“O-okay.” Teddy glances down at his leather breeches. “Do you have a dress code at the bakery?”
“Once we open, we’ll have aprons that we’ll wear over our clothes; jeans and tees will be fine. Until then, wear stuff you don’t mind getting dirty.” Keeping my eyes firmly planted on the road ahead, I flap one hand in his direction. “Just nothing too… er… like that.”
“Too… black?”
“And too… leathery.” I huff. “We’re a family-friendly bakery.”
Teddy scrunches his brow. “No black leather. Check.”
“And nothing too tight,” I add.
“Notightblack leather. Double-check.” Then Teddy starts to chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” I purse my lips, frowning.
“It just occurred to me that Miss Dragonfly would have told me I could wear these ridiculous leather pants whenever I wanted.” He’s laughing harder now. “She was a stylish, elderly faerie with an adventurous spirit. And you’re… er…”
“I’m what?”
“… Oh, nothing.”
“You can’t just start to say something like that and then stop abruptly. Out with it, wolf.”
Teddy gets himself back under control, mostly. “You’re a beautiful young faerie with… um… with a frumpy spirit.”
Did Teddy just call me beautiful? And at the same time insult me?
“Frumpy?” I practically spit as I park the Subaru in the driveway, stomp out of the car, and fling open my front door, fuming at Teddy Freaking Barker. How dare he compare me to Auntie Dragonfly and find me wanting?
“And grumpy,” he adds mildly.
I flip on the lights in my cottage and turn back to glare at him, but his head is cocked to the side like a big, happy dog, and his eyes are sparkling with humor… and something else… something almost like tenderness. He’s teasing me, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“So I’m a grumpy, frumpy faerie, eh?” I snort.
“And beautiful. Don’t forget beautiful.” Then Teddy smiles, and it’s almost dazzling in its intensity.
That smile does something to my chest, something I’m not prepared to examine right now. Despite my irritation at this annoying werewolf, the corners of my mouth tilt upward.
“Sweet dreams, Sophie,” he murmurs. “See you in the morning.” Then Teddy heads into his bedroom and shuts the door quietly behind him.
What just happened? And why do I feel cuddly and warm all of a sudden, like I’m swaddled in a soft, fuzzy blanket?
Gah! I can’t afford to lose my edge around Teddy, despite his good looks and charm. That werewolf poses a substantial threat to my dream of owning the bakery free and clear—without any encumbrances or meddling ten-percent partners.
“Meep!” Zosia welcomes me, weaving in and out of my legs.
I scoop up my baby fox and bury my face in her glistening white fur. I think back over my day and the two werewolves who’ve entered my life: fastidious, ridiculous Teddy, and dark, dangerous Rafe. One I definitely need to keep at arm's length, and the other… Well, I’d like to explore that possibility further.
What would dating Rafe be like? And would my werewolf cousin get on my case about it? Probably.
“Oh, Zosia,” I whisper. “I have a feeling my life’s about to get very muddled.”
Chapter 9
Welcome to Jumanji
SOPHIE
