by SJ McCoy
She laughed. “It sounds wonderful, but I have Brayden, and I have to go to work.”
“I know.”
“You were only joking, then?”
He squeezed her hand. “Honestly? I was completely serious, but there are some practical realities to work out between now and the day when I can ask if you’d like that.”
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t look horrified.
“Too much?” he asked.
She shook her head slowly. “I feel as though I should say that yes, it is or, at least, that it’s too soon, but …” She smiled and dropped a kiss on his lips. “It makes me feel hopeful.”
“I’m hopeful that that’s where we’re heading, Audrey.”
She kissed him again, and this time, he tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her down so he could kiss her more deeply.
~ ~ ~
“He’s awesome, Mom.”
Audrey smiled at Brayden, who was standing beside her in the kitchen. She’d come in for more buns and salad. “I think so.”
Brayden laughed. “Yeah. That much is obvious. You’re as besotted with him as he is with you, and that’s saying something.”
“Besotted?”
“Yup. I can see why Dad’s so jealous, too. You two just seem like you fit together. You’re like one of those celebrity couples.”
Audrey laughed. “I don’t know about that.”
“I do. I hope this works out for you.”
“Thanks. I do, too. Shall we get back out there?”
“Sure.”
She let Brayden go ahead of her. He was doing well on his cast. He said he wanted to go back to work tomorrow, but she wasn’t sure that was a good idea.
She set the buns down on the table next to the grill, where Ted was flipping the burgers.
“They won’t be long now.”
She went to him and pecked his cheek. “Thanks. I didn’t just bring you here to play barbecue chef for me, you know.”
He winked at her. “I know.”
She tried to hide her smile. They both knew he’d done so much more for her than that.
“He is a very good barbecue chef, though,” said Izzy. “These burgers are delicious. I vote you keep him on.”
Ally smiled at Audrey. “I do, too. Make it permanent.”
Audrey glanced at Ted, but she wasn’t worried that it might be too much for him. Instead, he grinned at her. “See, I come with recommendations from your nearest and dearest and everything.”
“I’ll add my vote, too,” said Brayden.
Ted looked down at Audrey. “I’m at your service if you want me.”
She held his gaze for a moment, and when he laughed, she knew he understood what she was thinking—she wanted him all right.
“It’s a shame that you guys missed out on seeing Clay McAdam play last night,” said Ally when they were all seated at the big table on the patio.
Audrey shrugged.
“There’ll be other chances,” said Ted. “We can all go up next time he’s playing if you like.”
“I’d like,” said Izzy with a grin.
Ted narrowed his eyes at her. “Am I allowed to ask if you want to go and see Clay or …”
Izzy laughed. “I like to look! I know Clay’s engaged.”
“Nicely sidestepped on the or … Izzy,” said Audrey. “But, I’ll let you off the hook because I just remembered something. Ally, I should have told you as soon as I got home, but this week has been a little crazy. You need to call Marianne.”
“Marianne?”
“Clay’s fiancée.”
Ally’s eyes widened.
“She’s thinking about hiring a wedding planner,” Audrey explained.
“Oh my God! Mom! And you forgot to tell me? She’s marrying Clay McAdam? That could be one of the biggest weddings of the year!”
“No! She only wants something small and intimate.”
“It doesn’t matter!” Ally was up on her feet. “Once you work with someone like that, you’re in! What’s she like?”
“She’s lovely. Very down-to-earth. I think you’ll like her.”
“I know I will.” Ally laughed. “I already do! Do you have her number? Did you tell her I was going to call? Oh, no! You’ve been home all week. She might think that I’m not going to call. She might have found someone else in the meantime!”
Audrey’s heart sank. She could only hope that Marianne hadn’t done that. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’ll give you her number now.”
“Thanks.”
Ted gave Ally a reassuring smile. “I don’t know for sure, but I saw Marianne and Clay on Friday night, and he was teasing her that perhaps she didn’t want to marry him after all. It didn’t sound as though she’d found anyone to help her out.”
Ally blew out a big sigh. “I so hope you’re right. I’d love to get that job.” She made a face at Audrey. “I haven’t said anything yet, but I’m so ready to leave Carina.”
Audrey nodded. “I’m not surprised. She takes advantage of you.”
“I know. I put up with it while I was paying my dues, but … I can’t take it much longer. I need to find my own clients and strike out on my own. Summer Lake would be an awesome place to start, too.”
Ted smiled at her. “I can’t promise anything, but I might be able to hook you up with another client there, too.”
“Who?” asked Ally eagerly.
“My son, Eddie, and his fiancée, April.”
“Hmm.” Ally didn’t look too impressed, and Audrey had to wonder what her problem with that idea might be. It was sweet of Ted to suggest it.
When she realized they were all looking at her, waiting for an explanation, Ally smiled. “I’d love to help them! Eddie’s been a friend for years, and April’s a sweetheart.”
“But?” asked Ted.
