The thought brought a smile to my face.
I had never been one for old fairy tales where the princess was helpless and saved by the knight. But having him offer to help, then give me space to handle things myself, was working for me in a way I really didn’t need right now.
A few minutes later, Teddy’s car showed up. He circled the lot before finding a spot, then stalked his way over to me.
“What, no lumberjack protection today?”
I frowned. “Let’s just get this done.”
He made no move toward the building. “Layne, before I sign another thing, we need to talk about us.”
Fucking hell, not this again.
“No, we don’t.”
“Because you have a new boyfriend, right?” he sneered.
I huffed out a breath. It was visible in the cold air between us. “No, because I’m telling you I don’t want to be with you anymore. The fact that I’m with someone else is none of your business.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, his expensive coat pulled tight at the shoulders. “It does, actually. I figured this whole thing out.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Then enlighten me.”
“You were pissed that I didn’t sing your brother’s praises for setting up a few chairs at our wedding. So now you’re pretending to date someone like him to get my attention.”
Jace had done more than set up chairs. He had set up the entire reception, and made me a custom arbor. Teddy had dismissed the whole thing as brainless work, and that had been the moment I’d finally seen him clearly.
“I don’t want your attention,” I said. “I want your signature.”
“I notice you didn’t deny the fact that the boyfriend is fake.”
Irubbed my temples.
How can I even argue with something this arrogant?
Teddy stepped closer and put his hands on my shoulders. I tried to step back, but he held firm. “Come on, Layne. This has gone on long enough. It’s time to come home.”
I was debating if it was worth it to kick Teddy in the groin when I heard footsteps in heavy boots on the sidewalk, coming fast. I looked up to see Elias heading toward us. Teddy still had his hands on my shoulders, and I half expected Elias to punch him out, based on the intensity of his gaze.
That would only make things worse.
Teddy was exactly the type to press charges and make someone’s life miserable.
Elias had something else up his sleeve.
“Hey babe, how are you?” Elias asked with a smile as he approached.
He reached out, but instead of knocking Teddy on his ass, he stepped between us, forcing Teddy to let go. His eyes held mine as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his solid chest.
Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling the short hair at the nape and sliding my fingers through it.
He pulled me against his chest and enveloped me in the familiar, comforting smell of pine. The cold that had been stinging my cheeks was a distant annoyance, all but forgotten as I focused on how good it felt to be wrapped in his arms.
“Everything okay?” he murmured, his breath skating over the skin of my neck.
I nodded. “Thank you for coming, anyway.”
I was a lot shorter than he was; my eyes usually level with his nipples, so I rose onto my toes to press myself closer, burying my cold nose in his neck.
