CHAPTER EIGHT
T his seemed like such a good idea at the time.
Summer and Ivy stared down at the piles of wedding magazines open in front of them. They’d hijacked a table at Mickey’s for their planning session and were currently trying to decide the basics. Flowers, cake, and food.
When Ivy suggested coming over to make a start on planning, Summer had happily agreed. She needed the distraction. And to stop thinking about Teddy. Unfortunately, she hadn’t thought the whole planning in the bar thing through. Even though it was her day off, Teddy was working the day shift and she hadn’t missed the frequent glances in her direction. It was distracting. He was distracting.
And, damnit, the man could kiss. There could be an alien invasion happening around them, but if Teddy’s mouth was on hers, she knew without a doubt she wouldn’t know or care. The real doozy though was the revelation that he’d been just as gone for her as she’d been for him. Neither of them had said anything though or made a move. The whole Becky and Colt thing didn’t exactly help, but they weren’t to blame either. This whole screwed-up mess was on them.
“So ... you gonna tell me what’s happening between you and my brother?” Ivy piped, interrupting her Teddy-filled thoughts.
“What?”
“You know what, Summer. You’ve both been making googly eyes at each other for the past hour. Now spill.”
For God’s sake.
Summer took a sip of her Coke before shooting Ivy a glare. “We have more important things to talk about, Ivy. Like, say, a sit-down meal versus a buffet-style spread. Have you decided what you’d like yet?”
She watched as her friend sassily flicked her braid over her shoulder. “Fine. Buffet-style spread. Now, stop changing the subject and tell me what’s going on with you and Teddy?”
Summer let out a sigh before relenting. She knew Ivy well, and the woman was not going to let this go. “If you must know, we have a date tonight.”
Ivy let out a little squeak. “I knew it! I frigging knew something was going on. Oh my god, I’m so excited. You’re already like a sister to me ... but if you and Teddy got married, then you really would be my sister!”
“Jesus Christ, Ivy, Teddy and I are not getting married! It’s one date. Our first date. Can you not marry us off just yet, please? The last thing I want is for you to get your hopes up and it doesn’t work out between us.”
Or I get my hopes up and it ends up falling apart like all my other relationships.
“Oh, I already know things are gonna work out. You and Teddy are meant to be. You always have been.”
Summer could feel her face contorting. It was more than likely displaying a what the hell are you talking about expression.
“Don’t look at me like that. You two have been circling around each other for years, and don’t even try to deny it. You’ve both liked each other for a long time, but you’ve both been either too stupid or too stubborn to do anything about it.”
There was really nothing to say to that. Summer wisely decided not to argue. “Now that you’ve got that off your chest, can we talk about the flowers?”
Ivy groaned and dramatically flopped her head down onto the scratched wooden table. “They all look the same,” she whined. “I like blue, just choose some blue ones for me.”
Summer could do that. Blue it was.
***
S ummer really shouldn’t have been surprised that a date with Teddy would be unlike any other she’d had. Yet, she was. She still had no idea where they were going, but it was safe to say, it definitely wasn’t to dinner and a movie.
They’d already driven further into the woods than could be considered socially acceptable for a first date. If she had been with anyone else, she would be calling the cops right about now. She wasn’t an idiot. This was exactly how those serial killer shows started.
The long drive was also giving her time to think. And that wasn’t a good thing. Her messed-up mind was high-fiving her one minute for bagging a date with Teddy McCallen, and then listing all the reasons that this wasn’t a good idea the next.
Summer snuck another look over at Teddy; he looked hot, even more so than usual. He’d exchanged his usual flannel shirt for a black button-down and rolled his sleeves up to reveal the black ink on his forearms. She still hadn’t gotten a good look at all his tattoos or even asked how far up they went. Of course, the best way to check would be an up-close-and-personal inspection. That sounded like a good time. Teddy McCallen shirtless. Okay, now she was squirming in her seat.
“Do I wanna know what’s put that look on your face, doll?”
Busted.
It was official. The burning she felt on her cheeks meant only one thing: her face was flaming. Even being caught red-handed didn’t deter her dirty mind. At this point, it was safer to stay quiet. She didn’t have a smartass retort. Or an innocent explanation. There was only filth lingering on the tip of her tongue.
What in God’s name is wrong with me? Actually, don’t answer that.
She really needed to get her mind out of the gutter and give herself a good talking to. This wasn’t okay.
Teddy’s deep chuckle had her head snapping back toward him. “Fuck, you’re cute.”
Cute? Since when did she become cute? She supposed Teddy wasn’t used to seeing her blush. Or at a loss for words. But that’s who she was now. She’d changed a lot in the years since they’d known each other. The past year had been especially brutal. Her confidence had definitely taken a nosedive, that was for sure.
