Chapter 16
16
Dex walked over with a glass of wine . “How you holding up?” he asked as he took the chair next to her.
Beth accepted the wine. So far she’d only carried hers around. She’d wanted a clear head through the dinner. But as they were nearly done with the meal and she would be leaving soon, she figured she would indulge in three sips and call it a night.
“Good,” she said, looking around at the post-dinner crowd. The kids were huddled around their dad, talking and laughing. Linnie was on Rick’s lap, smiling at him. An evening that could have been a disaster had gone surprisingly well. She’d gotten through the meal just fine. She’d talked to each of Teddy’s children and had, she thought, managed to avoid messing up.
“I’m the best friend,” Dex said casually. “So we should probably get to know each other.”
Beth looked at him and grinned. “If you’re the best friend, don’t you already know too much about me?”
He chuckled. “Less than you’d think. Teddy’s still at the stage where he wants to keep you to himself.”
She wasn’t sure how Dex had meant the statement, but to her it was everything she wanted to hear. It made her feel precious and important.
“You didn’t know about his past,” he said.
“The child acting?” She shook her head. “He never said anything. I mean, this is LA, and a lot of people have been a part of the business, but no, I didn’t have a clue. About either of you. I didn’t put the name thing together.” She looked across the table to where Teddy was laughing with his kids. “Now that I know, of course I can see the resemblance, but until I found out, I wouldn’t have guessed.”
“What do you think about the fact that he didn’t stay in acting?”
“I’m not surprised. He loves what he does. His patients are important to him.” Interesting that her brother and the man she was falling for both healed others. In different ways, of course, but the core mission was similar.
“You don’t want to be with someone famous?” he asked, his voice teasing.
“Not really my thing. I’m not a limelight kind of person.” She studied Dex. “You gave it up, though. And not because you had to. You walked away.”
Dex glanced at Teddy. “It’s his fault.”
“How?”
“I was best man at his wedding to Valonia. Watching them, seeing what they had, made me realize I wanted the same for myself. There was no way that was going to happen while I was living in a fishbowl. I had plenty of money, and I’d done what I set out to do, so I walked away.”
“How’s normal life?” she asked, wondering if he ever regretted his decision. She didn’t know Dex at all, but if she had to guess, she would say the answer was no.
“It’s good.”
“And Mrs. Right?”
He chuckled. “She’s out there. Of that I am sure.”
“I hope you find her soon.”
“Thanks. Me, too.”
* * *
The evening slowly wound down. Jana had to rescue Rick, who’d gotten roped into pushing both Orchid and Linnie on the swings.
“I’m fine,” he said with a laugh as she told both girls to leave him be. “It’s a good upper-body workout.”
“You have surgery on Monday. You can’t have sore arms because these two wouldn’t take no for an answer.” She looked at the girls. “Did you thank Rick for pushing you?”
Orchid and Linnie both grinned.
“Thank you, Rick,” they said together, then ran off.
“It wasn’t that bad,” he told her, pulling her close. “I like their company.”
“I’m glad.”
She stared into his eyes and thought that she’d gotten very lucky that first day they’d met. He was so sweet, and she liked being with him. Even better, he’d been great with all the kids. No snapping or over-monitoring. No hint that he was secretly a jerk like Paul.
“I’ve missed you,” he told her. “I’m sorry work’s been so difficult.”
“I’ve missed you, too. As for work—it’s important. And with only a couple more weeks in my quarter, I’m plenty busy myself.”
“But you still want to go away with me,” he clarified. “I’m going to start looking at hotels.”
“I can’t wait,” she told him. A weekend away sounded perfect, she thought. Just the two of them alone. No responsibilities, nowhere to be.
“Good. We’ll get something on the calendar in the next week or so.”
“Perfect.”
He released her and turned to where Orchid and Linnie were running around the table.
“She sure has a lot of energy,” he said.
“I think it’s all the excitement. Normally she’s a little quieter. She’ll crash soon, and I’ll put her to bed.”
“Does she ask about her father?”
The question was unexpected. She shook her head. “Not really. She knows she doesn’t have a father but nothing beyond that. Sometimes I wonder if she assumes he died. After all, her cousins don’t have a mother. But eventually she’s going to want to know more.”
“What are you going to tell her?”
Although his voice was gentle and she sensed Rick was only asking the obvious, she couldn’t help feeling judged. Or maybe she was doing it to herself. She’d been the one to party in Cancun and end up pregnant.
