Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“I’m fine, Mom,” Tessa says as we drip all over the black-and-white tile floor. “You remember Ben.”
I hold out my hand, water dripping from my sleeve. “How are you holding up, Mrs. Logan?”
“As well as can be expected, I guess.” She turns. “Lily! I need some towels in here. A lot of towels.”
I look into the living area. “Looks like the reception is about over. Only a few people left, so I should be going.”
“Can you stay?” Tessa asks.
I chuckle, wanting so much to pull her into my arms, but her mother is standing right there. “I kind of need some dry clothes.”
“Then…” She turns to her mother. “Would it be okay if I went back to Ben’s place with him?”
Tessa’s Aunt Lily—who looks a lot like Mrs. Logan but with some gray in her hair—enters the kitchen, bearing two large towels and hands one to each of us. I dry off my face and hair, but there’s not much I can do about my black suit. It clings to me.
Did Tessa really just ask if she could come home with me?
Does she know what will happen between us if she does?
Perhaps she does know, and that’s why she wants to come.
“I have to talk to Ben about some work,” Tessa continues.
“Can’t that wait until tomorrow?” Mrs. Logan asks. “Or Monday, when you’re actually at work?”
“Your mother’s right, Tessa,” I say. “You should stay here.”
“I’ll walk you to your car, then,” Tessa says. “I’m wet anyway.”
Two or three people are scattered in the living and family rooms, but most of the mourners have left.
Sherlock is outside waiting. I signal to him not to bother getting out of the car in the rain.
Tessa grabs my hand. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being here. For talking to me. For that kiss.”
I smile, caressing her cheek. God, her skin is soft as silk. “It was the right time.”
“It was.” She looks up to the sky. The rain has subdued a bit. “It was the perfect time.”
I stroke the back of her head. “I’d like to kiss you again, Tessa. I think you know that. I think you know I’d like to do a lot more than kiss you.”
She nods, a raindrop landing on her eyelash. I gently flick it off.
“Would you like to have lunch tomorrow?” I ask.
She smiles, her cheeks blushing pink despite the chill of the rain. “I think I’d like that.”
“I’ll pick you up around noon here. You’ll still be here, right?”
“Yeah. But then you can take me back to my place. I already told my mom I’ll be going back, since it’s so much closer to work. Aunt Lily and Eva are staying here with her.”
“Awesome.” I touch my lips to hers. Sparks jump all over me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
I get into the car, and as Sherlock drives away, I look through the rain-spattered window at Tessa, her fingers touching her lips.
…
Sunday afternoon lunch with Tessa turns out to be brunch. When I pick her up at noon, she says she is hankering for some scrambled eggs with bacon. I take her to the Plaza Hotel’s Sunday champagne brunch, which goes until two o’clock.
I’d actually entertained the idea of bringing her to my place and making her lunch, but then I figured it was too soon.
That kiss yesterday in the rain…
She was so beautiful with the rain and the tears sliding down her cheeks. Tormented and haunted, yet so damned beautiful.
When she tilted her chin, I knew it was the right time.
I’m surprised when she takes a sip of the champagne that our server poured for her.
“Do you like champagne?” I ask. “You didn’t drink it on the flight to Jamaica.”
She sets her flute down. “I do. I had some for the toast at Skye’s bachelorette party. And I had a Skye cocktail. Other than that I haven’t had a lot to drink since…”
I nod. I’m not going to make her say it.
“I can’t thank you enough,” she goes on. “The party was perfectly executed. Even the dancers.”
“Again, I’m so sorry about that.”
She shrugs. “I know, and it wasn’t my thing, but Skye and the others loved them. Anyway, thanks for planning everything else. It all came together so well.”
“Tessa, I was glad to do it. You were obviously struggling, and I wanted to help.”
Her brown eyes sparkle. “Do you save every damsel in distress you come across?”
I smile. “Can’t say that I do.”
“Then why did you help me?”
I pause a moment. Then, “Because it’s my brother’s wedding. I wanted these parties to be perfect.”
Her lips turn down just a bit.
Is she disappointed in my response?
Because the truth of the matter is while my response is accurate, I also wanted to help her. She knows this, but it won’t hurt me to say it again.
“I also did it for you,” I continue. “I’ve been drawn to you since that first time we met to have a drink and plan the parties. The more I get to know you, the more I want you. I dream about doing more than kissing those lips of yours, as you know. I wanted to kiss you that first night I met you, Tessa. That first night when you were scared of your own shadow.”