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“It’s just a small stage that can accommodate no more than four adults at once, and half a dozen privacy booths for the silent auction items. We’re going for a more upscale feel this year, but I promise it’ll be the same Night of a Thousand Heroes ball you know and love.”
Teddy nodded as she took in the details contained on Suzie’s clipboard. “How much time will I have?”
“The ball is a month away, is that enough time?”
“Yeah. It’ll be tight, but we can manage it.” Teddy didn’t look happy about it, but she was a hometown girl and wouldn’t disappoint.
Suzie brightened at her words and gave Teddy’s shoulder a squeeze. “Your donation isn’t just appreciated, Teddy, it is a valuable part of our efforts. Thank you.”
“I’m happy to do my part, Suzie.” She stiffened when she felt my hand settle low on her back, but she didn’t push me away, she just glared. When Suzie walked away, though, Teddy turned to me and gave my chest a hard shove. “Keep your paws off me.”
I grinned at her words, her heat. She was beautiful, but when she was all fired up, she was breathtaking. “You like it,” I insisted with an even bigger grin. She arched a brow in challenge.
“It’ll be real hard to perform surgery with broken fingers, Cal.”
I remembered Austin’s words, and Hannah’s too, but I decided I liked this version of Teddy better than the nice girl.
I let my hand drop, but only after a long moment passed between us. “You know, Teddy, it’s bad form to talk to your boss like that.”
She scoffed, then let out a husky laugh. “I’m my own boss, Cal. It’s the beauty of having your name on the company letterhead.”
“Since Teddy Brothers will be renovating my house, that makes me your boss for the foreseeable future.” She’d sent the bid over the weekend, and it was reasonable and within the budget I’d set for myself. I had a professional letter all written up for her, but this seemed like a better time to let her know. I laid a sympathetic hand on her shoulder and sighed. “I promise not to ride you too hard.”
“Wrong,” she growled and swiped my hand off her shoulder. “You’re the homeowner, Cal. If you could do my job, your bachelor pad would already be complete.” Teddy paused and took a deep breath to put on her professional mask and smile. “Thank you for the business, Dr. Rutledge. I’ll get back to you soon about the payment and work schedule.”
“I’m not a big fan of this all-business Teddy.”
She laughed and the sound worked its way under my skin. “Good. I need to get back to the office, where’s Austin?”
Oh. Right. “Told me to tell you he’s waiting by the truck.”
She glared at me and then walked off without a farewell. I wasn’t bothered by her annoyance—I had weeks, maybe even months to apologize, to become friends and work our way up to lovers.
Temporary lovers, anyway.
“You’re playing with fire,” Suzie’s soft voice sounded right behind me. The woman specialized in stealth, popping up at the most inopportune times to get what she wanted.
I shrugged and turned to face her. “Fire keeps you warm. It cooks your food and lights up the night. Fire is good.”
“Until you get burned,” she offered in a sing-song voice. “I can’t wait to see what happens next.” Suzie pushed her pale pink glasses up her nose and grinned. “Fire can also burn, something an ER doctor should know well.”
She wasn’t wrong, but Teddy seemed like the kind of fire that would burn so good.
Teddy
The first day working on Cal’s house started off smoothly. It was me and four other guys—that was all I could spare from the other work sites for the day, but it was enough.
“Okay, guys, we’re gonna start outside and work our way inside. Stevie, Tom, and Daryl, start with the back porch. It’s going to end up a mudroom, so you know what to do. Casey, you’re with me on the front porch.” Cal didn’t want much done on the front, just some sanding and a fresh coat of paint.
“Sounds good, boss,” the guys chorused.
Other than rock music blasting from the back of the house, we all worked for hours in relative silence. The house was great, with nice old bones. It was almost a shame to make any changes to the place, so I was impressed that Cal didn’t want to make major upgrades to the existing style.
While he wanted a bachelor pad, he respected the history of the house—something I wouldn’t have expected from a man like him. It didn’t make him likable or more appealing, but it was a pleasant surprise.
The day started off sunny and hot, and the closer we came to midday, the hotter it got. That was the nature of the job, unfortunately, but working in the heat was better than working in the cold.
