Page 53 of Love Shots

“Okay. Um. So, while you were proving just how well you knew me these past few days, I got to thinking about all the things I know about you. More specifically, all the things I love about you.” Did she just say love? “So here goes ...”

He watched, his heart violently pounding as Summer removed a crumpled piece of paper from her jean pocket and unfolded it. She’d written a list. Jesus Christ.

“Your smile,” she began. “Not only does it light up the whole room, but it somehow has the ability to actually warm me from the inside out.”

It wasn’t just his heart pounding now; his ears had got in on the action.

“How much you care,” she continued. “For your sister, for me, for the whole town. You think I don’t see you helping Dotty with her deliveries? Or helping Bob open the gift shop shutters every morning? We all see you.”

His mouth was so dry he was finding it hard to swallow.

“How safe you make me feel. And not just since I’ve been back. You’ve always made me feel safe. And so damn strong. It’s like I know ... I know that as long as I have you by my side, everything will always be okay.” Her eyes finally lifted from the paper and met his. “But mostly, Teddy ... I love that you’re my best friend.”

He couldn’t breathe. He knew he had to say something, but words were failing him. Everything was failing him. He simply wasn’t functioning.

“I love you, Teddy McCallen. It’s always been you.” And with those words, he finally woke up. He was jumping over the bar a second later. “I’m sorry I sent you away, I didn’t mean—”

She didn’t get to finish her unnecessary apology because his mouth was on hers before anything else could come out. She tasted like sweet tea. Heaven.

When they eventually came up for air, she mumbled, “Do you forgive me?” against his lips.

He drew his head back just enough to catch the shine in her eyes. “Doll, there is nothing to forgive. Although truth be told, I am a little pissed that you got to be the one to say I love you first.”

“You love me?” The beginnings of a smile tipped up one side of her mouth.

“Baby ... I love you so fucking much it hurts.” He dropped his forehead against hers, needing to touch her again. “Don’t ever send me away again, okay? I can’t live without you, doll. I need you. The past few days have been torture.”

“I promise,” she whispered.

He needed another taste. Capturing her lips again, he breathed her in. Vanilla filling his lungs and his heart beating so loudly it drowned out the cheers and catcalls filling the bar.

Very aware of their audience, he was careful to keep his hands to himself, only letting them drift as far as her lower back. But the urge to drag her soft curves up against him was strong. Especially when she pushed her tongue deeper, making him want to beat his chest.

They continued to kiss way longer than was probably acceptable, considering where they were. It was definitely long enough to turn his blood molten. He knew they needed to stop before he took her right there on the bar floor. But he didn’t. As if sensing his lack of control, Summer was the one to draw back.

They were both panting when she did. Their eyes glazed. Still standing close enough to swallow each other’s breaths.

“So, I figured something out when I was in the hospital.” Summer’s chest heaved, brushing against him as she spoke.

“Oh yeah?” Teddy was back to smiling.

“Yeah. I’m actually not bad at relationships after all. I was just trying to do them with the wrong people. The reason it never worked out was because ... they weren’t you. No one was ever you.”

He let himself groan. “Keep saying shit like that to me, doll, and I’m gonna drag you upstairs and have my wicked way with you.”

“Oh really?”

He watched her playfully cock her eyebrow.

“Really.”

“Does that mean you don’t want to know that you were all I’ve thought about this week? How every second I wasn’t with you, I was thinking about you. Wishing you were with me. Holding me. Kissing—”

There was only so much a man could take. Summer was now off her feet and cradled against his chest. Giggling. Both of them ignoring the very questionable jeers as he walked them to the back stairwell.

Summer was back to torturing him as her mouth latched onto his neck. But it was okay. Of all the possible problems to have, this was a good one.

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