Needing to steer the conversation into safer territory, she cleared her throat and managed not to say anything dirty. “You gonna tell me where we’re going yet? Also, will there be food there?”
Another rumbly laugh echoed around the truck’s cab. “You hungry, dollface?”
“Uh, yeah. I need to eat three meals a day, Teddy. It’s basic biology. They don’t teach you that at SEAL school?”
“Nah, I think I missed that one at BUD/S. I didn’t miss the other biology classes though. The more advanced ones. I’d be happy to give you a demonstration of what I learned later?”
She smiled at that. “Are you gonna ask if you can unzip my genes next?”
A bark of laughter ripped through him. “No. But I might ask if you wanna decrease your dopamine and increase your prolactin together.” He glanced her way and gave her a cheeky wink. She couldn’t help but laugh right along with him.
She liked seeing him like this. He was so relaxed. Chilled. Like he offered up biology-based sexual innuendos on the daily. There was also the advantage of his gaze remaining fixed on the road ahead, giving her a chance to shamelessly ogle him without being caught.
“You’re such a nerd.”
“Yup.” His grin was infectious. Everything about him was.
Yeah, I’m screwed.
A few more nerdy puns later, they were pulling off onto a dirt road. Other than someone’s house up ahead, they were surrounded by nothing but fields. As they got closer, realization set in. This had Teddy’s name written all over it.
“Oh my God.” She turned to look at him as he parked up. “You did it. You’re building it.”
Engine off, he twisted to face her, excitement glittering in those green eyes. “You remember?”
How could she forget? A cabin in the middle of nowhere. The ultimate dream for any dedicated introvert. Summer and Teddy had spent hours together detailing their perfect hideaway. It would have to be in the middle of nowhere. A cross between a cozy log cabin and a traditional farmhouse. She’d imagined dark wood floors and thick rugs. A real wood-burning fireplace. And, obviously, a view to die for.
She stared at the timber logs through the windscreen. He was really doing it. “Of course I remember. You’re getting your bolthole in the boonies. How long?”
The outer shell looked near completion, with the exception of the wrap-around porch, which was still a work in progress.
“A couple of years. I’m getting there. Hoping in another six months or so it’ll be ready.” He opened the driver’s side and jumped down. “Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”
He was next to her door moments later, helping her out. “You’re doing it yourself?”
“What I can, yeah, but plumbing and stuff like that, I’ll need to call someone in.”
A house built by Teddy. I wonder if he’ll let me watch him work? Topless.
Before they went inside, he snagged a torch from the back of the truck. He shrugged at her raised eyebrow and grunted out, “No electric yet.”
They walked up what Summer assumed would soon be steps and through the thick wooden door. Evening light was fading fast, so despite the big bay windows in the front room, it was hard to make out details without the torchlight.
“Is that a real fireplace?”
“Yup.”
Okay, now she was jealous. “Please tell me you’re not planning on laying down dark wood floors?” He was quiet. Too quiet. “Oh my God, you are, aren’t you?”
No answer. He just dished out that deep, rumbly laugh and started heading toward the arch at the far end of the room.
“Teddy McCallen, do not walk away from me!” She stomped after him, ready to tell him just what a thieving jackass he was, but her words died in her throat.
“This is gonna be the kitchen.” Teddy’s light was directed at the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up the whole back wall.
Summer could feel her jaw go slack. The view. That was something they both wanted. And what a view he had. Even as the sun set, she could make out the hills rolling in the distance like a picture-perfect postcard. Then there was the narrow creek that she could almost hear beating against the rocks.
While she’d been gawking, she’d walked closer to the windows. Her hand had even shot out, as if she could touch the pretty in front of her. Heavy footsteps followed and came to a halt beside her.
“Beautiful, huh? It’s why I bought the place.”
“It’s perfect, Teddy. Just like you talked about.”
“Just like we talked about,” he corrected.
When she turned to face him, he was staring at her. A look she couldn’t decipher scrunching his features. “Show me the rest?”
A nod later, Teddy took hold of her hand and led her through the rest of the house. In every room, she could see just where everything would go. It was much bigger inside than it looked on the outside. He’d crafted four decent-sized bedrooms upstairs and one even had a ginormous ensuite. As jealous as she was, she was happy he had this. He deserved this. And he sure as hell had put his heart and hard work into it.
Once they were back in the front room, her stomach decided it was time to protest. A rumble reverberated around the very quiet room, and before Teddy had a chance to laugh, she shot him a glare.
“Come on, time to feed you.”
As he led her back outside and toward the vehicle, she was momentarily confused when he didn’t climb in. Until she spotted the blanket in the bed of the truck. Dropping her hand, he got to work laying down the chequer wool for them to sit on. After gesturing her up, he reached for something behind her and reappeared with a basket in hand.
“A picnic,” she excitedly clapped. “Hell yeah, what did you bring?”
