Page 11 of Bringing Chelsea Home

“Don’t be silly,” she laughed. “But I am tired.”

“As you should be,” he agreed. “Why don’t you go to bed, and I’ll clear up. Is there anything you need to do tomorrow?”

“I need to meet with my supervisor,” Elaine said. “I’m not going to tell him what happened today but I’m going to ask for some more time off.”

“Do a Zoom meeting,” and she was startled by his insistent tone. “Does he know about the note on your desk?”

Elaine’s earlier apprehension returned. “No. Why?”

Concern darkened his eyes. “I’ve no doubts Big Daddy had it left there,” he answered. “And now knows the second attempt on your life failed, so he’s going to be watching you even more closely and is counting on you going to work.”

“Well-”

“And we don’t want to put anyone in your office in unnecessary danger,” he continued, his gaze pining her to her chair. “Your co-workers, or anyone with appointments scheduled for tomorrow.”

“You’re right,” she said slowly. “I’m so tired, I hadn’t thought of that. Is this your first mission for BP?”

He blinked, as if her change of subject caught him off guard. After a moment he said, “In this capacity, yes. But you know I helped Anne Hamilton and Mac last month.”

“I do,” she said. “And I thank you for your attention to detail. I’ll text Monty-he’s my boss-right now.”

She took her phone from her jean pocket and texted her request. The reply came immediately, as if he’d been waiting for it. “Done,” she said. “He’s not happy about it but agreed to meet by Zoom 8:30 tomorrow.”

“That’s that, then,” Griff said.

“That’s that,” she echoed, finishing her wine. “Up at seven?”

“Breakfast will be waiting,” he said, giving her a lopsided smile. “But in the kitchen, not in bed.”

“Of course not,” she agreed, hopingthatsuggestion didn’t raise any color in her cheeks. “Good night, Griff. Thanks.”

“Good night, Elaine. Sleep well.”

But it was over an hour before the day’s images stopped dancing in her head. Especially those of Griffin A. Tyler taking her gloved hand and holding her while she cried. And now wondering how it would feel to kiss him.

You’re way too tired, girlfriend. A man like that is bound to have a girlfriend somewhere. Probably more than one.

So, with that in mind, she turned off the bedside lamp and slept.

CHAPTER6

Thursday Morning

“I hada text message from Mother Winnifred earlier,” Elaine said as they put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. They’d agreed warming up last night’s dinner would do for breakfast and save time.

“Is something wrong at St. Nicholas?” Griff asked.

“I’m not sure.” Elaine said, hanging up a dishtowel. “The text said that Sister Bernie received something in the mail yesterday that could mean something.”

“Like what?” Griff noticed with satisfaction that the delicate skin under her eyes was not so puffy, and the set of her mouth was relaxed. Her wheat-colored oversize sweater, with a multi-colored scarf tied around her neck in a fashionable knot, reminded him just how pretty his client was. As if he needed reminding.

But it was her jeans, encasing her long, lovely legs, that was keeping Griff’s heart beating just a bit faster than normal and he pushed aside the thought of those legs wrapping around his waist while his hands cupped what he was sure was a very sweet bottom.

“Bernie had a system with women she helped,” Elaine explained. “If someone in the community needed help or had information on a woman who did, they would send her an item from wherever they worked. This item was a printed copy of the menu fromCarson’s, an upscale restaurant not far from here and sent by a woman named Elizabeth Burke.”

Griff sighed in contentment. “I know that restaurant. They were the first in the area to purchase as much of their produce from local farmers as they could and cook in season as much as possible while keeping some favorite items on the menu year-round.”

“I keep forgetting you’re a Knoxville native,” Elaine said. “Is there any part of the city you don’t know?”

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