Chapter Twenty
Mid-May
“Now, don’t be thinking that just because you’ve brought Tessa along with you that I’ll be willing to forgive the fact it’s been a very long time since your last visit.”
Ian and Tessa exchanged a knowing look as Francine Carrington regarded both of them sternly. Mrs. C. hadn’t changed one bit since the last time either of them had seen her. She was a small woman, almost delicate looking, but far too many people over the years had assumed from her appearance that she was also fragile in nature. It usually took less than a minute in her presence to realize that nothing could be farther from the truth.
Even in the heat of a late Arizona spring, Francine insisted on wearing one of her proper, severely tailored tweed suits and a high-necked blouse. Ian wondered if this particular beige suit had been one she’d worn while still working in London. He couldn’t help but think it seemed oddly familiar to him. Her hairstyle hadn’t changed in twenty years either – her obviously dyed auburn hair scraped back into a tight bun from which even one errant strand didn’t dare escape. And even through the thick lenses of her glasses, her gaze was as sharp as ever, never missing a trick or the tiniest detail. Ian wasn’t certain he would ever truly get over being terrified by one of her scathing glances.
But it seemed that after all these years he had finally discerned Mrs. C’s one soft spot – which by some fortunate coincidence was also his own weakness – Tessa. He could have sworn he’d seen Mrs. C’s eyes looking a bit moist when he and Tessa had entered her office just a few minutes ago, and the older woman had actually given Tessa a brief hug. Not so himself, of course. She would never dream of being so familiar with a superior, and had instead given him one of her surprisingly firm hand shakes.
Francine looked Tessa over critically, her razor sharp gaze not missing a thing. “You look exceptionally well, dear. I see Ian has done something about replacing that appalling Walmart wardrobe of yours, thank God.” She flicked her fingers over the collar of Tessa’s ivory silk blouse. “But the blouse is cut a bit too low for the office. And the skirt needs to be lowered an inch or two.”
Ian shook his head in amusement. “Leave her alone, Mrs. C. Tessa is dressed exactly as I prefer her to be. I’m afraid you don’t get to boss her around any longer.”
Francine shot him an evil look. “But then she doesn’t officially work for you any longer either, does she, Ian?” She scowled at Tessa. “I do hope you’re not letting him take complete control of everything in your life. He might be the boss at work, but I trust you remember to stick up for yourself at other times?”
Tessa gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s not like that at all. He’s wonderful to me, treats me like a princess. And I’ve never been so happy.”
Francine harrumphed. “Well, you deserve to be, my girl. You, too, young Ian. Don’t think I didn’t know exactly what I was doing when I sent Tessa your way.”
Tessa frowned. “How could you have known we’d end up together? I was married, after all.”
The older woman shot her a look of disbelief. “To a boy you treated like he was your brother, or your best friend. I saw the two of you together on enough occasions to realize there was nothing in the least romantic between you, not even a tiny spark. Nothing at all,” she added smugly, “like what you and young Ian here have.”
Ian smiled, sliding his hand to Tessa’s nape and pressing his chest against her back. “And what exactly might that be, Mrs. Eagle Eye?”
Francine’s mouth tightened in disapproval. “Obviously you’re madly in love with the girl. A half-blind simpleton could see that from a mile away. And I’ll remind you, Mr. Gregson, that I don’t condone any hanky-panky in my office. I don’t care if you’re the Managing Director or the King of England, there’ll be none of that funny business here.”
He laughed heartily, stepping a short distance away from Tessa. “I’m surprised you haven’t hired a chaperone for us. Though I hate to be the one to break the news – I’ve already taken advantage of her. Numerous times.”
“Well, of course you have. I’m quite certain that the moment you learned she was getting a divorce – which, by the way, ought to have happened long before it did, in my opinion – you were making plans to stake your claim. Am I right?”
Ian was astounded to feel his cheeks flush with embarrassment at the very forthright question posed by the petite woman who was even now staring him down. “Uh, well, perhaps just a bit.”
“Oh, bollocks.” Francine gave an irritated little huff. “Ian, my boy, you were always a handsome young man – much more so than either of your brothers, though young Colin always thought a bit too highly of himself. I watched many, many women over the years try to catch your eye – secretaries, executives, socialites. You never seemed to notice any of them, at least not for very long. But somehow I just knew that the moment you laid eyes on my Tessa here that you’d fall hard. And, as always, I was exactly right.”
Ian and Tessa exchanged one of those deep, searing looks that so frequently passed between them before he regarded Francine with a half-smile. “And just how did you know this? Is clairvoyance one of the few hidden talents you’ve never bothered to brag about?”
She frowned at him. “Sarcasm isn’t a trait that suits you, my boy. And I knew you’d be completely taken with young Tessa here because the two of you are kindred spirits. Both impossibly beautiful on the outside, of course, but in each of your cases your true beauty is deep inside. I just knew you would see that in each other, as clearly as the light of day.”
