Chapter 28
When Teddy had said he was going to build her and Sam a treehouse, Jessica had thought he meant something simple.
This treehouse was more palatial than most of her childhood homes, and she wasn’t even off the ladder yet.
“Teddy …” Jessica licked her lips and blinked rapidly, but nothing was going to be able to stop the tears gathering along her lashes.
His hand settled into the small of her back. “Keep going, Starshine. You haven’t even seen the best bit yet.”
She nodded. It was too hard to get any words out around the lump that had appeared in her throat. But this was so much more than she’d ever dared imagine—and she didn’t need to examine the irony of that also being true about Teddy.
He was so … there weren’t enough words to describe Teddy. He was kind and cheeky and determined and sexy, and his heart was so big. Probably other parts of him were big too. She’d seen his hands and feet.
Jessica shook her head and ran her hands down her face as she absorbed all the love and care Teddy had put into this place for her and Sam.
Because that’s what it was. It was immediately clear he’d considered all the little details.
There were a few new dinosaurs on a small table with a Tupperware container of crayons and pencils.
Three camp chairs. A new cat tree and small pet bed that Jessica wouldn’t be surprised if she found Sam asleep in it one day.
Boxes of lanterns were stacked neatly in the corner, and there was so much space for adventure.
“What do you think?” Teddy asked from behind her.
That I misjudged you.
She’d been too quick to believe Teddy’s reputation as ‘the fun guy’. Hell, that had been why she’d asked him to do this with her. She’d trusted all the stories about Teddy, believing that this was the safest way to get her inheritance and keep her heart safe.
But Teddy kept showing her who he really was.
And he was just the best.
Time slowed as she turned to face Teddy. The too-big, too-loud beat of her heart drowned out all the other sounds. Gone was the rustle of the gum leaves in the wind. Gone was the buzz of the cicadas that were getting more vocal with each passing day. Gone was everything but Teddy.
He stood in the doorway, his arms folded loosely across his body, one hip pressed against the doorjamb, his ankles crossed. But there was uncertainty in his eyes, a worry lining his face she wasn’t used to seeing there.
“It’s perfect.”
Teddy’s arms dropped to his sides. “Really?”
It was his excitement that broke her attempt at staying composed.
Jessica wiped her eyes, her laugh watery and light, just like her chest was. “I can’t believe you did this for us.”
“I wanted to.”
She was going to kiss him. “Teddy,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to say.”
Teddy’s hand cupped her jaw, and she mimicked the movement, her palms settling against his beard. His long hair was down, and wisps tickled the back of her hands.
“I like making you smile, Starshine.”
It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her.
Jessica pushed up onto her tiptoes right as Teddy lowered his mouth to hers.
He groaned against her lips, his hands sliding down her back and leaving a trail of fire behind them.
She’d already climbed one tree tonight, but Jessica wanted to put those climbing skills to a new use now.
Teddy’s tongue teased the seam of her lips, and she opened for him, needing more.
She tugged on his shoulders until he leant forward enough for her to push her hands into his hair, twist her fingers around the strands.
This was a beginning she could’ve never predicted but that didn’t mean it couldn’t work. Or that it couldn’t be something precious and fabulous and wonderful. Just like the man who’d come into her life and turned everything upside down in the very best way.
Teddy broke their kiss, and giggles bubbled up Jessica’s throat, spilling out of her mouth and filling the inside of the treehouse with joy. She grabbed the front of Teddy’s shirt, curling the soft cotton around her fingers as he captured her mouth again, teasing her with his tongue.
She couldn’t wait to see how he looked in her bed.
“Do you want to …” Jessica swallowed. “Come inside?” Not even the unintentional double entendre could burst her bubble of happiness. Jessica was going to be proud of herself for taking chances and asking for what she wanted. And right now, she wanted more of everything with Teddy.
“For dinner or …?” he asked, his voice hushed and almost nervous.
“For more than kisses.” Lord. She sounded like a schoolgirl with a crush.
Teddy froze, his eyes darting around the treehouse as the darkening sky slipped through the big windows. “Um …”
Oh my God. He doesn’t want to. He got swept up in the moment. This doesn’t mean anything.
Her fingers flattened, and she smoothed away the wrinkles her clutched hands had left in his shirt as reality crashed over her.
“It’s fine.” Just like it would be fine if a black hole could appear and take her to the centre of the earth.
Jessica stepped backwards out of Teddy’s embrace, her face on fire. She’d have to be careful, or all the wood around them was going to go up in flames.
“No, no. Where are you going?” Teddy tried to catch her hands, but she stuffed them in her pockets.
“I’m sorry,” she squeaked. “I misunderstood. It was very nice of you to do this for us. The treehouse, I mean. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
“Jess.” Teddy sighed.
Not Starshine, but Jess.
Jessica blinked back hot tears. She’d cry later once she was alone again, because apparently, she was destined to be alone, but she couldn’t spiral now. The only thing that made rejection worse was pity.
“Hey, hey.” Teddy ducked his head, crowding her personal space in a way she would’ve welcomed thirty seconds ago but now made her nauseous.
“I would really like more than kisses. Jesus Christ. I’ve spent a lot of time imagining those things. Probably would’ve got my shower pregnant if that was possible.”
Her gaze snapped to his.
“But I tend to rush into the physical side of things. I don’t have a lot of experience with the other stuff.” Teddy pulled at the neck of his shirt, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“The other stuff?”
Teddy’s neck flushed red. “I don’t want this to be like it has been in the past. I want more than that with you. But I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m”—Teddy’s skin paled—“scared I’ll ruin it before we get started.”
Woah. This was unexpected.
“I want to be smart and considerate. Make sure I don’t fuck everything up. Can we take it slow?”
There he went again, surprising her. Jessica had never been so relieved to be wrong.
“How about we start with dinner?” she suggested.