Someone Like You
“You’re kidding.” Teddy stared at him. She knew that kind of return was unheard of.
He shook his head.
“That’s a phenomenal return on investment,” she said.
“It was. I made good choices and I learned that I was good with money. After that I took every class I could on investing and wealth management. After college I took a job on Wall Street, got my feet wet and struck out on my own.”
He smiled, proud of himself. Teddy liked that he put his mind to something and stuck with it. “So if you’re ever looking to invest...” He left the sentence hanging.
“You’re not going to give me a sales pitch?”
“Why? Are you a hard sell?”
“Extremely hard,” Teddy said.
“I’m good at what I do,” Adam challenged.
“I see,” Teddy said flatly. “So you like handling other people’s money?”
“As much as you like the weddings you plan, I like building wealth.”
Teddy thought about the wealth they had built, she and Diana. Both had come from humble backgrounds. Diana had been a scholarship student at Princeton, and Teddy, too, had had scholarships and had worked partially through Stanford. Both understood the need for capital and they learned management of money as a necessity to their business.
Teddy wasn’t wealthy, but she was comfortable. Her designs were selling for thousands of dollars and she had a growing portfolio. It wasn’t managed by Adam’s company.
“What is the name of your investment firm?” Teddy asked.
“Sullivan Brothers Investment, Inc.” He slipped a business card across the table to her. The ease with which he did it showed a practiced salesmanship.
Teddy had never heard of his company. That was probably a good thing. If they weren’t maintaining or increasing wealth for their clients, she surely would have heard something from the many brides that came in for planning. And there was the trade show that had financial planners in attendance every year. She didn’t know if his company had ever been represented.
“Your brothers are part of the business?”
He shook his head. “Initially, my brother Quinn went in with me, but quickly decided it wasn’t for him. I bought him out for all of three dollars.” He stopped and laughed at that.
“I suppose that laugh means you didn’t actually cheat him out of a good deal?”
“He hadn’t invested any capital into the setup. He did the legwork of finding the offices and his muscle in helping me buy and set up furniture. That was years ago now.”
“Are you at the same location?”
He shook his head.
Weddings by Diana had moved twice. Once for a medical project, and the second time because she and Diana needed more space and they could afford a more prestigious area.
“With both of us in Princeton, I’m surprised our paths haven’t crossed before,” Adam said. “Of course, my hours are unpredictable when I’m dealing with overseas markets.”
He gave a reason for them not seeing each other. Teddy also had an explanation. “My weekends are often taken up with weddings. And unless you attend as many as I do, we’d never meet.”
“Not unless our mothers had something to do with it,” he said.
* * *
The streets of Princeton were nearly deserted when Teddy and Adam left the restaurant. The September night was clear and unseasonably warm. Teddy couldn’t believe they’d stayed so late. Talking to Adam had been mostly pleasant after they broke the ice and agreed that they would eat together only because they were hungry. And when she realized they wouldn’t be seeing each other again, it was easier to relax.
He had a nice voice, deep and rich. It reminded her of late nights listening to “music for lovers only” on the radio. The DJs always had devastating voices that tended to reach through the woofers and grab hold of you. Teddy hadn’t thought of that in a while. Mainly her radio listening was done in the car while returning from a meeting or a wedding.
Yet, Adam had that DJ kind of voice. It was reaching for her. And she was willingly leaning toward it. His breath had stirred her hair when he leaned close to her. And her own breathing became shallow and labored. Teddy’s gaze dropped to his lips and she wondered what it would feel like if he kissed her. Then she snapped back, stopping herself. What was happening to her?
It was good to be outside, where the coziness of their surroundings didn’t play into a fantasy world. She thought about whether she would like to see him again. Of course, she would rather he liked weddings and respected what she did, but marriage and the business of marriage wasn’t for everyone. Adam had declared he was one of the ones who’d rather do without it. And that probably meant he’d rather do without her as a reminder.
“My car is parked in the lot,” she said, looking behind them.
