, Ted would give his eyeteeth for those tickets. Courtside, no less. The game was scheduled against the red-hot Seattle SuperSonics and was sure to be one of the best of the year. From what he understood, the Forum had been sold out for weeks.

"I know, but for the life of me I can’t remember entering their contest.”

"You can’t?”

She shook her head.

"Maybe someone put your name in for you?”

"Who?”

"A friend. Your father.” As far as he was concerned, she shouldn’t be asking so many questions.

Joy frowned. "That’s not likely. I was trying to decide what I was going to do.”

Ted couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "Going to do? What do you mean? You’d be crazy to ask questions. Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to look a gift horse in the mouth?”

"I know, but—”

"Those are the hottest tickets in town.”

"I know that, too. The Forum’s been sold out for three weeks.”