Chapter Nine
Ian discreetly pulled back the sleeve of his shirt to check the time on his Cartier watch. It was still a few minutes before six-thirty, and he hoped that Tessa would be ready soon. He’d been waiting for this moment with ill-concealed impatience ever since she’d left his office earlier today.
After his doubts of last evening, he had breathed a huge sigh of relief after finally seeing Tessa today. In fact, her response to him had been well beyond his wildest expectations. She was shy and uncertain, and he couldn’t be too aggressive with her, but he was overjoyed to discover that she was as attracted to him as he was to her. He had never envisioned making this much progress so quickly, and was looking forward to speeding up the very enjoyable process of seducing his golden girl. How many times had he fantasized about this – taking her to dinner and then quite possibly to his bed.
But, no, he couldn’t push her. Despite her eager response to his advances and her shy admittance of being attracted to him, Ian could still sense her uncertainty and inexperience – something that seemed odd for a soon-to-be divorced woman. He wondered if Peter had been her only boyfriend, her only sexual partner, which could explain her shyness around other men.
And while he would love nothing better than to bring Tessa home with him tonight and finally make her his, he wasn’t going to rush things. The last thing he intended to do at this point was to scare her off and ruin his chances with her. He’d waited this long – surely his patience could last a while longer.
But his good intentions were all dashed to hell when he saw her emerge from the dressing room, Marlene Brennan trailing in her wake. Ian froze as he got a good look at Tessa, and his heart caught in his throat at her beauty.
The blue dress – almost exactly the same shade as the one she’d worn to the office Christmas party – clung in all the right places and made her look svelte and sexy while still shrieking class. Her breasts looked higher and rounder, and he wondered how she looked in the seductive blue lace bra he’d selected for her, as well as the tiny matching panties. His erection began to throb painfully and he groaned in silence, realizing it was going to be a damned long night ahead if he kept up this train of thought.
Tessa was glowing – there was really no other word for it. Her lovely face didn’t actually need cosmetics, but the makeup artist had done an excellent job with the subtle application she’d given her. His gaze lingered on the soft pink gloss on her lips and how her eyes seemed even bigger and bluer than usual. Her hair was shiny and smooth, falling in a straight, glossy fall down her shoulders and back. The sapphires he’d chosen to go with the dress were just right, not too large or showy.
She was smiling as she reached him, standing a couple of inches taller than usual with the added height from her new shoes.
“Hi,” she said breathlessly.
Ian grinned at her, absurdly proud of how striking she looked and how happy she seemed. “Hi, yourself, darling. You look gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. I assume you like the dress?”
She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, and his skin burned from the contact. “It’s beautiful. All of it. Thank you so much, I love everything.”
He couldn’t resist wrapping an arm around her waist and hugging her close. He buried his face in her hair, which smelled like vanilla and spice. “It was my pleasure, love. Especially when I see how happy my little gift has made you. Are you ready to leave now?”
“I just need to get my coat and bag,” she assured him, and turned to face Marlene.
Ian took the cashmere coat from the personal shopper and held it open for Tessa. He smiled as she buttoned up the coat and then snuggled the collar more closely around her neck.
“I really love this,” she said guilelessly. “I’ve never, ever had anything so nice before. Or so warm.”
He leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “Careful, or I might find myself getting jealous of a coat. Though I admit it’s a big improvement over that bloody raincoat.”
Tessa laughed, and took the Coach handbag from Marlene. The older woman was also carrying a large paper shopping bag which she handed to Tessa.
“This has all the things you were wearing when you arrived,” she explained.
“I’ll take that,” offered Ian, thinking of how much he longed to burn the damned raincoat that he could see folded on top of the bag. “And I must thank you for taking such excellent care of Tessa. I didn’t think perfection could be improved upon, but I believe I’ve been proven wrong. She looks – breathtaking.”
Marlene smiled. “She certainly does. And the two of you make quite an attractive pair if I may say so. You’ll certainly have every eye in the place on you, wherever you might be headed this evening.”
Ian shook her hand. “My thanks again, Mrs. Brennan. You’ve outdone yourself. I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of Tessa before too long.””
“It would be my pleasure, Mr. Gregson,” replied Marlene smoothly. “She’s been a joy to work with, and I would adore the opportunity to help her in the future.”