Ian took Francine’s small, wiry hand and brought it to his lips. “Then I owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude,” he told her in a reverent tone. “Tessa is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I will cherish her for the rest of my days. Now, I’ll leave you two ladies alone for a bit while I meet with Vincent. I trust you’ve whipped him into shape by now?” he asked Francine teasingly of the newish hotel manager.
Francine waved a hand in the air. “The boy is afraid to take a piss without clearing it with me first, so I suppose he’ll do. Go, I’ll send Tessa to you in just a bit. If you can bear to be separated for that long.”
“Just barely.” Quite deliberately he gave Tessa a lingering kiss on the lips, knowing full well that Francine would be glaring at them in disapproval. “See you in a bit, darling,” he whispered to Tessa.
Tessa watched him walk the short distance down the hall until he entered the hotel manager’s office, already feeling bereft without him beside her.
“Good Lord, girl, he’s just down the hall, not halfway around the world. No need to get teary eyed about it,” scoffed Francine.
Tessa couldn’t help but smile as she turned to face her former mentor. But for all of Francine’s tough talk, there was no denying the softer, more indulgent expression on her face.
“I know. And I’ll be seeing him soon at the staff meeting. I just – well - ” Tessa demurred.
“You’re just head over heels in love with the man,” finished Francine. “As he is with you, dear. So tell me – when is the boy going to make an honest woman out of you?”
Tessa was startled by the question, but in all honesty not the least surprised that Francine would come right out and ask something so personal. “I, um, well – we haven’t really discussed that yet. I mean, we haven’t really been together all that long, and I’m not sure - ”
“Oh, rubbish.” Francine gave her a stern glare. “I’ll tell you now, young miss, that your man there isn’t going to stand for anything less than making you his wife one of these days. As controlling as that boy is, he won’t be satisfied you’re truly his until it’s all legal and binding. The real question is – what do you want?”
Tessa stared at the older woman in disbelief. “Well, of course I’d love to marry him - If that’s what he wants, of course. I mean, living together is one thing, but marriage is something else entirely. He might decide I’m not suitable to be his wife. Ian might as well be royalty while I’m just so – well, ordinary.”
“Nothing ordinary about you, my girl,” declared Francine. “And your man knows that as well. That’s why he won’t let you go anytime soon – if ever. Trust me, before this year is out you’ll be calling me with news of your engagement. And it goes without saying I’ll expect an invitation to the wedding.”
Tessa was so flustered she didn’t even know how to respond. “Um, well, of course. I mean, assuming it actually happens, which I can’t say for certain - ”
“I can. I’m never wrong,” stated Francine. “I was right about you and Ian falling for each other, wasn’t I? Too bad my mother instilled in me from such a young age about what a terrible vice gambling was. I could have made myself a tidy fortune by now.”
Tessa laughed. “Whether or not he marries me one day, it doesn’t matter. I’d follow him to the ends of the earth, Mrs. C.”
“I know you would, dear. But can you honestly tell me that he hasn’t swept you off your feet a bit too quickly? I mean, it’s perfectly natural for a young woman like yourself to be dazzled by a man like him – his looks, his money, his position. Are you truly attracted to the man himself or simply to what he can give you?”
Tessa’s smile faded abruptly and she shook her head in emphatic denial. “I don’t give a damn about his money. And I’m sorry if this offends you but I really don’t appreciate your suggesting otherwise. I love Ian with all my heart, more than I ever believed it was possible to love someone. That’s the only reason I’m with him – the only one.”
Francine shrugged. “It’s a logical assumption to make. Come, look at it from a different perspective. He flies you down here on the corporate jet. You’re staying in the owner’s suite at the very hotel where you used to be a file clerk and make coffee for the meetings. He dresses you in silk blouses and five hundred dollar shoes. I know those are real pearls around your neck and that watch – it’s a Bulgari which means it cost five thousand dollars – minimum. You can’t lie to me, young lady, and tell me none of that matters.”
“But it doesn’t!” Tessa burst out, tears pooling in her eyes. “None of these – these things matter! You know I’ve lost absolutely everything I own – twice now. But those were just things, nothing that couldn’t be replaced eventually. Ian is irreplaceable. If I ever lost him, if he ever left me – life wouldn’t be worth living for even one more day.”
Francine patted Tessa on the back as she handed her a tissue. “That’s my girl. I knew deep down his money didn’t matter a whit to you – I just had to hear it from your lips. And now I also know for absolute certainty what a treasure he has in you. You let me know if he doesn’t treat you right, my dear. I may be the only person in the entire world that boy is still terrified of.”
Tessa realized somewhat belatedly that the older woman had been provoking her deliberately, testing her, it seemed, with the sole purpose of making sure her feelings for Ian were genuine and unselfish. Then Mrs. C. startled her anew by actually brewing tea for both of them – a task that had always fallen to Tessa in the old days. Or it had once she’d proven herself capable of making a cup that would meet with Mrs. C’s approval.
