Fair Catch (17 page)

Ellie immediately left for the Stewarts’ house. “I’ll be right over.”

By the time she got next door, Betsy and Owen were ready to leave. At least with her current worries, Betsy didn’t even ask about Ellie’s dinner date with Nick. The last thing they needed to worry about was Ellie’s problems. Maybe by the time Betsy returned, Ellie would clear things up with Nick.

She just wished her ex-husband wasn’t coming in the morning.

* * *

“Guess what, sweetie?” Ellie asked Cade as she washed his face the next morning. “Daddy’s decided to come and see you early.”

“Where’s Daddy?” Cade bounced up and down, making it impossible to remove the strawberry milk mustache.

“He just called and should be here any minute.”

Ellie hated seeing Thomas, but since he was the father of her child, it couldn’t be helped. At least he wasn’t around all the time. She couldn’t handle seeing him on a regular basis.

Cade raced through the house to the front door. “Is he here yet?”

He tried opening the door, but the extra security lock up high was engaged. “Let’s look out the window to see.” She reached for his hand. When she looked out the window, she noted Nick’s SUV was not parked in his driveway. He’d mentioned he would be in Denver most of the day. She was so afraid he would never call her again.

The dinner date had been so wonderful that it had been difficult falling asleep last night. If she could do it all over again, things would’ve ended differently. If she kept pushing Nick away, he might get tired of waiting for her and move on to greener pastures and more willing dates.

She sighed, knowing that wasn’t fair of her to think like that. He wasn’t all about the physical stuff. He didn’t push things when she knew other guys would have. Still, if he’d been a little bit more assertive, she wouldn’t have fought him too hard.

A flashy sports car pulled up in front of her house. Leave it to Thomas to rent such a non-family vehicle. Cade saw the car and started jumping up and down again. “Daddy! He’s here.” He raced for the front door.

Ellie watched Thomas climb out of the car and noted how drastic his appearance had changed from their wedding pictures she had tucked away. His naturally bleached blond hair was shaggy and artistically messy as if he was trying to look younger. His face was tan, and even though it was childish, she couldn’t wait for the day when he was wrinkled from all the sun. She really needed to work on her evil thoughts when it came to Thomas.

Watching him look around, she wondered how she could have ever been attracted to him. Compared to Nick Coulter, Thomas was like—

She stopped, remembering she was working on her evil thoughts.

“Mom,” Cade cried out. “Open the door.”

Bracing herself, she unlatched the lock, allowing Cade to escape. “Daddy!” He ran pell-mell for Thomas.

To his credit, Thomas picked up their son and hugged him tightly. She hated how much Cade looked like his dad. Slowly, she made her way outside. Thomas held Cade, but his eyes were on Ellie. He looked her over slowly and gave her an approving smile.
Ick!
When he finished, she felt like she needed to take another shower. His obvious approval confused her. Thomas usually made it clear how glad he was to be rid of her.

“Ellie, you look good.” His eyes roved freely again.

“Cade, do you want to show Daddy your new transformer?” She didn’t want to be one of those adults who used her kids to talk to the ex-spouse, but it was going to be so hard to have to talk to the man.

“Come on, Daddy.” Cade took his father’s hand.

Thomas crouched down and smiled at Cade. “Why don’t you go and get it ready and then Mommy and I will come in and see it, okay?’

“Okay.” Cade took off for the house.

Thomas sauntered over toward Ellie, and she had to make herself stand right where she was. The instinct was to turn around and run away very quickly. He still looked her over, giving her chills, but not the good kind.

“I like your hair. It makes you look sexy.”

Did she just throw up in her mouth? What was his problem?

“Have you been drinking?”

Thomas laughed. “No. Come on, El, can’t a guy give his wife a compliment.”

Okay, he had a head injury. “Ex-wife, Thomas. Remember the divorce papers you filed?” Need she remind him of the affair he’d been carrying on with another woman while she was carrying their child?

He didn’t comment and looked at Nick’s house. “Looks like someone finally bought the place.” During the last visit, he had teased Ellie about buying the house across the street.

“Yeah, my new neighbor moved in a couple of weeks ago.”

He raised an eyebrow. “
Your
new neighbor?”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “He just moved in, so that would make him my new neighbor.”

