I looked at her and realized how true her words were. Not only the part about deserving to be happy, but her accusation that we’d both let the bakery become an excuse to not have a life.
“Thank you, Lacey,” I said sincerely. “For everything.”
She smiled and turned back to her work, humming a happy tune. I felt lighter than I had in a long time.
Before I knew it, we were in the thick of the lunch rush. She was far more efficient at putting together sandwiches, so I parked myself at the counter, taking orders and making drinks. Everyone seemed excited about the upcoming opening of the addition.
Throughout the day, I’d noticed people peeking through the windows to catch a glimpse. Part of me worried the “grand opening” wouldn’t be so grand since the business wasn’t new and people could see the remodel already but Teddy kept reminding me it was more about the excitement than actually seeing things for the first time. I’d take his word for it.
While I’d expected Lacey to pick up where she left off after lunch, she didn’t. In fact, she didn’t mention anything about my love life or Teddy until she was on her way out the door to pick up Liam from daycare.
“Shiloh, promise me something?” She rested her hip against the counter, waiting until I gave her my attention to continue. “Promise me you won’t overthink tonight. Just be yourself and let things happen. You’re a good man, and I’m pretty sure Teddy thinks so, too.”
I was touched by her words. I stored them in the back of my mind for when I inevitably needed a pep talk. “Thanks, Lace.”
“And be ready to give me all the deets when I get in tomorrow. If you need me to open, just let me know and I’ll drop Liam off at my parents’ place.”
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. I could just imagine the hard time she’d give me if I asked her to cover for me because I was up too late getting railed. And when the time came, I would absolutely be the one face-down, ass-up, begging him to fuck me harder.
A couple hours later, I stood in front of Teddy’s door. I took a deep breath as I rang the bell. When he opened the door, his smile was like sunshine after a long storm. Neither of us spoke for just long enough to make things awkward but I didn’t feel uncomfortable having Teddy staring at me. In fact, I rather liked his attention.
“Sorry, come on in.” He stepped to the side, allowing me to pass. I resisted the urge to press my hands to his chest and kiss his cheek in greeting.
The smell of garlic and basil wafted through the air as I stepped into Teddy’s house. It was a cozy place, with walls adorned with pictures of landscapes and shelves lined with various books and trinkets. A soft jazz melody played in the background, filling the space with a soothing, warm ambiance.
The only thing that was as I’d expected was the piles stacked around the room. I let out a soft chuckle as I imagined them as his hoard. It wasn’t that the house was messy, just lived in. Very lived in, which was refreshing in a way compared to my own place that was a collection of functional furniture without any personality.
Teddy led me to the dining table where two places were set. The flickering candles cast a gentle light over the room. I noticed a take-out box from Giovanni’s, the Italian place we had talked about trying, sitting on the counter.
“I was going to cook,” Teddy admitted with a sheepish grin as he caught me glancing at the box, “But I’m utter crap in the kitchen. I figured Giovanni’s might be a safer bet since you’d sounded excited to try them last night.”
I smiled. “That was sweet of you. But I hope you know you don’t need to impress me.”
We sat down, and Teddy opened the box, revealing a delicious-looking Fettuccine Alfredo and a Caprese salad. The scent was intoxicating.
As we ate, we talked about everything from our favorite books to childhood memories. With every word, I felt myself drawn closer to Teddy. His laugh was infectious, and his stories were captivating. His eyes, they held warmth and genuine interest.
At one point, he reached over to pour me a glass of red wine. His fingers brushed mine, and a jolt of electricity shot through me. I looked up, and for a moment, our eyes locked. The air between us become heavy with unspoken words and desires.
Teddy cleared his throat and returned to his seat. We continued eating, though now there was a tension in the air, a pulsing energy that neither of us seemed willing to address.
After we finished eating, Teddy offered to show me his garden. We stepped outside into the cool evening. His garden was a small, lush oasis with various plants and flowers. “This is gorgeous. I’d love to have something like this in my yard someday. Right now, it’s a mess.”
“If you want, I can help you fix it up,” Teddy offered.
We walked slowly, shoulder to shoulder. The scent of fresh earth and blooming lilacs mixed with Teddy’s subtle cologne, enveloping me. My senses were overwhelmed – the soft rustling of leaves, the setting sun casting a silvery glow over Teddy’s face, the taste of wine still lingering on my lips.
Without thinking, I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips against his. Teddy responded immediately, his arms encircling me. The kiss was tender at first, but quickly grew more urgent. My hands moved to his neck as I deepened the kiss, pulling him closer to me. I wanted him, and if he was going to continue being a gentleman, I’d make the first move.
I pressed my body to his, feeling just how into this he was, too. I moaned into his mouth when he shoved his hands into the back pockets of my jeans, massaging my ass as he devoured me. Granted, my experience was limited but I’d never had a kiss like this. Didn’t think it was possible for something so simple to make my knees buckle.
Teddy’s hands moved away from my pockets and under my shirt. He tugged the material and I felt his fingers tracing circles against the skin of my back and shoulders. I shivered slightly, intensifying the kiss. His tongue explored every corner of my mouth. I could feel more than just lust radiating from him now; there was a tenderness, an affection that was both exhilarating and hard to comprehend.
“We should move this inside,” Teddy suggested when he broke the kiss long enough to suck in a breath. Contrary to his words, he immediately dove back in, kissing me senseless as he slowly guided me towards the back porch. “Tell me you’re not going to make me wait any longer.”
We finally broke apart, breathing heavily as our chests pressed together. Even in the darkness I could feel the heat radiating off Teddy’s body. His eyes were filled with desire but also something else that stirred something within me – a warmth, an understanding that only he had been able to awaken in me.
We broke apart, gasping for breath. Teddy looked at me with an intensity that made my heart race.
