Page 25 of Love Shots

“What I can, yeah, but plumbing and stuff like that, I’ll need to call someone in.”

A house built by Teddy. I wonder if he’ll let me watch him work? Topless.

Before they went inside, he snagged a torch from the back of the truck. He shrugged at her raised eyebrow and grunted out, “No electric yet.”

They walked up what Summer assumed would soon be steps and through the thick wooden door. Evening light was fading fast, so despite the big bay windows in the front room, it was hard to make out details without the torchlight.

“Is that a real fireplace?”

“Yup.”

Okay, now she was jealous. “Please tell me you’re not planning on laying down dark wood floors?” He was quiet. Too quiet. “Oh my God, you are, aren’t you?”

No answer. He just dished out that deep, rumbly laugh and started heading toward the arch at the far end of the room.

“Teddy McCallen, do not walk away from me!” She stomped after him, ready to tell him just what a thieving jackass he was, but her words died in her throat.

“This is gonna be the kitchen.” Teddy’s light was directed at the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up the whole back wall.

Summer could feel her jaw go slack. The view. That was something they both wanted. And what a view he had. Even as the sun set, she could make out the hills rolling in the distance like a picture-perfect postcard. Then there was the narrow creek that she could almost hear beating against the rocks.

While she’d been gawking, she’d walked closer to the windows. Her hand had even shot out, as if she could touch the pretty in front of her. Heavy footsteps followed and came to a halt beside her.

“Beautiful, huh? It’s why I bought the place.”

“It’s perfect, Teddy. Just like you talked about.”

“Just like we talked about,” he corrected.

When she turned to face him, he was staring at her. A look she couldn’t decipher scrunching his features. “Show me the rest?”

A nod later, Teddy took hold of her hand and led her through the rest of the house. In every room, she could see just where everything would go. It was much bigger inside than it looked on the outside. He’d crafted four decent-sized bedrooms upstairs and one even had a ginormous ensuite. As jealous as she was, she was happy he had this. He deserved this. And he sure as hell had put his heart and hard work into it.

Once they were back in the front room, her stomach decided it was time to protest. A rumble reverberated around the very quiet room, and before Teddy had a chance to laugh, she shot him a glare.

“Come on, time to feed you.”

As he led her back outside and toward the vehicle, she was momentarily confused when he didn’t climb in. Until she spotted the blanket in the bed of the truck. Dropping her hand, he got to work laying down the chequer wool for them to sit on. After gesturing her up, he reached for something behind her and reappeared with a basket in hand.

“A picnic,” she excitedly clapped. “Hell yeah, what did you bring?”

Once he’d climbed in and settled next to her, he started unpacking, Summer’s eyes growing wider with every item he produced. It was all her favorites: bakery fresh bread, cheeses, cold cuts, strawberries, peanut butter cups, and, finally, sweet tea. The good kind, filled with sugar.

“This all right?” She could hear the concern in his voice. She hadn’t said anything. She was too busy trying not to drool.

“You got all my favorite things.” She managed to drag her eyes away from their feast and back up to the gaze of an entirely different kind of feast. “I can’t believe you remembered. You even got me the fancy prosciutto.”

He whipped out that sexy chuckle again. “Only the best for you, dollface.”

As they began stuffing themselves, they fell into easy conversation. They talked about the house, Summer’s grandfather, and Ivy and Ace’s wedding. Safe topics. What they didn’t talk about though was them. What they were doing. The fact that this was a date. The dilated pupils that made what little green left in Teddy’s eyes murky as hell. And they definitely didn’t mention the sparks flying around all over the place every time they accidentally grazed each other.

Now that she was full of food, it was harder to tell what was twisting her belly. The six peanut butter cups she’d just stuffed into her mouth, or the silence that had now fallen between her and Teddy? It didn’t feel easy anymore.

Say something! Anything. Come on. You’re making it weird.

She was drawing a blank. Food packaging was stuffed back into the basket, and then Teddy got closer. Soap and musky cologne filled her throat. There was no way she’d be able to think of something to say now, not when her brain had all of a sudden become fuzzy. She must have looked like a deer in headlights as Teddy leaned his big body toward her. A big hand went to cup her face and tilted it toward him.

“Have I told you how good you look tonight?”

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