Fool For You (Made for Love Book 4) (9 page)

“Well, I really think you should reconsider. I know a great florist and—” She seals her lips shut, pressing both hands against her stomach this time.

“Logan, you look pale. Are you all right?”

“Um…I just don’t feel well, which is so odd because I—” She gasps, her eyes wide as she stares at me in complete surprise. “Oh, my god! Oh, my god!”

“What?” I ask, standing to my feet, startled by her behavior.

“
Oh, my god!
”

“Logan—what is going on? Are you all right?”

When she starts laughing, I question her mental well being. I’m so far from understanding what is happening, I don’t know how to respond. Without another word, she turns to leave. She only takes two steps before she’s back in my doorway, the smile on her face bringing the tiniest bit of color back to her skin.

“I think I’m pregnant! I have to—oh, my god—I have to go.” She turns away from me again, laughs, and then reenters to my doorway. “I’ll be back. I have to see Roman. I’ll be back. Um,” she pauses, cupping her hand around her forehead as she shakes her head in disbelief. “I’ll have my cell. I swear I’ll be back. I don’t know when—I just—I have to go. Oh, my god—I think I’m pregnant.”

I frown, still uncertain of the appropriate response to her behavior. “Okay. I’m sure we can manage without you for a couple of hours. I’ll inform Eddalyn when she arrives.”

“Thank you!” she says before leaving me in my office.

I stare at my empty doorway for a moment, hoping that her frazzled state of mind is a temporary state of being in light of her potential
news
. Selfishly, I also wonder what a pregnancy would mean for her career at Eddalyn’s Interiors. Quite frankly, she’s far too talented to give this up for the sake of motherhood. Not that I think less of women who make sacrifices for their children. I don’t. Yet, in the same breath, I’m sure that I never want to be put in that position. Children are certainly not a part of my future plans.

I push such thoughts aside as I sink into my chair, my mind drifting back to the original reason Logan came to see me this morning. It suddenly occurs to me that her suggestion might actually work to my advantage. I definitely don’t have any intention of apologizing to Teddy, but a kind gesture—why, that might just earn me dinner.

It’s while I’m on the MTA gallery’s website, looking for their exact address, that I find out
Teddy
is formally known as
Theodora Fitzpatrick
. I decide to use her full name in the note I intend to have delivered with the flowers. I work until I can spare a moment away, and then I leave the office for the nearest flower shop. It doesn’t take me long to find an arrangement that I deem appropriate. After I write my note and add my business card, I’m on my way back to work.

Just as I’m climbing out of my car, my phone begins to ring. I pull it out, pleased to see that Benjamin is on the line.

“Hello?”

“Jude, hey, do you have a minute?”

“I do,” I assure him as I make my way through the lobby. I chance a glance to my left, looking to see if Logan is back in her office. I see that she’s behind her desk, her eyes bright and a smile playing at her lips. I take that to mean that her excitement from this morning was not unfounded. I’ll have to have a chat with her about her future plans.

Just as I begin to look away, my eyes catch Brittany’s. She’s seated at her desk in the office she shares with Logan. Her eyes are practically smoldering as she stares at me, the pen in her hand tracing her bottom lip. My dick twitches as I imagine her naked, spread out across the conference room table.

“Jude, did I lose you?”

Ben’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I shake my head before hurrying to my office and shutting myself inside.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I wanted to talk to you about Saturday.”

“Don’t tell me you have to cancel.”

“No. I’ll be there. Nine a.m. tee time. I actually wanted to talk to you about dinner. I was thinking of bringing someone.”

I raise an eyebrow before I ask, “You mean, the woman who sleeps fully clothed in your bed?”

“Who said she was fully clothed?”

I chuckle, knowing full-well that
any clothes
at all are far too many. “So, you want to bring this woman to dinner? Ben—if you want to take her out, you don’t need me there. I’m not a fan of the third wheel scenario.”

“You wouldn’t be a third wheel. Look, I told her I was coming up to go to dinner with my brother. Turns out, she has a sister—
a single sister
—who she thought she could convince to come along if we wanted some added company.”

“You’re suggesting we go on a double date?”

“Yes, I suppose I am.”

“Meaning this sister is fair game?”

He sighs and I can imagine him scratching at his jaw, a habit of his when he’s thinking. “Just be a gentleman, okay? That’s all I’m asking.”

“Benjamin, I’m always a gentleman.”

“Right. Well—I really like this girl, so just—don’t screw this up for me. I’m begging you.”

I roll my eyes and nod my agreement. “Fine. But if this sister of hers wants to come home with me, I’m not going to stop her.”

“Neither will I, brother. Neither will I.”

We say our goodbyes, and as I hang my jacket over the back of my chair, I wonder if this
sister
might curb my hunger for the weekend. I could use a hot distraction while I endeavor to seduce the lovely Theodora Fitzpatrick.

