by Ellie Hall
When their food came, his phone started ringing and he finally shut off the sound. He stretched his hands across the table and said, “Want to pray over our meal?”
She nodded and they offered gratitude for the abundance in their lives and making time to share a meal with each other.
Sophie twirled the spaghetti with her fork, making sure it was well-coated with the secret sauce.
He waited, leaning in as though anxiously anticipating her reaction. After one bite, she leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and moaned. “The pasta you made was good, but this is...”
“I think I’m going to need to find out that recipe,” Teagh said with a wink.
“Wow. Wow. Wow. It’s amazing.”
“Made with love, as the menu said,” he said in his Scottish accent.
Sophie recalled him mentioning that he fell in love with her voice. She struggled with how to approach the subject of them, how to talk about their relationship. She’d never been good at that, which made it particularly difficult when things had ended with Hayden. She didn’t trust herself to say the right thing or speak the truth. Not because she was a liar. No, not at all, but she feared what would happen if she spoke the truth and was rejected. She knew its sting and wanted to avoid it at all costs.
Teagh’s phone must’ve kept on vibrating in his pocket because he said, “I should’ve left my mobile at home. It’s all work stuff and again, I’m sorry that I’ve let it get in the way of our stuff. But how about we make Sunday our day.” He emphasized the word our.
“Don’t you usually have private clients?”
“But I’m the boss. I can make up my own rules.”
“I wonder how the owners of this restaurant made it work. They must’ve been together all the time, but busy cooking and running the place.”
“Well, let’s plan to come here every Sunday for dinner until we figure it out.”
She clinked her water glass with his. “I like that idea.”
“I like...I like you a lot, Sophie. I want to try to make this work, whatever it takes.”
She nodded. “Me too,” she answered, but at the same time started coughing. She’d swallowed a peppercorn and had to take a sip of water. The nagging voice in her head piped up again. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.
She dismissed the thought as the server brought over the dessert menu. “I am all about the cannoli,” she said, having recovered from the coughing attack.
“Make that two,” Teagh added. “Chocolate on yours or not?” he asked her before the waitress left.
“I’ll keep it simple this time,” she said. “Classic.”
“And I’ll have the chocolate.”
“Pistachios too?” the server asked, pointing to the option on the menu that offered cannoli three ways: traditional, chocolate edged, or chocolate edged with pistachios.
He nodded. “Okay, Sophie. You and I seem to be opposites, but let’s see if that’s actually true.”
Her lips twitched with amusement. “What do you mean?”
“You sing in a choir and I like loud rock. You’re sweet and I’ve been described as...salty.”
“I disagree, but I’ll keep that to myself. Our secret.” She made a show of locking her lips and throwing away the key.
His eyes twinkled like he smiled internally at the comment but wouldn’t dare admit he was a softy inside. “Do you like hot or cold?”
“Bring on the heat. I’m a southern girl.”
“I prefer a stiff wind.”
She laughed. “Okay, I have one. Beach or mountains?”
“Mountains.”
“Beach, baby,” she said. “Dogs or cats?”
“Obviously, I’m loyal to Nick Furry.”
They went on, trading questions and establishing that they were indeed opposites in so many ways.
When the cannoli came, Sophie’s thoughts drifted to how she might incorporate some more Italian desserts at the bakery, but she pushed thoughts of work away, focusing on being with Teagh.
After they were done, he paid and left a generous tip. Soon they were walking home, hand in hand. It was between Thanksgiving and Christmas and many of the shops were festive with lights and holiday décor.
They stopped by a manager scene and admired it for a moment, talking about the church and choir. He promised to go to the Christmas Vespers.
When they reached their neighborhood, the scent of Christmas trees for sale gusted on the wind.
“I love this time of year,” Sophie said.
“Me too.”
“At last, something we have in common.” She burst out with a laugh.
They’d reached their building, but she wasn’t ready for the evening to end. She invited him into her apartment for cocoa.
As they entered, a large mirror hung opposite the door. The two of them stood in contrast.
He was tall, practically hulking, but with lean muscles and angular features.
She was short and had soft curves.
His hair was cropped, hers long.
His eyes light, her’s dark.
She wanted to marry someday and have a family. He’d been married and wanted no part in it. They were both busy with their careers. That was another thing they had in common but had been successfully keeping them apart.
She blinked at their reflection, wondering if they could possibly make it work and if she could get past the voice of doubt in her mind.
As though reading her thoughts, he planted a kiss on the top of her head.
“About two years ago, I was home visiting and broke an antique mirror. Shortly after Teresa and I divorced. I was convinced I was cursed with seven years of bad luck.” He shook his head and turned to her. “But I was wrong. There’s no such thing as bad luck because I met you.”
At that, they kissed, losing themselves in each other, at the moment they shared. But it was soon interrupted by the vibration of Teagh’s phone in his pocket even though he’d silenced it.
Hayden had a constant stream of messages and calls, but at least Teagh didn’t answer every single one. Still, it was distracting.
“It’s getting late. I have to get up early tomorrow.” She imagined he did too.
“What’s on the menu?”
