The Trouble with Angels (Angels Everywhere #2)(66)

Joy laughed, and Ted realized this was something else he loved about her. The sound of her laughter had an almost musical chime to it, as if it were magical.

"We can leave any time,” she assured him. "You’ve been a good sport. I’ll pay for these things, and we can find some place to sit down. I’d hate to have you poop out on me so early.”

"This is early?” Ted asked, feigning astonishment. "We’ve been here for hours.”

"One hour,” she corrected.

"You’re joking.”

"It was only an hour,” she told him. "Maybe a cup of coffee will revive you.”

Actually Ted wasn’t half as bushed as he was letting on.

They left the mall and found a quaint Italian restaurant on a side street. The hostess seated them at a table with a red-checkered tablecloth by a corner. Since it was nearly noon, they decided to order lunch.

"Everything looks wonderful,” Joy said, scanning the menu.

Ted offered a couple of suggestions.

"I’ll try the veal scallopini,” she said, and sighed as if the decision had been an exhausting one. She closed her eyes momentarily. "I can’t believe this is happening.”

"What?” he teased. "That you’re eating Italian?”

"No, that I’m with you!”

"I know I’m quite the catch, but—”

"You know what I mean. It’s like this is all unreal. I feel like I’m going to wake up and discover this is a dream. You’re still planning to come tomorrow night, aren’t you?” she asked, changing the subject. "And please, oh, please, promise me you won’t believe a single word my brothers tell you about me.”

"How could I doubt your very own brothers?” Ted asked innocently.

"Ted!”

He laughed, enjoying her discomfort. He loved the way…He realized a good portion of the morning he’d been telling himself all the things he loved about Joy. Her enthusiasm and optimism for life, her laughter and appreciation of the little things. It hadn’t occurred to him that he might be in love with her.

Ted wasn’t a man who gave his heart easily. But from the moment Edith had crankily decided to ease out of her parking space and smash into Blythe’s car, he felt as if he’d been smacked over the head by fate.

"My brothers take delight in embarrassing me,” she told him, waving a bread stick at him, "especially Billy. They’re both married now, and they seem to think I should be, too, so be prepared for that.”

"They’re going to marry us? Tomorrow evening?”

"No.” She giggled. "But they’re going to make hints along those lines. Usually I say something silly, but the last time I upset my mother, and then—”

Curiosity got the better of him. "You upset your mother? What did you say?”

"I was joking. I said something about not being able to marry Jack until he got approval from the parole board.”

Ted did a poor job of smothering a laugh. "And just who’s this Jack?”

"A friend…former friend,” she amended.

"How good a friend?”

Joy wove the bread stick between her fingers with amazing dexterity. "You sound jealous.”

"I am. Now tell me about Jack.”

"We dated a couple of times, is all. He’d been married before, and, well, I didn’t like the kind of father he was. I figured if he ignored his children, then he wouldn’t treat a woman any differently, so I broke it off before it ever got started.”

"Smart woman.”

"You’re only saying that because you’d rather I wasn’t dating Jack,” she said, cocking her head to one side.

"True.” He wasn’t going to lie about it. He’d be damn uncomfortable if she were involved in a relationship now. Of all her concerns, it was the one about Blythe he understood best. Ironically, she refused to discuss the other woman, although he’d broached the subject a number of times. Joy wouldn’t let him explain what was going on between him and his fellow engineer.

Two hours later, after leaving Joy, he discovered he was still smiling. After their busy morning, he decided to spend a lazy afternoon in front of the television. He kicked off his shoes and flopped down on the sofa, contemplating a nap. Although the college football game was supposed to be between the top-rated national teams, he found his attention wandering.

Was he in love with Joy? Hell if he knew. But he felt like standing up on the coffee table and pounding his chest and letting loose with a yell that would rival Tarzan’s.

When the doorbell chimed, he leaped up, hoping it might be Joy. It was impossible, but damn it all, he wanted it to be Joy. It didn’t seem right that the two of them were apart.

When he opened his door, the last person he expected to see was Blythe. Well, all the better. It was time they sat down and talked. Not that he hadn’t tried. One would think it would be a simple matter to clear the air, but she’d put him off a number of time.

"Hello, Blythe.”

"Ted.” Her hands were buried in the pockets of her jacket. "I’m sorry to drop in unannounced this way. Do you have a few moments?”

"Of course.” He stepped aside to let her into the apartment. Something was wrong. She was pale and quiet, and her eyes were red and blotchy as if she’d been crying.