“Some version of the truth. I haven’t figured out exactly what that is yet, but I’ll get there.” She wanted to be honest, but didn’t want to give her daughter more information than she could handle.
He put his arm around her. “She loves you, and she’ll understand.”
Jana hoped he was right.
“How long did you and Dex go out?” he asked.
She stepped back and spun to face him. She was sure she looked like a cartoon character with big eyes and her mouth hanging open, but she couldn’t help it.
“What are you talking about? Dex and I never dated.”
Rick stared at her intently. “You sure?”
“I think I’d know if I dated someone. Dex and I are friends. I’ve known him most of my life. We’re family.” Was Rick worried about Dex? “There’s nothing between us, I swear. There never has been.”
Rick didn’t look convinced. “He has a thing for you.”
“Not possible.” Dex into her? Hardly. “I know he has the whole former star thing going on, and that can be intimidating, but you don’t have to worry. Dex is like another brother.” She moved close. “He’s not the one I’m interested in.”
She waited for Rick to relax and smile at her, only when he did, she couldn’t help thinking he was pretending rather than believing, which made her sad. Of all the things he could be worried about, Dex was absolutely not ever going to be a problem. There’d never been a hint of anything between them, and there never would be.
* * *
Beth hummed happily as she sliced mozzarella for the caprese salad she was preparing in her kitchen. Her good mood had lasted a full three days and showed no signs of ending. The weekend dinner with Teddy and his kids had gone really well. She’d gotten through the afternoon and evening without saying the wrong thing, the kids had been friendly, and she’d enjoyed meeting and hanging out with Dex.
Teddy had been just as pleased. He’d told her fifty times at their private evening the next night, and he’d been texting her regularly since, telling her how happy he was and how the kids wanted to know when they were going to see her again. While she was excited to hang out with them more, she was more excited about tonight—it was the makeup dinner for the one she and Teddy had missed when Orchid had been in her bike accident. Agatha was out with friends, Beth had a nice bottle of white wine chilling and she was more than ready for a little Teddy time.
She was happy, she thought as she continued her food prep. More than happy. She felt good and liked the changes in her life. Funny how they’d all started when she and Jana had become friends. Or rather, when she’d first signed up to work at the food bank. Taking a single step out of her comfort zone had brought her so many rewards. A wonderful friendship with a woman she admired and a new man who made her tingle in all the right places.
Teddy arrived ten minutes early and was looking a little sheepish when she opened the door.
“I couldn’t wait,” he admitted as he stepped into the house. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” she breathed, looking into his eyes and feeling all the happy bubbling inside of her. Neither of them mentioned they’d spent the day together less than forty-eight hours ago. It felt so much longer.
He pulled her close and lightly kissed her. Passion joined the happy bubbles, but she was used to the very insistent wanting that plagued her whenever he was near, so she stepped back, prepared to describe that evening’s menu. Only instead of retreating, he moved closer and kissed her again.
Rather than the carefully controlled brush of his mouth against hers, this kiss was intense and determined. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his body. She felt the hard planes of his muscles and the thick ridge of his erection. Need exploded inside of her, making her want to rub against him, to plead that they stop playing and make love for real.
He pulled back just enough to lean his forehead against hers.
“I know what I said,” he whispered, his voice thick with passion. “About us waiting and how it was important for us to get to know each other. It’s just that I want you so much. I can’t sleep. I’m not eating. I think about you all the time.” He looked into her eyes. “I need you, Beth. Is that all right?”
Oh. My. God! The man sounded desperate. He was practically pleading. Even if she hadn’t already been on fire for him, she would have been instantly ready after hearing his words. And yet—despite his obvious arousal, he was still waiting for her to voice her opinion. Because this would be a joint decision.
“Agatha’s gone, I’m on the Pill and I have condoms,” she said, meeting his gaze directly. Knowing how much he wanted her made her brave, and she reveled in the feeling. “And I’m more than ready to make love with you.”
His breath caught. Then he laughed. “I’ll let you lead the way.”
Thirty minutes later, Beth struggled to catch her breath. She wasn’t sure how to describe what she’d just experienced. She’d had orgasms before—lots of them. It was a biological reaction to physical intimacy. No big deal. At least, that was what she’d thought before. But with Teddy, everything was different. She was different. Instead of a slow build to a satisfying conclusion, she’d found herself rushing toward an impossible goal. She’d panted, she’d begged, she’d gotten lost in the sensations that had swept through her until she’d had no choice but to lose herself in the glory of a release that had shaken her to her very core.