Once he’d climbed in and settled next to her, he started unpacking, Summer’s eyes growing wider with every item he produced. It was all her favorites: bakery fresh bread, cheeses, cold cuts, strawberries, peanut butter cups, and, finally, sweet tea. The good kind, filled with sugar.
“This all right?” She could hear the concern in his voice. She hadn’t said anything. She was too busy trying not to drool.
“You got all my favorite things.” She managed to drag her eyes away from their feast and back up to the gaze of an entirely different kind of feast. “I can’t believe you remembered. You even got me the fancy prosciutto.”
He whipped out that sexy chuckle again. “Only the best for you, dollface.”
As they began stuffing themselves, they fell into easy conversation. They talked about the house, Summer’s grandfather, and Ivy and Ace’s wedding. Safe topics. What they didn’t talk about though was them. What they were doing. The fact that this was a date. The dilated pupils that made what little green left in Teddy’s eyes murky as hell. And they definitely didn’t mention the sparks flying around all over the place every time they accidentally grazed each other.
Now that she was full of food, it was harder to tell what was twisting her belly. The six peanut butter cups she’d just stuffed into her mouth, or the silence that had now fallen between her and Teddy? It didn’t feel easy anymore.
Say something! Anything. Come on. You’re making it weird.
She was drawing a blank. Food packaging was stuffed back into the basket, and then Teddy got closer. Soap and musky cologne filled her throat. There was no way she’d be able to think of something to say now, not when her brain had all of a sudden become fuzzy. She must have looked like a deer in headlights as Teddy leaned his big body toward her. A big hand went to cup her face and tilted it toward him.
“Have I told you how good you look tonight?”
Still at a loss for words, she weakly shook her head in response.
His hand slowly moved until his fingers were in her hair. “Well, you do. Every single fucking day, you take my breath away. You always have, Summer.”
His forehead pressed into hers. “Teddy ...” It was barely a whisper, which stopped as soon as she realized she had nothing to say to that. Thank you didn’t exactly feel appropriate.
“It’s always been you.”
She felt the words hit her heart hard. Damnit. He was killing her. She may not know what to say, but she could show him how she felt. She captured his lips. Slowly. Gently. She explored. All the while Teddy held her firmly in place, the grip in her hair tightening.
Her tongue trailed along the seam of his lips, practically begging for him to open for her. Satisfaction pooled in her stomach as he did. She tasted, sucked, and nibbled before she allowed their tongues to tangle. As soon as they touched, Teddy took control. She gave it willingly. A quiver making her whole body shake as a feral sound ripped through him.
Her fingers went to his chest, where she clung hard to his shirt. She must’ve been pulling him closer to her because moments later both of his hands had slipped down to her waist. With one tug, she was hauled onto his lap and rearranged until she was straddling him.
Clearly Teddy didn’t think they were close enough, as seconds later his grip on her tightened until she was pressed into him. No air in sight. She didn’t have time to register just how hard he was all over because there he was, scrambling her brain again as he deepened their kiss.
Her body was on fire. This man. She never wanted to stop. She needed more. She needed all of him. It was playing havoc with her self-control. But right now, with Teddy’s lips on her, with his big hands holding her in place, she couldn’t bring herself to care. Who cares that she was moaning into his mouth? And who cares if the rocking on his lap was borderline inappropriate? She didn’t. Wouldn’t. It felt too good.
“Jesus Christ.” Teddy’s deep voice only made her blood heat more. “You’re so fucking hot.” He drew back slowly and let his lips run across her jaw and up to her ear. “I’ve fantasized about how you’d taste, you know.”
She managed a whimper in reply. Her whole body shivered under his tongue as he trailed it along the shell of her ear. “How you’d feel. Against me. Under me. Over me.” His teeth nipped her earlobe before resuming their journey and scraping down the side of her throat.
“Fuck,” she panted. Because words were still failing.
“How you’d tremble. Just like you’re doing now.” He sucked on that sweet spot at the nape of her neck. She was a goner.
Arching back, she let out a sigh. Teddy McCallen was going to be the death of her. But what a way to go.
His mouth wandered while her hands explored the ridges under his shirt. They were both panting now. At least she wasn’t the only one losing her mind. But it would seem his willpower was much stronger than hers. Just when she was ready to throw caution to the wind, he stopped. She almost sobbed when he pulled back.
“Doll ...” It felt like a warning. “We can’t ... not like this.”
She knew deep down he was right, but her body was not on board. She might’ve still been rocking.
“Baby, fuck, you’re killing me.”
He leaned into her and took her lips again, but it was nothing like it was before. This kiss was excruciatingly soft and light. It was an ending rather than a beginning.
This time when he stopped, she did too. He was right. Not like this. Not in his truck on their first date. She’d waited too long, and he was too damn special.