Chapter 29
Tessa
I don’t know why I’m nervous, it’s not like I don’t know most of these people already.
Still, it’s taken me half an hour to decide what I’m going to wear. Which is hilarious when you think about it, since most of what I own is the typical mom-uniform: jeans and T-shirts. Hell, even at work I mostly wear jeans with a department-issued shirt or sweater.
Clothes aren’t something I’m usually that concerned about, which is why I own only two summer dresses, one little black number I forgot I had, and a handful of tops that are not T-shirts. Clem doesn’t seem to care much what I wear either, but then again, he’s never seen me dolled up.
That’s what I’m doing, dolling up, just because Brenda mentioned she loves the chance to dress up a little, and this department Thanksgiving gathering is apparently the prime opportunity.
We never had any department get-togethers when I was working at the State Crime Investigation Department, but clearly that’s something else that’s done differently in Silence.
Thanksgiving isn’t until next week, but Hugo explained to me, the sheriff’s department tends to be extra busy with calls between Thanksgiving and the new year, so they plan this thing a little early.
I’m sure the weather has something to do with those extra calls. This month we have already been caught off guard by two substantial snowfalls that weren’t in the forecast and had the department scrambling to keep up with anything from fender benders to road closures.
“Mom!”
Remi scares the shit out of me when he yells right behind me from the doorway, and the ancient lipstick I’d dug up and was carefully applying, partly ends up on my cheek.
“Jesus, kid, I’m right here.”
“Yeah, but I called you a few times already and you didn’t hear me,” he explains before adding, “Clem is here.”
“I’ll be right down.”
When he’s gone, I take a look at my reflection.
Ugh…that lipstick looks like I’m trying too hard.
I grab a washcloth and scrub the almost offensive orangey color off my face.
I’ll stick to my lip balm instead. I fluff out my hair with my fingers, take one last critical look in the mirror, and brush my hands down the outfit I picked.
Then I resist the urge to change out of the angora sweater vest I’m wearing over the little black dress I found at the back of my closet, and into a more comfortable pair of jeans, before I head downstairs.
“Wow.”
Clem gets to his feet and repeats, “Wow.”
I guess sticking with the LBD was the right choice. I paired it with black leather, heeled boots that come halfway up my calves, leaving a respectable piece of leg to just above my knee visible. I was worried it might look gaudy, but Clem seems to like it.
“I can say the same for you. You clean up good, Tanek.”
He looks sharp, the pale gray of his shirt matching his eyes and the silver above his ears. He forfeited a tie, but is wearing a nice charcoal suit and matte black dress shoes. It’s quite the departure from his usual casual garb of jeans, flannel, and boots.
The smile on his face as he approaches me has me break out in happy goosebumps. The man doesn’t need words to make me feel beautiful, he’s more of a show than a tell kind of guy. His eyes scan my face, his hand reaching for a strand of my hair, letting it slide through his fingers.
“Fucking love your hair down,” he mumbles, right before he takes my mouth for a slow kiss full of promise.
Remi’s “Aww, come on, guys…” is followed by stomping feet going back up the stairs.
Clem smiles against my lips before taking a step back and, hanging on to my hand, runs his eyes over my body, top to bottom. Then he gives his head a little shake.
“In case I wasn’t clear enough, you take my breath away.”
I stand corrected, the words feel damn good.
As he helps me into my coat a moment later, he brushes the shell of my ear with his lips. “And tonight, those boots stay on.”
His hoarse whisper makes my knees go weak.
Have mercy.
“There you are!” Brenda calls out twenty minutes later when we walk into The Kerrigan.
She’s making her way over from the bar, decked out in a purple, formfitting, sequined dress that hugs every generous curve on her body, and I’m so there for it.
With the teased-out hair and bright pink lips, she looks like a classic movie star knockout.
A long way from the drab office clothes she usually opts for.
“You look stunning,” I inform her, smiling broadly.
“Oh, this little thing?” she responds coyly, running her hands down her rounded hips. “You look great too. That hair should be illegal though, I’m so jealous.”
Then she peeks past me and scrutinizes Clem.
“Well, I’ll be…Clem, honey, I had no idea all that was hiding under the layers of flannel and engine grease. Mercy.”
I snicker when I catch Clem raising his eyes to the ceiling in mock exasperation, especially considering the ruddy blush of embarrassment growing on his cheeks.
“Leave my guy alone, Brenda,” I warn her jokingly. “You’ve got your own.”
The woman snorts. “Yeah, but I lost him five minutes after we walked in the door. He got me set up with a drink at the bar and disappeared.”
“I’ll go look for him,” Clem offers.
The kiss he drops on my lips leaves me smiling dreamily, and that does not go unnoticed by Brenda.
“Oh boy, you’re a goner.”
I grin at her, not bothering to deny it.
Then my eyes follow him as he makes his way through the pub, saying a few words here and there as he passes people he knows.
He moves easily, confidently but without any kind of swagger.
He’s at home here, in this place, in this town, with these people.
He belongs, and I’m starting to feel like maybe I belong too.
Yeah, I am so gone for him.
Clem
I figured I’d find him in the pub’s back room.
Tony Silvari is sitting at the poker table with Brant Colter, KC Kingma, Rick Althof, and Jacob Kerrigan, dealing the next hand. His necktie is loosened, the collar of his shirt unbuttoned, and his jacket is hanging over the back of his chair.