“Have you met Ian’s parents yet?”
Tessa shook her head. “But they are visiting at the end of the month, and staying at the house. I’m a nervous wreck just thinking about it.”
“Well, that’s to be expected, dear. But you have nothing to worry about,” assured Francine. “Edward Gregson is a charming man, it’s very easy to see where young Ian gets his charisma from. You won’t have any problem at all winning his approval. As for Mrs. Gregson – well, all you really need to do is give her the same scolding you just gave me, and she’ll never doubt your feelings for Ian.”
Tessa gasped. “I did not scold you! At least, I didn’t mean to. And I would never dare talk that way to his mother. She’d think - ”
“That you were more than a worthy partner for her son,” retorted Francine. “And don’t you dare apologize to me, young miss. It’s about time you started voicing your opinions and sticking up for yourself. I’m proud of you, Tessa. You’ve far exceeded all the expectations I once had for you.”
The rare compliment coming from the woman most people called “the dragon lady” made Tessa beam.
“I wouldn’t have made anything of myself without your help. I was scared to death of you, but you did get results.” Tessa took a sip of her tea before telling her former mentor, “Ian thinks I ought to go back to school, get my college degree.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea, Tessa. But is that what you want?”
Tessa shrugged. “Yes and no. I mean, I think it would be good for me, definitely something to be proud of. But, well, I like being able to travel with Ian like this and if I go to school full time that wouldn’t always be possible.”
They chatted a bit longer, Tessa telling Francine about the Italian classes she was taking at Berlitz, and the cooking courses she’d already finished and new ones she’d signed up for.
When Tessa had learned their next business trip included a stop in Tucson, she’d had mixed feelings. On the one hand, she’d welcomed the opportunity to visit with Francine and some of her other former co-workers. But, on the other hand, Tucson had held very few happy memories for her, and she hadn’t especially looked forward to the visit. At least they would only be here for a day, and would be spending all of that time at the hotel.
Ian had inquired if she had any friends she cared to visit, or particular places she’d like to show him. He had very tactfully not brought the subject up again when she’d merely given him an abrupt shake of her head. He had seemed to sense after that initial inquiry that she wasn’t exactly thrilled to be going back to Tucson.
Their meetings wrapped up fairly early, leaving them a couple of hours to relax and unwind before their dinner meeting. Since it was still over ninety degrees at four o’clock, a swim in one of the resort’s several pools was a welcome respite. And while Tessa would have never dreamed of using the guest facilities at this time of the day when she’d been employed here, the same rules evidently didn’t apply to the owner.
They swam vigorously for almost an hour, until her legs were quivering in protest and her breathing became labored. Ian kept going a while longer, and she watched him with admiring eyes as he stroked powerfully through the water. Tessa scowled as she realized several other women seated around the pool were also eyeing him hungrily. Two of them even made some very vocal comments about what a hunk he was, and how they sure wouldn’t mind having a nice big helping of his brand of man candy.
Behind the cover of her oversized Chanel sunglasses, Tessa glared at the forty-something bleached blonde with the fake tan and even more obviously fake boobs who’d made that last comment. It made her wonder about all the years of traveling that Ian had done all over the world, and of the many different women who’d hit on him. The jealously she felt threatened to consume her, and it suddenly became very important to stake her claim, to make sure those – cougars knew that her man was strictly off limits.
Ian vaulted out of the pool, water dripping from his body, and she was there to meet him with an oversized beach towel. He smiled his thanks as he briskly toweled off his hair and chest before wrapping the towel around his hips. Tessa slid her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth down to hers for a lingering, open-mouthed kiss. He gave a little “mmm” of surprise just before his hands gripped her hips, pulling her into his body.
He was chuckling when he lifted his head. “Any particular reason for your very enthusiastic greeting?”
She pressed her breasts more fully against his chest, and ran her hands over the bulging muscles of his biceps. “Just admiring my very studly boyfriend. And making sure that all the other women around here know you’re taken.”
Ian smirked, sliding one large hand down to cup her ass. “What other women?”
Tessa laughed in delight. “Oooh, nicely done!”
As they walked over to their lounges, where she’d taken the liberty of having an ice cold margarita waiting for him, she kept an arm wrapped around his waist. She couldn’t resist flashing a triumphant smile in the direction of the now crestfallen bleached blonde cougar. She was absurdly pleased that Ian didn’t even acknowledge the presence of the other women, that the only one he had eyes for was her. It made her realize all over again how incredibly lucky she was to have this amazing man all to herself. She resolved to make very, very sure that he knew on a daily – no, make that an hourly – basis just how crazy she was about him, how much she cherished him. Tessa figured right now was an excellent time to start.
Ian glanced up in surprise as she plucked his margarita glass from his hand and set it down on the low glass-topped table between their lounges. She straddled him, looping her arms around his neck, and gave a satisfied little smile when his gaze automatically flicked down to the ample cleavage bared by her yellow bikini top.
