What was that rattling?
The sound was far away at first, though that was probably just Leah’s awareness, which was elsewhere. But finally, it registered, and she reluctantly—very reluctantly—wrenched her mouth from Teddi’s.
The top to the pot of chili. That was the source of the sound.
They blinked for a moment, breathing hard, cheeks flushed.
“I…” Leah jerked a thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the stove. “Chili.”
Teddi nodded, and when she wet her bottom lip, Leah groaned and kissed her again. Hard. Which led to more kissing, which led to full-blown making out.
The rattling continued.
This time, Teddi pulled away—or as far away as she could get while sitting on the counter wrapped up in Leah’s arms. “Your chili’s gonna burn.”
Leah nodded. “Okay.” She pecked Teddi quick and turned to the stove.
“I’m going to use the little girls’ room.”
“Up the stairs and to the right. It’s the one with the toilet in it.”
“Funny.” She felt Teddi’s arms snake around her from behind and give her a squeeze. A kiss pressed to her head. “Be right back. Don’t drink all my wine.”
“I make no promises,” Leah called as Teddi left the room. Then, quietly, “Jesus Christ, that woman’s going to kill me soon.” She shifted her hips, trying to adjust the damp spot in her panties she was suddenly very aware of, and knew she was grinning like a fool as she stood there stirring her nearly burned chili. Forcing herself to calm down, she inhaled deeply and held the breath. She was just exhaling when Teddi returned.
“There’s a spider in your bathroom.”
Leah snapped into focus. “You didn’t kill her, did you?”
“Her?” Amusement. That was the best word to describe Teddi’s expression right then.
“Yes, her. That’s Angelica.”
Teddi tilted her head. “The spider has a name?”
Leah turned the burner off, then reached into a cabinet for bowls. “Normally, I would scoop her up and let her go outside, but as you can see”—she gestured toward the window with a flourish, where snow could be seen falling steadily—“it’s winter. She’ll freeze. So we have an understanding.”
“I see.” Teddi refilled both their wineglasses. “And that understanding is?”
“She doesn’t drop on me while I’m in the bathroom, crawl on me when I’m sleeping, or have a thousand babies in my house, and I won’t squish her or toss her out in the snow.”
“Well.” Teddi’s dark gaze sparkled. Yeah, that was definitely amusement. “That seems fair.” She took a sip, then said, “It’s a good thing she’s up in the high corner or I’d have squished her myself.”
Leah let out an exaggerated, horrified gasp. “You monster.”
They laughed together, dished out the chili, added cheese and sour cream, and grabbed corn bread.
“So,” Leah said. “We have options.”
“Hit me.”
“We can eat at the table like civilized women. Or we can eat on the couch while watching TV like Neanderthals.”
“Oh, Neanderthals, definitely. Let’s be those.”
“Neanderthals it is.”
A few minutes later, they were sitting side by side on Leah’s couch, their bowls, wine, and bread on the coffee table in front of them. Remote in hand, Leah said, “It’s four o’clock. Any requests?”
“Surprise me.”
“You sure? Because we will very likely end up on the Hallmark Channel, which should have a movie starting right about now, and I know how you feel about romance.”
Teddi looked at her then and something flashed behind the darkness of her eyes, but Leah couldn’t quite place it. Insult? Agreement? Challenge? Hurt? “I would love you to put the Hallmark Channel on.” Leah squinted at her until Teddi laughed. “I mean it.”
“Okay. You asked for it.” Leah hit the right buttons, then set the remote down and dug into her chili as Teddi did the same. The movie was a Valentine’s Day one from last year that Leah recognized and remembered liking very much.
“This is amazing,” Teddi said of the chili. “Like, seriously good.”
It made Leah happier than it should have, and she couldn’t keep that stupid grin from reappearing. “Thank you. I’m glad you like it.”
They ate in silence until Teddi pointed her spoon at the TV. “So, she’s had her heart broken and needs to go home to the small town where her parents live so she can heal.” At Leah’s nod, she continued. “I bet you a million dollars she runs into her high school sweetheart.”
