The Trouble With Angels Page 0,29

the area as though looking for someone. "Do you happen to know a woman named Joy Palmer?"

"But of course."

"I need to talk to her."

Catherine's spirits lifted automatically. "You need to speak to Joy?"

"You might say we had a minor run-in the other night, and I wanted to reassure her everything's fine. She doesn't have anything to worry about."

"Run-in?"

"It's nothing, Grandma," Ted said, and patted her hand. "Before I look for Joy, tell me what's been going on with you."

"Well, the library committee met, and we've decided to hold a literary tea in order to raise money for a number of very good projects."

"When will that be?"

"A few days before Christmas," Catherine told him, but again she had the impression his mind wasn't on their conversation. She patted his hand. "I think Joy must be in her office," she whispered conspiratorially. "It's the first door to the left, off the hallway."

Ted grinned and squeezed her hand. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Take your time," Catherine said as she reached for her magazine once more. "I insist. I've got all the time in the world."

Catherine watched her grandson leave and couldn't help wondering about that gleam in his eyes. It had been a good long time since she'd seen it. He was up to something. She'd stake a batch of chocolate-chip cookies on that.

Ted didn't understand why he felt it necessary to personally relay to Joy the information about Blythe's car. His grandmother would have been happy to give her the message. The thing was, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about Joy Palmer since their little run-in.

She wasn't his type. That was a definite. He liked his women a little more sophisticated, a little more glamorous, a little more...like Blythe, he decided.

When he was with Blythe, heads turned. Ted liked that. His friends envied him because such a beautiful, distinguished woman loved him. Call him a male chauvinist or whatever the popular terminology was these days, but he didn't care.

Nevertheless, over the last few days he'd found himself smiling whenever he thought about the resident service director naming her car Edith. He chuckled when he remembered the way she'd gotten all feisty when it looked as if Blythe were going to insult her car.

That was the one problem he had with Blythe, Ted admitted. The woman just didn't seem to have much of a sense of humor. He hoped that would change in time.

Ted found Joy sitting at her desk, reading a letter, her brow furrowed.

"Hello again," he said, leaning against the doorjamb.

She glanced up in surprise. Her eyes were round and expressive, Ted noted. He liked that, too. One wouldn't need to guess what she was thinking; it was right there for him to read, plain as a page in a book.

"Hi." She stood and then seemed surprised to find herself on her feet. She sat down abruptly and stared up at him as if she weren't sure what to expect.

"May I come in?" Ted asked, enjoying her discomfort.

"Of course. I'm sorry." She motioned toward the only other chair in the room, as if he needed guidance.

Ted sat down, relaxed against the back of the chair, and crossed his legs. He hoped she'd take the hint. The woman was wired as tight as unwaxed dental floss. "I stopped by to let you know I had Blythe's car checked out with a body shop."

"Was there any damage?"

"None that he could see." Blythe hadn't believed it and had insisted on a second opinion, but there wasn't any need for Joy to know that.

"What about a mechanic?"

"Not yet, but I doubt there's anything to be concerned about."

"My dad runs a shop no more than three miles from here. If you want, he could look at the engine for you, and he'd do a good job."

Problem was, Ted would have a difficult time convincing Blythe of that.

"What about...your friend? I hope there weren't any lingering effects from the accident."

"No, she's fine." Blythe had complained of a headache, but it had disappeared by the following day - until he'd made the mistake of asking her about it. Then, all of a sudden, she'd seemed to be suffering from low back pains as well as intense headache. Soon afterward, she'd mentioned contacting an attorney.

When Blythe had first hinted at a lawsuit, Ted had thought she was joking. Only later had he realized she was serious. It irritated him that she would try to make much more of the incident, and his aggravation must