one
Teddyhatedthebeach.The only reason he had a beach house was because it was private, away from the city, and the deal had been fantastic when he bought it. He didn’t do water or sun or sand. Though he didn’t mind sitting in the shade under a large umbrella, reading a good book on a calm day in peace and quiet.
That would have worked out much better if the house next door that had been empty for years wasn’t suddenly occupied by a bunch of twentysomethings playing volleyball.
Not that they were being excessively loud or rowdy, but Teddy wanted the beach to himself his first full day moved in for good from the city. At least Mrs. Thompkins on the other side had the decency to only use her beach house for the house and never stepped foot near the water.
Teddy took a breath, rereading the same page for the fifth time, but whenever he started to digest it, a laugh or shout orgroan as someone hit the sand pulled him right out again. It was a big area of the beach, but sound still carried.
Maybe today wasn’t the day to be reading outdoors. Those kids were probably college age, enjoying one of their mommies’ or daddies’ houses for the weekend. Teddy could read tomorrow. Or inside. He still had unpacking to do that he’d been putting off, as if finishing the last few boxes would put a stamp of finality on his situation.
Shifting once again in his beach chair, he winced. He needed to get a new one with more padding or that sat at a different angle to accommodate his hip. The surgery was healing well, but if he did even one thing wrong, it could mean complications or an infection. It was bad enough he couldn’t dance anymore.
Spending one night recovering at his apartment had only proven what he’d already known: if he had to be forced into early retirement, then he also had to get out of the city or he’d lose his mind.
“Nora, get back here!”
Not that those kids were helping any. Teddy made a concerted effort to block everything out and tried reading that same page again—when a volleyball rolled in front of his chair.
“Nora!”
Followed by an explosion of sand coating his legs as a small white dog pounced on the ball like a martyr throwing themselves on a bomb.
“Nora. I am so sorry.”
The owner of the dog, the voice, and presumably the volleyball jogged into view. One of the kids, no doubt, who Teddy was about to lay into no matter how much this wasn’t anyone’s fault, when he looked up at the young man and….
Shit.
Over six feet tall, long, lean, swimmer’s build, all very much on display since he was only wearing swim trunks. He was youngbut older than college age, with light scruff on his face, messy chestnut hair, ocean-colored eyes, and a dazzling smile.
“Hi, I’m Finn.” He hoisted his dog into one arm while reaching over Teddy’s beach chair with the other. He had a firm grip, too, great hands.
Shit.
“Finn Archer. I moved in a few months ago. You just got in yesterday, right?”
A few months ago, which meant he was staying.
Fuck.
“Edmund Scofield. Pleasure to meet you.” Teddy fixed his face into as tight and uncordial an expression as he could, because he did not need some gorgeous young beach bunny imposing on his life right now. Turning to the side in his chair, he shook the sand from his legs.
“I am so sorry about that,” Finn said. “Nora just got excited when the ball took off.”
Why wasn’t he picking up the ball and going away? Teddy could see his tan line with how his shorts rode too low after chasing the furball.
Meanwhile, Nora wriggled in his arms and licked at his neck with unabashed joy. Teddy could understand the inclination, but he really did not need this.
“Mrs. Thompkins said you’re a dancer,” Finn said, holding firm as the good neighbor.
“Former.” Teddy dumped the sand out of his book.
“Right. Choreographer now?”
“Also former.”
“Oh.” Finn fidgeted, maybe finally picking up on Teddy’s lack of engagement. “Needed a change of pace?”
