11. Tessa
Chapter 11
Tessa
“O ccasionally, huh?”
I ignored Ro’s drawl and tried to see anything in the dense darkness. Why me? Had I offended the Universe? I held out a hand and whacked a hard chest. “Sorry.”
A light flared to life. He was holding up his cellphone. “No signal down here.”
I pulled my radio off my belt. “Reception, this is Tessa. Are you there?” The radio crackled. “Reception?” Ugh. “The walls are too thick down here. At least we can see.”
I headed back to the stairs. When we got to the top, I pushed the door. It didn’t budge. Frowning, I shoved against it.
“The electronic lock has no power,” Ro said.
Oh, no . I poked at it, then sagged against the door. “We’re stuck.” I’d managed to get billionaire hotelier Ambrose Langston stuck in a musty basement. I was really showing him the charm of the Windward Resort.
We headed back down.
“Everett knows we were coming this way.” Although no doubt he’d be busy trying to get the power back on.
My eyes adjusted to the gloom and my gaze sharpened on the tiny source of dim light. A small window high above my head.
I had no idea where it came out, but it was a possible way out of here. I strode over and spotted several wooden crates stacked against the wall. They’d do. I gripped one and shoved. It scraped along the concrete floor and I pushed it under the window. Grabbing the next one, I hefted it—thank God they were empty. With a grunt, I muscled it on top of the other one.
“What are you doing?” Ro asked.
“Getting us out of here.” I shoved another crate next to the others. My own impromptu set of steps.
Then I realized I was wearing a fitted dress. Crap. I glanced back at Ro. His white shirt gleamed in the darkness, but it was hard to see the rest of him.
Stay stuck in here or get out? I gripped the hem of my dress and pulled it up to mid-thigh. I stepped onto the first crate.
He cursed. “You’re going to break your neck.”
“I’ll be fine.” I climbed up onto the higher box and straightened. I touched the grimy glass and shoved.
It didn’t budge.
“Come on.” I tried again, the crate wobbling beneath me. The window didn’t open. It had probably been painted shut at some stage. I pushed again.
The crate wobbled and I lost my balance.
A cry caught in my throat as I tumbled.
Hard arms caught me. I found myself pressed against a hard chest, a large, warm palm pressed against the back of my bare thighs, and Ro’s face buried between my breasts. Hot electricity zapped through me and I gasped. That just caused me to pull in that masculine, sandalwood scent of his.
“Are you all right?” His voice was low, his warm breath fanning over my chest.
“Yes.” My voice was high and breathy.
We both went quiet, and neither of us moved.
He lowered me until our faces were close. “You’re sure?”
God, he was hard and strong, and I liked him holding me. I closed my eyes and swallowed. Get a grip, Tessa . This is Ambrose Langston. Your billionaire boss, who might tear down your hotel, and who dates supermodels.
“Yes.”
Even in the gloom, I could see his eyes were hot, turbulent. My stomach filled with heat.
Then I lost my mind.
I pressed my mouth to his and kissed him.
His hands tightened on me, crushing me closer. His lips parted, then our tongues were sliding against each other. With a low moan, I slid a hand into his thick hair and clenched. God, the man could kiss. He sat me on the crate, his hard body pressing between my legs. The kiss was hot and fiery—nipping, licking, scorching.
“Damn, you smell like green apples,” he said against my lips before he took my mouth again.
I absorbed everything, every intense second. I felt alive, electric. I was painfully aware of his scent, his taste, the intoxicating scent of him.
Then we broke apart and he pressed his forehead to mine. “Fuck. I knew you’d be trouble.”
“I didn’t plan this.”
His hands clenched on me. “I know.” He released a breath. “I don’t get involved with people I work with.”
“Me too.” I swallowed. “So, we’ll just have to do better ignoring this…thing.”
“You mean raging attraction? And the memories from the masquerade that haunt me every damn second of the day?”
I sucked in a sharp breath. He thought of us together every day?
He cursed.
Pressing a hand to his chest, I wriggled to stand. He lowered his arm, my feet touched the ground, and I managed to stumble. My hand gripped his shirt and I felt buttons pop off and ping on the floor.
I groaned. “Sorry. Could anything else go wrong? Maybe we’ll get hit by a meteor.”
He made an amused sound, then his warm hand curled around my elbow. “I think if they reach the ground they’re called meteorites.”
“Flying hunk of space rock. Whatever.” I sniffed. “I am sorry about your shirt.”
“Don’t worry. It’s only a bespoke tailored shirt by Huntsman. Let’s sit down.” He sat on one of the wooden crates and patted the space beside him.
I grimaced and sat. I wasn’t entirely sure sitting this close to him was a good idea. “I don’t know what Huntsman is.”
“The best tailor on Savile Row in London.”
Crap . I’d ruined a gazillion-dollar shirt. His cologne hit me again, along with the heat pumping off him. “So, I bet you can’t wait to see what I have planned for an encore?”
A laugh escaped him, and I stilled. The sound was deep, sexy, and it hit me in places it definitely shouldn’t.
“I’ve been in worse places,” he said.
“Really?”
Clearly I didn’t hide my skepticism very well.
“Yes, Ms. Ashford. My father’s last wedding comes to mind.”
I thought it prudent not to mention I’d seen photos of that wedding. On a beach, with the very young bride in a tiny bikini top and flowy sarong skirt. The older Langston’s antics often made the tabloids.
“Well, I can assure you that me crashing into you constantly and spending time trapped in a dark, dusty basement wasn’t a scheduled part of the tour.”
In the light from his phone, I saw him smile. “Tessa.”
Okay, maybe first-name basis wasn’t a good idea when he said it like that. Why did the man have to have a sexy voice to go with the Greek-god looks? It wasn’t fair.