“I’m trying out a baked doughnuts recipe.”
He smiled. “I’ll stop by and test one out.”
She nodded.
“I feel like I should say this.” He scrubbed his hand down the back of his neck. “I don’t want to keep you from your work or come between you and success.”
“Likewise.” She meant it, but the words felt like a dismissal. She swallowed back saying as much.
“There are seasons of life and all kinds of relationships. Right now we’re both busy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care about each other or that we don’t have a future together.”
She brightened, thinking of marriage. She rather liked the idea of a future, but all she could think about were the doughnuts and how she had to remember to order more nutmeg. “I guess I could figure out how to work a boxing theme into a spring wedding.”
Teagh’s expression darkened. He lowered onto the couch and rested his elbows on his knees. Sophie sat down on the chair opposite him, wringing her hands. She’d said the wrong thing.
“Listen, there’s something else about me you should know. In addition to being a boxer, I was a lawyer.”
Her chin tucked back. That she had not seen coming.
“Remember, I’m several years older than you. I’d wanted to leave boxing fully behind and do something mature, lucrative.” He exhaled through his nose. “I’d studied law at University, but then returned to school for two years—anyway, the details aren’t important.”
On the contrary, she wanted to know everything.
“My point is, I saw so many ugly divorces, including my own. Because of that, I don’t want to get married again.”
A thick lump rose in Sophie’s throat. No, maybe she didn’t want to know anything.
Granted, she knew about him and Teresa, but he said no to marriage so boldly, so confidently.
“Teresa took everything, but I fought my way back and turned what had been a dream when I’d retired from the ring, into a reality in the Uppercut Boxing Club.”
Her thoughts had been bouncing around earlier at choir, but now they scrambled. “I’m sorry. I just thought since you said future together...” she trailed off. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “I didn’t mean to be pushy or assume anything.”
“But we can still date. Let’s take things slow. See where they go.”
She nodded, fighting back the heat in her cheeks and the tears forming in her eyes. How would they both take things slow? They were both so busy, life was flying by. It would be Christmas soon.
“So, Sunday night date night?” he asked. “You and me? Il Bacio.” Teagh got to his feet.
She struggled to smile, but wished him goodnight, sealing it with a kiss and fearing it would be the last.
The next day, Sophie’s attempt at making doughnuts was a major fail. She tried to replicate Teagh’s scones but didn’t get them right either. She’d started to doubt herself. Fearing she wasn’t good enough.
Hayden had succeeded at making her feel secondary to everything and it turned out his parents wanted a different wife for him anyway. It was just as well, but a pit had formed in her stomach and she couldn’t shake it.
She forced herself to think about everything that had happened the previous night before Teagh dropped the no-marriage-bomb.
Meeting him at church, going to dinner, the il bacio pasta dish. The kiss they’d shared. The one that lit her up, made her feel worthy and adored despite her misgivings.
She turned back to baking and whipped up a no-fail recipe. Her double chocolate Hershey’s Kiss cupcakes with a secret whipped peanut butter core. The magic cupcakes, at least according to Jennifer.
Keisha brought back the mail when it was delivered and set it on Sophie’s desk. “Mmm. Smells like heaven.”
“I’ll save one for you,” Sophie said with a wink and then checked the mail.
She sorted through several offers for lines of credit and circulars from other businesses. A slim envelope from the leasing agent caught her attention. She tore it open. As she read, her heart sank into the pit in her stomach.
She was being kicked out of the space in the building because the owner wanted to use it for their own enterprise.
For a while, it had seemed like everything was coming together, despite her and Teagh’s difficulty in making time for each other. Now everything was falling apart.
She longed for Teagh’s comforting presence and rushed next door with the cupcakes, realizing that was probably one of the last times she’d bake in that kitchen.
The gym was busy with clients and trainers in various stages of a sweat-fest. She’d come to recognize several of Teagh’s employees and Anna at the front desk waved to her. “He’s in his office.”
She walked to the back and knocked on the door.
“Come on in,” his muffled voice called.
Sophie presented a plate with the cupcakes on it. “The doughnuts didn’t work out so I made you these. There’s a surprise in the center.”
“Just the woman I was thinking about and funny, you were thinking about me. That makes another thing we have in common. We’re winning at this.” He smiled, helping himself to a cupcake thick with vanilla frosting and topped with a candy Kiss.
“I also have a kiss for you.” She lifted on her toes and planted one on his lips. “I’m sorry about the marriage talk. I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s too soon. I probably sounded crazy.”
He shook his head like it was no big deal and then peeled the wrapper off the chocolate cupcake base. “This smells so good and we’re good. Remember, no worries, Sophie.”
“Well, enjoy it because Honey and Lavender will soon be no more.”
His head jerked in her direction. “What do you mean?”
“I take it you didn’t get a notice. Maybe it’s just my commercial space. The landlord wants my part of the building. I have thirty days.”
“I think that’s against the law. I’ll look into it. We’ll figure it out. We’re a team, right?” He didn’t seem overly concerned and took a bite of the cupcake at the same time his phone beeped. He checked it, replied, and when he looked up, his face was pale.
