Page 10 of Stealing Kisses

Baylin’s pulse quickened. She had put an enormous amount of time into designing the block layout, playing with how she wanted to piece the heart shapes, writing the steps to followto make it, illustrating the instructions, and pulling a variety of fabrics in eclectic prints and compatible colors, not to mention the hours it took to cut the pieces, sew them back together, load the longarm machine, and quilt the layers together. Without a word or even a sound — odd for Theodore Gwenn, it seemed — he lowered the recliner and stood to study the quilt. Teddy leaned close to the fabric and looked over every heart-shaped block. He grinned, nodding his approval when he noticed a scrap of a vintage-styled baseball print in reds and pinks, and locked eyes with her.

Her breath caught. She wanted Teddy to realize it was much more than a pile of fabric; Baylin needed him to see that she’d put part of herself into the creation.

“It’s a work of art,” he said, not joking, and not laughing…but with sincere deference.

“I hope the judges agree,” she said, her voice softer than she’d intended. “It’s the first quilt I’ve entered in a competition. I’m not sure how it’ll stack up to the others, but I figured it was worth a try. I mean—” Baylin cut off her rambling. “I hope they like it.”

“They’d be blind not to,” Teddy said, picking up the bottom edge and helping Baylin fold it back onto her lap as she sat down to continue sewing.

He returned to his seat on the recliner but kept both feet on the ground, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees while he watched her movements. His attention heightened Baylin’s senses, and yet, she wouldn’t have described the sensation as repulsive. If forced, she might’ve even admitted that his company was rather nice.

“What did Jax have to say?” Baylin asked, eager to move the conversation to topicsnotcentered on herself, her quilting skills, or the project she’d prayed over for several weeks.

“I should’ve called him earlier in the day. He’s going to send a tow truck in the morning, but he won’t be able to look at Boxy until Wednesday, maybe even Thursday. By the time he orders parts and waits for them to arrive, he suspects it’ll be the middle of next week before I’m out of here.”

When she didn’t comment, Teddy continued.

“He also said I’d be hard-pressed to find a place to stay, that rooms in town are full for the festival. He thought me calling around to look for one would be a waste of time.”

“Did he now?”

Baylin didn’t look away from her stitching, didn’t dare glance at his pleading puppy-dog eyes. Her peripheral vision betrayed her, though.

He scratched his head, as though working up the courage to ask the question she didnotwant him asking. He didn’t even try to hide the guilty grin on his face.

“Couldn’t I just stay here? With you?”

“Nope,” Baylin answered, setting her quilt bundle to the side and standing to walk away. That’s what Papa Joe had always advised:If a situation takes a turn down a dangerous road, remove yourself from the situation.

“Come on, Baylin. Please?” He followed her down the hall and up the stairs but halted when she entered her bedroom. “You won’t even know I’m here.”

“Fat chance of that,” Baylin called over her shoulder as she stepped into her closet to retrieve a pair of house shoes she could wear in the truck.

He’d grated on her nerves with his incessant happiness, ceaseless chattering, and cheerful humming all afternoon. Even while washing dishes and scraping the skillet, he’d taken the concept ofwhistle while you workto an extra dimension. No way —no how— she would be unaware of his presence.

“Where am I supposed to go?” That fine line between charming and annoying might’ve worked for Teddy in the past, but not anymore…not with Baylin O’Casey,she vowed.

“Since Jax says there aren’t any rooms in town, and you decided not to call and find out for yourself, I’ll give you a ride to the Lodge.” Problem solved.

“Where is that?”

“At Daisy Lake.”

“How far away is Daisy Lake?”

“Eight miles back to Green Hills…fifteen miles to the lake.”

“How am I supposed to get back to town in the morning?”

“Looks like you have two legs that work just fine,” she pointed out with an indulgent smile.

“Thanks for noticing,” he said, all jovial pride. “But seriously, what will I do out there for a week while Jax has Boxy?”

“Not my problem,” she said with a shrug, suppressing the grin threatening to defeat her. Sparring with Teddy was fun. But not enough fun to relent! Or perhaps it would prove too much fun. That was Baylin’s bigger fear. “Let’s go,” she ordered, leaving him to follow.

By the time Teddy reached the garage, Baylin had snapped her seatbelt into place and turned the key in the ignition, thankful the starter caught and the old truck engine came to life on her first attempt.

“Are you really going to abandon me at the lake?” he asked, again teetering between adorable and infuriating.

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