Ally made a face. “I offered my help if they needed any—for free, of course, as a friend, but April said she’d love my help. But she couldn’t accept it. I’d have to stay up there at least some of the time, and that doesn’t come cheap.” She shrugged. “I guess they have to watch their budget; I mean, Eddie’s in the band, but he doesn’t exactly have the same budget as Clay McAdam.”
~ ~ ~
Ted smiled politely, but he couldn’t help but wonder what Eddie and April’s real reasons were. Ally obviously didn’t know it, it seemed very few people did, but Eddie could afford to hire the best wedding planner in the country if he wanted. Ted had been absent for way too much of his life, and he knew that money could never make up for that, but he’d made sure that Eddie was taken care of. His trust fund ensured that he’d never have to work a day in his life if he chose not to.
Audrey cast a glance at him, but he couldn’t guess what she was thinking. He hated the thought that she might be wondering about Eddie and April’s supposedly meager wedding budget when he was as undeniably wealthy as he was.
He winked at her, hoping she’d understand that he’d explain it to her later. Then he smiled at Ally. “If April wants your help, then she should have it. I’d be happy to pay you the going rate. I can call it part of my wedding gift.”
Audrey gave him a wary look. “That’s kind of you, Ted, but I think you should let April decide if she wants the help first.”
He smiled. “Of course. I’m not meddling. I know better than that. I’m just saying that if the cost is the only barrier, then it doesn’t need to be.”
“Thanks, Ted.” Ally blew him a kiss. “You’re the best.”
Izzy raised her glass to him with a smile. “Even I have to admit that you’re kind of awesome. Here’s to you, Ted. I know I can speak for all of us, especially Audrey when I say thank you for coming into our lives.”
His heart felt like it might overflow as they all raised their glasses to him. Audrey held his gaze for a long moment, and at that moment, he knew that whenever he wanted to tell her he was in love with her, it wouldn’t be too soon.
Brayden grinned at him. “Welcome to the fam
ily.”
Ally laughed. “Don’t freak him out, Brayden!”
Ted wanted to tell them that it didn’t freak him out at all. It made him happy. But Ally’s next words made him even happier.
“We love you, Ted!”
He knew it was only a phrase, but it still made his heart buzz in his chest as he smiled around at them. “Thank you. Thank you all.” He looked at each of them in turn and waited until he was looking into Audrey’s eyes before he added. “I love you, too.”
Her eyes widened, and so did her smile. She didn’t say anything, but a hint of pink touched her cheeks, and she raised her glass a little higher and nodded.
“Well, isn’t this cozy!”
Ted spun in his chair to see Richard standing in the doorway from the kitchen.
Audrey sprang to her feet. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see our son. I thought you were eager that I should spend more time with him. Or are you trying to get poor Ted to fill in for me?” He shot a glance at Ted, who got to his feet and went to stand beside Audrey, putting his arm protectively around her waist.
“Just leave, Dad.” It was Ally who spoke first. She came and stood between Richard and Audrey. “You were never here when we wanted you to be. So why show up now that we don’t?”
Richard glared at her.
To Ted’s surprise, Brayden came to stand beside him. “She’s right, Dad. You should go.”
Richard turned on him. “Even you? It doesn’t surprise me that those two,” he jerked his head at Audrey and Ally, “would suck up to him just because he’s loaded, but I thought you’d have more sense.”
“I have more sense than you give me credit for, Dad. We don’t like Ted because he’s got money—you’re the only one who thinks how much money a person has defines who they are. We like him because he’s a good person, he’s kind, he cares about us, and he makes Mom happy. None of which I can say about you.”
Richard’s face turned red while Brayden spoke, and when he finished, he stepped toward him. Ted stepped forward without even thinking.
He was a little taller than Richard, and he had no doubt that he could overpower him if necessary, but even with the adrenaline surging through his veins—even with the almost overwhelming desire to punch him—he knew that he needed to de-escalate the situation. “I think you should go.”
Richard laughed. “You have your arm around my wife, and you’re defending my kids—and you think I should go? Who the fuck are you to—”
“I am not your wife!” exclaimed Audrey. “Ted’s right. You need to leave. Perhaps you should go and find your wife.”
“Yeah,” agreed Ally. “And I’m not your daughter anymore, either.”
Richard swung his head to look at her. “Of course, you are, you little bitch.”
Ted couldn’t take it anymore. He took hold of Richard’s arm and twisted it up behind his back before the guy even reacted.
“What? What the …? I’ll have you for assault! Let go of me!”
Ted smiled grimly at him. “There’s no assault going on here. Just a little friendly persuasion. You’ve been asked to leave. I’m helping you to make the right choice.” He started walking him back toward the house and glanced at Audrey on the way. She gave him a brief nod.
“You expect anyone to believe that this is friendly persuasion? I’ll sue you.” Richard spoke in a strangled voice. Ted released a little of the pressure on his arm but kept marching forward toward the front door.
He spoke in a low voice close to Richard’s ear. “Try me, and you’ll find out what my version of unfriendly looks like.”