“Are you okay?”
Teagh’s cheeks had started to swell. He opened and closed his mouth as his eyes widened. He fell against his desk, barely holding himself up.
Sophie rushed over and gripped his arm. “What’s wrong?” Was he experiencing anaphylactic shock? She’d never seen someone have it in real life and she didn’t know if he and any allergies.
He mumbled an answer, but his tongue must’ve been swollen and she couldn’t understand him.
She picked up his phone and dialed 911. Her heart raced as she reported what had happened.
Meanwhile, he’d made it behind his desk and was tearing it apart as though looking for something. What it was, she had no idea. He collapsed and the cupcake fell from his hand. He wasn’t allergic to chocolate. The secret center had peanut butter in it. Did he have a peanut allergy?
Sophie yelled for help and then, still with his phone in her hand, she dialed Teresa’s number while searching his desk.
When his ex-wife answered, without preamble, Sophie asked, “Is Teagh allergic to nuts?”
“Deathly.”
“Where’s his EpiPen?”
But of course, Teresa wouldn’t know. Sophie rooted through his desk, which was sorely disorganized, another way in which they differed.
“When you find it, jam it into his thigh until it clicks. I’ll be right there,” Teresa said.
At last, Sophie’s hand landed on a slim cylinder with an orange cap. She opened it and plunged it into Teagh’s thigh, praying she wasn’t too late.
Chapter 14
Teagh
Teagh was hot and cold. The murmuring of voices sounded in the background. The room seemed bright even though his eyes were closed. When he opened them, two familiar faces came into view, hovering over him. One with dark hair and the other with light. Teresa and Sophie.
“Looks like he’s awake. Glad you’re okay, you big jerk.”
“Teresa doesn’t mean that.” Sophie’s voice was low and trembled.
“No, I do. But that doesn’t mean I want you dead. You’re better to antagonize while you live and breathe.”
He snorted, thankful he was alive. “If I were dead, you can be sure I’d haunt you.”
“You already do. Anyway, I have to go. It’s been nice, visiting the States, but warmer climates and a certain shipping magnate’s son with a yacht docked in the Mediterranean call my name. Until next time, love birds.” Teresa wiggled her fingers in goodbye.
“Oh, and Teagh, you’re an idiot on top of being a jerk for not telling Sophie about your allergy. The big man can’t show weakness,” she said in a mocking tone. “Not my problem anymore. You can have him, Sophie.” The door opened and closed.
Teagh blinked his eyes into focus, gazing at Sophie. At an angel.
“I should probably go too. The doctor said you’ll be okay and I’m—” She faltered and looked away. “I’m sorry about the cupcakes. I’m so sorry.” She pressed her hand against his cheek and then squeezed her eyes closed for a second. At that, she dashed out of the room.
Teagh’s body felt like mush and like he’d been knocked out after twelve rounds. He slowly lifted onto his elbows. “Sophie, wait,” he called, but his voice was gravelly. Too late.
He flopped back. Aye, he was an idiot for not telling Sophie about the peanut situation. He was usually pretty careful and had hoped he’d somehow gotten over the allergy. Wishful thinking.
He hadn’t had a reaction in years. Maybe it was the recent stress? Then again, he’d heard that sometimes allergies could get worse with age and he wasn’t getting any younger. Forty hover
ed close. And that had been a close call. Sophie had saved him, but only because he’d let down his guard. He shouldn’t have done that. What if something had happened to him and he could no longer be there for her, to protect her? He’d failed. Teresa’s words echoed in his mind. Just as he’d failed in his first marriage.
After routine monitoring, the doctor released him and gave him a prescription for a replacement EpiPen.
“I suggest you be more careful.”
“Aye, you’re right.” He needed to be more careful and not just about his health. He didn’t want to lead Sophie into thinking they’d ever be more than boyfriend and girlfriend, but if he couldn’t be a strong, reliable, solid man—if he was a guy who’d collapsed after eating a cupcake then maybe he wasn’t enough for her.
He didn’t take time to recover but went right back to work. His office was a mess and his life was in sudden shambles. While cleaning up, he found the letter Sophie had read to him from the building owner, vacating Honey and Lavender from the premises.
If he couldn’t give her himself, the least he could do was find a way for her to keep the bakery. He made a few calls and set things in motion.
He also tried calling Sophie, but she didn’t answer.
In the following days, she didn’t reply, not even when he’d texted her. He needed to talk to her, to tell her it wouldn’t work.
He was a failure when it came to relationships, when it came to protecting her, this time from himself. If he’d gone down and stayed down, if he’d died in front of her...he couldn’t bear the thought.
Jonathan and Keisha were of no help at the bakery. Tony had seen her at church, but that was it. She didn’t answer her door. Mr. Spinigotti was biscotti-less.
It was like a meteor was hurtling toward the earth and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
He’d tricked himself into thinking he could take the full, cheerful blow of Sophie Johannsson. Never mind the reasons he didn’t want to be with anyone, she was different, she was special, and she deserved better than he could give her.