“Thank you for everything,” Tessa told Marlene, giving her a shy hug. “I’m sorry if I was a lot of trouble.”
“Dear, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed working with a customer more than I did today,” assured Marlene. “You were no trouble at all. And Mr. Gregson is right – you are breathtaking. Now go do me proud and dazzle everyone you see.”
As Ian guided Tessa to the elevators, he wanted nothing more than to pull her in close for a long, deep kiss. But he was unfortunately all too aware of the curious pairs of eyes that followed them along, and he chose instead to merely keep a discreet hand on the small of her back. Once inside the elevator – which was occupied, much to his chagrin – he took hold of her hand as though they were teenagers, and received a bright smile from Tessa. Unable to resist her a moment longer, and not giving a damn who was looking, he pulled her against him for a soft, lingering kiss.
When he lifted his head, the elevator was stopping at the ground floor, everyone around them smiling indulgently, and Tessa’s eyes were as shiny as the sapphire at her throat.
“Come along, darling,” he murmured, tucking her against his side. “Cinderella’s carriage awaits.”
The “carriage” was the black Lincoln MKT Town Car that Ian utilized primarily for business purposes, or if he thought he might have a bit more than usual to drink at an event. He introduced Tessa to Simon, the tall, silver-haired Welshman who’d worked as his chauffeur since he’d moved to San Francisco. Simon was quiet, efficient, and extremely discreet – not that Ian was in the habit of engaging in amorous activities in the backseat of the vehicle. He was a firm believer in discretion, and that there was a time and a place for everything. He was too old now and too straight-laced to ever seriously consider having sex in a public place or even his car. The privacy of his own home, or the owner’s suite at one of the company’s hotels was a different matter entirely. Especially if the blonde beauty currently snuggled against his side was closeted up in the room with him.
He kept an arm about Tessa’s shoulders during the short drive to the restaurant. The top of her silky hair brushed up against his nose, and he inhaled deeply of the scent of her shampoo.
“Your hair smells like cinnamon and vanilla,” he murmured, then pressed a kiss to her temple. He took a long, shiny strand of her hair between his fingers. “And it feels like silk.”
Tessa nodded. “I love how soft and shiny it is right now. I’m such a klutz with a blow dryer that I could never get it to look like this. The stylist wanted to cut some of it, but we didn’t have enough time.”
“Good.” He nuzzled his face into her hair. “I like your hair long.”
She patted his arm reassuringly. “It was only going to be a couple of inches, just a trim. I like my hair long, too.”
Ian captured her mouth in a soft kiss. “Then I’ll take you back to the salon soon when there’s more time. Or to any other salon you’d prefer if this one wasn’t to your liking.”
“It was perfect,” she told him. “They treated me like a queen. Or a movie star. But I can’t let you keep doing things like that.”
“Why not? I told you earlier today that I intended to spoil you, and I meant it.”
Tessa looked uneasy. “I just don’t feel right letting you buy me all these things. I mean, I know I’ve worked for you for over two years but – well, we don’t really know each other.”
He tucked her glossy hair behind one ear. “I know that, Tessa,” he said gently. “And I certainly don’t want to overwhelm you or make you feel uncomfortable. I think perhaps I’ve just wanted for so long now to be with you, to take care of you, and, yes – get to know you – that I’m probably coming on a bit too strong. We’ll take this as slowly as you want to, all right, love?”
She nodded, then gave him an impish little grin. “Well, not too slowly.”
Ian laughed and hugged her close. “It’s all up to you, darling. I’m just your willing servant. Now, you haven’t asked me where we’re having dinner.”
Tessa shrugged. “Anyplace you choose is fine with me. I’m afraid I don’t know very much about restaurants in San Francisco, just the few little places in my neighborhood. And I’m guessing we aren’t going to Zen Sushi or El Toro Taqueria.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Your guess would be correct. I think we’d both be a bit overdressed for either of those fine establishments. No, this evening we’re dining at Le Mistral. Have you heard of it?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Is it French?”
He picked up her hand and kissed it. “Oui, mademoiselle. It’s very French and very romantic. And best of all, they have private dining rooms so that you and I can – ah, get to know each other.”
