Page 29 of Single Teddy
“Oh, you know. I told you. Wesley has a crush on a hot daddy!”
“Ooh. What kind of Daddy? Leather? Dom?” Lexi said, and both Ruby and I glared at our baby sister.
“A single daddy,” Ruby pointed out.
“He’s an uncle, actually,” I said as if it were the most important piece of information. “And it’s neither coming or going. There’s nothing going on between us.”
Only in my head, I thought, but I kept that to myself.
“Have you asked him if he’s interested?”
I scoffed at the mere suggestion and shook my head.
“That’s inappropriate. Also, he just lost his sister and became an instant parent. So, no, I haven’t. And I’m not going to. He’s probably straight, anyway.” Although he’d remain gay for me in the privacy of my own bedroom.
Ruby shrugged.
“I still think you should tell him.”
“I’m ignoring you now.” I picked up the menu and pointedly hid myself behind it.
“I won’t shut up until you do something about him,” Ruby answered, and I’d already failed in my ignoring her because I put the menu down and opened my mouth, but before a word could come out, a man walked in and made my spirit leave my body.
A hot blond wet dream with his little nephew.
Damn.
Nothing I could conjure in my head could live up to the real Teddy. Why did he have to be so hot? And why didn’t he know it? It was almost worse that he didn’t. It made him all the more attractive. Add that to his helplessness about parenthood, and he was simply…a walking, breathing teddy bear I wanted to claim right here, right now.
“Thirsty?” asked a woman next to me, and I snapped my head around to stare back at Autumn, who was smirking as if she could read my mind.
“Huh?” I asked.
“I said, ‘Are you thirsty?’ What can I get you to drink?” The smirk never quite left her eyes.
As if she knew exactly what she’d done. Caught me red-handed drooling over Teddy.
NINE
TEDDY
We walked into The Outpost and were immediately surrounded by background music that was barely audible amid the buzz of all the people having a good time.
I nabbed the first table I spotted and helped Bear to his seat, then sat down myself. Bear picked up his menu and held it in front of his face as I perused the dinner options. Ash and Donovan, two of my old teammates, weaved around the tables, delivering people’s orders, and the decadent smells from all the meals surrounding us made me hungrier by the second.
“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite people in Mayberry Holm,” someone said behind us, and I turned to greet Autumn, who looked warm and inviting as usual.
“Hi,” I said and looked at Bear, but he only threw a fleeting glance at Autumn before he dipped his head even lower, hiding more of himself behind the menu.
“You’ve finally decided to come and try Joey’s burgers?” she asked, completely undefeated.
“Joey?” I frowned.
“Fowler. You must know him. He won’t shut up about you, but he’s been too busy here to come and see you. Summer season,” Autumn offered, making me even more confused.
The last I heard, Joey Fowler had been dishonorably discharged and was under investigation for his stepfather’s murder. He’d been the talk of the base for months. There wasn’t a SEAL I knew who hadn’t spat his name.
“He’s the chef here? I had no idea,” I said, and there must have been something on my face because Autumn put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.
