“I think you’re so used to the game that you don’t always realize you’re doing it. It’s not a judgment, just an observation.”
“An observation that feels suspiciously like judgment.”
Teddy laughed and the sound echoed around us, wrapped around me and gave a tight squeeze. “Maybe your perception of yourself has something to do with that.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s your perception of me.”
She let out another of those inviting laughs and I took a few steps closer, watching her move gracefully, so swiftly and with such ease. Teddy was at home on a worksite. She was comfortable and confident and, dammit, that was sexy as hell.
“A perception that is fact- and observation-based,” she clarified, and I could hear the smile in her voice even if I couldn’t see her face.
“I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“Fine by me.”
Teddy worked for long minutes without saying a word, seemingly not bothered at all by my intrusion.
But she was. I knew she was, and bastard that I was, I set out to prove it.
“I thought about you in the shower this morning, Teddy.”
“Yeah? Was I wearing nothing but my toolbelt?”
I blinked and then frowned. “Your toolbelt?”
She nodded. “Yep. Plenty of men have used that line over the years and they all think they’re the first.”
I didn’t like the idea of men saying that cheesy shit to her, even though I just had. “Your brothers put up with that?”
She shrugged. “Men are men, Cal. I can’t let my brothers risk prison every time some guy acts like a prick. I handle it myself, how I see fit.” She let out an amused laugh. “But feel free to tell me about your shower experience.”
She expected me to backtrack, but Teddy didn’t know me as well as she thought she did. “Instead of being naked across the table, you were on your knees in front of me, working me with your magical mouth.”
She sucked in a shocked breath and then a small smile curved her lips up. “You were pretty worked up about it. Good times,” she sighed and pointed a finger at me. “It’s not happening again. Not the blow job or anything else.”
I held my hands up defensively. “I haven’t asked. Yet.”
“If you change your mind, the answer is thanks, but no thanks.”
I could pretend her words didn’t sting, but I made it a habit to never lie to myself, and it stung like hell. “But you had a good time?”
“Very good.” She nodded. “That’s not the point.”
“The point is you have your eye on some other man? One who would make a good boyfriend?”
Silence.
“You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”
“No, Cal, that’s not my style.” Her tone wasn’t offended, just plain and matter-of-fact.
“Don’t you want to know if I’m seeing anyone?”
Teddy grinned. “I was there when you sent your last woman packing, remember?”
“I remember that she left when it became clear we had different relationship goals.” I shrugged off thoughts of Alana. She’d called a few times to see if things had changed, and started with the waterworks and name calling when it was obvious they hadn’t. “I’m not seeing anyone, in case you were curious.”
“I’m not.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because, Cal, we’ve done what we both set out to do. You wanted to have sex with me because you think I’m attractive now, and I slept with you for the same reason, basically. We both got what we wanted, and no one was hurt because there were no feelings involved. Just fun and orgasms.”
“And we can only have fun and orgasms once?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Teddy stood up to her full height, but it was still about five inches shorter than my own six-foot-two frame. “Because I said so.”
I leaned in until barely a breath separated our lips. Her breath hitched and I smiled, brushing a soft kiss to her lips before I pulled back. “I reserve the right to change your mind, Teddy.”
“And I reserve the right to opt out of whatever game this is you feel like playing.” She took a step back and turned back to the pile of wood. “I have work to do.”
She thought this was all a game because she still thought I was the cruel kid she remembered.
“Why does it have to be a game? You said it yourself, we were spectacular in bed together. Why wouldn’t any sane man want to repeat that?”
“Because if you sleep together more than once, a woman might start to get ideas. Right?”
“Sometimes, yeah. But you and I want the same things. Don’t we?”
She was so adamant that we were one and done, I assumed she didn’t want anything serious either.
Teddy nodded. “Yes and no. We wanted each other and, for one night, we both got exactly what we wanted. But I don’t waste time on men who won’t even consider something beyond occasional hookups. I only risk my heart with men I can trust.”