Page 15 of Fundamentals in Flirting

“I’ll pay. You can have whatever you want…” he added in a persuasive whisper.

“Ok, fine, but I’m on call tonight so I may have to dash off if I get called out,” I replied, my resolve weakening at his genuine smile, and the promise of something other than a tasteless pasta dinner for one.

“Great. Let’s get Lady Fraser into your flat then.” He grinned and scooped the cat off the table, being careful to keep his face away from her still slightly oozy ear.

Teddy followed me through the surgery and into the back hallway, past the operating theatre, and outside to the entrance and stairs that led to my private flat. It was small and poky, and it looked out over the surgery car park and to the orchard of The Old Rectory that was nestled just in view from my windows.

“Ah, now I know why you want to know what I’m doing with my place. You overlook it. I can probably wave to you from my bedroom window,” Teddy said, putting the cat on the floor.

I fitted the cone of shame around Lady’s neck to stop her scratching and placed food, water, and a litter tray in the kitchen area, draping a couple of old towels on the two armchairs that furnished my sparse living space.

“It’s a beautiful old house, Teddy. I hope you’re not going to do anything hideous to it.”

“I do have some taste, Hannah, so, no, I’m not going to do anythinghideousto it,” he said grumpily. “I’m just trying to live in it as I do it, but it’s a bit of a wreck. I don’t even have consistent hot running water yet.” He paused and gave me a sly glance. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance I could shower here? I could nip home and get a change of clothes and pop back? Please?” he begged, dropping to one knee in front of me and clasping my hands. “Otherwise, I have to wash in an old tin bath tub in the garden with cold water from the hosepipe.”

A frown wrinkled down my forehead, encompassing my whole face, like a disapproving, cutaneous Mexican wave.

“In fact,” he said standing up and ushering me to the window, “if you look over there, you can see my temporary bathroom from here.” He winked. “You don’t want to have to witness me getting naked and freezing my balls off right in front of you now, do you?”

He was like some romance novel anti-hero. An actual real-life dastardly duke or villainous viscount, teasing and charming his way through life. But I wouldn’t fall for this. He could take a running jump if he thought I was going to let him use my shower…

“All right, fine, help yourself.” My mouth formed the words without permission from my brain. Which really was rather excellent.

“Great, I’ll just be a couple of minutes. You’re the best!” Jumping up he kissed me gently, his beard grazing my cheek before he rubbed his nose over my skin. “Oh, sorry, you’ve got a little something on your face.”

Then he winked (again) and raced out of my front door, leaving me and Lady Fraser staring at each other. Curiously, I reached up and ran my fingertips over my face, looking at the plaster dust that he had just marked me with.

“This is such a bad idea, isn’t it?”

And with a gentle chirrup, the dainty little cat disappeared off to make herself comfy in my bedroom.

ChapterSix

I’d spent the whole time he was in my shower trying not to think about the fact that he was in my shower; trying to avoid the glaring fact that Teddy Fraser was naked in my bathroom.Totally naked.But when he appeared, dark hair damp and curling slightly, freshly washed in a checked shirt and dark blue jeans, it was all for nought, because my filthy mind just jumped straight back to the imaginings that I’d tried so desperately to tamp down. This was highly unacceptable and would only lead to more disgruntlement on my behalf.

Teddy Fraser fantasies are not on the agenda, horny Hannah, wind your neck in.

“Ready?” Teddy smiled, oblivious to my internal chastisement.

“Yes, as I’ll ever be.”

He laughed and put his arm around my shoulders, and I was engulfed in his spicy citrus scent, which was disturbingly evocative. I was suddenly imagining sun-kissed orange groves in Valencia and sipping on cool margaritas by the pool. Teddy Fraser no longer smelled of Lynx Africa. No, this was far more potent, far more masculine, far more delicious than that.

Bugger.

“That’s the spirit, Hannah. Nothing like going out of your way to make a guy feel special.”

“I think you feel special enough without my input,” I said, raising an eyebrow and extricating myself from his grip. “I’ll drive. Come on.”

* * *

The Three Crowns was old, the ceilings so low that Teddy actually had to duck in places, with wobbly mismatched tables and chairs, and rustic stone-flagged floors. It was a place I was familiar with, having regularly attended many family dos here because it was a favourite of my parents. While Teddy got the drinks, I found somewhere near the bar to sit and perused the blackboard, which was awash with delicious, mouth-watering offerings, and I realised just how hungry I was.

“Chosen what you want?” Teddy asked as he sat back down opposite.

“You’re paying, right?”

“Yep,” he replied, taking a sip of his pint and eyeing me with amusement over the rim of the glass.

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