Teddi hadn’t been kidding about the wind. The November night slapped Leah right in the face when she pushed through the café doors, and she stopped dead. Needed a moment to catch her breath. Then, head down, she walked into the wind toward the parking lot.
What was supposed to be a relaxing evening of a rom-com and some cheesecake had turned into something completely different and unexpected. Leah felt like she’d just stepped off a merry-go-round and was having trouble keeping her balance, walking in a straight line. Or like Teddi had walked by, messed up Leah’s hair with both hands, and kept walking. She was out of sorts. Off-balance. She only knew one thing for sure.
Teddi Baker had gotten under her skin.
Chapter Six
It had been a little over a week since the shared cheesecake at the Classic. More than enough time for Teddi to scrub the evening from her mind, to erase the picture of casual, movie-going Leah Scott from her memory banks. No, she much preferred to think of Leah in a suit—not that that was a bad thing—in lawyer mode, destroying the lives of unsuspecting spouses whose exes were trying to take more than what they deserved. It was easier because when she thought of Leah in those terms, in those clothes, she didn’t have to deal with the weird feelings and niggling interest that Casual Leah had unearthed in her.
Today was another meeting with the Scott sisters. Kelly had chosen a venue, so they needed to sit down and talk about that, go over some details, make a plan for the next things on Kelly’s list.
She heard the door open before she saw it, but when she looked up, it wasn’t Kelly Scott or even Leah Scott. It was Harlow.
“Hey,” Teddi said, setting aside the notes she’d been working on. “What brings you by?”
Harlow crossed to the counter and slung her messenger bag up onto it. She wore a black wool peacoat with a bright red scarf and a matching red beanie. “I had a shoot down the block, so I thought I’d swing by and say hey, see if you had time to grab coffee.”
Teddi pointed a finger at Harlow, moved it up and down in front of her. “This is snazzy. And the way you’ve got your hat off to the side a bit? The epitome of jaunty.”
“Jaunty is exactly what I was going for. What do you say? Coffee?”
“Ugh. I wish I could. I’ve got the Scotts due in any minute.”
“The Scotts?” Harlow’s entire face lit up. “As in the sweet bride-to-be and the big sister that nearly sent you into bankruptcy?”
“The very ones, yes.”
“In that case…” Harlow unbuttoned her coat.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Teddi arched an eyebrow. Knew very well what her friend was doing. Hanging out. She wanted to lay eyes on Leah.
Before she could protest further, the door pushed open, carrying in the chilly air, the smell of impending winter, and Kelly Scott, and Harlow shushed her, then winked.
“Hey, Teddi,” Kelly said, her usual smile in place. I’d want her as my kid’s kindergarten teacher. The thought was random, but true. Kelly Scott exuded gentleness, calm, joy. “It’s cold out there,” she said as she unwrapped the blue-and-white striped knit scarf from around her neck. Static electricity, ever present in the fall and winter months, lifted some of her blond hair, kept it floating.
“Did you knit that?” Harlow asked, crossing toward Kelly.
“Kelly, this is my good friend and amazing photographer, Harlow McCann.” Teddi waved a hand toward the two of them. “Harlow, Kelly Scott. My client.”
They shook hands as Kelly nodded. “I did. I’m new to knitting so haven’t done much more than scarves, but…” A shrug.
“I love it.” Harlow rubbed the end of the scarf between her fingers. Kelly blushed. Teddi shook her head. Putting people at ease was a specialty of her BFF’s.
Teddi grabbed her file, set her calls to be forwarded to voice mail, as Preston was at an off-site meeting, and headed toward the table where Kelly was already settling.
“Just so you know, Kelly, Harlow is the photographer I recommend to people who don’t have one or don’t know where to look. Yes, she’s my best friend, but she’s also the best wedding photographer in the city. And I would say that even if we hadn’t known each other for years.” She took a seat and Harlow stayed standing.
“Really? I don’t have a photographer yet.” Kelly shrugged out of her coat.
“No pressure,” Harlow said as she set a card down in front of Kelly. “My website has a ton of weddings I’ve shot. Take a look.”
“I’ll do that.” Kelly was tucking the card into her purse when the door opened. “Look at you, practically on time,” she said with a grin.
Teddi looked up as Leah seemed to literally breeze in, as if the outdoors had blown her through the door and into the shop. While she was happy to see the sight of straight-from-work Leah, Destroyer of Businesses, today in a navy blue skirt and blazer with a silver and white pinstriped blouse underneath, Teddi still found herself missing the Casual Leah from last week at the café. Skinny jeans with holes in the knees and a long cream-colored sweater. Brown leather boots. Blond hair in a messy ponytail…
“Maybe I’m turning over a new leaf.” Leah’s voice yanked Teddi back to the moment.
“Good luck with that,” Kelly said, a note of gentle ribbing in her tone.
“Hey, have a little faith.” Leah slid off her coat and draped it over the chair, then met Teddi’s gaze. “Hey, you.” Softly. Not quite intimately, but it wouldn’t take much for Teddi to get to that.
“Hi yourself.” Teddi cleared her throat. Harlow was giving her a look—she could feel it.
“What’d I miss?” Leah asked as she sat.
“You missed meeting Harlow,” Kelly said and introduced them. “She’s a photographer, and I’m going to check out her website tonight.”
“Cool.” Leah shook hands with Harlow as Teddi took a seat.
“I’ll let you guys talk shop,” Harlow said, then pointed at Teddi. “I’ll call you later.”
Teddi knew what they’d be talking about, and it made her grin. “You know how to find me.” The door closed and Harlow was gone.
“I like her,” Kelly said.
“Most people do. She’s amazing,” Teddi agreed.
“She’s Teddi’s best friend,” Kelly informed Leah.
“Oh, I see.” Leah nodded.
“Can I get you girls anything? Coffee? Tea?”
“Cheesecake?” Leah said, then winked at Teddi, who blushed, she was sure of it.
“What does that mean?” Kelly asked, looking from one of them to the other, like the kid who’d been left out. Teddi felt bad and filled her in.
“Your sister and I ran into each other last week at a café.”
“There was no place to sit, so Teddi shared her table with me.”
“And Leah graciously shared her cheesecake.”
“Were you at The Classic?” Kelly asked, then turned to Leah. “What did you see this time?”
“Pretty Woman,” Leah said.
“Aww, I love that one.” Then she quoted a line from it, her hazel eyes bright. Leah quoted the next line. They do this a lot. It was a realization that had Teddi feeling warm inside. Cozy. Turning to Teddi, she asked, “Did you see it, too?”