17. Hot Sexy Boyfriend

17

HOT SEXY BOYFRIEND

" S omeone has a boyfriend."

Kelsey looked at Kara who stopped to stand in her doorway with a vase of colorful flowers.

"I guess so," she said, leaning back smirking.

"These are for you," Kara said.

"As I said, I guess so."

Kara put a silly pout on her face. "How come we didn't know that? And how long has it been going on?"

"It's been about a month give or take," she said. She stood up to go toward the flowers. What a sweet thing for Van to do and totally unlike him. "I don't make a habit of announcing it."

"What dating site did you meet him on?" Kara asked. This was what she got for always talking about her shitty adventures in the dating world with some single coworkers.

"Actually," she said. "I met him the old-fashioned way."

"She called nine-one-one for help with Frankie," her mother said, coming close by. "And then ran into the operator not much later who recognized the name."

"Well, Mom," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "If you're going to tell the story for me, make sure it's right. Van was out jogging bright and early and Frankie took off running. I chased after him down the street barefoot shouting his name and my adorable little puppy ran into the arms of my now hot sexy boyfriend."

"I would have left out hot and sexy," her mother said, rolling her eyes.

"You better have. You've only got eyes for Dad and don't tell me he's hot and sexy. I don't need to gag after lunch."

"Don't be a brat," her mother said. "When you've been married as long as me I hope you think your husband is still hot and sexy."

"Well now," Kara said. "Let's see what this hottie says on his card."

Kelsey took the vase out of Kara's hand and put it on her desk, lifted the little card and read it, then frowned.

"What's wrong?" her mother asked.

"I have no idea who these are from," she said.

Her mother took it out of her hand and read, " Can't wait to meet you . That's weird," her mother said. "Are you still on your dating sites?"

"No! Once I went on the second date with Van I just knew he was it and deactivated them. Last week I took them all down permanently. I mean it's not like anyone could have seen them once they're deactivated. I have no idea who this could be."

"A secret admirer," Kara said.

"Obviously, but I don't want that. It's kind of creepy."

"I don't like this," her mother said. "Are you going to tell Van?"

"Of course I am," she said, then stopped to think. "Maybe not. He might get all macho about it."

"As he should," his mother said.

"Yeah, but considering what he used to do for a living, I'm not sure I want him worked up and all in my business."

"Kelsey," her mother said firmly. "If you don't tell Van then I'm telling your father and you know what could happen then ."

That might be worse. Her father would be calling Mac Bond, chief of police, followed by Griffin to do some checking.

"Don't," she said. "I'll deal with it. I'll call the florist and see if I can get any information."

"Smart," her mother said. "And still tell Van."

She sighed. "I will."

She put the flowers in the front by the reception area. They were pretty and would cheer the room up some, but she didn't want them in her office.

Her first thought was to toss them, but she figured this wouldn't hurt anyone either.

When she was back in her office, she looked up the number to the local florist on the island and called.

"Amore Island Florist, how may I help you?"

"Hi, this is Kelsey Raymond calling. I received a beautiful arrangement of flowers not that long ago. Just stunning. But the funny thing is, I have no idea who they are from and can't thank them properly if I don't get a name. Is there any way you can let me know?"

"There was no card with it?" the woman on the other line said. "We always put a card on it."

"Sorry," she said. "Maybe it fell off." She didn't like fibbing, but if she said there was one there they might not give her the answer.

"Let me look in our system. Please hold."

She waited on hold drumming her fingers for a full minute. "Hi, I'm still here," she said cheerfully when the woman came back. She wanted to start dropping swear words like lightning in the sky during a storm.

"We found your order. The note on the card stated that they couldn't wait to meet you."

"Hmm," she said sweetly. "That doesn't tell me who it is though."

"I'm sorry. You don't have any idea?"

"No," she said. "And you see, my father, being Kyle Raymond and all, he's liable to get worried and call the chief of police. You do know Mac and I are related, right? I wouldn't want him to get worried about it, but you know how fathers can be."