One of the things I love best about working in Old Town Fort Collins is that, on nice days, I can spend my lunch hour walking around if I want to. Today, after stopping for a salad, I strolled for a bit, window shopping and people watching. The weather is phenomenal, and there were kids playing at the fountain. I stopped for a few minutes, soaking up their laughter as they ran around in drenched clothes. A part of me was dying to take out my phone and snap a few pictures, but it’s a rule of mine to try my hardest
not
to come across as a total creeper.

Smiling at myself as I make my way back to the gallery, I’m so lost in my thoughts, I almost don’t hear my phone. When I see
Harper
lit up across the screen, I’m quick to answer.

“Hi!”

“Hey, Teddy. Fuck, I can’t believe I actually got a hold of your tatted ass.”

I laugh, shaking my head at her. “I can’t believe you’re calling me in the middle of the day.”

“The kids are out for recess. I literally have, like, two minutes before the little shits get back.”

My grin stays fully intact as I listen to her talk about her kiddos. Harper is an elementary school teacher at a school just south of Denver. She loves her job and her third graders are her pride and joy, even if her nicknames for them are completely inappropriate. While it’s still summer and school is not in session, Harp works part-time at a day camp that the school puts on so working parents have a safe and affordable place to leave their children during the day.

“Well, if you only have two minutes, you better talk fast. I miss you.”

“I miss you, too—which is why I was going to call you and bug the hell out of you until I got a hold of you today. I’m going to come up Saturday. We’re going to have a girl’s day. I already called my bitch, Sarah, and we’re going to meet her for brunch—but then it’s you and me the rest of the day. Think you could clear your schedule?”

I scoff, amused that she thinks she even has to ask. “I’m yours, Harp. What time should I be ready for brunch?”

“I’ll pick you up at ten.”

“Awesome. I can’t wait.”

“Me neither! Okay—my two minutes are officially up. I have to go wrangle my hellions. I’ll see you Saturday.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.” She makes a kissing sound and hangs up, leaving me beaming as I walk into the gallery.

Right away, I hear Andrew—his voice coming from up above. I look upstairs and see him talking to someone, and I wonder if it’s a buyer or an artist. Knowing that Geoff will know, I head to the reception desk. When I see him, a devilish smile is plastered on his face. I furrow my brow, silently expressing my confusion, and his grin grows wider. Then, he reaches for something. I gasp when he places a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the raised counter of the front desk.

“These came while you were out,” he says, standing so that I might see him from behind the large floral arrangement.

“They’re for
me?
” I ask, pointing at my chest.

“They sure as hell are not from Reeve—cheap bastard.” He mumbles the last bit under his breath. “Baby girl, move your ass. There’s a card. I haven’t opened it, but if you leave me in suspense another minute, I will.”

My stomach flutters with nervous butterflies as I make my way behind the desk. “You’re
sure
they’re for me?” I ask, setting down my purse and my phone.

“The card says
Theodora.
”

I frown at him. If I was a little confused before, I’m even more confused now. Nobody calls me Theodora. Reeve did, but he wouldn’t send me flowers. Even my parents call me Teddy, except for when I’m in trouble. Besides—my birthday isn’t for another month and a half, so these flowers wouldn’t be from them.

“Dammit, Teddy!” Geoff yanks the card out of the bouquet and hands it to me. “Stop trying to guess and just
open it
.”

“Okay, okay!” I giggle.

There’s a slight tremble in my hands as I open the little envelope and pull out two rectangular cards. The first card is handwritten—the script neat and masculine. My heart races after I read his note. It’s short and to the point, but I find myself reading it again and again.

I sit back on the edge of the desk, my mind too distracted to worry about keeping me upright any longer. After I’ve read his message a ridiculous amount of times, I take a moment to look at the second card. It’s his business card. I discover that his full name is Judah D. St. Michaels. He works at Eddalyn’s Interiors as a managing partner.

“Bitch—I’m going to
kill
you in approximately two seconds.”

“Oh. Shit. I’m sorry,” I mutter, shaking my head clear. “Here.” I hand him both cards, but I don’t look at his face—not wishing to see his initial reaction. He’s a romantic, and whatever his face says, it’ll sway my opinion on this whole situation.

Then again, as I admire the bouquet, I can honestly say that I have no idea what to think.

The arrangement is beautiful, the vase full of red and peach roses, dusty orange lilies, and greenery to complete the full ensemble. I’m not an expert when it comes to flower deliveries, but I’m smart enough to know that this is no small gesture.

“This is the guy from Monday, isn’t it? This is the asshole who asked you out.”

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and force myself to meet Geoffrey’s eyes. I offer him a nod and he smirks at me.

“Maybe he’s not as much of an asshole as you thought. This looks a little bit like an apology.”

I scrunch my brow, thinking back to my encounter with the handsome man two days ago. I remember the look in his breathtaking, grey eyes, I remember the way he touched me without the tiniest bit of hesitation—and I remember his blunt proposal. I shake my head at Geoff, taking the cards from him.