She leaned down to whisper in his ear, “You know how sometimes I really, really like giving you carte blanche over me in bed?”
He ran his hands up the side of her ribcage, stopping just below the swell of her breasts. He swallowed with some difficulty before nodding. “I, ah, do know, yes.”
She licked the side of his neck. “Well, I think I’m going to be in a very giving mood tonight.”
***
“You look kind of – uh, tired, Ian. Late night?”
“Hmm?” Ian glanced up across the table at his dining companion. “I’m sorry, Matt, did you say something? Afraid I’ve been in a bit of a daze most of the morning.”
Matthew Bennett gave his friend a knowing grin. “Should I assume your very hot new girlfriend is the reason for your, er, daze?”
Ian couldn’t suppress the grin that spread across his features. “Jesus, mate, you wouldn’t believe the half of it. But, yes, suffice it to say that Tessa is most definitely the reason I look a little out of it right now. Not to mention in dire need of a nap.”
Matthew had been a good friend for several years now, the two men having met at the exclusive private health club they both belonged to. Matthew had, in fact, been one of the very first people Ian had befriended upon moving to San Francisco, and the two of them tried to meet up for lunch as often as possible, given their equally hectic schedules. Matthew was the CEO of a hugely successful software company headquartered in the city, and he was worth billions. Still, he was amazingly one of the most down to earth individuals Ian had ever met, and he considered him a very close friend.
Still, close friend or not, there was absolutely no way Ian was going to recount exactly why he was so wiped out this morning. He’d been woken out of a sound sleep at an ungodly hour of the morning, but he’d have had to be a blithering idiot to even consider complaining about it – not when he’d woken with a groan to find a gorgeous, sexy blonde bent over him, his cock in her mouth as she gave him a very enthusiastic blowjob. And then, when he’d been perilously close to coming, she’d straddled his body, positioning the thick head of his penis at the entrance to her body before impaling herself an inch at a time until he was buried to the root.
She’d looked like a pagan warrior princess as she’d ridden him, her bare, lush breasts beckoning him to touch them, her long hair waving over her shoulders. The merest flick of his thumb against her clit had sent her spiraling into climax, the tight muscles of her pussy squeezing his cock as she came, and he’d spilled himself inside of her hot, welcoming body mere seconds later.
It had been every man’s dirtiest fantasy come true – the ultimate wake-up call – and Ian was really no different than most men when it came down to it. But he was definitely starting to feel the effects of missing out on some sleep this morning, especially when his voracious young lover had also kept him up rather late the night before. Tessa, he thought with a rueful smile, was quickly becoming rather insatiable.
Matthew grinned. “Has anyone told you what a lucky fucker you are? Seriously, almost every guy at the club would cut off their left nut to trade places with you right now.”
Ian groaned. “I’d advise them to hold on to both of their testicles, especially if they have a wife or a girlfriend as – ah, eager as Tessa. Sometimes I wish I had a spare pair.”
Matthew laughed uproariously. “Christ sakes, Ian, just how often are the two of you getting it on anyway?”
“Every single day.” Ian enunciated each word slowly. “Usually multiple times. So far I’ve been able to keep up with her, but I’m half afraid she’s going to wear me out.”
“Well, if you need help keeping your woman satisfied, you can always ask Jesse,” joked Matthew. “When he saw you walk by with Tessa one day last week, he made some predictably crude comment like ‘Dude, I would tap that anywhere, anytime’. And then he finished up by saying it wasn’t fair that you had two sweet rides – first the Jag and now Tessa.”
“Is that right?” Ian’s fist clenched and unclenched, and his mouth tightened in annoyance. “Well, I had already planned on pummeling that young punk into the mat the next time we sparred. Now I might consider upping the ante.”
Matthew grinned, taking a sip of his iced tea. “Yeah? Whatcha got in mind for our young Casanova?”
Ian winked before reaching for his own glass of tea. “Making sure Tessa is present to watch us. And that she’s wearing as little as possible.”
“You’re an evil bastard as well as a lucky one,” conceded Matthew. “But that would serve the little shit right. He does like to flirt, not to mention brag about all the pussy he gets. Though I’m just guessing you’re getting a hell of a lot more action than he is. And I know you’re getting way more than I am. Hell, you probably got more last night than I’ve had in a month.”
The tone of Matthew’s voice clearly betrayed that things weren’t as they should be in his marriage. Ian had met his wife on several occasions, and couldn’t really say if he liked Lindsey Bennett or not. She’d been pleasant enough, if a bit on the flirty and empty-headed side, which hadn’t bothered him nearly as much as the rather careless, off-handed manner in which she treated her husband. Matthew was just about the nicest, most decent man Ian had ever met, and had never allowed his somewhat sudden good fortune to go to his head or change the person he was. The Bennetts had two children, and Matthew was absolutely devoted to them.
