Fool For You (Made for Love Book 4) (28 page)

“Jude?”

“Teddy?”

“I had a really great time today. Thank you.”

I can see the sincerity of her gratitude in her eyes, and it stirs something inside of me. I realize, as I look to her swollen lips, that I’ve enjoyed every damn minute with her, too.

“You’re welcome,” I assure her, leaning down for one more kiss. “Goodnight, Teddy.”

“Goodnight.”

M
onday blows in with the wind. Literally. It’s so windy outside, I contemplate skipping out on a lunch run entirely. Fortunately for me, Geoffrey walks in after his break with a doggy bag that I don’t even have to beg for. One pleading look in his direction, and his half-eaten Mediterranean bowl is mine.

“And where do you think you’re going?” he asks as I grab my chair and begin wheeling it to the supply room.

“I’m going to hide out while I eat, today. I’m hoping to get Harper on the phone.”

“Ahh,” he hums, wiggling his eyebrows. “You’re going to tell her about last night, aren’t you?”

“You know I am,” I reply, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. My smile, on the other hand, wouldn’t stay hidden even if I tried. “I haven’t really told her anything. She’ll kill me if she learns from
Ben
that I’m dating her boyfriend’s brother.”

“So they made it official?” he asks, lifting a single brow.

I nod, remembering the voicemail she left me a little over a week ago. She’s so into Ben, I feel like he’s almost all we ever talk about anymore—that is, when we can get a hold of each other. I’m not complaining, of course. I’m thrilled for her. Ben is a really great guy, and if she didn’t gush about him as much as she does, I’d only be begging for the details. But now I have someone to gush about, too.

Holy shit. I have someone to gush about…

“Well, go on, get out of here. I don’t need her bitching me out, either. You know how she gets when I know more than her,” he says with a sly grin.

I wink at him because he’s right, and because he’s sure to know more about Jude than I plan on telling my sister. There are just some details I think she doesn’t need to hear. All she needs to know is that I like him. A lot. And when he’s not busy being an ass—he’s actually really wonderful.

After closing myself into the supply room, I kick off my heels and sit cross-legged in the chair, resting my lunch in my lap. I dial Harper and then stare up to the ceiling, sending up a silent prayer that she’ll answer. When she does, I pump my fist in the air, a huge grin spreading across my face.

“Hey, Teddy! Could you hold on for a second?”

“Yeah, sure,” I tell her, putting the call on speaker before resting my phone on my knee.

I hear her murmur what sounds like a goodbye, then there’s a pause of silence followed by a giggle. I stare down at my screen with a raised eyebrow, wondering exactly what I interrupted. A few seconds later, she’s back.

“Sorry. Just finished lunching with Ben. I’m here now.”

“
Lunching?
” I ask with a laugh. “Why, don’t you sound
special.
”

“Shut up,” she says, joining in on my laughter. “He’s a very busy guy. You have no idea how fucking special I am that he squeezed me into his schedule today.”

“Pshhh,” I hiss. “Whatever. I know
exactly
how special you are. I met you first. I’ve known you longer. He’s got nothing on me.”

“I don’t know—he does this thing with his tongue—”

“Okay! Here’s where I interrupt you. I actually called for a reason,” I confess, pushing around the food in my bowl.

“Oh, yeah? Let’s hear it. I’m all ears.”

I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly, wondering exactly how this will go. The last time we talked about Jude, he was the
bad cop
. So much has happened since then. Now, we’re dating—exclusively, according to him. I know that Harper was all for the idea of us before, but I wonder if this will actually be weird—her younger sister dating her boyfriend’s older brother.

“Teddy? Are you there?”

“I’m dating Judah.” The words tumble out of my mouth without the slightest bit of finesse. And once I start—I can’t stop. “It sort of just…happened. It would take way too long to tell you the whole story, but we went out on our first date last night and it was—Harper—
gosh
—I can’t even tell you how amazing it was. He took me to the ballet, and then dinner, and then we made-out for, like,
ever
. You think Ben is a good kisser? I can’t imagine that anyone is better than Jude. I swear. And I know after your visit, I told you I wasn’t into him, but I am. I really am and—”

“Teddy! Goddamn! Take a breath. Let me catch up. Shit!”

I stop, my hand reaching for my bottom lip before I pinch it between my fingers. “Sorry,” I mumble.

“First of all, why didn’t you tell me before that this was going on?”

I shrug, even though she can’t see me, before I explain. “There wasn’t really much to tell before this weekend. Up until last night, it was mostly just flower deliveries, a couple really great kisses, and promises of a date that almost didn’t happen.”

“This is a big deal, Teddy Bear. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. You haven’t dated a guy in
years
.”

