Chapter Six
The week was just starting, and Bree had finally had time to sit down today and check her email. The screen displayed a long lineup of communications she’d received since she’d left work last week.
A reminder notice that the judges were to meet and then cast confidential ballots to select a presiding judge had her marking her calendar for that event next week.
But the email that had her full attention was the one from Theresa Fairchild that she’d just read for the second time.
Bree hadn’t had a direct face-to-face with Tess since the lounge encounter.
She’d decided that was for the best. She certainly hadn’t been prepared for her Tahoe memories of Tess to come crashing directly into her current reality.
Bree had tried so hard to keep Tess out of her thoughts.
Oh, she’d dreamed about Tess—what she’d say to her, what she’d do to her.
And now this communication was churning up her feelings.
It was not as formal as the pleasure of your company is requested wording, but a simple professional meeting invitation that didn’t reflect how close they’d been.
Bree couldn’t blame Tess after she’d been the one to end their encounter with the noncommittal lunch sometime suggestion.
She’d been so caught off guard at the totally unexpected turn of events.
She had to admit that the invitation to meet Tess tomorrow evening at the nearby Steam Stop was a welcome surprise. But it also sparked Bree’s worries about her new life, her new job and responsibilities, and being the new kid in the courthouse.
Bree reread the email and considered it for a third time.
The purpose of the meeting was to welcome her as a new member of the Corazon County Superior Court judiciary.
Yes, it was friendly enough, but certainly not at the personal level of familiarity they’d known.
But Bree didn’t want that degree of familiarity.
This was the type of professional invitation Tess would send to any new judge.
It was even signed with Cordially, Theresa Fairchild, which left no doubt as to the planned tone of the meeting. Professional. Cordial.
There was no request for a reply, nor was the coffee shop a venue that would offer an opportunity for the effects of alcohol to buffer the encounter.
Bree found herself unsettled, and that was all the more reason to rein in her feelings and focus on her new job—staying professional for multiple reasons.
Yes, cordial was for the best. She’d better plan on tomorrow evening’s Steam Stop cordial meeting at Theresa Fairchild’s request. Maybe this was Tess’s bid to redefine their relationship on her own terms. She would go and see what Tess had in mind for moving the entire unexpected situation that they found themselves in forward.
It was after a few sips of her herbal tea—purchased with the intention that she wouldn’t be awake tonight any more than this meeting might keep her from sleeping—and two minutes after the hour when Tess saw Bree walk into the Steam Spot.
She reminded herself that Bree was simply a new colleague, not this desirable woman she’d been unable to leave behind at Tahoe.
She needed to move on. That was the point of this meeting’s agenda.
But every time she was around Bree, Tess wanted more.
But a push for more meant rejection, since Bree didn’t want more.
And even if by some miracle, they managed a romantic relationship, workplace romances could be fraught with issues.
Bree made eye contact through the back room’s glass door where Tess sat at a table that she hoped would offer some privacy.
Tess watched her step to the counter to give the barista her order.
Bree hadn’t replied to the calendar item to offer a definitive response or negotiate a new time—not that Tess’s invitation had required a response—so Tess had had no idea if Bree would show up.
Now her blood rushed at the confirmation Bree had come.
Tess had spent the weekend considering her options, but it had taken her until early Monday morning to finally act on Flo’s advice and issue the invitation.
She was here now because she’d concluded that Flo was right about the need to accomplish a reset so that when she had the inevitable encounters with Bree at work, what was currently unresolved between them wouldn’t be so evident.
Hopefully, they could even put it all behind them and get on with a friendly professional relationship.
That would certainly negate Tess’s worries about the dangers associated with a workplace romance.
“Good evening. I’m not quite clear if you’re Theresa Fairchild, or if it’s Tess I’m meeting tonight.
” Bree had collected her drink. She scooted out the chair across from Tess and took a seat.
While she appeared calm and so put together, Tess detected a shade of nerves in her tone, probably imperceptible to someone who hadn’t spent time with her.
Bree might be carrying out her end of this being cordial, but Tess noticed that cordiality didn’t prevent her clear blue eyes from darkening as she looked at Tess.