“I suppose that’s possible.” It was exactly what was going to happen, but she didn’t even care that Teddi had called it. I mean, let’s face it, it’s not hard to call these plots. She waited for Teddi’s snide comment or subtle mocking, but it didn’t come. Yet.
Gathering the empty dishes, she stood. “Be right back.” She took everything into the kitchen, rinsed and deposited bowls and spoons into the dishwasher. When she returned to the living room, Teddi was on the couch under a black fleece blanket, and she’d left room behind her for Leah.
“Come cuddle under the blanket with me while we watch.”
Because she wasn’t an idiot, Leah slid right into the space. Teddi scootched her butt along the couch cushion and settled her back against Leah’s front, their legs side by side, with the blanket over them. Wrapping her arms around Teddi’s body, well, Leah didn’t even have words to describe the feeling. It was so many things all at once. Delicious. Terrifying. Wonderful. Nerve-racking. Sexy. And absolutely perfect.
Lizzie suddenly appeared out of nowhere and jumped up onto the couch. “Hi, kitty,” Teddi said and reached out a hand.
“Careful. That’s Lizzie and she’s moody.” Then Leah watched in shock as Lizzie nuzzled Teddi’s hand for a moment, allowed head scratches, then curled up on Teddi’s lap and began to purr.
“Yes, I see that she’s horribly moody.” Teddi craned her neck so she could grin at Leah.
“Well. She doesn’t like many people. Sometimes, she doesn’t even like me. Seems you passed her test. Whatever it is.”
“Good.” They settled back into each other, Lizzie continuing to purr loudly as Teddi petted her softly and turned her attention back to the movie. “Called it,” she said a few minutes later, pointing at the screen where the leading lady had just run into her old high school boyfriend. Then she picked up Leah’s hand from her stomach and entwined their fingers, gaze still on the movie. “Okay, those two have chemistry. I admit it. I see the sparks. I see ’em.”
Leah smiled and dropped a kiss on Teddi’s head, inhaling the scent of lime and coconut. Without success, she tried to remember the last time she felt this comfortable.
And this comfortable with silence. Neither of them spoke a lot during the movie. A chuckle here and there or an offhand comment, but for the most part, they watched together in silence. Surprisingly, Leah was totally okay with that because she had Teddi in her arms, the warmth of her body pressed against Leah. Lizzie hung out for a while, then hopped off the couch, probably to have some cat adventure Leah knew nothing about.
The movie went on telling its story in that romance formula way that Leah loved and that haters complained about. She kept waiting for the ribbing. The gentle teasing about how predictable it was. It never came, though, and when the movie reached the end, Leah was shocked to see a few tears trailing down Teddi’s cheeks. She had so many things she wanted to say then—and yes, some would qualify as ribbing or teasing—but she said nothing. Instead, she gently wiped a tear away with her fingertips and tightened her hold on Teddi.
After another moment, Teddi sat up and turned to face Leah. “Okay. Fine. I loved it.” And then she laughed. A beautiful, musical, sheepish laugh as she wiped her cheeks, sniffled, and Leah thought she’d never seen a more stunning woman in her life. With both hands, she reached for Teddi’s face and pulled her in, kissing her with everything she had. Sh
e poured it all in. The passion. The desire. The hope. The joy. Everything Teddi made Leah feel went into that kiss, and she was sure Teddi felt them all as well because Teddi melted into her embrace so thoroughly that it became almost impossible for Leah to feel where she ended and where Teddi began.
The movie ended. A new one began. Probably. Leah had no idea and didn’t care. The kissing. That was all she cared about. The kissing and the touching and the sounds. Good God, the sounds. Tiny whimpers. Ragged breathing. Leah was so turned on, she thought she might burst into flames.
After a long while, Teddi slowly pulled back until they were no longer kissing but still very close. Still entwined. Still breathing the same air. Her dark eyes seemed to search Leah’s. Was she looking for something? Trying to make a decision? Did she want to ask a question? Leah tilted her head slightly but said nothing. Waited her out until Teddi finally shifted her gaze toward the window.
“It’s snowing,” she said quietly. “I should go.”
