“True enough, but I believe you’re leaving something out … like your harassing phone call when he gave you the news.” Neve might have been overstepping, but she was vibrating with anger, andthiswoman was more out of line than Fall River’s nineteenth-century brick walls.
Venom filled Chelsea’s eyes. “Why are you asking me if you already know? And he calledme!”
This woman was delusional. Reece might be many things Neve found annoying—okay, only a few things … maybe—but he hadn’t lied about telling Chelsea what had happened in Vegas. Of that, Neve was certain.
Neve’s mind took a quick little detour. If Chelsea was confronting Neve about the wedding, who else had she told? Now two people outside their circle knew, and plenty of others suspected. How soon before the entire town—heck, the entire county—knew their little secret? Rumors had a way of catching fire and spreading like a summer blaze through dry prairie grasses.
How soon before Reece’s parents found out?
Neve jumped back on track. “Do you evenhavea missing cat?”
“I’m not here for the cat,” Chelsea admitted.
“Have you been stalking me?” Was Chelsea the reason Neve had been swarmed by heebie-jeebies this past week?
“What? Absolutely not! This is the first time I’ve set foot in Fall River in months.”
Chelsea’s over-the-top indignation was the last straw. If anyone had a right to pull the indignant card, it was Neve. Pressing her lips together to hold her anger inside, she stepped around Chelsea and opened the front door. “I think it’s time to call an end to your ‘mission,’ or whatever the hell you want to call your sneaky little snoopfest. I’d like you to leave.”
Chelsea huffed and met her at the door. “Could you give Reece a message for me?”
Neve waved the hand still clutching the pen and paper. “Write it down, and if I see him, I’ll pass it along. Then get the hell out.”
Chelsea went ramrod straight, as though preparing for a fight. A twist of anger colored her features a dusky red.
“Hey, Neve. Saw your Tahoe and thought I’d let you know I can’t make the game.”
Both women looked out the door in time to see Shane’s eyes and mouth crease with confusion.
“Chelsea?” he sputtered.
“She’s poking her nose where it doesn’t belong,” Neve provided. “But she was just leaving.” She perched her fist on her hip. “Good day, Ms. Selkirk. I would say it’s been a pleasure, but I’d be lying.”
Shane ate up the distance to the clinic door and looked down at Chelsea. “Hey, Chelsea. What are you doing here? Everything okay?”
Stepping around him without a word, Reece’s ex hurried to the sidewalk. Shane shot Neve a look that was both apologetic and confounded before trailing after Chelsea Selkirk.
Neve sent him a wave that said, “Good luck, big guy.” Whether he understood or not, she didn’t know. Didn’t care. She was focused on a text that had just chimed on her phone.
Reece:What happened with Mr. W?
Neve:Didn’t pan out. Bringing him home.
Chelsea was a jerk. She’d used the poor cat to get at Reece. How could he have been involved with someone like that? Neve watched as Chelsea climbed into her pickup and drove off. Hands on his hips, Shane stood on the sidewalk, his confused gaze following her truck. He turned toward Neve. She so did not want to engage in a discussion with him right now.
She held up a thumb. “Got it. You’re not coming to the game.” He took a step toward her, mouth open and ready to spout whatever questions were bouncing around in his brain. “I’ve got a sick animal to get back to. I’ll talk to you later.”
His radio squawked—thank God—and he waved at her before trotting back to his SUV. She retreated to her building, puffing out a relieved lungful of air.
Dodged that bullet.
Suddenly, the notion of takingher husbanddown on the ice took flight on wings of fury.
The cold pricked at her eyes, her nose, and she looked up at a gray ceiling of clouds that seemed to be made of ice crystals. The impact from two bodies colliding on the rink was going to feel like running into a brick wall at thirty miles an hour.
Perfect!
Reece Hunnicutt wouldn’t know what hit him.