Together they turned toward the nearly deserted area. Other than their cars, she was sure the remainder belonged to the restaurant staff who were cleaning up and ready to end the night’s work. Why hadn’t she noticed the bar noise dying down? Or the other dinner patrons leaving? She and Adam had been engrossed in conversation, but it was the first time ever for Teddy to be so oblivious of her surroundings that she didn’t realize they were alone.
Adam didn’t touch her as he walked beside her to her car. Neither did he speak. She wondered what he was thinking. They could have gone on talking as long as they kept away from certain subjects, like weddings and marriage. Two that shouldn’t be discussed on a first date anyway. Except this was not a date.
“Thanks for sharing my meal,” he said when they stood next to her car.
Teddy thought he was being careful with his words. “I enjoyed it.” It wasn’t totally a lie, but it also wasn’t fully the truth. She pressed the button on her key fob and heard the door unlock. As she reached for the handle, Adam called her name. She stopped. Could she have imagined the softness of his voice? She turned back.
Adam stepped closer to her. For no reason, her heartbeat accelerated. He leaned forward. Teddy leaned back an inch or so. Then his cheek brushed hers. Other than their initial handshake, this was the first time he touched her. His skin was smoothly shaven and warm. He held her for a short moment, not even long enough for her hands to reach his arms as they lifted to grasp him. Teddy didn’t move. She thought he was about to hug her. Her breath caught and held, but he only reached around her to open the car door. She got in and, without a word, Adam closed the door. He stepped back and she looked up at him.
She started the car and, with a wave, pulled out of the parking space. As she reached the street, she glanced in the rearview mirror. Adam stood where she’d left him.
Color me confused, she thought.
* * *
“How was the date?” Diana asked, setting a cup of coffee on Teddy’s desk.
Teddy wasn’t working. Usually she would be. They had five weddings coming up in the next three months, but today her mind was on the man she’d had dinner with.
She reached for the coffee and took a sip. “He’s got a dry humor. He hates weddings, doesn’t believe in happily ever after, he’s arrogant as hell and we won’t be seeing each other again.”
“That bad?”
“Right off, we agreed to shake hands and say goodbye. But it wasn’t all bad. We had dinner.” Teddy noticed Diana’s eyebrows raise. “Only because we were both hungry,” Teddy finished.
“What does he do?”
“He’s the wizard of Wall Street. That’s Wall Street in Princeton.”
“Investments?”
Teddy nodded. “And he’s good at it. His words, not mine. So, if we’re ever ready to ditch our investments firm, I’m sure Sullivan Brothers Investments, Inc. would give us a personal presentation.”
“You didn’t like him even a little bit?” Diana asked.
“You know how I hate blind dates.”
“I met Scott on a blind date.”
Scott was Diana’s husband of six months. “How you met Scott is not the same. You and he had talked to each other online for months before you decided to meet. You knew a lot about each other. Even more after you discovered you’d known each other in college. Being set up with a total stranger in a bar is not the same thing.”
“Well, at least you satisfied your mother’s requirement,” Diana told her. “The two of you met and had dinner.”
Teddy took another sip of her coffee. And they talked. Teddy thought about the night and how they had been unaware of other people around them.
“He was good-looking, though,” she mumbled, almost to herself.
“Oh.” Again, Diana’s eyebrows rose.
Teddy blinked, bringing herself back to the office and out of the restaurant where they’d talked. “He was very direct—”
“Just like you,” Diana interrupted.
“I am not direct,” Teddy protested.
“Sure you’re not.” Sarcasm was present in her tone. “But don’t get off the subject. You were saying he was good-looking...”
Teddy gave her a hard stare.
“Was he tall enough? I noticed the shoes you changed into before you left yesterday had very high heels.”
Diana knew Teddy’s height requirement. “He was tall enough.”
“So he was tall and good-looking. And he owns an investments company.”
“And he’s not The One,” Teddy said, intent on ending the conversation. “Not even close.”
“All right, I get it.” Diana raised her hands in defeat. “Conversation over. But I have hope for you. You’ll stop playing the field and find the right man one day.” Diana gathered her cup and smiled. “Just like I did.”