“Or you could stay.” The words were out before Leah could even think about them. Chewing on her bottom lip took the place of trying to pull the words back into her mouth.
“I could, but…” Teddi swallowed hard. Leah tried not to stare at her swollen lips, tried not to think about how sexy they looked, and that they were swollen because of her. “Not yet. Is that okay?”
Leah met her eyes then, and what she saw—uncertainty, worry, hesitation—made her want to cover Teddi with her body and keep her safe from the world, be her human bubble wrap. “Of course it’s okay. Why wouldn’t it be okay?”
“I mean…” Teddi sat up, swung her legs off the couch so she was sitting properly on it. “Some people don’t want to wait.”
Leah mimicked her moves, and they sat side by side. “Listen.” She picked up Teddi’s hand in hers and toyed with her fingers, felt the soft skin of them. “Do I want to make love with you? Oh my God, absolutely, there’s nothing I want more. Do I look like a stupid woman?” Teddi grinned and things suddenly felt a little bit lighter. “But I want it to be right. For both of us.”
“Me, too.”
“I think we’ll know when it is.”
“Me, too.”
“Okay. Good talk.”
Teddi’s smile grew until her whole face had relaxed and the seriousness clouding her eyes drifted away.
They sat there for a moment, playing with each other’s hands, letting their shoulders brush, feeling the warmth of their closeness. Finally, Teddi sighed. “I really should go before the roads get bad.”
Leah nodded. “Agreed. I don’t want you getting caught in bad weather. I want you safe.” She met Teddi’s gaze. “Precious cargo.”
Teddi leaned in and kissed her softly, then pushed herself to her feet.
They acted very much like a couple already, Leah mused. She held Teddi’s coat for her as she slipped her arms in. Using her key fob, Teddi remotely started the car and Leah insisted on going out ahead and brushing the snow off it, despite Teddi’s protests. By the time she finished, the windows were clear, the car was warm, and Leah grabbed a shovel and cleared the sidewalk from the house to the driveway so Teddi wouldn’t have to trudge through it. Once Teddi was safely in the driver’s seat, Leah bent to kiss her.
“Drive safely. Please text me when you’re home.”
“I will.” Gloved hands on the steering wheel, Teddi stayed focused on them for a beat, then turned to look at Leah. “I had an amazing time today. Thank you.”
“The pleasure was all mine, believe me.”
“Next time, I cook for you.”
“I look forward to it.” Another quick kiss on the lips, one more plea to be careful, and Leah shut the door and stepped back. Teddi gave her a wave, then backed out and headed home.
Leah stood watching until the taillights were gone from sight. She continued to stand there for an extra few minutes. The snow fell softly in big, fat flakes, and the street was fairly quiet. Leah tilted her head back and stuck out her tongue like she had as a child, caught snowflakes, felt the happiness of such a simple joy. She felt light. Cheerful. Even the thought running through her head didn’t scare her, and maybe it should have. Maybe she should’ve been terrified. Worried. Putting up walls. Instead, she just felt warm and happy and couldn’t wait to see what was next.
I’m gonna fall so hard for that girl…
Chapter Fifteen
“I can’t believe I haven’t seen you since Christmas, Theodora.” It was a gentle statement but laced with subtle accusation designed to bring about guilt. And it worked. Every time. Teddi’s mother was a pro at subtle accusation, and Teddi was a pro at letting herself drown in it, so they made a fantastic team.
“I’ve missed you, too, Mom.” She hugged her mother tightly. “Happy birthday. What are you now? Forty-five?”
“Ha. If only.” She took the wrapped gift Teddi handed her. “Honey. I told you no gifts.”
“And my mother taught me never to show up at somebody’s house empty-handed.”
“A smart woman, your mother. If you don’t believe it, just ask her.”
Teddi laughed, kissed her mother on the cheek, and headed into the large dining room where her father and two brothers sat around the table, which was set for a birthday celebration. The plates were paper, but festive, decorated with black and pink Happy Birthdays, streamers draped over the chandelier, a bunch of helium balloons in various colors floating in the corner. She could hear her two sisters-in-law milling around in the kitchen as she went around the room, kissing and hugging the guys. When her mother came in from the kitchen with a glass of white wine, Teddi took it gratefully, then took the same chair she’d sat in since she was old enough to sit at a table unassisted.
