Page 82 of Fundamentals in Flirting

Teddy grinned mischievously and said, “Shame. That’s right up there with your fireman fantasy, right?”

I snorted and bit my lip, trying not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me laugh, but he knew what he did to me with every look and every comment. He bloody well knew. With a final small smile and eyebrow twitch, he lifted his weight up from my body, a sudden cool flow of air filling the void where his warmth had been, just as a pair of shiny tan brogues appeared in my peripheral vision.

“Get off her, you boorish idiot.” Jonathan quickly bent down and grasped my hand, hauling me to my feet as Teddy stood back, frowning and brushing the loose grass from his clothes.

Jonathan continued in a petulant tone, “You really should listen to me and your mother and get away from this joke of a place. You’re far too good for these people.”

This day was already proving to be longer and more arduous than I could ever have imagined, and I snatched my hand from his.

“I rarely take anything she has to say on board, but I don’t know why you’re persistent with this, Jonathan. I’ve already told you my answer. I’m not returning to Bristol with you.”

“I do love you, Hannah. I’ve made mistakes and I regret them more than you know.”

He seemed sincere – perhaps even a touch desperate – and my heart began thumping in my ears. I briefly closed my eyes and tried valiantly to stop the explosion of emotions that was threatening to erupt.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I want you back, obviously.”

“No, Jonathan, the real reason. Why are you here?”

He shifted uncomfortably on his feet, refusing to meet my eye. Instead, he cast an appraising glance at the crowd still milling about in the show ring. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally speaking in a hushed tone.

“The funds from that large Horserace Betting Levy Board grant have been frozen. The first results we presented to the panel last week were inconsistent.” He gave me a beseeching look. “Some of the team have left in the last few months and the students haven’t been able to replicate your findings.”

I stared blankly at him.

Right. Yeah, of course.

No one in the world would be so hopelessly in love with me that they would show up and beg me to return. Not someone like me. No, he just wanted my lab notes and for me to tutor some fucking students. He wanted me to be his skivvy to do his experiments so he could keep his bastard funding. Reality slapped me across the cheek like a solid, wet fish, and some of the icy ire left my blood so that my shoulders noticeably sank.

“I see.”

“So, just to recap, you need Hannah to swoop in and save your research group who are dropping like flies? Because you’re too incompetent to manage your own experiments?” Teddy asked through gritted teeth.

“Well, I er?—”

“And you’re saying that you need her superior intellect and ability to cover your arse?”

“That’s not quite how it?—”

“But the only thing you’re prepared to offer is her old job back and a half-arsed declaration of love to sweeten the deal?” Teddy’s voice was steely. “Unbelievable.”

“I wouldn’t expect someone like you to understand,” Jonathan sneered.

“You’re right.Someone like mewould never be able to understand howsomeone like youcould treat someone as amazing as Hannah so fucking appallingly.”

“You don’t know anything about it, so I think you should just piss off, you clueless meathead.”

Teddy lurched forward, hands already forming fists, but I grabbed his arm.

“Stop! Teddy, don’t. He’s not worth it.”

Jonathan smirked triumphantly at him, but Teddy turned to me, whitened knuckles resting lightly under my chin.

“No, he’s not worth it, at all, but punching his lights out in front of all these people would certainly make me feel better.” He paused and brushed his thumb across my mouth, grazing the pad over my lower lip so that my breath caught in my throat. “All that crap he put you through … you know you’re worth so much more, right?”

I went to shake my head, the inner confidence I held on to with a narrow thread fully deserting me. Honey-badger Hannah retreated into a safe, dark hole, hidden from view once more. But with a soft smile, Teddy gently tugged my chin, forcing me to nod my head, a reluctant twitch pulling at the corner of my lips.

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