Dangerously Close by Dee J. Adams

Author:Dee J. Adams [Adams, Dee J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-06-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Paula walked into the kitchen with a grocery bag in her arm. “Ashley,” she called, setting her load on the center island. No response. “Ashley,” she called again. Then she spotted the note on the far counter. As she read the messy handwriting, her buzz faded. Ashley was with Mel and clearly he’d written the note. Anger and frustration rose in her stomach and she took a deep breath to calm herself. She had to keep her cool to make her plan work. The phone rang and she stared at it. Ashley had never told her not to answer the phone. Who knew what she might learn if she took a message? Paula picked the receiver off its cradle in midring. “Hello.”

“Hello, this is Joan Armsworth from the Department of Rehabilitation. Is this Ashley Bristol?”

Grabbing hold of the opportunity, Paula didn’t hesitate to take it. “Yes. This is Ashley. Thank you for calling me back. However, I won’t be needing your services. I found someone to help me out. But thank you so much for returning my call.”

“Of course. Don’t hesitate to call us in the future if you need any assistance.”

“I won’t.” Paula’s heart rate picked up a few notches. “Thanks again. Bye.” She hung up the phone, elation and accomplishment buzzing through her veins as she paced the kitchen. She had Ashley in the palm of her hand.

She heard a giggle, looked up and saw Mel and Ashley lingering at the backyard gate. She couldn’t hear what they said, but as Ashley came through the gate, Mel smacked her ass. Ashley shrieked and laughed and Paula’s mood changed instantly.

Hot anger exploded in her chest. Ashley Bristol would not take Mel away from her! Ashley didn’t know what she had in front of her so she clearly didn’t deserve him. Mel hadn’t even been in his house a full month. How the hell had they gotten so friendly with each other anyway? The questions and possibilities swirled in Paula’s head and frustration brewed fresh.

Again, Paula paced the tile floor and looked around. She swung a low step stool close to the kitchen door, took the eggs out of the grocery bag and grabbed the roll of paper towels. Ashley’s footsteps drew closer and Paula opened the carton, dropped an egg and got on all fours as she began cleaning it up.

The sand room door opened and Paula’s heart ticked along quicker. Footsteps came closer. Almost there… She heard the yelp and tumble and spun around. Ashley was on the floor, swearing up a storm.

Success!

Paula jumped to her feet and ran to Ashley. “Oh, my God! Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?” She knelt next to her. The noise brought Roamer in through the dog door and he sniffed the scene.

“Dammit, I’m fine,” Ashley said, sitting up and testing her arm. She looked pissed as hell and Paula held back a grin. “What the hell was the stool doing in front of the door?”

“Oh, God, that was totally my fault.

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