Diana headed for her office, and when Diana could no longer see her, Teddy repeated, “Not even close.”
Chapter 2
Soft music played in the massive cathedral in New York. Saint Patrick’s had sat on Fifth Avenue since 1858. Teddy wondered how many weddings had taken place there as she looked over the assembly of friends and relatives invited to the fourth marriage of Jessica Halston. Teddy didn’t want to think about the number of favors she’d called in to make this ceremony happen. A three-time divorced non-Catholic being married at Saint Pat’s. Even Cardinal Richelieu was probably turning over in his seventeenth-century grave. It was truly a miracle.
Teddy glanced around. People seated in pews spoke in low tones, but the sound rising to the high arches made even a whisper loud. Along the sides Teddy saw someone she thought she knew. She blinked. She had to be mistaken. What would Adam Sullivan be doing here? The man moved behind one of the huge columns that supported the massive structure. She waited, watching for him to reappear. Before that happened, she heard a voice through her earbud.
“The bride needs you.” Renee, one of her consultants and Teddy’s right hand, spoke in her ear. She pressed the earpiece closer and lowered her head to hear over the noise made by the many tourists admiring the massive building. “Where is she?”
“Dressing room.”
Teddy was already moving, forgetting the man she was following. “Is she all right?” Many brides got cold feet even this close to saying “I do.” It didn’t matter if the bride had already been to the altar three times, she could still be plagued by reservations.
“She needs a little encouragement.”
That could mean anything from a full-blown refusal to leave the dressing room, to a broken nail. Teddy moved down the stairs to the dressing room, going as fast as she could. She knocked quietly and entered. Jessica stood in the middle of the room—alone. For a fourth wedding, she looked as fresh and bright as she had at her first. Teddy had been present for all three of them.
“You look great,” Teddy said. It was always good to let the bride know that her appearance was perfect. “When Donald sees you, he’ll be bowled over.” Teddy moved closer to her. “Would you like me to get the veil?”
“Is everything ready?” Jessica asked.
Teddy recognized the unspoken question. Most brides had the same fear. They were afraid of being left standing at the altar. Even making the trip down the aisle for the fourth time, the fear was still there. Teddy understood how to answer her, so Jessica could conceal her fear and save face.
“Everything is ready. The bridesmaids are all here, dressed and looking like a picture. The best man and groom are in the vestibule. He’s got cold hands by the way.”
Jessica laughed. “Cold hands, warm feet.”
Teddy felt her relax. Some of the tension left her body. Teddy lifted her veil and brought it to her. “The church is packed. Everyone is in place. All we need is you.” She gave Jessica a reassuring smile. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
* * *
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral did not stop the tourists from walking around while services were in progress. When the strangers realized there was a wedding, they lowered their voices but did not leave the building as good manners dictated. Teddy, sitting on the last pew next to Renee, had long since relegated them to an inconsequential nuisance.
She surveyed the party in the front of the church, smiling at the perfect photo they made. Teddy’s mind, however, was on the minister. Not a priest, but the result of calling in another favor. No matter how many times she heard the wedding vows, they still commanded her attention. From the corner of her eye, she saw several people moving along the outside aisle that led to the exit. A man stepped into the pew she and the three junior consultants sat on, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her attention was on the bride and groom, and she thought he was being courteous to other visitors coming in the building. But when he stopped directly next to her, she turned to glance at him.
“Adam?” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
Stunned, Teddy was so focused on Adam’s unexpected appearance that she missed the last words of the ceremony and the kiss. The sudden sound of organ music snapped her out of her trance. She had to move. Adam didn’t have a chance to answer her question before she was needed to take care of more details. The three consultants were all on their feet and moving outside. The bride and groom were on their way up the long aisle preceded by a photographer and a videographer. Teddy lost sight of Adam as she followed them, all the while speaking into the headset she wore.
Bright sunlight blinded her. Using one hand to shade her eyes, Teddy directed the security staff she’d hired. They were already in place controlling the crowd of well-wishers and onlookers. Teddy and her assistants helped to place the wedding party for the photographs. Adam Sullivan came into view and the two shared a moment of staring at each other before she turned back to her charges.
