“Oh yes! It pecked a goose that was getting a bit too near Dad. Like he was protecting him. Apologising for the other day.”
Thea raised an eyebrow. “Protecting him? I know ducks can bond with humans, but I didn’t know they were capable of remorse. Perhaps he saw the error of his ways and was trying to make it up to you.”
Felix laid out three plates on the counter. He’d cleaned that, too.
“Hungry?” he asked over his shoulder. “It’s just eggs.” Without waiting for an answer, he dished out the contents ofthe pan and then set the plates down in front of the kids before returning to bring one for her.
“Oh, please, yes. I forgot to eat earlier.” He held the plate in midair for a second before laying it before her. She could almost detect him biting his tongue in an effort not to chastise her. Add it to her list of misdemeanours: Lack of self-care 101.
“And this doesn’t look like just eggs.” Thea nodded to her plate. The cheesy, buttery aroma filling the room had her practically dribbling on the tablecloth.
“I tried to keep the meal as simple as possible, knowing your issues with myfancy food.” He passed Thea a fork with a wry smile. “Besides, I don’t want you fainting from hunger on my watch.”
Thea smiled. Felix could be quite civil when he tried. “I appreciate your catering to my every whim and tidying up my house, too, but for goodness’ sake, please take the makeup off.”
He laughed. “Not a fan? I thought I looked pretty good. Very edgy.”
“That’s one word for it,” Thea said around a forkful of eggs. “But I can’t take you seriously like that. And I hate to say it, blue might not be the best colour for you.”
“Too showy? Should I tone it down?”
“I’d say lose it altogether. Try pastels next time.” Thea giggled. Damn, was she almost having fun with him? Had he really disarmed her so easily? A bit of eyeshadow and a plate of eggs? Talk about a cheap date. Thea pulled on her internal reins the moment the thought entered her head. This wasnota date. Felix was here doing her a favour, that was all.
“You’ll find some baby wipes on the side,” she said, waving an arm toward the dresser. Felix wandered over, pulling a couple of sheets out of the pack.
“Oh, by the way,” he said. “I didn’t know you cared.” With a wink, he left the room, heading to the downstairs toilet. Thea looked up to where he’d just stood, and her copy ofHotelierMagazinewas propped up against a stack of newly washed plates on the side.
Her gut tugged. She hadn’t left it there. Ammy wouldn’t have found it, and it was highly unlikely Lucas would bother propping up a picture of his Dad in her kitchen. No, Felix must be the culprit. Must have seen it languishing along with her copies ofHello Magazineand placed it on the side. Great. Now, he probably thought she was stalking him.
Felix’s face glared down at her from the cover. It was an excellent shot. He wore one of his tailored suits and a crisp, white shirt, but really, couldn’t he at least have cracked a smile? Maybe he was trying to look sulky and rich. Just the thing to give sex-starved widows cheap thrills.
“Did someone find your keys?” Felix asked as he walked back into the room, still rubbing at his cheek with a wipe.
“Yes,” Thea squeaked.
“You missed a bit,” Ammy said, giggling. She took the wipe from Felix’s hand and sat him down on a chair. Her face was full of mischief, but he stoically surrendered to her efforts. Thea snickered. Her daughter was buffing his face like she was polishing his car.
Thea gave a tiny shake of her head. She didn’t know what to make of the picture of domestic bliss in front of her. It was as if Felix had undergone a personality transplant overnight. Like the phone call she’d made to him earlier had triggered a complete overhaul. How was it possible he’d developed an “I can be fun and easy-going gene” so suddenly?
“Who?” he asked, glancing at Thea.
“Who, what?”
“Who found the keys?”
“Oh. Me.”
His lips curled in a little sneer. “After all that? Where were they?”
Did he need every single detail? She’d dreaded telling himall the way home. Had thought of a few tall tales she could try, but honesty was usually best.
“I may have found them at the bottom of one of my shopping bags.” Was her voice overly breezy? Felix narrowed his eyes. So yes, it probably was.
“Really?”
“I swear I checked. They were underneath my carrots. I had to get more than usual because the donkeys had been ravenous. And then…”
Thea slowed as a smirk grew on Felix’s lips. “Some people might think you made up the story of the lost keys. Just to get me here.”