Ian frowned. “Everything all right with you and Lindsey? How is your lovely wife, by the way?”
Matthew grimaced. “She’s fine. A little more generously endowed these days, however. She, uh, just had her boobs done – against my wishes, I might add. Call me crazy, but I just hate all that fake shit women insist on having done to themselves.”
“You’re not crazy,” assured Ian. “I’ve never been a fan myself. Fortunately for me, Tessa is – ah, a natural beauty.”
A grin crossed Matthew’s face, his good humor quickly restored. “Since I haven’t seen a pair of twenty-four year old tits since I was twenty-four, tell me – do you feel like weeping every time she takes her top off?”
Ian shook her head. “More like saying a prayer, mate. Thanking Christ that she’s all mine, and then begging Him that I don’t wake up and find it’s all been one big wet dream.”
“Jesus.” Matthew looked more than a little awed. “Well, all I can say is enjoy all this while it lasts, because honeymoons definitely end sooner than later. Take my word for that. Besides, all of us forty-something’s at the club are rooting for you. You’re sort of our role-model, you know.”
Ian speared a forkful of his salmon filet but paused before bringing it to his mouth. “You don’t think I’m making an ass of myself, do you? I mean, Tessa tells me all the time that she doesn’t think I’m too old for her, but – well, it does weigh on my mind a lot. Especially when young bucks like Jesse are salivating over her.”
Matthew waved a hand in dismissal. “Jesse salivates over most anything with a pair of tits. God, I’d better keep him away from Lindsey and her new D cups – my understanding is that he likes older women, too. And you don’t have to worry about Tessa. I’ve seen the two of you together a few times, don’t forget. The girl’s got it bad for you, Ian. Even with every guy in the gym giving her the onceover, the only one she’s ever paid attention to is you.”
Ian nodded. “I appreciate that, mate. And I guess I must be doing something right, considering her, uh, eagerness. Now I just have to find a way to keep up with her.”
Matthew chuckled and indicated his plate. “Maybe you should have ordered a cheeseburger like I did. You know, extra protein, red meat, that sort of thing.”
Ian sighed. “I’ve already tried that. Unfortunately, all it seemed to do was raise my cholesterol by twenty points.”
“There’s always Viagra.”
“You don’t get it, Matthew. Getting an erection is never a problem with Tessa. Christ, it’s like taking a triple dose of that stuff with her. The problem – if one is selfish enough to think of it that way – is having enough energy to get through the day.”
“You’re right – you are a selfish prick to even think of this as a problem. A gorgeous, sexy and horny twenty-four year old girlfriend is most men’s favorite spank bank fantasy. So, as I see it my friend, you’ve really only got two solutions to your, er, situation.”
Ian regarded him warily. “And what exactly would these solutions entail?”
Matthew gave him an evil grin. “Cutting her off to once a day, or fitting in time for an afternoon nap. And since I’m guessing there’s no way in hell you’d even consider the former, maybe you should make sure there’s a comfy pillow and blanket on hand in your office.”
***
Late May
Tessa didn’t think she’d ever get tired of the view from the deck of this house. Even though this particular morning happened to be crystal clear, and the winds were calm, she wouldn’t have minded in the least if it had been cool and foggy, or even rainy and windy instead. The ocean view was breathtaking, mesmerizing, and she thought she could happily sit out here for hours with a mug of tea and a good book – much as she was doing right now.
Ian had surprised her with this getaway for Memorial Day weekend. He hadn’t told her where they were going, simply to pack enough for a three night stay, and nothing that could be considered the least bit dressy. They had left San Francisco on Friday morning – he’d taken a day off from work – and driven up the Sonoma County coast in his vintage Jaguar. Tessa had never been to this part of the Bay Area before, and had been spellbound by the magnificent scenery they’d viewed en route.
They’d arrived at their destination in the early afternoon – a community of gorgeous homes built along a ten mile stretch of the coast that Ian had referred to as The Sea Ranch. The house he had rented for the long weekend was situated right on the bluff top, and was nearly as lavishly appointed as his own home in the city. Tessa, however, had more or less bypassed the gourmet kitchen, sunken living room, and huge loft space once she had glimpsed the jaw dropping view from the back deck. She had spent the majority of their stay thus far curled up on a deck chair or chaise lounge and letting the sound of crashing waves hypnotize her.
She supposed a large part of her fascination with the ocean stemmed from having lived most of her live in either desert or mountain communities. Since moving to San Francisco, she’d certainly spent some time by the Pacific Ocean, but nothing remotely like this – sitting so close to the bluffs that she could feel the spray of the water when the surf was high enough.
The fabulous home was fully furnished and equipped with everything they might need – dishes, glasses, linens. There were books to read, movies to watch, music to listen to. Ian had made arrangements with the rental agency to have a local caterer stock the refrigerator with a variety of readymade meals, snacks, and drinks. He refused to let her cook this weekend, ensuring that they would not have to do much more than relax and enjoy a blissfully quiet getaway.
