Nope. Seeing Chad again, and her strong reaction to him, made it clear she’d neglected that part of her life for far too long. She wanted a real relationship. The kind that ended up with marriage and kids. But for that to happen, she needed to actually go on dates. And try to enjoy them.
Before she could chicken out, she sat across from Shelby, who was typing on her laptop in the dining area. Not sure if her friend was deep into writing one of her children’s books or working on her online dating business, Jo quietly cleared her throat. When she was in a book-writing zone, a bomb could go off and Shelby’d never hear it.
“Hey, Jo. Great crowd today.” Her fingers continued to tap away, while her eyes remained glued to the screen. “I heard we broke a sales record this morning.”
“Yeah. It’s why I really need to make this expansion happen. I’m going to bite the bullet and talk to my dad this afternoon. But, um . . . There’s something else.” Maybe she should wait to start dating again until after she got the restaurant financing nailed down. It might be too much to date and remodel at the same time.
An imaginary bawking chicken echoed in Jo’s ears, so she forged on. “Remember how you said when I was ready, you’d find me the right guy? I think I’m ready.”
Shelby’s eyes narrowed. “Would this sudden change of heart have anything to do with Chad showing up yesterday? Did you go home last night wishing you were married with two kids just to show him how you’ve moved on so nicely without him?”
“No!”
Shelby’s right brow spiked.
“Okay, maybe. So does the offer still stand?”
“Of course.” Shelby chuckled as her fingers danced across the keys again. “I think I’ll let Lori have a go with you first. In the meantime, I’ll fix up your old online profiles.”
“Thanks.” It made her stomach hurt a little to think about getting back out there. “So how’s it going, working with your new sister-in-law?”
“Good. Between her awesome matchmaking skills and my talent for online enhancement, we’re killing it. We’ll find you just the right guy.”
Because Shelby was a writer, “online enhancements” was code for the way she could make a troll sound fascinating and fun to be with.
“Thanks.” Jo reached into her apron and pulled out the ring box and a list of good PTs for Chad she’d compiled the night before. “Will you please give this back to Chad for me? And these other options for PTs?”
“Nope.” Without looking up from her screen, Shelby shook her head. “If you want to give the ring back, you’ll have to do it yourself. Chad wants you to have it. He said if you didn’t want it, go ahead and sell it for the money for the expansion. And he doesn’t want anyone but you to help him get better.”
Sell the ring? After he’d kept it for nine years?
It must be worth a fortune. A fortune financed by the love of his life. Football. No, he could just take it back.
She tucked the box and the list into her apron, not relishing another face-to-face with him. “Fine. But why didn’t you tell me Chad’s father had passed away?”
“You can’t have it both ways, Jo.” Shelby slowly closed the lid on her laptop and sighed. “You said if I was going to remain friends with both of you, I needed to keep Chad’s business to myself. And I have. Until now. There’s one thing about Chad that I think you really need to know—”
“Stop!” Jo threw a hand up. “The less I know about him, the better.”
“But this is a really big thing, Jo.”
“Nope, don’t want to hear it. If it’s not bigger than Chad’s father dying, I don’t need to know.” She stood to get ready for the lunch crowd, but paused. “Chad’s mom is okay, right? I mean, health-wise and all?” She’d loved Chad’s parents with all her heart. They were the kindest, most generous people she’d ever met.
Shelby opened her mouth to answer, but then stopped and cut her eyes to the right.
Jo sensed his presence. Chad was standing right behind her.
His deep voice reverberated in her ear. “She’s having a hard time adjusting to life without my dad, but otherwise doing fine. Thanks for asking, Jo.”
She slowly turned and faced him. Her blood pressure threatened to hit stroke levels, but she’d promised herself she’d remain calm the next time she saw him. “I’m glad to hear it, but why are you here again? I thought I made myself clear yesterday. I won’t be your physical therapist, and I don’t want your money.” She dug the sheet of paper from her apron. “Here’s a list of some of the best PTs in Denver.”