Tessa had a wistful look on her face. “You speak French, don’t you? So does Julia. I heard her talking to Henri the last time she was in the office.”
“Yes, though my French is not quite as good as Julia’s. I also speak Italian and Spanish and some German and Portuguese.”
She used her thumb to trace a little pattern over their clasped hands. “You’re so smart and accomplished. I love hearing you talk at meetings. Not that I always understand what’s being discussed, but I just like the sound of your voice.”
Grateful for the unquestionable discretion of his chauffeur, Ian hauled her against him and gave her a deep, searing kiss. At the sound of her low but audible moan, he reluctantly lifted his head, only to whisper in a husky tone, “I hope you’ll like hearing all the things I plan on saying to you when we’re alone. And I’ll be sure to say them in English so that you understand every single word.”
He felt her quiver in arousal against him, and knew that if he slid his hand inside her coat he would find the hardened peak of her nipple.
“It’s okay,” she whispered back. “Even if I can’t really understand you, I think hearing you speak French or Italian would be incredibly romantic. And sexy.”
Ian groaned. “I fear that when I take you to my bed I’m going to forget my own damned name, much less how to say it in French.”
Simon pulled up to the restaurant moments later, holding the back door open as Ian exited first, then assisted Tessa out. It was a chilly evening, and he smiled indulgently as she snuggled deeper into her new coat.
“I’m developing a serious case of envy for that coat,” he grumbled as he opened the door to the restaurant.
She giggled as she preceded him inside. “How can you be envious of a coat?”
He slid his arms around her waist, hugging her back against his chest. “Because it’s wrapped around your body, and I’d give anything at this moment to change places with it.”
He pressed a little closer against her buttocks, and he knew from the little gasp she made that she could feel the heavy ridge of his erection, even through the fabric of her coat. He was grateful that he was wearing a black wool overcoat of his own, which he quickly buttoned before approaching the host stand, hiding his rather obvious arousal.
Ian patronized this restaurant often enough that many of the staff knew him by name. Tonight the maître d’ himself – Victor - greeted Ian, who then introduced him to Tessa.
Victor was far too discreet and well-trained to betray even a hint of surprise at seeing Ian here with a date – and with a woman who was obviously quite a bit younger than he was.
“Welcome to Le Mistral, Mademoiselle,” greeted Victor as he shook Tessa’s hand. “I can guarantee that you will have the most wonderful meal of your life this evening. Now, if you please, follow me to your table. You are in the Blue Room as requested, Monsieur Gregson.”
The Blue Room was a small, private dining room that could hold up to a dozen guests comfortably. Ian had hosted a number of business dinners here as well as entertained family members when they had visited. But for tonight he and Tessa would be the only occupants.
As he took Tessa’s coat and hung it on the corner rack, he smiled to observe her as she took in the truly fabulous interior of the private room. A fresco in blues and golds had been painted on the domed ceiling; the walls were papered in a blue and cream stripe; and the thick carpet beneath their feet was of a lush shade of blue. Ian was thankful to note that the large dining table that was usually in this room had been temporarily moved out and replaced with a much smaller, more intimately sized one. It was set with pristine white linens, exquisite blue floral china, gleaming flatware, and fine crystal, the high backed chairs upholstered in a pale blue fabric.
Tessa’s eyes were wide with wonder as she turned to him. “This is so lovely. Like a palace. I’ve never been anywhere like this before.”
Her heartfelt confession tugged at his emotions, and he feared he was going to continue discovering just how little Tessa had experienced or been given in her life thus far.
“I’m glad you like it,” was all he said in reply. “I entertain business associates here quite a lot and the food is just about the best in the city. And,” he added, “there’s the extra bonus of these private rooms. I doubt we’d run into anyone from the office here this evening but it’s always a possibility.”
“Oh.” Tessa bit her bottom lip, as though that thought hadn’t occurred to her until now. “You’re sure it’s all right?”
“Yes, it’s fine. Not to mention that Victor is extremely discreet and would never dream of telling anyone that I was here this evening. We’ll need to talk some about how we’re going to have to conduct ourselves around the office, but that can keep. For now, let’s have a seat, shall we?”
The waiter entered the room just after they had seated themselves, and Ian grinned broadly as he greeted the man.