“He? Is
he
single?”

Was that jealousy she detected? If he actually knew who the neighbor was, he wouldn’t act jealous. Thomas had made it clear that if he didn’t find her desirable, no other man would either.

Ellie blushed. “Yes.”

“Have you met him?”

Do I need to answer that?
“Thomas, we attend the same church, so yes, I’ve met him.”

Thomas seemed to consider this. “Hmm, rich and a church goer. I’ll bet you like him.”

Thankfully, Cade came running out of the house with his transformer. “Dad, look at my new Optimus Prime.”

Thomas crouched down to look at the new toy. “Cool. Did you see the movie yet?”

Cade turned his mouth into a pout. “No. Mommy won’t let me see it.”

Thomas slid a glance at Ellie. “He can’t watch Transformers?”

She didn’t have to justify to him. “It’s violent, and he’s four.”

“Mommy says when I’m thirteen I can watch it.” Cade didn’t actually know how far off that was, and Thomas better not tell him.

“Well, maybe I can talk to Mommy and we can figure something out so we can watch it.” He tousled the little boy’s hair and stood up.

Cade grinned. “Can we ask Nick to come and watch it with us?”

Ellie felt the blood drain from her head, making her dizzy. She wished Cade wouldn’t have mentioned Nick’s name, especially in the familiar way he said it. She prayed he wouldn’t mention the fact that they had already watched a movie with Nick.

Thomas stood up, a questioning look on his face. “Nick?”

“He…” Ellie started to explain, but Cade broke in.

“Nick lives over there.” Cade pointed at the stone house across the street. “He played football with me.”

“Oh really?” Thomas’s eyes lit up. “Nick Coulter is your new neighbor? I heard he had moved to Colorado.” He glanced back at the house. “Seriously? He really moved in across the street?”

Ellie swallowed hard. “Yes.”

Thomas eyed her curiously. “You’ve played football with him?” His tone was laced with envy. “What else have you done with him?”

Um, fallen in love with him?

She drew in a deep breath. “I didn’t play football. Betsy and Owen had the neighbors over for dinner to help make him feel welcome.” She glanced over at Cade. “He played catch with Cade while I visited with Betsy.” Thomas didn’t need to know she and Cade were the only other neighbors there.

He looked at her skeptically, then back to Nick’s house. “I’d like to meet him.”

“Thomas, I don’t want to impose on him.”

He looked at her intensely. She could see his wheels spinning. “Hmm, well maybe while I’m staying here I’ll get the chance.”

Staying here, as-in-
here
? Or did he mean Pleasant Wood? “What hotel are you going to be in?” She wanted to clarify that her parents’ house was not an option.

He raised an eyebrow. “Ellie, I came out early to spend all of my time with Cade.” He moved a little closer. “Technically, I do have joint custody and could take Cade with me to the hotel, but I know you don’t like to be away from him.”

Ellie glanced over to see Cade playing with his toy, not paying attention to his parents. “Thomas, you can’t stay here.” When it came down to it, Thomas wouldn’t want to take Cade to a hotel with him. He was single for a reason—having his son with him would hamper his animal instincts.

Thomas tipped his head to the side, like he was trying to be cute or something. “Why not?”

Because I might possibly kill you in your sleep
? “It’s not appropriate.”

He laughed. “Nothing’s gonna happen. Unless—” He moved close to her, a smirk still plastered on his face. “—You don’t think you can keep your hands off me.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. It was more like keeping her hands from clamping around his neck and squeezing. “What is wrong with you?”

Thomas threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, Ellie, I think I’ve missed you.”

What the heck
? “Thomas. You can’t stay here.”

Still smiling, he studied her for a few seconds. “Fine. I’ll get a hotel room. But I’m staying late and I’ll be back early the next morning.” He grinned, his tanned face crinkling at the corners. “I want to spend as much time as I can with Cade.”

Thanks for the warning
. “Okay.”

Cade saved her from further conversation by grabbing his dad’s hand and pulling him into the house to see his toys.