“You don’t get on with your father.” Wow, Tessa, brilliant change of subject.
“Absolutely not.” He shifted, his thigh brushing mine.
The intriguing tingles that zipped through me from that touch were…annoying. I couldn’t afford this scorching attraction to Ambrose Langston. “I’m sorry. I miss my dad like crazy, but I get that family isn’t always easy.” I set my shoulders back. I needed to get some control of this situation. “Right, first off, I’m going to fix your shirt.” I stood, then grabbed his phone and shined the light at the concrete floor. It took me a minute to spot the shine of the errant buttons.
“Don’t worry about the shirt.”
After scooping up the buttons, I sat beside him again. “No, I’ve got this.” I reached to my belt and my emergency pouch. I rummaged around and pulled out a small sewing kit.
He craned his head. “What other things do you have in there?”
“Trade secret.” It was tricky, but in the dim light of the phone, I threaded the needle. Then I leaned in. “Hold still.”
I set the first button in place, gripped his shirt, and then stuck the needle through. As I worked, I was agonizingly aware of him. My gaze flicked to the triangle of bronze skin at his throat and I swallowed.
The guy was gorgeous. I knew it, from accidental, firsthand experience. The world knew it.
I guess I just hadn’t expected to be a few inches from the gorgeousness while locked in a room together. I tied off one button and poured all my focus on the next one.
“You’re a woman of many talents, Tessa.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
“Really?”
The low drawl had my gaze flicking up. “Um, I mean, as a hotel manager. I have to be good at a lot of things.”
His gaze traced over my face.
Second button attached, I patted his chest. “All finished.”
His hand closed over mine, keeping my palm pressed flat against his chest. My mouth went dry and I felt the steady thump of his heart.
“Thank you.”
“I ripped them off. Hopefully I won’t crash into you and tear your clothes in the future.”
The corners of his lips tilted and even in the low light, I saw something ghost through his eyes.
God, my big mouth . I jerked my hand back.
He was quiet for a moment, then gave his head a shake. He rose. “I think I’ll take a look at the boiler.” He wandered away and disappeared into the darkness.
I blew out a slow breath and flexed my fingers. They were still tingling from touching him and my lips felt swollen.
“It looks prehistoric.” His disembodied voice drifted back to me.
“It still works. It’s solid.”
“It’s on its last legs,” he called out of the shadows.
“Mr. Clarence wasn’t interested in spending money on it. But it is something that should go on the list.”
Ro grunted and returned to the crate. He swiped an arm across his face. That’s when I realized it was getting quite warm down here. I chewed on my lip. Crap, with the power off, there was no ventilation in here.
Soon, he slipped his suit jacket off. I felt a trickle of sweat down the back of my neck. I watched him roll up the sleeves of his white shirt.
“You’ll get dirty.”
“Won’t kill me.” He looked at me. “Ditch the jacket, Tessa, before you overheat.”
I slipped it off and laid it carefully beside me. My gray dress would hide most of the damage, but I could already see dirty streaks on it. I sighed. Luckily, I kept a change of clothes in my locker. I’d learned that lesson the hard way, after a kid had vomited on me when I’d first started working at the Windward.
“So, did you always want to work at the Windward Resort?” he asked.
“Yes. I never wanted to work anywhere else. That probably seems silly to you. A man who travels all around the world.”
“Explain it to me.”
“I grew up here. I lost my parents, and my aunt raised me. My mom and Emily were ten years apart, but really close. It wasn’t easy for a twenty-year-old to inherit an eight-year-old. We sort of grew up together. She’s like an aunt, mom, and sister all rolled into one.” I loved Emily completely. “She got married a few years later to an amazing man, and I have four cousins.”
“Four?”
I smiled at the thought of the rugrats. “They’re crazy, but I love them.” I sighed. “Unfortunately, Uncle Max died a few years ago.”
“God, I’m sorry. That’s a lot.”
I smiled again. “I pitch in. We’re family and I adore my cousins. Do you have any?”
“One cousin on my mother’s side. She’s older.”
I got the impression they didn’t see each other much. “Siblings?”
“No, thank God.”
I stayed silent.
He blew out a breath. “Neither of my parents’ subsequent marriages have lasted long, or been particularly healthy. Not the ideal environment for children.”
“No.” I wondered about his upbringing. I’m sure he didn’t lack for material things, but were his parents there to tuck him into bed, or watch his sports games, or help him with his homework? “Anyway, the Windward has always been the center of the town. Where everyone celebrates. Where you can meet new people from all around the country and the world. I loved visiting here, and in high school, I worked here on weekends. I worked housekeeping and reception and waited tables in the restaurant. I knew I’d study hospitality, and I knew that one day, I’d manage this place.”
He stared at me, and I shifted on the crate, suddenly self-conscious.
“Your passion shines through.”
“It’s my thing, my place. Ensuring guests have the best time possible makes me happy. The way I’m sure jet-setting around the world buying hotels makes you happy.”
He frowned, looking at the floor. “Yes.”
It was really getting warm. Some strands of my hair stuck to the side of my head, and if I had buttons, I’d undo a few.
“I bet this wasn’t how you expected to spend part of your day.”
He turned his head, and our faces were only inches apart. “No, it wasn’t.”
I felt…something. His eyes flashed and he stared at me. My heart did a small somersault in my chest.
Oh my God . This had to stop.
Professional was my middle name. I lived to be professional and good at my job. I did not entertain any lustful thoughts about anyone I worked with. Especially when that person is the one who signed my paycheck.
And especially not the man who held the fate of my hotel and all its people in his hands.
“Tessa, I?—”
The ring of a cellphone cut through the moment.
“There’s a signal.” He stood, looked at his phone, and groaned.
It made him seem… human. I watched as he pressed the phone to his ear.
“Hello, Father.”