Page 30 of Mr. Kelly

Balking like she just remembered who she was addressing, she backs out without another word.

Andrea moves his attention back to me. “Who in the hell did she think she was grabbing my face and kissing me like that?”

Andrea doesn’t trust or like a lot of women. His trust issues go back to childhood. He’s also a very perceptive judge of character. I should have paid more attention to his dislike of Helena. First, it seemed to me that he was mad I was getting married. Now, I know it was who I was marrying. His endorsement of River hasn’t escaped my notice.

“Your lover?”

His face scrunches up like he wants to gag. “I’ll shoot you if you ever use that word again. She’s a woman I fucked. I thought we had an understanding.” His bicep flexes as he pours us some drinks. “Remind me to write a manual. I can hand them out like pamphlets to these dumbasses who think one hookup equals a relationship.”

We clank glasses and drink. He eases down on his sofa and looks at me expectantly. He doesn’t need to ask me what happened because he knows I’m going to tell him. After another long sigh, I tell him everything that’s happened since we confronted River at the hotel. When I’m done, he picks up his gun and checks to see if it’s fully loaded.

“You don’t have to make any calls. I’ll be Helena’s nurse.” He stands and shrugs on a shirt. “I can go take care of her right now.”

I know he’s serious, but I laugh anyway. “Down, soldier. I’m getting rid of her the legal way. I tried to wait a bit so I wouldn’t look like an asshole who leaves his wife because she’s barren.”

Andrea snorts the same way every time I say “barren.” He either knows something or has a suspicion.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He rubs his chin as he thinks. “Nothing yet. I have some theories.”

“Care to share?” His pale eyes lock on me in the way they do when he’s being sincere.

“You know I don’t like running my mouth without facts. I am checking into some things. We’ll discuss it in a few days. Deal?”

I acquiesce. “Deal.”

He stands. “Good. Now go snuggle up with your woman and get some rest. And just in case your brain stopped working in the last few minutes, I’m referring to River.”

“How are you so sure about her?” I finally ask him as I rise.

“One.” He holds up a finger. “I had a good feeling about her. You just know when you meet good people. Two, you have your background checks for all your employees, and I have mine. Aside from Helena, no one gets to orbit in our circle unless I approve.”

He sounds like a possessive wife, but I get it. Even if he didn’t say it to me, the person would disappear one way or another.

Chapter Fifteen

RIVER

We liein bed with nothing but the light from the television illuminating the room. My head rests on Theodore’s chest as I listen to his heartbeat. He runs his fingers up and down my spine, and I’d be at the peak of relaxation if I didn’t feel him thinking. He’d arrived two days ago and hasn’t gone home or mentioned Helena. In fact, he turns the phone off the moment he arrives.

His eyebrows are slightly furrowed and his lips poke out just a little. It’s his deep-thinking face.

“Just say it,” I offer, speaking softly.

“What?” As he shifts his weight, I move until we’re lying on our sides looking at each other.

“Whatever has you in deep thought. Go ahead.”

I watch his face. His left eye squints a little before he speaks. He’s suspicious about something.

“Why don’t you want the baby?”

My eyes grow wide with surprise. I wasn’t aware I was giving off that kind of vibe. “I never said that.”

“Then why did you offer me adoption?”

Ah. Now his question makes sense.“It’s not because I don’t want the baby. I offered because there was no other way to giveyou the baby without announcing to the world that you cheated. Only you, Andrea, and I know what happened. I thought it would be in bad taste to just show up telling people you got me pregnant. Plus, I didn’t know if you were working it out with Helena or not, so it was the way to give you what you wanted.” I run my fingers through his hair as he continues to stare at me. “If you’d recommitted to Helena, co-parenting would be impossible since you’d have to tell your wife what you did. I didn’t want to put you in that position. You’d give the baby a great life and fiercely protect it from everything, including your wife.”

---