Theo got up to help.
He was filling the sink when the doorbell rang. Noah went to answer it.
Michelle put the bowls in the sink, then turned back to the table. Theo caught her around the waist and leaned down to nuzzle
her neck.
'What's going on with you?'
She wasn't sophisticated enough to play games or come up with a clever lie, and so she simply told him the truth.
'You're complicating my life.'
He turned her around to face him. She backed away, but he followed her and pinned her against the sink. 'You don't regret-'
'No,' she whispered. 'It was wonderful.'
She couldn't quite look him in the eyes and focused on his chin instead so she could concentrate on what she wanted to say to
him. 'We're both normal adults with healthy urges, and of course it's…'
'Healthy and normal?'
'Don't tease me. These urges…'
'Yeah, I remember the urges,' he said.
'We just can't keep on giving in to these…'
'Urges?' he offered when she suddenly stopped.
She found herself smiling in spite of her frustration. 'You're making fun of me.'
'Yeah, I am.'
She pushed him back. 'I'm not going to let you break my heart, Theo. Play your games with the big-city girls back home.'
He laughed right in her face. 'Big-city girls?'
'Will you be serious. I'm trying to tell you that we don't have a future together, so you should just leave me alone.'
He cupped the sides of her face and kissed her passionately, and when he lifted his head, he saw the tears in her eyes.
'Are you going to cry on me?'
'No.' The answer was emphatic.
'Good, 'cause I could have sworn I saw tears just now.'
'I had no idea you could be so mean. I'm trying to tell you to stop…'
He slowly shook his head.
Her eyes widened. 'No? Why not?'
His mouth brushed over hers again in a quick, no-nonsense kiss. 'You're a smart girl. You figure it out.'
Noah interrupted when he strolled back into the kitchen. He had a large FedEx box tucked under his arm and was carrying a
huge metal pan covered with foil.
'Theo, grab the box, will you? I found it propped against the door when I opened it. There was this lady standing there with
this Cajun fried chicken. She handed it to me and took off before I could thank her. She was a nervous little thing.'
'Did she tell you her name?'
'Molly Beaumont,' he answered. He set the pan on the table and began to unwrap the foil. 'Smells good.'
'Was there a card for Theo with the chicken?'
'No, she said you made the chicken, but the pan's hers and she wants it back.'
Theo was sitting at the table opening the box. Noah picked up a chicken leg and took a huge bite. Then he nudged Theo.
'You know what else Molly said?'
'What's that?'
'She asked me to tell Coach Buchanan, 'Hey.' Did you hear that, Theo? She called you Coach.'
'Yeah, I know. Everyone in Bowen calls me Coach.'
'Okay, so now I've got to wonder why,' he said.
Theo wasn't paying any attention to him. He finally got the box open and let out a low whistle. 'Nick came through,' he said. 'Playbooks.' He picked one up and thumbed through it.
'Football playbooks?' Noah asked with his mouth full.
'Yeah, I'll explain later. Michelle, you can ride to the clinic with Noah. He's spending the day with you.'
'He doesn't need to waste his time-'
Theo cut her off. 'He's going with you.'
Noah nodded. 'While you and your friends are organizing the files, I'll start the cleanup in your office. If there's time, I'll paint
the walls.'
'I'd be happy for your help, but-'
'Don't argue,' Theo said.
'Okay,' she agreed. 'I appreciate it, Noah.'
Then she turned to Theo and asked him what he was going to be doing.
'I've got a meeting with the Carsons and their attorney at one,' Theo said. 'I'll have to finish it by two-thirty because I promised Conrad I'd show up for practice at three. If you and Noah need a break, drop by.'
'The principal offered Theo a contract,' Michelle said, smiling now. 'He hasn't signed it yet.'
'You're making that up,' Noah said.
'I think Theo's holding out for more money.'
Noah was convinced the two of them were pulling his leg and was waiting to hear the punch line. 'Okay,' he said. 'We'll stop by. What time is practice over? I've promised I'd help tend bar tonight. I should be there by five.'
'I thought you were going to hook up with Mary Ann tonight,' Theo reminded.
'What do you mean, you're hooking up with Mary Ann?' Michelle asked.
Noah shrugged. 'She asked me if I wanted to get together later after her friend's husband picked her up, and I suggested that she stop by The Swan, and if I'm not busy-'
'She asked you to go out?' she asked, clearly surprised.
'Yes, she did. Why is that so difficult to understand? I'm a nice guy.'
'It isn't difficult to understand. It's just that she's… and you're… that is, you're very…'
Noah was enjoying her discomfort. 'I'm very what?'
The word 'experienced' came to mind along with about a dozen others. Noah was the kind of man who had women like Mary Ann for breakfast. Michelle realized she was being judgmental and that she could be wrong. 'You're…'
'Yes?' Noah prodded.
'Your friend has the hots for Noah,' Theo explained.
Noah nodded. 'Yeah, she does.'
'Oh, for heaven's sake,' she said, clearly exasperated. 'Just because Mary Ann was being friendly, you immediately jump to
the conclusion that she had the hots for Noah?'
Theo smiled. 'I didn't jump to any conclusions. Honest. Mary Ann said, and I'm quoting here, 'Hey, Theo, I've got the hots
for Noah. So is he married or what?''
Noah nodded again. 'That's about how it happened.'
The sad thing was that Michelle thought Theo might be telling the truth. Mary Ann did have the annoying habit of blurting out
