Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
B unny leaned against the closed bedroom door. Her hand pressed to her lips as if she could somehow preserve the warmth of Teddy’s kiss. Her heart was still racing, her cheeks flushed, and she couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. She waited for the guilt to creep in, for the shame of crossing a line she’d sworn never to approach.
None came.
All she felt was… giddy. Light. Warm. Like she’d just stepped out of the cold and into the coziest hug imaginable.
She was into her boss.
She was so into her boss.
The realization hit her like the snowstorm swirling outside. Except instead of dread, it brought a rush of excitement that made her want to laugh at herself. Teddy Carter—the man she’d spent years rolling her eyes at, second-guessing, and undermining—had just kissed her.
And oh, the man could kiss.
It wasn’t just that his lips were soft. Or that his hands had held her with a perfect blend of gentleness and possession. It was the way he’d made her feel. In that moment—had it just been moments? It had felt like they'd been kissing for hours. However long it had been, it had felt like they were the only two people in the world. Which, technically, they were, aside from the baby sleeping in the car seat.
Bunny's competition was an infant who drooled. But the more she thought about it, the more certain she became—there never had been any competition when it came to her and Teddy.
Her and Teddy.
Memories of little moments she’d never given a second thought flitted through her mind. The way she’d catch Teddy glancing at her during meetings, assuming that he was doubting her. The way his eyes lingered in her direction for just a beat too long before he’d quickly look away, making her think he was pitying her. The way he touched her—an accidental brush of their hands each time she gave him a speech. They'd zinged her, but she'd categorized those sparks as static shock.
Had Teddy Carter been pining for her all this time while she’d been too busy rolling her eyes and bristling at his leadership style to notice? Well, he wasn’t pining anymore. Her fingers drifted to her lips again. Teddy Carter had the hots for her—and he wasn’t hiding it.
Then her mind went to things she was hiding, like the un-filed paperwork for the after-school program sitting on her desk at the office. While she still believed the grant was the better path for the city’s future, she wished she’d reminded Teddy to sign those documents. If she didn’t, who would?
Her fingers twitched, itching to grab her phone and send herself a reminder. Except there was no signal here.
Bunny caught her reflection in the mirror across the room. The woman staring back at her looked… frazzled. Her hair was coming undone from its tidy updo, soft tendrils falling in loose waves around her face. She wore no makeup but had a bit of crust around her eyelids because she hadn't washed her face last night before going to bed.
And the outfit? A college T-shirt that smelled like Teddy’s detergent and a pair of borrowed sweatpants cinched at her waist. Not exactly date-ready, even if the "restaurant" was his kitchen island.
Bunny groaned at the state of her appearance. She raked a hand through her hair, and it got tangled. It wasn’t like she had brought anything with her to look her best. Her yesterday clothes were not going to cut it.
But maybe there was a solution. Her gaze drifted to the closet across the room. Did she dare?
She did dare. When she opened the closet door, the clean, woodsy scent that reminded her of cedar and citrus, faintly warm and masculine, hit her. She ran her fingers along the row of neatly hung shirts. Flannels in deep blues and greens, button-downs that were crisp but casual, and a couple of well-worn hoodies that she couldn’t help but smile at.
And then, her fingers landed on it—the perfect outfit for the night.
She pulled it out, holding it up against her body as she looked in the mirror. Twenty minutes later, she knew she'd made the right choice when Teddy dropped the wooden spoon on the kitchen floor. Spaghetti sauce splattered on the clean tile as he gaped at her.
Bunny tugged at the hem of Teddy’s white dress shirt. The soft cotton hung only low enough to brush her upper thighs. It wasn’t her usual idea of “date night” attire, but desperate times called for creative measures.
“How do I look?”
Teddy's mouth fell slack. His eyes were wide as they roamed from her tousled hair to the oversized shirt skimming her legs. The baby cooed, seemingly amused by the scene, but Teddy didn’t notice.
“You look good enough to eat.”
Dinner unfolded like the best first date Bunny had ever experienced. Teddy was charming and attentive, refilling her glass, serving her pasta with a flourish and keeping the baby entertained between bites. The baby gurgled happily, sucking on her fingers as if she were part of the fun.
The food was incredible, rich and flavorful. Teddy kept her laughing with stories about his first few weeks as mayor—particularly his disastrous attempt to balance the town budget with a flip chart and a marker.
After dinner, Teddy led her to the living room, where he popped in an old rom-com DVD. They sank onto the couch, Bunny curling her legs beneath her as the baby snoozed in her car seat nearby. Halfway through the movie, Teddy executed the classic “yawn-and-stretch” move, sliding his arm around her shoulders.
Bunny nestled against him. Her head came to rest on his shoulder. The warmth of his body seeped into hers. She felt completely at ease.
“We should name the baby,” she said into his collarbone.
“We should find her parents first—or at least a good home. Someone who can give her everything she needs.”
Bunny turned slightly, studying his face. “What about you? Would you want to be that person?”
Teddy was quiet for a moment, his gaze flickering to the baby before returning to her. “I do want kids. But not just any kids. I want to be the father to a particular woman’s children.”
Bunny's breath caught at his words. The air between them grew charged. It was just like it had been when they sat across from each other and he'd kissed the sense out of her. Her senses now made ready to flee.
Teddy leaned in, his eyes dropping to her lips.
Bunny tilted her head back to give him easy access to her lips, her throat, all of her if he asked. And then—a knock at the door.
They jerked apart as the sound echoed through the house, loud and insistent. The baby stirred, letting out a small, startled cry.
It was Teddy that managed to extricate himself from their tangle. He rose from the couch and strolled over to the door.
Bunny stood as well, moving to comfort the baby. She picked up the little girl, rocking her gently as she whispered soothing words.
The knock came again, louder this time. Teddy opened the door. His jaw dropped. When he managed to get his mouth working, the single word that left his lips was the biggest shock to Bunny in the last twenty-four hours.
“Mom?"