What the hell did that mean? Bree had been the one to pull back and leave the lounge simply suggesting that they should maybe have lunch sometime.
Tess wondered if those dark eyes signaled suppressed irritation at even being invited here.
This should be easier. Tess kicked herself for not having even considered beforehand the answer to Bree’s simple inquiry about how to address her.
“Judge Huffington always calls me Theresa. Most of the others call me Tess. I answer to either.” Her take was that Huffington used names and familiarity as a signal of his perception of a judge’s support for him—he valued his title of presiding judge.
“Ah, power dynamics—Huffington has only called me Brianna as well, even though I’ve invited the use of Bree.
I’ve heard him use Vera when referring to Veronica Etson, so maybe she knows how to stroke Huffington’s ego.
Alan Larkin is just Alan and Eric Smith is just Eric, so no changing those.
And he addresses Callie Baldwin as Callista. ”
“He called Gerald Flannigan, the judge you’re replacing, Gerry, and they were buddies.
” Tess took another swallow of her tea. It felt so natural to be chatting with Bree, even if it was about nicknames and power dynamics at work.
She knew she wouldn’t be having this discussion with a new acquaintance.
“Call me Tess, if you’re willing to take a side. ”
“I am on your side, Tess. I’m not on Huffington’s side. I don’t want to call you Theresa.” Bree diverted her gaze to her cup.
Tess wanted to avoid reading too much into that declaration, but she also wanted to read so much more into it.
Bree being on her side hadn’t been on her agenda for this meeting, but she felt that familiar surge of pleasure at Bree’s statement.
She wanted to be Tess to Bree. This wasn’t going the way she’d planned.
Her intent had been to initiate a new set of ground rules—simply an established colleague’s relationship with a new colleague, as if there had never been that week together at Tahoe.
They sat and sipped their drinks. Tess had come for a reason, so she might as well break the silence.
She’d thought she could accomplish her mission with a remote demeanor, with her professional armor on, but she liked Bree too much to now come off as strictly polite, as someone who had never revealed more than she showed most people.
And then there was the despondency Tess was dealing with, the sadness she couldn’t help experiencing when Bree had left the lounge, and her own self-reproach for allowing this situation to occur. Tess sat up straighter and sucked in a fortifying breath.
“It was obvious in the courthouse lounge that you expected to leave Tahoe completely behind,” Tess said. “I just want you to know that’s what I had agreed to too. Before—”
“Before what?” Bree asked. Then she pressed her mouth closed, clearly showing regret for not waiting out what Tess had been planning to say, but the interruption gave Tess the kick in the ass she needed to keep this meeting on target.
Tess raised her chin and lied through her teeth that she hadn’t been about to say before I wanted more because she had so little self-control with Bree.
“Before I realized we’d be working together, and we needed to have this talk to make sure we have an understanding.
A complete recalibration. As if there was no history, no Tahoe.
” No feelings, no glorious night in that bed sharing those feelings.
Bree waved her finger between Tess and herself. “You and me…there are reasons that I can’t.” The frown that ghosted her face before she reschooled her expression suggested Bree wanted to say more, at least for a split second.
Then the thought hit Tess like a kick to the sternum—had she slept with a married woman?
Flo had indicated that Bree was divorced.
Well, this cordial meeting had already digressed to so much more being put on the table, so Tess decided to ask.
“Those reasons…you’re not married or in a committed relationship, are you? ”
“No frigging way. I wouldn’t do that,” Bree growled softly under her breath, then she refilled her lungs.
“We can’t have the kind of relationship we had at Tahoe.
” Bree emitted an extended sigh. “For multiple reasons. It’s best if I don’t get deeply involved with anyone right now.
I was married, Tess. A bad divorce. And I’m on a huge learning curve.
This career change has to work for me. I don’t have the bandwidth to get involved in a relationship. ”
Tess felt a surge of letdown. Maybe this wasn’t about her not measuring up, but Bree clearly wanted a reset on the two of them. For God’s sake, she’d come here today for that reset too.