Chapter 3
three
Teddy poured Erina a drink, planning tea for himself. She’d already unpacked in the guest room, making herself comfortable with her heels kicked off, legs tucked under her on the sofa while Smudge sprawled on the cushion next to her to accept her scratches.
Teddy would have wondered how she could wear such tall and deadly weapons each day, but a dancer’s feet were made of tougher material than most people’s.
“You could have warned me,” he said from the kitchen.
“You would have told me not to come.”
“And you would have come anyway.”
“So why bother? Neat, please,” she said when he turned to the fridge to grab ice for her whiskey. Teddy always kept a few staples stocked in his liquor cabinet even though he rarely indulged.
Returning to the living room with the whiskey and his steeping tea, Teddy sat opposite his sister and handed her the drink. Smudge sniffed after it but deemed it unworthy to disturb his backrub.
“Don’t you have a show to prepare for, Dulcinea?” Teddy said.
Don Quixote was one of the most famous ballets of all time, and Erina was set to play a pivotal role in the city’s upcoming performances—choreographed by Stewart Hartley.
Teddy was surprised Hartley hadn’t used that against him yet in any of his text messages.
He could admit that mixed with the pride he felt for Erina’s talent and fame was a shade of jealousy.
“Exactly why I’m here. This is my last chance to have fun before the Spring Season turns my schedule into a nightmare. When else was I going to visit? And don’t say never,” she rushed on, “you big grouch. You’re lucky Mother wasn’t up for the trip.”
Teddy didn’t dare say that Erina was far worse than their mother. She knew to give him space.
Out in the open on the coffee table, his phone buzzed with a text.
From Finn.
Hey! Let me know if we need to keep it down. You’re welcome to join us if you want.
Finn had people over again. If Teddy strained his ears, he could hear the thud of bass filtering over from next door, but only faintly.
“Who’s that?” Erina asked with a curious head tilt.
Nope. Not happening—even if Teddy had been thinking about Finn ever since leaving his appointment that day and still needed to apologize for being an asshole. He couldn’t do that over text, though.
“No one. Just my calendar reminder for physical therapy on Monday. I assume you’ll be gone by then?” He shot off a quick response without making it obvious that he was texting.
Pretty beat so headed to bed early. You kids have fun.
Why had Finn even invited him? Wasn’t he deterred by Teddy’s earlier outburst? Or was he just being nice? Regardless, Teddy couldn’t give into his curiosity—or his libido—with Erina around.
Finn texted back:
Sleep well.
“Teddy.” Erina reached across the sofa, startling him with a pat on the knee. “Be a good host or I’ll never leave. Now, tell me absolutely everything I’ve missed.”
Teddy managed to avoid saying anything about Finn, other than that he had a nice enough neighbor who didn’t annoy him and that he liked his physical therapist fine. She didn’t need to know they were the same person.
Sadly, the next morning, Erina’s presence was proven to not be a nightmare. She was rummaging in Teddy’s kitchen.
“Teddy,” she said, hands on her hips after letting the refrigerator door shut, perfectly polished and coifed for the day without a speck of makeup out of place, “you don’t have any food in this house. Other than garbage.” She waved the can of spray cheese at him.
“I have food,” he protested.
“Not breakfast food.”
“There’s coffee.” Usually that was all Teddy required, maybe with toast or a banana, but that wasn’t up to Erina’s standards, apparently.
“Get ready. We’ll find a bakery or diner so you can show me around town. Or are you too embarrassed to admit you haven’t explored at all since you’ve been moping?”
Teddy’s eye twitched. “It’s called recuperating. Relaxing. Sitting on the beach with a good book.”
“Moping. Aren’t you lucky I’m here?” She tossed her long curls over her shoulder.
“Brat,” he mumbled as he turned around to get dressed.
“Bitch,” she called right back.
This time, his mouth twitched. She always managed to wrangle a smile, even when she was driving him crazy.
No, he hadn’t explored the town much. He knew the beach, the health center, and the grocery store. The cute little mom-and-pop shops with village charm hadn’t been a priority.
Erina made quick work of that, googling “bakery,” selecting one with the highest star rating, which happened to be closest, and bringing them straight there. Not having to drive was a treat, and since Teddy hadn’t had his coffee yet, he elected to forego contacts and wore his glasses.
Small Miracles Bakery was situated among several other shops along a quaint street. There was a bustle of bodies inside, but even so, a handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes took the time to shout a greeting from the front of the store.
“Good morning! Be right with you.”
Teddy and Erina got in line, leaning around the crowd of Saturday morning pastry shoppers to see what was offered.