It wasn’t like they found each other across a crowded room, she told herself. And what was he doing here, anyway? She’d seen the guest list. He wasn’t on it. She had a job to do and she didn’t need him here as a distraction. Jessica wanted everything to go smoothly and Teddy prided herself on giving the bride her due. One of the security guards tapped Adam on the shoulder and he moved to the back of the crowd.
For forty minutes the photographers took pictures. Teddy held flowers, smoothed hair away from a face, pushed a bridesmaid’s errant bra strap into place and even stood completely concealed behind a bridesmaid as she held the woman’s dress in place for a better fit. As she did this, Teddy searched the faces on the sidelines for Adam’s.
When they moved inside, Teddy stayed with the bridal party while the others headed for the reception at the Waldorf Astoria. The photographer had things under control and one of his assistants had put the items not needed on a pew. He was likely to be another forty-five minutes before finishing his capture of this moment in time. Teddy took the moment to look around for Adam.
He stood along the rear wall. She headed for him. “Your presence here can’t be a coincidence,” Teddy said when she was close enough to him that no one else would hear her.
“Apparently, I’m here for you.”
“Me?” She frowned, her hand going to her breasts. “Why? I’m in the middle of a wedding and I didn’t...I mean, we didn’t agree to meet again.”
“It’s out of our hands.”
“I don’t understand,” Teddy said.
“You have to pick up something this afternoon before you go back to New Jersey.”
“A painting,” she said. “My moth—” Teddy suddenly stopped. She fully understood. Her mother had called Adam and told him she was going to the gallery today to pick up a painting and bring it back to Princeton. When she went home in a few weeks, she’d take it with her.
“Another setup, I see,” Adam said.
“You don’t have to do this,” Teddy protested. “I’m sure you’re busy. It’s a small canvas and I can carry it on the train.”
“I’m here now. I don’t mind driving you since we will be heading in the same direction.”
“You drove?”
He nodded.
“Teddy?”
She looked back at the photographer and waved at him to indicate she’d be a moment.
“I have to go now. The reception is at the Waldorf. When I leave there I’m going—”
“I know,” he interrupted. “I have all the details.”
“Of course you do.” Teddy knew her mother was nothing if not thorough.
“I’ll see you at the reception.”
Teddy nodded and rushed to the front of the church. As she went to work on the necessary details that needed attention, she couldn’t help but look over her shoulder to see if Adam was still standing there.
He wasn’t.
* * *
Two hours later Adam caught up with Teddy just inside the main ballroom. “Would you like to dance?” he asked.
“I’m not a guest here,” she told him. “And neither are you.”
“Your duties are over. You were invited to the reception, so you’re free now.” He took her hand and pulled her close. “Would you like to dance?”
He didn’t give her time to answer. And he didn’t put her hand on his waist. Her hand rested below his belt on the strong haunches of his lower back. She didn’t move it—not away at least. He felt her hesitation and she pushed it down an inch. Heat rushed through his clothes, up his back and into his neck. Adam felt the scorching flame beneath her skin.
His eyes were staring at her. He had to move, snap out of the paralytic state he was in. Moving his feet, he circled her onto the floor and she fell in step with him. He knew she wouldn’t fight him. That would cause a scene, and at a wedding this important or even one that wasn’t, Teddy wouldn’t ruin the day for the newly married couple. He’d garnered that from talking to her during their blind date.
She danced well. She was light in his arms as he led her from one step to another. She followed him as if they’d practiced for hours. Adam enjoyed it. He didn’t dance much, but in his youth he’d been known to command the floor.
When the music stopped, they headed toward the staff table. Adam grabbed two bottles of water and they both drank thirstily.
“You two looked great out there.” Renee smiled as she joined them. She was shorter than Teddy with light brown eyes and hair the same color that was pulled back, exposing her entire oval-shaped face.
“Adam, this is Renee Hart. She’s a fantastic assistant.”