Since their arrival two days ago, they hadn’t really discussed the imminent arrival of his parents within the coming week. The Gregsons would be staying at the house, of course, though Ian had told her that they had offered to use the owner’s suite at the hotel instead. Tessa had insisted they stick with the original plan of staying at Ian’s home, knowing that he didn’t get to see his family all that often. And if she was still a nervous wreck about meeting them – and hoping they didn’t hate her on sight – it wasn’t for lack of constant reassurances on Ian’s part.
At least she felt a bit less gauche after having spent these past two and a half months living and traveling with Ian. With the help of both Julia and Marlene Brennan, she knew how to dress and accessorize, and had become fairly adept at doing her hair and makeup.
The series of one-day and weekend cooking courses she’d taken thus far had given her the confidence she needed to get more creative in the kitchen, and Ian had praised her efforts. Her Italian classes were also coming along nicely, though of course she had a long way to go before she could be considered even moderately fluent in the language.
And Ian had been teaching her a little here and there about things like art, classical music, and fine wines, mostly so that she would feel more at ease among the people she’d be meeting at several upcoming functions. Like the San Francisco Symphony benefit ball they would be attending with Ian’s parents during their visit. She would have already been in a mild panic about going to the ball, but coupled with the fact that the Gregsons would be accompanying them she was almost beside herself with anxiety.
Ian had done his utmost to calm her down, assuring her that not only would his parents adore her but that she would create quite a stir when she arrived at the ball with him. But Tessa knew that she would continue to fret and worry until she’d gotten both dreaded events over with.
“Penny for your thoughts, love?”
Smiling, Tessa set her empty mug down and turned to face Ian where he stood framed in the doorway leading from the living room out to the deck. Her heart gave a little thump-thump when she saw how mouthwateringly handsome he looked this morning – unshaven, his two day stubble the sexiest thing she’d ever seen; wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt that bared his chiseled biceps; like her, he was barefoot.
“Right now I’m thinking how much I love you,” she told him softly. “And how much I’d really like a good morning hug.”
Ian smiled and was by her side in an instant, sitting next to her on the wicker settee and scooping her into his lap. “Good morning, birthday girl. And I love you, too.” He gave her a long, lingering kiss. “But I missed waking up next to you this morning. You should have woken me. “
Tessa shook her head, snuggling happily against him. “You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn’t bear to disturb you. Besides, I know you’ve been – um, missing out on some sleep lately because of me.”
He chuckled, wrapping his arms even more tightly around her. “You haven’t heard me complaining, have you? I happen to like your, er, wake-up calls. Very, very much.”
She pressed a kiss to his cheek, running her nose over his dark stubble. “And I love the way you make sure I sleep very, very soundly at night. Ah, but I’m not being a very good girlfriend this morning, am I? Let me go and fix you a cup of tea.”
But his arms only tightened about her, not permitting her to move from his lap. “Not a chance. It’s your birthday, after all, and you are not lifting one finger today. I’ll make us some tea in a bit. Let’s just sit here for a few minutes and enjoy the view, hmm?”
“Okay.” Tessa gave a sigh of happy contentment. “I love it here, Ian. This is the absolute best birthday present ever.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Perhaps I should buy the house for you. Then we could come up here whenever we like.”
She laughed, convinced he was joking. “Don’t be silly. You already own a home.”
Ian smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. “Darling, many people own more than one home. My parents, for example, have a townhome in London, an estate out in Kent, an apartment in Paris, and a condo in Spain. Plus a share in the villa in Tuscany, of course.”
Tessa was wide-eyed in disbelief. “You’re really serious? That’s just – wow. How much money do they have anyway?”
He laughed in delight at her shock. “A lot. So do I, by the way. I could very easily afford to buy a house like this if that’s something you’d like, darling.”
She stared out at the water again. “Better not. If I knew I could wake up to this view every morning, I’d never want to leave here. And I think this would be just a little too over the top as a birthday gift. You’ve already given me way too many gifts, Ian.”
Since their arrival on Friday, he had left beautifully wrapped packages in various spots around the house for her to discover. He’d spoiled her rotten, of course, gifting her with clothing, lingerie, a pair of shoes, a new purse, jewelry. With each extravagant present, she had made him promise that this would be the last one, protesting that he’d gone overboard as usual.
He kissed her hand before rubbing his cheek against her palm. “There is just one more, love. And I saved the best for last.”
Tessa gave him a stern look. “You had better not have bought me that car you were talking about. I think driving your Mercedes around town will be just fine for me.”
Truth be told, she wasn’t very confident as yet about driving in San Francisco. The hills, narrow streets, and often nonexistent parking in the city made getting around much more difficult than it had back in Tucson. But since she couldn’t rely on Simon or take taxis to get her everywhere she needed to go – and since Ian wasn’t thrilled with the idea of her taking a bus – she had gradually started to drive again. He had given her the keys to his three year old Mercedes sedan, a car he claimed to rarely use since he preferred driving either the Range Rover or the Jaguar.
