Teddy saw him and, with another whoop, flung her soft, curvy self into his arms. She smacked a kiss on his cheek, then pulled her face back and announced, “I’m finished! I’m finished, I’m finished, I’mfin-iiiish-ed!”
He was laughing by now, and he found he didn’t want to let her go, even though she was still wriggling excitedly in his arms. All warm and soft, though smelling just a bit stale.
“Congratulations, T.J. Mack. I’m sure the world will be delighted to read your sixth book.”
Still in his arms, she looked up at him with surprise, pulling back. “So you know who I am.”
“I’m a scientist. I know how to do research. I also occasionally read. Especially thrillers that are well researched.”
Teddy hadn’t stopped wriggling, so he let her go. “Thank you so much for everything—for the food, for letting me alone to work, and, most of all, for the trapdoor idea.”
“So that worked, did it?” Oscar thought it would be fun to tell his dad—who was abigT.J. Mack fan—that he’d helped the author out of her writer’s block and had given her the ending of what was surely going to be her latest blockbuster.
“Well, not really. I didn’t end up using a trapdoor at all. But you got me to thinking, and that’s how I ended up with a remote-controlled trolley car that helps Sargent Blue save the day.”
“Oh.” And here he thought he was brilliant. “But at least you got your heart’s desire.”
“I certainly did.” By now, her giddiness had eased into mere delight. “So we have to go out and celebrate!”
“Go out?” Oscar was already easing back from both the idea and Teddy, though he wasn’t certain why. Hadn’t he had a great time the other night? But then, that had been about free beer. And just a bunch of guys.
“Of course! That’s what I always do when I type, ‘The End.’” She was still beaming, which revealed three tiny dimples at the corner of her mouth that had previously been hidden—presumably by stress. “You’ll come with me, won’t you? My treat, as a thank you for feeding me for the last—what’s it been, a week?”
“Six days. Seven if you count today.”
She stilled, her eyes wide. “I wrote over fifty thousand words insix days? Wow.” She looked down at her hands, then back up at him. “I definitely deserve a drink. Or two. Can you be ready to leave in forty minutes? I want to try Trib’s, and it’s hard to get a table much after five.”
Though five o’clock seemed early for dinner, Oscar decided not to argue. “All right. I’ll drive.”
She gave him a grin, a trio of dimples dancing with enthusiasm. “Duh. Why do you think I insisted on you going? How else would I get there?”
He gaped, then realized she was teasing him. Fighting his own smile, he shook his head. “But you’re buying, remember. And believe me, I’m going to make it worth all the private chef work and the chauffeuring I’ve taken on over the last few days.”
He could still hear her laughing as he closed the door.
Well, tonight should be entertaining, if nothing else. And he was going to get a good meal out of it.
Couldn’t argue with that.
Eight
Teddy sangin the shower and danced around a bit in the small space. She shaved as she laughed with glee, and managed to avoid not only cutting her knee, but also bumping her elbow on the edge of the soap dish in the tiny stall, even when she added in a little wriggle of a dance. She shampooed the hell out of her hair, and used some fragrant scrubbing salts on her skin.Slough away, baby.
It had been a couple days since she’d showered.
But when she remembered how she’d flung her less-than-fresh self at Oscar, her enthusiasm dampened a little.
Though he hadn’t thrust her away, so maybe she hadn’t smelledthatbad.
But…yikes.
Not that it mattered—for the guy was still totally hung up on his ex. Which was a bummer, because though she’d been brain-deep in Sargent Blue’s adventure, there had been a few random moments when she remembered that wet and steamy (literally) kiss in the pool.
And the way he’d kissed her back. And the feel of his muscular arms around her, and the firm planes of his chest beneath her hands…
Mmmhmmm, she thought as she scanned the closet (of course she’d unpacked and hung up all her clothes—it was a great way to procrastinate). Definitely, she’d want to explore that a little more—if the opportunity arose.
Which was why Teddy ended up choosing a cobalt-blue maxi dress that had a deep-but-not-too-slutty vee neck in the front and the back, and wide shoulder straps that wouldn’t fall down—or require her to wear a strapless bra. The color made her eyes appear wildly blue, and didn’t make her light skin seem too pasty. A silver necklace with a lot of interesting charms and disks hanging from it nestled into the bodice’s deep vee, and she wore matching earrings that sparkled every time she moved. She bundled her thick hair (long overdue for a trim) into a messy chignon and chose a pop of pink lipstick. No, she didn’t “clean up” very often, but when she did, she was damned good at it.