There was some silence on the other end. "Hold for a minute."

She started to drum her fingers even faster on the desk. She hoped the last part got her the answer she wanted.

"Hello," she said. "Still waiting."

"Thank you. This is Cora Baxter, the owner. I understand you're concerned about receiving flowers from a secret admirer."

"Yes, I am. In this day and age, it's not a good thing. I'd like to know who they are from if you can let me know."

"I'm sorry. It was purchased with a prepaid VISA card. People can put any name they want for something like that. It says, Mr. J. Doe."

Her shoulders dropped. "Urgh."

"Yeah. Unless you do know someone with that name," Cora said, "I can't be of much help."

"No," she said. "I don't. I appreciate you trying though."

"Not a problem," Cora said. "Tell your mother hi."

Kelsey frowned. Guess the only reason she got the information was because her mother knew the owner. Not any surprise to her.

"How did you make out?" her mother asked when she walked in five minutes later.

"Zero. Zilch. Nada. Paid with a prepaid credit card and put his name in as J. Doe."

"Not very original," her mother said. "Which of course would mean that no one else is going to be able to get that information either."

"Exactly," she said. "No reason to call Mac or Griffin. Tell Dad that. I know you're going to let him know about the flowers anyway."

"I will," her mother said. "And you better tell Van, because if you don't, your father might let it slip when he meets with Van next."

She pursed her lips. "I don't know if I like the idea of my boyfriend and Dad working together."

"Doesn't matter if you like it or not," her mother said. "It's a fact you can't change." Her mother moved in and sat down. "How are things going with the two of you?"

"Fine," she said. "You know Duke met him on Saturday night."

"I do. And I asked Duke and Hadley if we could find a time to have dinner together. Duke wants to meet him for more than a quick meal and I'd like that too. Duke said he could manage next Wednesday at five if you and Van can come."

"Van has to work," she argued.

"You said he gets out at three. Duke and Hadley have Wednesdays off. The least you can do is ask."

She let out another sigh. "I will," she said. "We are having dinner tonight."

Her mother snorted. "See, you can meet for dinner during the week, so that is no different than just doing it at Duke's. What's the big deal?"

"Mom," she said. "I told Van he's just like Duke. Maybe I don't want the two of them in the same room now."

Her mother started to laugh. "I didn't think of it that way, but you're right. From what you've said, Van and Duke are a lot alike. I know Duke liked him for the fact he didn't back down."

"I don't expect him to be the type to back down from anything," she said. "Even when he doesn't want to do something, he still will."

"Like learning about his grandfather's business?" her mother asked. "Your father said he seems very vested."

"It sounds that way," she said. "We haven't had a chance to talk a lot about it other than me explaining things. I think we are trying to keep that separate a little. I know he hasn't opened the envelope yet either."

"He will when he's ready," her mother said. "Barry was a complex man. You know that. You didn't see him other than occasionally. Your father knew him the best."

"I know. Barry was funny but moody. Dad always thought the moodiness was sadness. That he was lonely."

"I agree," her mother said. "But now you've got Van who knows none of that and has been told something completely different his whole life. To get the truth, he'd have to ask his father who he doesn't talk to. It makes me wonder if he'd even believe his father."

"Probably not," she said. "I guess in Van's shoes, it's a confusing and frustrating situation. The people he'd want to ask, he can't. He has to go by the clues and information left for him."

"That's right," her mother said. "So cut him some slack if he gives you a hard time on the flowers. Maybe he needs the distraction from the rest of events in his life."

"Oh boy. You think he's going to flip out?" she asked. It was the last thing she wanted to deal with. "I don't need some big bad ex-detective looking into my life for threats over some silly flowers."

"Just remember what I said," her mother said, then got up and walked out of the room.

"Shut my door please," she shouted.

Her mother walked back and grabbed the handle. "So you can pout in peace, I know."

She stuck her tongue out at the closed door.