Ellie’s fingers gripped the door as she looked longingly across the street. If Thomas had stayed away, she would’ve probably invited Nick over again for smoothies and another movie night. She could only hope that once Thomas was gone, she and Nick could pick up where they had left off. If they shared another dinner date, she would make sure she got her dessert and a kiss goodnight.

A small sigh passed through her lips as she pulled back and softly closed the door.

* * *

Early the next morning, Thomas showed up. As Ellie pulled open the door, she saw Nick’s Denali parked in the driveway. She quickly invited Thomas in. “Cade is in the kitchen eating breakfast.”

Thomas sauntered past her, his trademark cologne hanging on the air. The scent made Ellie’s stomach revolt. It was hard to believe she had once found this man attractive. He looked back over his shoulder. “Mind if I watch the news?”

“Go ahead.” Ellie was relieved she could clean up the dishes without Thomas hovering nearby.

She took her time getting to the kitchen, listening as Thomas greeted Cade. He sounded so normal and like a perfectly decent father, admonishing Cade to finish his breakfast and drink all his milk. She wondered if Cade would resent his father one day. How could he not when Ellie harbored so much animosity for the man?

Just as she stepped into the kitchen, Thomas hooted with laughter. “Would you look at that. Hey, El, your new neighbor’s on TV.”

Ellie’s hand fluttered to her stomach as she walked into the family room to see Nick on the television screen. He was dressed in a yellow polo and sat next to the current Miss Colorado. The camera captured the couple talking and laughing in the intimate setting. The caption below named an exclusive restaurant in Winter Park.

Had Nick been on a date with Miss Colorado? He never mentioned that his meeting was with a gorgeous brunette. Here she thought he’d only been golfing. Was Miss Colorado the reason Nick stayed in Winter Park an extra day?

“Man, I can’t believe how lucky that guy is. He’s older than me, and look at the women he gets to date.” Thomas’s voice dripped with envy. “I have got to meet this guy. Maybe he can hook me up with her runner-up.”

Ellie couldn’t reply, unable to tear her eyes away from the television. What a fool she had been. Why would Nick want her when he could have the perfect beauty pageant winner?

When the story ended, Thomas stood up. “Well, since you’re not going to introduce me. I’m going to do it myself.” He looked down at their son. “Cade, do you want to come with me to see Nick?”

Cade jumped up and down. “Yeah, I like Nick.”

Thomas quirked an eyebrow. “Sure you don’t want to come with us?”

She shook her head. “No, go ahead.”

After they closed the door, she rushed to the window and watched Cade and Thomas cross the street. She let out the breath she had been holding and closed her eyes with relief. The Denali was no longer parked in the driveway.

Chapter Fourteen

Adjusting
the navy blue ball cap on his head, Nick waited in line at the Subway drive-through after ordering a breakfast sandwich. There were a few cars ahead of him, leaving him time to call Ellie.

Yesterday, he had left her alone, figuring she had enough to deal with. Plus, he had had meetings in Denver. But today, he didn’t care if her ex was at her house. He was calling her.

He knew how Ellie felt about her ex-husband, but when Nick woke up this morning and saw the stupid red sports car sitting in Ellie’s driveway, irrational thoughts of jealousy crowded out his reasoning. What if having her ex-husband around made Ellie want Thomas back in her life?

Nick took the hat off and slapped it back on his head. He wasn’t going to let that happen. His car inched forward as he pulled out his phone and dialed Ellie’s number.

She answered after a few rings, her voice sounded strained.

His fingers tightened around the phone. “Hey, do you have a minute to talk?”

He could hear Cade laughing in the background. “Yeah,” Ellie said in a quiet voice. “Hang on a second.”

After a moment of silence, he heard her clear her throat. “Uh, what did you need?”

Huh?
“I just wanted to see how you were holding up.” The way she spoke made him feel like they were back at the first quarter.

“Fine. I’m doing fine. How are you?”

The car in front of him moved ahead a space and Nick let his foot off the brake. She sounded anything but fine. “I’m okay. I just miss you and wanted to see you.”

He heard a gasp. “You want to come over to my house?”

“Or we could go out, especially if Cade is with his dad.”

She let out a big breath. “Uh, Thomas…well, he won’t like it.”

What?
Did this guy have some kind of hold over her? “Why? Did he threaten you or something?”