The array of baked goods and the smell of toasted items, including something savory—egg, bacon, and cheese for sure—stirred Teddy’s stomach to hunger.
They hadn’t eaten much last night, merely snacked and talked until Erina gave him leave to go to bed.
“Welcome to Small Miracles Bakery,” the man said when it was their turn.
“Love the name,” Erina gushed.
“My uncle used to say there are no coincidences, only small miracles you’re meant to take advantage of. What can I get for you two?”
“That one is mine!” A familiar voice rang out before Teddy could answer, drawing his attention to a doorway into the kitchen just as Rose came out of it.
Followed by Finn.
How?
“Teddy!” Finn exclaimed through a mouthful of pastry, having been trying to steal a second one from Rose.
“What are you doing here?” Teddy asked, more accusingly than intended.
“Blaise is my brother-in-law.” Finn gestured to the man behind the counter. “Perks of nepotism means I get to taste the new creations. Want a wild berry and cream cheese pocket?” He held out Rose’s pastry, but she reclaimed it with a smack to his arm.
“Who’s this?” Erina asked, casting a smile between them like she’d stumbled upon some great secret—which she had.
“Oh, sorry! I’m Finn,” Finn said, looking effortless and adorable at any hour, which was horrific enough when Teddy was wearing glasses and whatever else he’d thrown on that morning without Erina getting involved, “and this is my sister, Rose, and her husband, Blaise.”
“You’re Teddy? I heard all about you—”
“Blaise,” Finn said hurriedly.
“I mean… uhh….”
“This is my sister, Erina,” Teddy saved them.
“Pleasure,” she said, extending a hand to shake Finn’s, then Rose’s, then flicking a little wave at Blaise. “I got in last night.”
“Are you staying long?” Rose asked.
“Only as long as I’m able. I have a ballet to get back to in the city.”
“You’re a dancer too?” Finn chirped.
“Prima ballerina. You know a lot about Teddy. How do you two—?”
Teddy quickly rose above the derailing conversation. “We’re holding up the line. May I have whatever smells like bacon?” He turned to Blaise.
“Egg, cheese, and bacon croissant,” the man recited cheerily. “With or without spinach?”
“With, please. And some coffee.”
“And a mocha for me,” Erina added, “large on both. And….” She eyed the bakery goods again.
“Why don’t I sneak you into the back for one of those pastries?” Rose waved her over. “If Blaise doesn’t mind?”
“Go on! I need varied opinions. Rose and Finn like everything I make.”
There was still a line forming behind Teddy, so he used the opportunity of their sisters disappearing to move out of the way after Blaise handed him his croissant, and a young woman at the coffee machine started making their drinks.
“Went to bed early last night, huh?” Finn whispered once they stood off to the side.
“Wish I could have. Rose seems lovely and meddling. Erina is just meddling. Coming over last night wouldn’t have been optimal.” Teddy took a bite of his croissant to distract himself—heaven.
“And you’re not interested, so….”
Then he nearly choked, enough to make him cough for several seconds afterward. “Are you?” he sputtered.
“You think I scare that easy? I’ve been nearly punched, cursed at, hexed once actually.
People in pain”—Finn hushed his voice, leaning into Teddy’s body—“in real agony and denial, trying to pull themselves up from something they can’t change, it’s tough, and sometimes they lash out.
That’s okay. I get it. It’s part of the job. ”
He really had the most tempting bow to his lips.
Teddy swallowed, still feeling a bit of flakey crust in his throat. “I don’t get why anyone would want that job.”
“No, you got to be the asshole to everybody else and they had to listen to you,” Finn said, smiling guilelessly.
“Me, I have to be patient because being an ass back to an ass just makes a bigger mess. Somewhere along the line, everyone needs to save themselves, but we can do better by lending a hand or an ear even when it’s not asked for. ”
Crap, he was incredible. Surreal, really.
He probably had bodies in his basement.
“Are you sure you’re not secretly a baby-faced fortysomething with that kind of wisdom?” Teddy asked.
“Nope, just twenty-eight. But I can see the appeal of a wise fortysomething.” He flicked his eyes down Teddy’s body and up again. “Love the glasses, by the way.”
Crap again. Though it was enticing, realizing he might not have ruined everything after all.
“This is amazing!”
Erina and Rose came back from the kitchen, effectively ruining the moment, and Erina paid for their breakfast and coffees at the register. They grabbed a table together, and Teddy couldn’t say he minded all that terribly.
“What are you two up to today?” Erina asked.
“Yearly tradition,” Rose said. “This weekend is all about brother-sister bonding.”