Love Is for the Birds

15. Jack

“IF I’M GOING TO MAKE ENOUGH CANDY FOR A CONCERT , I better get started.” Teddy scooted back from the table and stood. “Five thousand people?”

“I’m guessing,” Jack said.

A man would have to be dumb as dirt—or one foot in the grave—not to notice how Teddy filled out a pair of jeans. Her auburn hair gleamed in the lights, and her lips held just the perfect amount of pout. She’d even added a touch of color to her lips. Whatever she used made her lips scream, “Kiss me.” On top of that, her sleeveless blouse allowed tempting peeks at her breasts and lacy bra. He wasn’t about to give up on her. He knew more than one way to bait a hook.

He rose and touched her elbow. “A word.” Unless he misread the signals, Teddy was rethinking her two reasons for not dating him.

They stepped out onto the parking lot and walked over to a sidewalk on the bay. The halyards of sailboats clanked against their masts and water lapped on the boats.

Teddy glanced back at Dot’s. “I’ve really got to get going.”

He searched her eyes for a hint of affection. “I don’t mean to push too hard.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s just, I don’t know what to do with my life. For five years, I’ve been keeping busy because busy is the only way to get my mind off Angela.” He put his arms on Teddy’s shoulders. “But then I met you. For the first time since Angela died, I feel like I can move on. You feel something for me, too. I know you do. You’re denying it?”

Teddy shook her head. “I feel like you’re saving the town and saving the girl because you couldn’t save Angela.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. If she were a man, he would have walloped her. She spoke the truth, of course. But more than that, he wanted to kiss her, to press her beautiful body against his and be a lover again. She could be right about his savior complex and wrong about the future. “What makes you an expert on my feelings?”

“Woman’s intuition.”

“So, you don’t feel this thing between us? Not at all?” He reached out to a tress of her hair and twirled the curl around a finger keeping his eyes steady on hers. “Tell me.” Jack stepped closer.

“I want to, but . . .”

Warm breath passed from her lips.

Her eyes gleamed. He dared not move. This would prove to Teddy that he could forget Angela. He felt Teddy sensed this energy between them.

“Something is happening between us,” he whispered in her ear.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That real Teddy inside you wants me. You’ll see.” Jack brushed his lips against her.

“Yo, Tedster, you leaving without me?” Walt sidled up next to Teddy. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Definitely.” He clenched his fists and glared at Walt.

“Sorry about that, my man. You’re not wasting any time with Teddy now that Bachelor Number One is out of the picture. I admire your style.” Walt put his hands against his chest as if holding a pair of suspenders. “Just the way I would play it.”

Teddy kicked Walt in the shin.

“Ow,” he hopped on one foot. “That’s my surfing leg.”

Teddy stared at Walt frostily, then shared the same stare with Jack. “I need to get going.”

“Now hold on, I wanted to talk to Jack about the concert.” Walt put a hand on one of Jack’s shoulders. “It turns out I play a mean guitar. Since you and Ace are bros, how about you ask if I can play a song with them? I wouldn’t expect to play lead, of course.”

Jack tried containing his grin. “Of course not.”

“You know how they always have a big finale and bring everyone on the stage? Maybe I could get in on some of that action.”

Jack turned to Teddy for help, but she merely laughed. “Don’t look at me.”

“Tell him, Tedster. You’ve heard me play.”

“I don’t think they’ll be playing The White Stripes at this concert,” Teddy said.

“If I can play that, I can play anything.” Walt strummed some air guitar.

Teddy strummed back. Jack should have kissed her when given the chance. Now, he wouldn’t be able to think of anything else.

“He really is quite good.” Teddy gave Jack a nod and a thumbs-up. “Now, I, we, really must go.”

“I’ll do what I can, Walt,” Jack said. If he could get a little gig for Walt, Teddy might be impressed.

“Fantastic.” She grabbed Walt’s arm, and they rushed off. Jack ran after them. “I’ll be over tomorrow to help with the candy.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have plenty of help.”

“Admit it.” Jack shouted after her. “You do have feelings for me.”

He heard Walt say, “Give him a break, Tedster.”

Teddy remained a mystery. With Daniel out of the picture, Jack figured things with Teddy would move right along. But it’d only been one day since she’d broken up with Daniel. At one time, just a few weeks ago in fact, Teddy would have been right about Angela, that he would never be able to let her go. But things changed when he met Teddy. Long buried passions kept bubbling up out of those empty spots in his heart. He thought he’d never love again. Now, he thought he just might have a chance. If he could just let the past be past. He considered himself blessed to have loved Angela. She would want Jack to move on. God help him, he would move on with Teddy.