“I was hoping they’d assign you to this table, Roland,” he told the waiter. “This is Miss Lockwood, my dining companion. Tessa, Roland is the very best waiter here at Le Mistral. I know he’ll take excellent care of us this evening.”
Roland, a short, slightly rotund man with an Eastern European accent, told Tessa how delighted he was to meet her and assured her that Mr. Gregson was correct – he would strive to take very good care of them.
Tessa looked a bit uncertain when Roland asked for their cocktail orders, and Ian swiftly came to the rescue. “I’ll have my usual, please. As for the lady – let’s see. Do you like lemonade, Tessa?”
She nodded, visibly grateful for his assistance. “Yes, very much.”
“Then a lemon drop for the lady, Roland.”
Roland bustled off to get their drinks and Tessa smiled at Ian in relief.
“Thank you for that. I’m not much of a drinker,” she confessed. “Just a little wine or champagne on occasion. Peter – he didn’t like keeping alcohol around the apartment.”
“Why was that?” Ian inquired curiously.
Tessa paused for a moment before replying. “He grew up with an alcoholic mother who was also abusive. Peter had a rough time of it with her and just couldn’t handle having any liquor around as a result.”
Ian nodded. “That’s perfectly understandable. And you don’t ever have to feel pressure to drink if you don’t choose to, Tessa.”
A busboy entered the room while they waited for their cocktails, filling water glasses and setting out a basket of assorted breads and a beautifully arranged plate of olives, charcuterie, and pates. Roland arrived a moment later with their drinks – the lemon drop in a frosted martini glass for Tessa, and Ian’s preferred blend of single malt Scotch in a heavy crystal tumbler.
“Sir, I’ll leave the menus for you to look over at your leisure. Enjoy your cocktails,” offered Roland.
Alone again, Ian picked up his glass and clinked it lightly against Tessa’s. “To getting to know each other,” he toasted with a gentle smile.
Her cheeks flushed fetchingly as she smiled in agreement and took a tentative sip of her drink.
“It’s delicious,” she told him. “Thank you for suggesting it.”
“My pleasure, darling. And while it may taste like lemonade it’s a great deal stronger, so sip it slowly, all right?” he cautioned.
She nodded. “Yes, of course. I’m – sorry if all of this is so new to me. I’m sure all the other women you date must be - ”
“Stop.” He placed a finger over her lips. “First, I believe I already told you not to apologize for anything. And second, despite what you might think, there have actually been very few women I’ve dated in my life. Especially not in the past two years.”
Tessa was gaping at him in surprise. “But there are always photos of you in the newspaper and – and Gina and Alicia are always talking about who you escorted to this event or the other.”
Ian shook his head in mild disgust. “Don’t believe anything those two shrews say, especially Alicia. I’m well aware of how much they gossip, but I promise you they know next to nothing about my personal life. Suffice it to say that attending a social function with a female friend or acquaintance doesn’t always equate to dating her.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “I know this is all new to you, Tessa. And while I don’t want to ever make you feel ill at ease, at the same time it makes me very happy to know that I’ll have the honor of introducing you to a great many pleasures. Both in and out of my bed.”
Her lips trembled and her eyes grew wide at his last statement. Glancing down, he had to stifle a groan when he noticed the hard peaks of her nipples poking against her dress, betraying the arousal she felt from his softly spoken words.
“We’d better start looking at the menu,” he murmured huskily, and handed her one of the heavy leather-bound books.
Ian was aware of Tessa’s distress from the moment she began to scan the expansive and complex menu, with its numerous courses and elaborate descriptions. And when she began to twirl a lock of hair around her finger in agitation, he asked her gently, “Would you like me to order for both of us, Tessa?”
She looked up at him gratefully. “You wouldn’t mind? I’m sor – I mean, I’m just not familiar with a lot of these dishes.”
“I know.” He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “And I don’t mind in the least, darling.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his cheek. “You’ll soon learn, Tessa, that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
Her glossy pink mouth fell open in a round “O” of surprise at his quietly impassioned declaration. He was astonished to see the shimmer of tears in her eyes, and his heart ached as one teardrop began to trickle slowly down her rosy cheek.