“The party’s in there,” I announce, cocking my thumb over my shoulder.
“Just a few hands before the food comes out,” Brant explains. “We can deal you in on the next hand.”
“Not me. I’ve got much better company waiting for me out there,” I tease.
“Way to show us up, man,” Tony complains.
“If not for our delightful company, why are you here?” Jacob asks.
“This guy here,” I indicate Tony. “His wife is looking for him.”
The man groans. “She’s gonna make me wear the damn tie again.”
“Hey, if it makes her happy,” I point out.
“Look at me, I’m wearing a suit—a goddamn suit—and I spent nearly an hour trying to scrub the damn grease from under my fingernails, but do you hear me complaining?
Because the woman I decided to clean up for is looking like a million fucking bucks out there and she deserves for her man not to embarrass her. ”
Jacob barks out a laugh and slowly claps. “Listen to you, barely into your first real relationship since forever, and suddenly you’re an expert?”
I lift a lazy eyebrow at him.
“Oh, I’m far from an expert, but I’m a real willing student, and never too old to learn. Especially when I recognize the rewards waiting for me when we get home tonight.”
Brant and KC chuckle, but Althof lifts his hands to his ears.
“That’s my damn partner you’re talking about.”
I ignore Rick and continue to address Jacob, “And make sure to let me know how you do tonight, after letting Stella slave in the kitchen to singlehandedly prepare and serve food for around thirty people, by my count.”
“Ooo, he’s got you there,” Brant heckles the pub owner, who doesn’t look too pleased with me right now.
Too bad. I like Jacob, and it used to be he and Stella worked side by side, but over the years I’ve noticed him spending more and more time on the patron side of the bar, while Stella was forced to pick up his slack behind it.
It’s not the only long-term relationship I’ve noticed developing that kind of dynamic, and I’ve listened to plenty of guys complaining about the fact their wives stopped putting in an effort, when they themselves spend their free time watching TV on the couch, with their feet on the table and a beer in their hands, while their wives are left with all the work to keep the household running and the kids in check.
I don’t pretend to be perfect, I’m far from it, and I have no doubt I’m gonna screw up at times, but I’m damn well going to make sure I pull my weight and carry my share in this relationship.
And whether that means cleaning the bathroom, driving a kid to school, giving her a foot rub after a long day, or putting on a suit from time to time because I know it’ll please her, doesn’t matter.
What matters is I don’t—at any time or under any circumstances—want to take the woman I love for granted.
“Geeze, man. Way to kill the party,” KC complains, tossing the hand he was just dealt on the table before getting to his feet and walking out.
Rick follows suit, but he shoots me a wink as he passes me to return to the bar.
Tony struggles to try and get his collar buttoned up again and his tie in place, before he too leaves the room.
“I need to check on something,” Jacob mutters as he slips by me into the bar.
That leaves just Brant still sitting at the table.
“Sorry to break up your party.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, you’ve got a point.” Then he pushes himself out of his chair. “Let’s go join our women for a drink. There’s something I want to talk to you about anyway.”
I spot Tessa right away, sitting at a table with Savvy and her stepmother, Phil.
Brenda is back at the bar with Tony, his arm draped around her shoulder.
They’re watching KC and Jacob, who have moved to a game of darts.
Rick Althof is sitting a few stools down by himself, but his eyes are not on the game; they appear to be following Dana Kerrigan—Jacob and Stella’s daughter—who is helping out behind the bar tonight.
“Do you ladies mind if we join you?” Brant asks, pulling up a chair from a neighboring table.
“Not at all,” Phil tells him. “Is your poker game done?”
“Nah, I’d rather be out here with you.”
Smooth operator.
I pull up a chair beside Tessa, putting a hand on her knee as I flash her a smile. Then I turn to Savvy.
“Nate not here?”
“He’s home with Magnus. I’m only popping in for a few minutes to show my face. I’m not ready to leave him with a babysitter yet.”
“Understandable.”
After we put in an order for drinks with the server who stops at the table, Brant focuses his attention on me.
“So, Clem…what’s this I hear about you starting up some kind of apprenticeship program for kids with an interest in mechanics?”
“Yeah, Hugo mentioned something about that,” Savvy contributes.
Since the only person I’ve spoken to about my idea is Tessa, I shoot a questioning look at her. She winces and mouths, “Sorry.”
“For what it’s worth, I think it’s a great idea,” Brant volunteers. “If you need any help, I wouldn’t mind giving you a hand.”
“Yeah, if you’re sure. I’d love to sit down with you at some point and talk it through.”
The funny thing is, I’d already thought of picking his brain about some of the logistics of actually setting a program like that up. Brant’s involvement would lend it instant credibility.
“I’ve got the time,” he reminds me.
It’s not until we pull into Tessa’s driveway, a couple of hours later, she revisits the subject.
“Are you mad? I brought up your idea in the briefing with Mancuso last week, and I meant to tell you about it, but I totally forgot. I know I spoke out of turn, but we were just talking about what would happen to those boys after, and your idea fit so perfectly into the void those kids otherwise would drop into, I—”
I silence her with a hand at the back of her neck and my mouth covering hers.
“Not mad,” I assure her, resting my forehead against hers. “Lucky…I have a woman I love advocating for me. No, I’m not mad at all.”
“You love me?”
I grin. “You couldn’t tell?”