Renee blushed as the two shook hands and exchanged the customary greeting. The assistant began clearing away the few things on the table that he assumed would go back to the office. Turning to Teddy, she said, “Your bag is over there.” She pointed toward the wall behind the table. Adam saw a small canvas bag lying there. “We’re all packed and about to head back.”
“All right,” Teddy said. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
Renee said goodbye, leaving the two of them alone.
Teddy turned back to him. “I’m finished now. I guess we should go get the painting, unless you want to dance again.”
* * *
Adam drove the SUV expertly through the crowded Manhattan streets. Yellow cabs, buses and New York drivers proved no match for his skill.
“How was the wedding?” he asked.
“Do you really want to know?” Teddy remembered his comment on weddings in general. “I thought you didn’t go in for the happily ever after.”
“I don’t. I was only making conversation.”
It was a long ride back to Princeton. It would be even longer if they didn’t talk. “The wedding was beautiful. The bride was beautiful. Several of her bridesmaids cried. You saw the church.”
“How long does it take to plan a wedding?”
“I thought you were married before. How long did yours take?”
“We didn’t have all the bells and whistles. We went to the justice of the peace and got married,” Adam said.
Teddy was surprised. “Your wife didn’t want a big wedding?”
“She did, but we couldn’t afford it. So we decided to use the money we had for the honeymoon.”
“Maybe next time,” Teddy said, forgetting his beliefs.
“There will be no next time,” he said. His voice was final.
“Then you better stop your mother from setting up blind dates for you.”
“Oh, it’s on the top of my list of things to do.”
Teddy laughed. “If you find a solution to that, please send me an email and share it so I can stop my mother.”
Teddy reached down and opened the small package she’d brought with her. Inside was a pair of shoes, which she traded for the ones she was wearing.
Adam glanced at her.
“Different muscles,” she explained.
“What does that mean?”
“After a wedding or a long day on my feet, changing my shoes means I use different muscles in my legs and they don’t get as tired.”
“From the way you were all over the place, you must be tired of running.”
Teddy sighed. “This one wasn’t that bad. The cathedral was huge, but everything ran rather smoothly. Jessica will be pleased.”
“Jessica is the bride, I take it?”
Teddy nodded. “For the fourth time.”
“Four husbands?” he said.
“She keeps us in business.”
He must have mulled that over. Adam lapsed into silence while he maneuvered through the traffic. Teddy realized she’d given him more ammunition to support his impression about weddings and marriage. Thankfully, traffic was clogging and Adam kept his attention on the road.
Finally they reached the gallery. Adam pulled into a space someone vacated and the two of them went inside. The place was bright with light. Huge windows covered the entire first story. Interior lights were placed strategically toward paintings to give them the best appearance.
A man came from the back of the small building. He was about six feet tall with gray hair, a potbelly and a welcoming smile. “Ms. Granville?”
Teddy nodded.
“I’m Gene Restonson, the gallery owner.”
“I’m Theresa Granville, Gemma Granville’s daughter, here to pick up a painting you’re holding for her.” Teddy introduced Adam. Gene shook hands with them both.
“We were just finishing packing it up. Give me a moment,” he said with a smile that took in both her and Adam. “Excuse me.”
Teddy nodded and he left them to go to the back.
The huge windows looked out on the afternoon traffic. Teddy moved away from them, going to a painting on a back wall. It was a landscape of the sea and sky. Adam came up behind her. “You know what they’re doing, right?”
She turned to him. “‘They’?”
“Our mothers.”
“What?”
“They’re going to keep throwing us together in hopes that we finally decide to date.”
“I’m sure I can handle that,” Teddy told him.
“I can, too. We’re both very busy, but I think there’s another option that will satisfy us all.”
Teddy was intrigued. “What is that? You’re not going to propose?” She held her breath. It wasn’t possible, but she was unsure of what he might do. He’d appeared out of the blue today and after their conversation on weddings at dinner, he could be setting her up for anything.
He shook his head. “No, that’s not it.”
“You have my attention. What do you think we should do?”
“I think we should give them what they want.”
“I thought you weren’t going to propose.” Teddy had no idea where this was going. “They want us to fall in love and get married.”