“You guys need help in there?” Teddi called toward the kitchen.
“Nope, all good,” came the reply from Liza, her brother Doug’s wife.
Warmth, love, comfort. Those were things you felt any time you walked into the Baker house. Any friends she had ever brought home always told her that. People loved to visit. They loved her parents. And what was there not to love? They were terrific people.
“What’s new, Teddi Bear?” John was forty-seven, five years older than Teddi, and he’d given her the nickname when their parents had brought her home all swaddled in a blanket with bears on it. His kindergarten brain had seen the bears, listened when her parents suggested Teddi as the shortened version of her name, and just like that, she became his Teddi Bear. It drove her crazy when she was a teenager, but now, she kinda loved it.
“Not much,” she told him. A plate of her mother’s homemade chocolate chip cookies called to her and she reached for one. “Busy at work. Valentine’s Day is next week.”
“You hear that, John?” Ginny called out to her husband from the kitchen. “Valentine’s Day is next week.”
John, sitting across the table from Teddi, shook his head with a grin. Then on a whisper, he said, “Thanks for the reminder, Teddi.” A wink.
Teddi gave him a thumbs-up just as the lights dimmed and Liza came in carrying a cake that blazed with candles. As they sang “Happy Birthday,” Teddi watched her mother’s face, the huge smile, the joy in her sparkling brown eyes. She was seventy-five now, and as much as Teddi wanted to always see her parents as young and vital, it wasn’t possible anymore. Sure, they were both reasonably healthy, but their age was starting to show in the speed they moved, the extra caution they took on stairs or icy sidewalks, the television shows they watched. She loved them so much, and the little girl in her wanted to have them forever, while the adult in her knew that was impossible.
Singing finished, they cut the cake and the room became a hum of conversation.
“So,” her mother said, grasping Teddi’s forearm as she spoke. “How are you, love? You doing okay?” Sometimes, Teddi thought her mother was the only one who understood her pain, the pain of failure, the shame of sitting in a room with the whole of your very married family and feeling miserable.
; “I am,” Teddi said, and realized with a bit of surprise that she meant it.
“Yeah?” Her mother held her gaze, and Teddi was instantly nine years old again, having lied about stealing a Snickers bar from the store, squirming under that steady gaze until she cracked, burst into tears, and admitted that yes, she was a thief. Then she begged her mom not to call the police or let them take her to jail. This time, though? No squirming.
“Yeah. I’m actually…” A glance around the table to see that others were busy with their own conversations. Teddi lowered her voice. “I’m kind of seeing somebody.”
Her mother’s eyes went wide, and her whole face lit up. As she opened her mouth to speak, Teddi grabbed her hand and squeezed.
“Please, Mom. I’m not ready to share it yet. Okay?”
Crestfallen was the only word to describe her mother’s expression then, but she recovered quickly. “Okay. But”—she held up a finger—“we need to grab lunch this week so I can hear all about her. Deal?”
“Deal.” They took out their phones and set up a date for Friday. “It’ll have to be a quick lunch. I’ve got a wedding the next day I need to prepare for.”
The evening went on, filled with laughter, jokes, and love. It didn’t last long, as it was a school night and everybody had to work the next day, but the whole time she sat there, Teddi pictured Leah sitting next to her. Squeezing her knee under the table. Talking about her cat with Ginny, who had three. Connecting with her dad over working in the business world and dealing with clients who thought they knew everything.
Bottom line: Leah would fit right in, and her family would adore her.
That realization warmed Teddi’s heart and terrified her. In equal measure.
* * *
Leah hadn’t seen Teddi in over a week, and she had to admit, it was starting to grate on her. They’d both been ridiculously busy with their jobs, so it wasn’t anything more than that keeping them apart, and they’d texted daily, which was great. But now it was nearly eight on a Thursday night, and Leah was still in her office working instead of cuddled on the couch—or something better—with the woman she was very quickly becoming crazy about.
Hopeless Romantic Page 14