She’d been terrified of wrecking the expensive vehicle, a far more luxurious ride than the old compact Toyota she’d last driven in Tucson. But Ian had brushed aside her concerns carelessly, insisting she was doing him a favor by making sure the Mercedes got some use instead of sitting idle inside the garage.
“Ah, but as good as you look behind the wheel of the Benz, I think you’d be sexy as hell driving – let’s say a fire engine red Ferrari,” he teased.
Tessa gasped. “Oh, my, God, you are so not buying me a Ferrari! Or any car. Or one more thing, Ian. I mean it. Not a blouse or a pair of earrings or even a bra. Nothing. Do you understand?”
Ian grinned. “Yes, my feisty little birthday girl. But there is still one more present left. Relax – this one didn’t cost very much at all. And I think you’ll like it a lot.”
Her curiosity was piqued as he led her back inside the house. They had breakfast first, a simple meal of granola, fruit and tea. Ian cleaned up the few dishes, still refusing to let her do any work this weekend, and then brought out a modestly sized box. This one was as beautifully wrapped as all the others had been and she eyed the box suspiciously.
“If it’s more clothes, I’ll tell you right now they’re going back.”
He smiled at her indulgently. “It’s not. And you won’t want to return this. Open it, darling.”
She unwrapped the box slowly, lifting the lid, and then stared down at the contents in stunned disbelief. She would never in a million years have ever thought she’d receive a gift quite like this one, and her hand was shaking as she slowly withdrew one of the three items.
“My mother’s books.” Her voice was unsteady as she held one of the volumes with reverence, as though she were afraid it would disappear. “My God, Ian, where in the world did you find these?”
“I know several rare book dealers, both here in the States and in other parts of the world,” he replied quietly. “I’ve had every one of them on the lookout for these for some time now. They were able to locate three of the four books your mother had published, and one of the dealers may have a lead on the fourth. Do you like them, Tessa?”
She hadn’t known she was crying until she raised her gaze to his and he wiped away a tear. “This – this is the most wonderful thing you’ve ever done for me,” she told him brokenly. “I had nothing – nothing – of my mother’s. We moved around so much that we always had to leave things behind. And the few remaining items I had of hers burned in the fire. The first fire. All I really had left was one very old photo of her in my wallet. And, well, the second fire took that away. So, yes – I adore them. And I adore you for giving me this.”
“Darling.” He pulled her close against him, holding her as she wept, stroking her hair and murmuring soothing words.
When she felt in control again, she lifted her head from his chest and gave him a sweet, tender kiss. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I can’t even tell you what this means to me. Or how much I love you for finding these. It’s just – too much for me to express right now.”
He nodded in understanding. “I get it. And I’m so pleased you like your gift. Look, there’s even a photograph of your mother on the back cover of this book.”
Ian took out one of the other books from the box, this one a hardcover with a glossy jacket that was in excellent condition. The other two books were paperbacks and a bit on the well -used side. Tessa gasped as he flipped open the back cover, and she ran her fingers over the smiling image of her mother in stunned disbelief.
“It’s really her,” she murmured, starting at the image of the happy, glowing young woman who looked so much like her own self. “And this – this is how I prefer to remember her, Ian. Young and healthy and full of life. Not – not the sad, sick woman she became as I got older. This is my real mother right here.”
Ian pressed a kiss to her temple. “She was beautiful, Tessa. You could be her twin, the resemblance is remarkable. And I was thinking – there’s a photography studio I know of in San Francisco that specializes in restoring old photos. I’m willing to bet if we brought them this book jacket that they would be able to find a way to reproduce the image into a proper photograph. Obviously the quality wouldn’t be the best, but - ”
“I don’t care.” She flung her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. “I’ll take anything, the quality doesn’t matter. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She pressed fervent kisses all along his cheeks, jaw, neck.
“You’re more than welcome, my love,” he whispered. “Now, come. It’s your twenty-fifth birthday and no more tears, hmm? Let’s vow to make this the happiest birthday of your life so far, all right?”
And it was most definitely the most wonderful birthday that Tessa could ever remember having. Not that she had very many happy memories of past birthdays. The last two years prior to this one had been spent alone, since Peter had been on a trip somewhere far away on both occasions. And she couldn’t honestly remember ever having something as traditional as a birthday party as a child – that certainly hadn’t been her mother’s style.
But spending this day – this weekend – with Ian wiped out any memories of less happy times. They spent a quiet, blissful day together – taking a long walk on the beach; driving into the small town just north of the house to get a cappuccino; browsing through the boutiques and art galleries in town, where he bought her a beautiful copper bowl filled with multi-colored pieces of sea glass. Back at the house, they soaked in the enormous hot tub out on the deck while sipping wine and watching the wild surf below.