Even as her pulse slowed and she could inhale normally, she had the strangest urge to burst into tears. Teddy returned from the bathroom, where he’d disposed of the condom, and climbed back into bed with her. He rolled onto his side so he was facing her and played his hand across her belly.
“Thank you,” he murmured, brushing a kiss against her still-sensitive nipple. “I knew making love with you would be special, but I wasn’t expecting…” He paused, then smiled. “That much chemistry.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” she asked, staring at him. “Because I don’t know what that was. How did you do that to me? Is it your fancy acupuncture training? The massage stuff? A deal with the devil?”
She pulled the sheet to her shoulders and sat up. “I’ve never felt anything like that before. I’m not kidding. It’s like I was doing it all wrong before.”
He sat up, facing her. “No deal with the devil. I promise. That was us, Beth. That’s how bright we burn together.”
“Was it different for you?” she asked, then shook her head. “Sorry. I’m not asking for a comparison. I guess I don’t know what I want to know.”
Which was only partially true. She supposed the real question was, had he felt it too, or was she in this alone? As she’d already used up her quota of bravery for the day, she wasn’t going to mention that.
He cupped her face and kissed her. “Yes, it was different. It was us connecting. It was perfect.”
The best sex ever? Which was another question she couldn’t or wouldn’t ask.
Until this moment, she hadn’t been troubled by his previous marriage. She understood how much he’d loved his wife and how devastated he’d been by the loss. Or at least, she’d thought she got it. Now she was less sure. Because her worldview was forever altered. Or maybe just shattered.
“I should start dinner,” she said, turning to slip out of bed. But Teddy touched her arm.
“Don’t,” he murmured, drawing her back to him. “Not yet. There’s so much more I want to do.”
As if to prove his point, he took her hand and brought it to his erect penis. Her eyes widened.
“Already?”
His smile turned knowing. “What did you think would happen?”
Before she could answer, he started kissing his way down her body. Her legs parted involuntarily, and her breath caught as he flicked his tongue against the very heart of her. It was very possible that him bringing her to orgasm this way would kill her, but what a way to go.
***
“Solvang?” Jana asked, staring at the picture on Rick’s tablet. “I’ve never been.”
“It’s fun,” he said. “Agatha and Dale took us one summer. It’s touristy, but in a good way. But we’d stay in the Santa Ynez Valley.”
He took the tablet from her and typed for a second, then handed it back to her. She looked at the picture of the Garden Suite at the Hotel Ynez.
The room was glorious. Big with a living room. She flipped through the pictures, then looked at Rick.
“There’s a fire pit and a soaking tub?”
He winked. “A private soaking tub. See? There’s a fence all around. No one can see us. I thought we’d go wine tasting and just hang out. If we leave Friday morning, we’ll be in Solvang by lunch. We can spend the rest of the day there, then go check in to our hotel. I could set up the wine tasting for Saturday. Sunday we’d have a leisurely brunch, then head home.”
He paused, suddenly looking anxious. “Is it too much? Did you want to make changes to the plan?”
His obvious worry and concern touched her. “Everything is perfect,” she told him. “I love the plan. It sounds like fun, and the hotel looks amazing.”
“Yeah?” He smiled. “Okay, good. When I talked to them this morning, they had a cancellation, so the room’s available in two weeks. I can get the Friday off work. What about you?”
Two weeks from now? She wouldn’t be done with finals, but she was doing well in both her classes and didn’t need extra time to study, which meant she could make that part of it work. Teddy had already said he would watch Linnie, so she didn’t have to worry about that. She liked Rick and wanted to spend time with him.
“Let’s do it,” she said.
Rick grabbed her and kissed her. “We’re really doing this. You’re going away with me!”
“You sound happy,” she teased.
“I am.” His smiled faded. “I mean that, Jana. I got the best girl ever.” He grinned. “Ah, woman. I mean woman.”
She laughed. “I know in that context, saying girl is just an expression. You’re not in trouble.”
His smile faded a little. “You’ve never been mad at me. Why is that?”
“You’ve never messed up.”
“I think about you a lot. I want to make you happy.”
“I want you to be happy, too.”
He smiled at her. “Of course I am. I’m with you.”