“I know,” I sigh, suddenly feeling guilty for
not
telling her sooner. “I’ve been in my head about it a lot. Sometimes, I’m still not sure if this is a great idea. But I like him. I like the way he makes me feel. I can’t say for sure where we’ll end up, but—”

“Hey—you don’t have to explain it to me. I’m so proud of you. Seriously, Teddy.” She sighs, and I imagine her running her fingers through her hair like she does when she’s trying to process big news. “You deserve to be happy. You deserve a guy who makes you feel good inside. It’s what I want for you. And if Jude makes your heart race, then I’m glad you’re giving him a chance.”

“Really? It’s not weird? I mean, after that night—”

“I heard it in your voice; I could tell how he effected you
before
we knew that he was Ben’s brother. It’s not weird that you’re opening yourself up for once. Now—I need a
hell
of a lot more details, and I need them now. You better talk fast, bitch, because I’m not hanging up until you’ve told me everything.”

I roll my eyes, wishing she wouldn’t call me that, but more than happy to tell her all about Jude. Well—the good parts, at least.

When I walk into the Pub, it’s a quarter after seven. I head straight for the bar and order a scotch. With my suit jacket in the car, I have the freedom to roll up my shirt cuffs, pushing my sleeves to my elbows before I loosen my tie. It’s been a long day, and I have to make the drive back to Fort Collins in a couple hours. I’m hoping a drink, a little baseball, and dinner with my brother will help me relax before I get on the road.

Benjamin is more of a basketball fan than a baseball fan, but this particular sports pub has always suited both of our tastes just fine. I expect he’ll be here any minute. I sip at my drink, my eyes bouncing back and forth between two separate games on the screens above the bar. I’m pulled from my thoughtless daze only when I feel a hand clap on my shoulder. I turn to see Ben as he occupies the seat next to me, lifting a finger to signal the bartender.

“Hey, glad you could make it.”

“Yeah, me too,” he says, draping his jacket over the back of his chair. “What were you doing down here, again?”

“Work bullshit,” I mutter, shaking my head to emphasize my dislike of the topic.

“Uh-oh. It’s not often you talk bad about the job. What happened?”

“Dealing with someone else’s fuck-up. It’s not the end of the world—just had to do some clean up. You know I’d rather be designing than worrying about that kind of shit. Guess it comes with the territory.”

“That’s why they pay you the big bucks, right?” he says with a lopsided grin.

“Yeah. Something like that.” I take another swig of my drink and he orders one for himself before I ask, “What about you? You good?”

“Man—I’m
busy
,” he says with a sigh, reaching up to run his fingers through his hair. He shrugs before he continues. “Can’t complain, though. Great job. Great girl—what do I have to gripe about?”

“You and Harper?”

“Yup,” he says, grabbing his beer as he turns to face me. “Interesting that you actually remember her name.”

“Why wouldn’t I remember? It’s only been a couple weeks since I’ve seen you last,” I point out, scrunching my brow at him.

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” he says, shaking his head. “What exactly are you doing with Harper’s sister?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t fuck with me, Jude,” he says, pointing his beer at me. “I like Harper a lot, and I don’t need you screwing things up for me by messing with Teddy.”

I angle my body toward his, mirroring his stance as I frown at him. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but
you said
she was fair game.”

“For the night! She was fair game for that one night. Which, by the way, care to explain how the girl who practically
ran away
from you wants anything to do with you now?” I offer him a knowing smirk, surprised that he would even ask such a thing. “You are
such
a dick,” he says, trying and failing to fight a smile.

“I’m pretty good with it, too.”

“God, I want to strangle you right now,” he says with a laugh. “I’m serious, though. What’s going on with you two?”

The fact that we’re even having this conversation is proof that Teddy has been talking to Harper, and Harper has been talking to Benjamin. Exactly what information has been passed along from one contact to another is what gives me pause. I know the Fitzpatrick sisters are close, but how much does Harper know? And how much of what she knows would she share with my brother, when what she was told was done so in sisterly-confidence?

I decide to keep my answers simple, divulging little to no details.

“We’re dating,” I finally reply.

Benjamin gapes at me, speechless for a moment.

“What do you mean—you’re
dating?
”

“I’m sure you don’t need me to define the term, Ben.”

“I’m surprised you even know what it means,
Jude
.”

“Just because I don’t make a habit of the act doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it.”

“But why Teddy?”

“Why
not
Teddy?”

He studies me for a minute, his eyes still staring me down as he takes a long pull from his beer. “If you hurt her and it fucks up my relationship, I’ll beat the crap out of you.”

“First of all, I’d like to see you try, kid,” I say with a chuckle. “Second, I sure as hell hope that Harper and Teddy are capable of making decisions independently. My relationship with Teddy has no bearing on your relationship with Harper. At the very least, I hope we’re all grown up enough to realize that.”

“Your
relationship
with Teddy? Who are you? What have you done with my brother?”

“Still me, Ben.”

“Yeah,” he mutters, eyeing me suspiciously. “That’s what worries me.” We’re both silent for a beat, each of us taking another sip of our drinks. I’m not at all surprised when Ben starts in again. “She’s nine years younger than you, man.”