The others all followed them out into the driveway. Once they were there, Ted let go of Richard and gave him a little shove toward his car.
Richard glared around at them all. Ted glared back at him until he looked away and turned his venom on Audrey. “You haven’t heard the last of this.”
Audrey blew out a sigh. “Can we just let it go? You moved on years ago. Now, I have as well. There’s no need for us to ever run into each other again. Your relationship with the kids is yours to figure out.”
“And I don’t want one,” said Ally.
Ted felt bad for Brayden as he looked at his father and shook his head sadly. “Honestly, Dad, neither do I.” He came and stood beside Ted again.
Ted felt the urge to put his arm around Brayden’s shoulders. The kid was shaking—he could see it. But he knew that would only aggravate the situation. He’d do whatever he could to support him later when it wouldn’t be throwing gas on the dumpster fire that was happening right now.
Richard got into his car and reversed out of the driveway with a screech of tires. Once he was out on the road, he put his window down before he pulled away. Ted tensed, wondering what he was going to say—how much he was about to hurt his kids.
To his surprise, Richard looked straight at him and yelled, “You’re welcome to them! All of them.” And then he drove away.
They stood there for a few awkward moments. It was Izzy who broke the silence. She gave a shaky laugh and smiled at them. “Well, that was fun. Who wants some ice cream?”
Ted was grateful to her for the diffusing the tension, and he laughed with Audrey and the kids as Izzy herded them back inside.
Chapter Seventeen
Audrey parked close to the entrance of the airport building. She hadn’t ever been here before last Tuesday; now, she felt like she was a regular. She looked across at Ted and smiled.
He squeezed her hand. “Let’s get out, can we? I know you don’t want to come in with me, but I want to give you a hug.”
She met him in front of the car, and he closed his arms around her. “It’s been quite a weekend, huh?”
“It has. I can’t apologize enough or thank you enough for … Richard.”
His arms tightened around her. “You don’t need to, either. I want to say I’m glad I was there, but we both know that me being there was what antagonized him.”
“It was, but I’m kind of glad it happened. It brought things to a head, and that’s needed to happen for a while. I’ve tried to be civil with him for the kids’ sake, but after what happened yesterday, I know there’s no point in trying to pretend for them.” She smiled.
“What?”
“I’m just remembering before we spoke on Friday night—just before Brayden took your call—I told Richard he was an asshole. Brayden heard me, and I felt bad about that—but he told me he was glad that I’d finally said it.”
Ted smiled. “Brayden’s a good kid. I’d guess he’s tried to keep the peace since Ally’s more vocal.”
“Yep, that about describes their whole life. I thought twins were supposed to be very similar; those two are opposites, but they complement each other perfectly.” She laughed. “Between the two of them you get one well-rounded person.”
“They’re two admirable people. I like them both very much.”
“They like you, too.”
He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “I like their mother even more.”
She smiled up at him. “Their mother thinks you’re something special.” She hated to do it, but she checked her watch.
Ted chuckled. “You need to get going. I know.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just a little tense. I have to get Brayden to work, and then I need to get into the office. Izzy’s opening up again this morning, but I was gone all last week.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “I wish you didn’t have to go. I wish I didn’t have to get to work, but we do.” She looked up at him. “I suppose this is the point where the rubber hits the road—where we figure out if we can make this work once real life sets back in.”
“We can. There’s nothing to figure out, Audrey. We can and we will. The only thing that could stop us is if you don’t want this.”
“I do.”
His eyes widened, and she felt his heart thundering in his chest as she leaned against him. Crap! Had those two words conjured up the same thing
in his mind as they had in hers? She knew that most men weren’t interested in getting married—she wasn’t either. She didn’t want to scare him off.
“I want you, I want us to keep seeing each other,” she clarified.
His hand came up and cupped her cheek, and he claimed her mouth in one of those kisses that left her breathless—and not just because it took her by surprise; he hadn’t kissed her like that in public before.
When the kiss finally ended, he rested his forehead against hers and looked deep into her eyes. “I do.”
It made her heart race. It sounded as though … no. She was getting carried away. She had to be. Men like him weren’t looking to get married. She knew that. And besides, there was no need. They were going to keep seeing each other. That was enough.
He stepped away from her and opened the back door to get his bag. “I’d better let you go. I don’t want to make you late.”
She nodded. He was right, but she didn’t want to say goodbye.
He tucked his fingers under her chin and planted a peck on her lips. “Call me tonight?”
She nodded.
“And I’ll come back for you tomorrow.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait.”
~ ~ ~
It was five o’clock before Ted finally leaned back in his chair. He’d had a lot to catch up on after not being here all of last week.
He looked up at the sound of a knock on the door. Diego came and leaned in the doorway.
“Are we done for the day?”
“Yep.”
Diego smiled. “You look tired. Is that because you worked too hard today or because you played too hard this weekend?”
“Perhaps a little of both.”
“Perhaps you should give up one or the other.”
Ted frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Work or play. Perhaps it’s time you choose one.”
