Page 22 of Love Shots

“Hey, don’t look at me, man.” Ace laughed. “If it was up to me, we would’ve made it official the day I proposed. Your sister is the one taking her sweet ass time setting a date.”

“Getting cold feet, sis?” Teddy grinned.

“Hey!” Ace protested.

“No!” Ivy quickly reassured her fiancé. “It’s just the idea of planning a wedding makes me want to go and lie down in a dark room.”

“Then let’s go down to the courthouse? Or we could elope ... fly to Vegas like Jake and Lily did?”

“Who’s eloping?” Summer’s sweet voice called out as she strolled toward Teddy.

Without thinking, he instinctively pulled her into his side. It wasn’t until after his hand was flexing on her hip that he realized what he’d just done. In front of Ivy and Ace. Fortunately, Summer either hadn’t noticed or didn’t mind. He was hoping for the latter.

“Ace wants to be married like yesterday, while the thought of planning a wedding makes Ivy want to hurl,” Teddy explained.

“I can help!” Summer excitedly did a little hop. “I’m not exactly a wedding planner, but I managed a load of events while I was working at the agency. I’m thinking a romantic backyard ceremony right here at Moonrock. Surrounded by close family and friends. What do you think? Nailed it, right?”

Her enthusiasm was clearly contagious because seconds later Ivy was jumping up and down with her.

“Oh my God, that sounds perfect,” his sister beamed. “You’d really do that? Help me, I mean? I have no idea where to start and not a lot of time if this one over here has his way.”

Teddy tuned out the conversation after that and enjoyed the sight of an excited Summer as she began listing off ideas. He knew Summer, as an only child, had always seen Ivy as the little sister she never had. They’d always got along as kids, but there was something special about seeing them get close as adults too.

***

Four hours later, Teddy was hovering outside Summer’s front door. The afternoon had consisted of them both stuffing themselves silly with an obscene number of burgers and hotdogs while Summer and the rest of the women talked wedding plans.

After she’d allowed him to hold her to his side, Teddy had taken it one step further and taken hold of her hand as they left. Even once they’d arrived back at Mickey’s, she hadn’t protested when he’d laced his fingers through hers as they walked through the bar and upstairs. Even though they had reached her door, Teddy still hadn’t let go.

As they stood quietly outside her apartment, it was obvious that they were both just as nervous. Teddy watched in fascination as a flush started to creep up Summer’s neck. He would never get tired of seeing this shy side of her.

“Uh, do you wanna come inside?”

Yes. “No.” One look at the hurt flashing across her face had Teddy rushing to explain. “I mean, I do. Of course I do. But that control I was talking about not having last night hasn’t magically appeared. And that sexy as fuck dress you’re wearing is not helping. If I go inside, I’m gonna kiss you. And if I kiss you, I’m gonna wanna touch you. And if I touch you, I’m gonna—”

“Okay,” Summer cut him off with a smile, “I get it.”

“I really hope you do, doll, ’cause I don’t want you to think for one second that I’m not desperate to go through that door with you.” Satisfied she understood what he was saying, he continued. “I know we didn’t get a chance to talk about what’s going on between us ... but I’m gonna lay it out for you. I like you. I liked you when we were kids and I like you now that we’re not. And going by the sounds you made while my tongue was inside of you, I think you like me too.” That flush had now progressed into a full-blown blush. “I wanna see where this thing between us can go. So ... tomorrow night, I wanna take you out. On a date. What do you say?”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, Teddy, okay. I’ll go out with you.”

That was easier than he thought. “Thank God.” He let out a heavy breath. “Seven good for you?”

“Seven is good for me. Where are we going? So I know what to wear.”

“Dress casual. Jeans or something.”

Once she nodded her agreement, he dropped his head and lightly brushed his lips against hers. It was a chaste, closed-mouth kiss. He hadn’t been joking when he said he wouldn’t be able to control himself. After a whole day with her, seeing her laugh, touching her waist, holding her hand, he was hanging on by a thread. He needed to go home and sort himself out before he embarrassed himself.

“Sweet dreams, dollface.”

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