Page 16 of Stealing Kisses

Teddy had the wisdom not to sayI told you so, but his gleeful smile said it for him.

“Did you eat?” she asked.

“Yes, thank you.Someoneleft yogurt and fruit and these amazing muffins. They were delicious.”

“And the barn is adequate for your stay?”

“More than,” he confirmed. “Again, someone set it up just right.”

He paused, and Baylin nodded, feeling obligated to acknowledge his compliment but adamantly refusing to let him know she was the one who’d made the muffins the day before, she’d decorated the barndominium when they added it to the barn a few years earlier, and she’d taken a few minutes to get it ready for Teddy while he’d called Jax about his car.

He’s nothing but grief.

By the end of their afternoon in the garden the previous day, Baylin had considered letting him rent the condo. Then she’d reprimanded herself for even thinking such a thing. But then she’d softened during dinner and run upstairs to be sure he had some food and necessities to make his stay enjoyable. She’d wanted the space to be warm and inviting for him, just in case he didn’t find a hotel room. The moment that thought ran through her head, she had promptly scolded herself for being weak and had mentally put her foot down:Teddy Gwenn needs to go.

That he hadn’t even tried to find a hotel room proved it!

But she’d caved a third time when she’d been sitting in her truck as he gathered his bags. Watching him talk to his ridiculous car while he handled it with kid gloves tugged at her heartstrings.

All that wishy-washy emotional stuff gave Baylin a headache. She’d take the fact that Teddy consumed so much — orany— of her thoughts to the grave. There was no telling what he’d have done with the information.

“Want me to pay you each morning?” He reached for his back pocket. “$500 per day, I believe.” She smirked at the teasing twinkle in his eyes.

“One check at the end will be fine.” Baylin pushed back from the table and stood, slid in her chair, and stepped to the sink. She finished her coffee, savoring the last drop. She rinsed the mug and set it in the dishwasher. Then she walked to the coat rack by the door, selected a sherpa-lined work jacket, and opened the door. Just before she headed to the chicken coop to collect eggs, she glanced back over her shoulder to meet Teddy’s gaze. “And yes, $500 per day will suffice,” she added with a little shoulder shake of snootiness.

By golly, two can play that game!

8

If you’ve broken the eggs,

you should make the omelette.

Anthony Eden

Teddy didn’t waste any time, quickly rinsing his mug and setting it in the dishwasher. He glanced around the kitchen…spic-and-span, just as he would’ve guessed.

Before he flew out the door in Baylin’s wake, Teddy noticed a spiral notebook on the countertop. She’d left it open to an extensive list of tasks:

Finish quilt (take photos!)

Deliver quilt to Miss Sadie

Merch for booth:

? FQ bundles (press and tie)

? Napkins

? Tablecloths

? Pillows

? Soaps (finish packaging)

? Farm tees

? Valentine’s apparel

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