“You’re so good to me,” she whispered. “So kind. I don’t have any idea how I got this lucky.”
“Darling.” He reached across and softly kissed each of her eyelids, brushing the tears away with his thumb. “It’s not luck – it’s fate. You were meant for me all along, Tessa. It just took a while for the stars to align properly. Now, let’s take a look at this menu together, hmm? You tell me if there’s something I suggest that you don’t like.”
With her approval, he ordered the lobster salad, a creamy porcini mushroom soup, and the salmon in sorrel sauce, accompanied by a crisp French Chardonnay.
In between courses of the delicious, beautifully prepared food, he subtly tried to engage her in conversation, and to open up a little more about herself.
“Were you born in Tucson?”
Tessa took a small sip of her wine, then shook her head. “No. According to my birth certificate I was actually born in Savannah, Georgia. But I have no memories of the place and my mother never talked about it. Mostly I grew up in the Southwest.”
“Do your parents still live in that area?”
There was another pause before she replied, and he sensed she was choosing her words carefully. “I don’t know where my father is. I’ve never actually met him or even know his name. And my mother is dead.”
Ian frowned, not sure what disturbed him more – the information that Tessa had just shared or the sad, almost matter-of-fact way in which she had done so.
“I’m so sorry, love,” he told her sincerely. “Was your mother’s death recent?”
“No, it was several years ago.”
A very young age to find herself without parents, he thought grimly. Ian guessed there was more – a great deal more – that she wasn’t telling him, but this was certainly not an evening where he intended to make her talk about sad things. There would be time enough to learn her life’s story on another occasion. But there was one question that he desperately wanted an answer to.
“Was Peter your first boyfriend?”
Tessa seemed startled at his question. “Um – yes, actually. Why do you ask?”
Ian ran a finger around the rim of his wineglass. “You seem extraordinarily shy, especially around men. I’m just assuming that you don’t have much experience with other men besides your husband.”
She gave a slight nod. “Peter is the only man I’ve ever been with. He – we’ve know each other since high school. He was the only family I had, but now he’s left me, too.”
“What?” He was dumbfounded. “Peter was the one to leave? I thought – I just assumed you had initiated the divorce.”
“No. Peter left last September for Bahrain to start his new job. It was his idea to split up, especially since I wouldn’t have been able to move with him.”
Ian could only shake his head in disbelief. “How in the world could he – could any man – just walk away from you? It’s inconceivable, Tessa.”
“It’s not what you think,” she told him quietly. “Peter and I – well, it’s a very long, involved story. The reasons we married and stayed together – it’s complicated.”
“Then let’s not discuss it tonight,” he declared firmly. “Tonight is about getting to know each other better, but not sharing stories that make you sad. I don’t ever want to make you sad, Tessa.”
She gave him a smile that went right to his groin, and what she said next made him stifle a groan.
“You don’t,” she assured him. “Being with you here this evening – it’s the happiest I’ve felt in a very long time.”
Ian leaned over and kissed her tenderly. “My darling girl, you have no idea how happy that makes me to hear. And I intend to work very hard on making any sad thoughts or memories you’ve ever had disappear as though they never existed. In other words, I’m planning to devote myself to making you happier than you’ve ever been before.”
The rest of the meal passed by without any additional references to Tessa’s past. Instead, he focused on learning any number of little things about her – likes and dislikes – such as her favorite color (blue), favorite flavor of ice cream (cookie dough), and favorite movie (the hopelessly romantic Sleepless In Seattle). He also discovered that she exercised every day, liked to cook but admittedly wasn’t terribly skilled at it, and that of all the places in the world she’d ever dreamed of visiting, Italy and Spain were at the top of her list.
“I suppose you’ve been to both places,” she said wistfully.
“Yes, many times. My family owns a villa in Tuscany, so we’ve vacationed there for decades. Perhaps you’ll let me take you there sometime,” he offered.
Tessa’s face lit up with delight. “Really? You’d really want to take me to Italy with you?”
Ian smiled at her obvious pleasure at the idea. “Of course, love. If you’ll allow me, Tessa, I’d happily show you the world.”
She sighed. “God, could you be any more romantic? You’re starting to make my head spin with all of this – this splendor.”
“Ah, no more wine for you then,” he teased. “Besides, it’s nearly time for dessert.”
