Page 34 of Fire in My Heart

“I hope it increases revenue for you.” I stood, needing to get away from him for a second. It was difficult to breathe. But my foot snagged on his foot, and I pitched forward into his lap.

His arm banded around my waist, and mine went around his neck. My chest was pressed against his, and my butt landed on his very hard thigh. “Oomph.”

“Are you okay?” His breath drifted over my ear.

I nodded like a bobble head. “Yup. All good. Thanks for catching me.” I tried to pull away to stand, but his arm banded more tightly around me. “Get your bearings before you go tripping off again.”

I shoved my hair out of my face, a little surprised he was teasing me. “I don’t trip all the time. Just around men with large feet.”

“Is that your excuse?” His voice was low, swirling around in my stomach, then lower.

I bit my lip, wondering what he’d do if I threw a leg over his hip and straddled him. Was he big all over? I had a feeling he would be. I remembered the outline of his bulge in those sweatpants the other morning.

I tipped my head. “I tripped over your foot.”

A sound rumbled in his throat, and it made me instantly wet.There was something about this large, brusque man handling me with such care and tenderness. I wanted more, but he was a walking red flag. He’d said he didn’t engage in relationships, and my body was reacting to him like he was some aphrodisiac.

This desire for him was inconvenient. I needed to convince him that my marketing ideas would work. I didn’t need to muddle things with a physical attraction that he probably didn’t return.

This time, I rose slowly, and his hands dropped away. My skin tingled where his hands had been. He moved his foot this time, and I had a clear path to the kitchen counter where I dropped my tablet and began cleaning the kitchen without looking in his direction.

I felt his presence behind me. He placed a hand on my hip and maneuvered me out of the space. “I’ll clean. Why don’t you sit and relax?”

I let out a breath, remembering how I’d “relaxed” when I came with my fingers between my legs in the bathtub. It hadn’t been enough, and I had to get out the trusty vibrator. I felt empty after the orgasm. I needed something inside me, and my body wanted Teddy.

It was proof that my taste in men was terrible. I hadn’t shaken off my last bad decision; I didn’t need to make another.

I watched Teddy put the food in containers in the fridge, then place the dishes in the dishwasher. He was adept in the kitchen. Maybe because he took care of his siblings and lived alone. A man who knew his way around a kitchen was sexy.

I loved caring for people, but I wasn’t averse to men doing the same for me. In fact, I loved it. Too bad I’d never experienced it before.

He closed the dishwasher and asked, “You want to sit in the living room?”

“Why don’t we sit outside. I need some fresh air.” Inside, my senses were overwhelmed with him. I didn’t wait for him tofollow me. I shoved on boots and grabbed a blanket before heading outside.

I turned on the strings of lights that were already here when I moved in. It gave the patio a nice ambiance. Not that this was a date.

“I didn’t realize Daphne left the chairs and the lights.” Teddy moved to start a fire in the fire pit. There was plenty of firewood.

“I’m glad she did. I was thinking of putting up some lights and decorations. But these were already here.” They weren’t holiday lights per se. They could stay up year-round.

“They suit you. Will you be getting a tree?”

“This place isn’t mine.” I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to stay here between Rick popping up and Teddy not wanting me around. I didn’t want to get too used to it.

“You’re welcome to hang decorations and pictures. Put up a tree.”

“That would be nice. I know how to cut one down now.” My heart picked up at the idea of cutting down my own tree.

“Let me know when you want to get one.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes, admiring the lights. “I can see why you like it here. It’s quiet.”

“When there aren’t people here. That’s why I bought my own property. I needed space. I didn’t want people tromping over my fields, looking for the perfect tree.”

“That makes sense.” And after growing up with so many brothers and sisters, I could see why he craved solitude now.

“But it’s good to be back,” he finally said.

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