Foundation for Three by Vella Day Page A

take down Garrett. Well, that and the fact he shot me first. But with the way he was waving his gun, he could have shot her just to piss me off.” He dragged his good hand down his chin. “I know I scared the crap out of her by taking that shot when she was standing so close to him, but shit, it was my only chance. Didn’t need him getting off a second round.”
    “You shouldn’t feel guilty. You did what you had to. It was self-defense and all. She appreciates that. Trust me.”
    “Little good it will do us now.” Thad reached over for his Styrofoam cup and drank from it. “I’m curious. It may be a moot point, but what exactly did Zoey say after you told her we shared?”
    “Nothing. That was the problem. She just stared at me with her hands clenched. Everything from despair to what looked like indecision crossed her face. It was like she wanted to talk about it, but wasn’t ready to.”
    “Why didn’t you say you were kidding or something? You had to know she couldn’t possibly be in the right frame of mind. Hell. We never bring up the topic until we’ve both taken out the woman a few times.”
    “I know. I messed up. Ego, maybe. What can I say?” He put his thumb and forefinger a half inch apart. “But the tiniest part of me needed to know if she might be interested. She’s a beautiful woman.”
    “You’ve never been known for your patience, but Jesus, let’s get to know her first.”
    “You’re right.” He’d always taken things too fast.
    “I know what happened,” Thad said.
    This was going to be good. “What?”
    “When you spotted that long, flaming red hair, you figured I’d want to pursue her. You were just testing the waters for me.” Thad smiled.
    He knew all about Thad’s fiasco with his first wife and how it had been her red hair that had attracted Thad to Peggy in the first place. “I wish I could claim that.” Pete chuckled. “In case you have your blinders on, Zoey is the total opposite of Peggy.” Pete inhaled. “Zoey likes you, you know.”
    “As opposed to Peggy?”
    “Haven’t spoken with her. From the way Zoey was acting so distraught after you called, I’d say she’s interested.”
    “She might have been at one time, but she isn’t anymore I bet.” Thad closed his eyes for a moment. He then used his good hand to sit up straighter on the bed. “When we first met, we had this connection, but with what happened yesterday, she’ll keep her distance for sure. If she does stop by again, it’ll be out of guilt and nothing else.”
    Pete shrugged. “She’s out of your league anyway, bozo.” He wanted to put the conversation back on a lighter track.
    “You think so?”
    At his roommate’s intense comment, Pete leaned closer. He knew that look. “What are you thinking?”
    “I am a detective. Let me do a little investigating. We might be able to find a way to entice her. Find out what makes her tick.”
    That didn’t seem like a good idea. “Are the drugs messing with your head? No woman I’ve ever met appreciates a man going behind her back to find dirt. She’s perceptive. She’ll know.”
    “I didn’t say dirt.”
    Perhaps it was best to wait until Thad was healed before they talked about pursuing Zoey. “You said Jeremy shot someone?”
    Thad cocked a brow. “You know you suck at changing the subject?”
    “Always worked on you before, dude.” Joking with Thad helped take the edge off Pete’s mistake.
    That brought out a smile on Thad’s face, thank God. “The story’s the same old one.” Thad told him about the robbery and the subsequent shooting.
    “How did Jeremy handle it?”
    “He was shaken. It was his first time pulling the trigger and hitting someone.”
    Pete couldn’t imagine what that would feel like. Hell. He had to be the only man in all of Montana who hadn’t even killed a deer. “Is he okay now?”
    “He stopped by earlier. He’s a bit stunned. Turns out the thief he shot was Bobby Dench. Jeremy knew his older