He had actually been keeping a careful eye on her alcohol consumption after she’d told him that she seldom drank. When he had poured her more wine, it had only been in small amounts at a time. But aside from her rosy cheeks and the way she appeared to have relaxed a little more, Tessa certainly didn’t seem drunk or even tipsy. Which was very fortunate because he hadn’t entirely given up hope on the way he wished this evening might end.
Dessert was a trio of mini pots de crème – one each in dark chocolate, caramel and mocha. They fed each other bites with the tasting spoons playfully, as though they’d been lovers for years. Ian sipped a post-dinner brandy while Tessa had wisely passed on more alcohol and was drinking tea instead.
“So how did you come to favor Darjeeling?” he inquired. “It’s not as well-known as other blends like Earl Grey or English Breakfast.”
“Mrs. Carrington,” replied Tessa. “She got me started on it. I had a terrible cold one day, but was refusing to go home until I finished some work. So she brewed me a cup of Darjeeling and insisted I drink it if – let’s see if I can remember her exact words – ah, it was something like ‘if you’re going to continue to act like a mule headed child and stay here in your condition, then the least you should do is have some hot tea.’ She watched me while I drank the entire cup, and then forced me to go home, threatening to fire me if I didn’t.”
Ian laughed heartily at the story. “Yes, that sounds exactly like our Mrs. C. Unfortunately, charm is not one of her better qualities.”
Tessa smiled. “She was tough but she made me a better employee. And in her own way, she was kinder to me than almost anyone else in my life had ever been before.”
He filed that particular snippet of information away for another time. “How did you come to work at the resort?”
“Through a job placement program at the community college I was attending. After my first year of office tech classes, I had acquired enough skills to get a part-time job. When I finished the program a year later I was lucky enough that a full-time position was open.”
“You never thought about continuing your education?” he inquired casually. “Or getting your degree?”
Tessa bent her head as though the question embarrassed her. “I wasn’t – well, a very good student in high school. Things came hard for me, actually. I just seemed better suited to working than going to college.”
He frowned. “I find that difficult to believe. You’re one of the brightest and hardest working employees I’ve ever had.”
She looked incredibly pleased at his compliment. “But that’s just office work – clerical stuff. Things like word processing and spreadsheets came easy for me. Other subjects like algebra and biology not so much.”
Tessa seemed anxious to change the subject, and he allowed her then to turn the tables and ask questions about him. She learned that he had been a three-time boxing champion at Oxford, and that he still worked out at a gym several times a week to keep his skills sharp; that his favorite flavor of ice cream was Haagen Dazs chocolate peanut butter; and that his favorite movie of all time was National Lampoon’s Animal House. She hadn’t believed the latter until he’d begun to recite dialog and recall scenes from the film.
And when he told her that he had been engaged once but that it hadn’t worked out, she didn’t probe further, merely touching his hand and telling him she was sorry. It seemed that she was no more eager to delve into his past this evening than she was to reveal hers.
He had already handed Roland his AMEX black card and was waiting for him to return with the credit slip when he took Tessa’s hands in his.
“Would you do something for me, darling?” he asked. “It’s something I’ve wanted you to do for a very long time.”
She looked a bit uncertain for a moment or two, but then nodded emphatically. “Yes, of course I will. What is it?”
Ian cupped her cheek. “Say my name. That’s all. All this time it’s been ‘Mr. Gregson’ or ‘Sir’. I want to hear my real name on your lips.”
Tessa smiled sweetly. “That’s an easy request – Ian.”
He brushed his thumb over her lips. “I’m looking forward to hearing you say that over and over.”
The weather had declined during their nearly three hour dinner, the wind whipping up and dark storm clouds gathering above. Ian kept Tessa snuggled closely against him as they walked towards the waiting Town Car.
He stopped before helping her inside. “Tessa, would you – Christ, I feel like a gangly adolescent asking you this – but would you like to see my home?”
He waited with barely concealed patience for her answer, not at all sure how she would respond. Long seconds ticked by before she finally gave a small nod.
“Yes, I’d love to see your home – Ian.”
He was sure he was grinning like a fool as he handed her inside the car, and then told Simon, “Take us to the house, mate.”