And they talked – for hours, it seemed. Over a beautifully prepared dinner the caterer had left – including a fabulous white chocolate birthday cake – they shared stories of their respective childhoods, though most of Tessa’s memories weren’t always happy ones. She told Ian more about her relationship with Peter, how they’d been almost virtual strangers when they’d married so young – still children, really. They had been awkward and uncertain around each other but had gradually grown closer and become the best of friends. Tessa confessed to having felt lonely and sad and frightened when Peter had begun to travel, and how hard she’d had to stave off falling into a deep depression at times. And it had tugged at her heart to recall Peter’s almost nightly bouts of insomnia, the nightmares that had plagued him, and how it had been rare for him to actually sleep in the same bed with her.
They had moved back out to the deck by now, curled up on the wicker settee with a plush cashmere throw tucked around them, sipping a post-dinner snifter of brandy. Tessa’s head was on Ian’s lap as he played idly with one of her thick blonde curls.
“Is that why you love to cuddle in bed so much?” he asked her gently.
She smiled and rubbed her cheek against his heavily muscled thigh. “Probably. Though some of that goes back to when I was a little girl. Because we moved around so much I was always a little scared getting used to a new place, especially – well, in the shelters. There were usually some creepy people living there, and my mother wasn’t always in a sane enough state of mind to make me feel secure.”
He rubbed her neck, and she could tell from the grip of his fingers that he was disturbed at the mental images he must be conjuring up. “I still can’t bear to think of you in a place like that.” His voice was rough, thick. “It makes me want to wrap you up in this blanket and cuddle you close for the rest of my life. You know I would do absolutely anything for you, Tessa, and that I will always keep you safe and protected.” He bent down to place a lingering kiss on her lips. “I will slay dragons for you, my love, and whatever other monsters might try and hurt you.”
She reached up to caress his cheek. “I take it back. The books and renting this house weren’t the most wonderful birthday presents ever – you are.”
Then, because she was fairly certain she was going to start crying again, she swiftly changed the subject and asked him about a particular matter that she’d been avoiding for months – that of his former fiancée.
Ian sighed. “It seems like such a long time ago, when it was really less than ten years. At times it almost feels like it happened to someone else, not me. But, truthfully, there isn’t a whole lot to say on the matter.”
He told her a bit about her – a lovely, dark-haired woman named Davina, who was three years his junior. They had traveled in the same social circles, had several friends in common, and had dated on and off for a couple of years before becoming engaged. But that had been during a time when Ian was traveling three weeks out of four, and working sixteen hour days, and they saw very little of each other.
“And Davina was an especially sociable woman – adored the whole party scene. Her family wasn’t as wealthy as mine, but they could trace their roots back for centuries and had some sort of minor connection to the royal family. Davina didn’t work – not really – but she was on the boards of several charitable organizations and did a lot of fundraising for them. And it didn’t take very long at all for her to become extremely disillusioned with a fiancée who was rarely around to escort her places.”
Tessa was sitting upright on the settee now, snuggled close against his side. “So she broke things off?”
Ian shook his head. “I did, actually. I knew it wasn’t fair to her, my not being around much, but the real truth was that I simply didn’t love her, couldn’t envision spending the rest of my life with her. She was upset for a time, but it didn’t take her very long to meet someone else. Last I heard they’d been married for several years and had a child.”
“And there was never anyone else for you?”
He shrugged. “No one serious, no. I worked so hard, traveled so much, that having a relationship was a very low priority. However, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that if I had met you somewhere along the way, my priorities would have changed overnight.”
“We very nearly met a couple of years before I moved to San Francisco, you know,” she recalled. “I was still going to college, finishing up the certificate program. You were scheduled to pay a visit to the resort, we were all in an uproar getting ready for it, Mrs. C. insisting that everything had to be beyond perfect. Your visit was on one of the days I didn’t normally work, but Mrs. C. was demanding that I be there anyway. And I would have, if the date hadn’t coincided with final exams at school. There was no way to re-schedule them and I had to take them, she knew that. But she wasn’t at all happy with me, and I could never figure out why.”
Ian grinned. “I’d say it was rather obvious, wouldn’t you? She wanted us to meet, likely knowing full well what would have happened the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“And what would that have been?”
He threaded a hand into her hair, tipping her head back so that he could stare into her eyes. “What wound up happening eventually anyway – I fell instantly and hopelessly in love with you at first sight. Only it’s not so hopeless any longer, is it?”
They stayed out on the deck a while longer, not saying much more, content to simply gaze at the stars and bask in each other’s company. And when the night air grew a little too brisk they moved inside to watch a movie.
And, though they had touched, kissed, caressed frequently throughout the day, they didn’t have sex that night. It was odd, because there had been extremely few nights they had spent together when they hadn’t made love – the night she’d told him about her past; the awful night of the fire at her apartment; and a few times when she’d had her period.
But as they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms, both Tessa and Ian had never felt closer, or more intimate with the other, than they did on this particular night.