Page 3 of A Package Deal

She frowned, and her eyes narrowed. “I thought you didn’t like the previous mayor, and you wanted him to lose.”

“Sure, but can’t I have both? I wanted the mayor to lose, and I wanted to win you back.” Chet grinned and Nelie sighed. She was either exasperated or he was making headway, and her no-Chet stance was softening.

Chet meant what he’d said. He missed her. He missed talking with her at the end of the day. Hearing her amusing customer stories. Sending her funny memes when she was having a bad day. Feeling her body melt into his when they snuggled on the couch watching movies or a documentary when he could talk her into one. Nelie was his second chance at love and happiness until he’d used her information and violated her trust.

If he could do it over, he would, but he still would have reported the news of Emily Wyatt’s pregnancy. Sitting on that story would have violated everything he believed. The citizens of Haven had a right to the information that impacted them, and it was his job to report it.

But he could have warned Nelie and Emily’s campaign managers before he broke the story. It wouldn’t have stopped him, but it would have given them time to prepare. Sometimes, in the wee hours of the morning, he wondered why he hadn’t warned them. His heart wasn’t made of stone—an accusation Nelie had tossed at him when she’d walked out his door—but he’d been afraid she would have talked him out of it. Talked him out of doing what was right for the community. Chet stepped toward her, and she didn’t move. His hand brushed hers, but they jerked at the loud thud from upstairs.

“It’s okay,” Ava yelled. “Nothing’s broken and there’s no blood.”

Nelie chuckled and tucked her hands into her pockets. She looked at the ceiling as if seeing the disaster that awaited him. “What’s going on, Chet?” She sounded curious and his stupid heart heard concern, too.

“Heather’s partner’s visa is expiring. He needs to go back to Australia, and she has the opportunity to go with him to work and teach at a medical college in Sydney.” He sighed. “Can you step up and take the girls, please?” He pitched his voice high, mimicking her, and Nelie’s eyes widened.

“She said that?” He nodded. “That’s rich since she’s the one who asked you to move and give her and what’s-his-name a chance to be a family with the girls.” Nelie sounded as disgusted as he felt.

“The family thing didn’t take, but now they have this chance for a new start down under.” Chet walked toward the grocery bags covering the counter and Nelie followed. “She told us on Christmas morning. As if it was a tremendous gift to everyone.” Nelie bumped her hip into his, nudging him aside. He stepped back and leaned against the island as she unloaded his groceries.

“Isn’t it?” she asked, looking bewildered at the box of single-serving pudding cups she held. Chet opened the pantry door, gesturing at the shelves he’d cleared, and she handed him the pudding. “I know how much you’ve missed the girls and how tiring it was flying to Saint Louis several weekends a month.” It was a direct flight, but Chet hadn’t wanted the girls flying alone, so he’d always made the trip.

“You’re right. It’s what I’ve wanted, and it’s a gift and a blessing, but her timing?” He snorted. Nelie handed him more lunch items to shelve. “If you could have seen their faces. They were devastated. Ava had been a nonstop chatterbox about her upcoming scout trips and Piper had just made the Sharks’ swim team. They’ve only been here once, and it was in the summer. Haven looks like the frozen tundra to them now.”

“They’re young and adaptable. Give them time. It will be okay.” Nelie put the box of instant hot chocolate next to his coffee pods.

“I never even finished getting their rooms ready.”

“What’s your plan?” Nelie asked him, and Chet frowned.

“Plan?” He had no plan. Right now, he wanted to wallow and watch her put away his groceries. He loved watching her. She moved quickly and confidently, and it was sexy as hell the way she’d bend and stretch. It felt right having her back in his kitchen. Everything felt better when she was around, but it wasn’t her job to fix his current mess, it was his.

“The girls are in school from eight until two-thirty, but what about when they’re not at school?” It didn’t surprise him that Nelie knew the school schedule.

Chet scrubbed his hands over his face. He needed a shave. And a shower. And according to Nelie,a plan. “I don’t know. I don’t even know what my options are.”

Nelie met his eyes in the window’s reflection and she sighed. “Can you pick them up by five?” Nelie asked, sounding resigned.

“From school?”

“No, from the Galley, until you have a schedule set for them.”

“You’d do that for me?” Chet stepped toward her. He took a deep, full breath and his body relaxed. He’d been wound tighter than screw on a rocket since Heather’s announcement. Chet wrapped his arms around her, but she slipped out of his embrace.

“Forthem, yes. But it’s only temporary and if it’s after five o’clock, you’ll find them scrubbing dishes.” Nelie zipped up her parka and pulled on her mittens. “Goodnight,” she said as her mitten slipped on the round doorknob. She growled and failed again. Chet fought his smile as he opened the door for her. She moved past him with her head held high and her shoulders back, mumbling, “Thank you.”

He shut the door and chuckled as he watched her walk toward her car. When they’d dated, he’d teased her about her need to help everyone and support every cause, but he never thought he’d be on the receiving end of that help.

He looked at the bag of winter clothes and he felt like a charity case. If Heather had given him some warning, he could have prepared. He could have finished their rooms and bought them appropriate winter gear. Instead, he’d helped the girls sort through their belongings in Saint Louis, pack, and load his SUV’s cargo space like it was an advanced game of Tetris. But he’d do anything for his girls, including accepting help.

Helping was in Nelie’s DNA, but he wondered if there was something more to her altruistic behavior. She’d taken a shine to the girls when they’d met. It had been written all over her. She’d been relaxed, had leaned toward them, and had been interested in what they’d said. Even with their salty behavior, they’d made a positive impression. Chet wondered if his little monkeys could worm their way into her heart, and if he could tag along.

Chapter 3

“Hey,Chet.Tableforone?” the hostess asked him as he scanned the Galley, and for the life of him he couldn’t remember her name. But everyone at the Galley knew him. That was the price he paid for dating their boss and then being dumped by her. After the breakup he’d avoided the Galley for fear someone would spit in his soup, but Eric, a friend and Nelie’s assistant manager, told him it wouldn’t happen. His soup might be lukewarm, but it would be spit-free.

“Actually, I’m looking for Nelie.”

“No clue, but Eric’s at the bar. He might know.” Chet nodded and headed that way. He didn’t have time to hunt down his kids. Nelie had told him five o’clock, and he had two minutes left. He didn’t want to disappoint her or break his promise.And you need her,he reminded himself.

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