17. Tessa
Chapter 17
Tessa
I led Ro into the great room.
“What exactly have you got planned, Ms. Ashford?”
I smiled at him, then my heart squeezed. We’d only been apart a few hours, but he looked tired. I could see lines bracketing the corners of his mouth and I guessed he had a headache.
“Nothing kinky.”
“That’s a shame. Something in the basement? Or maybe you’ll lock me in a supply cupboard this time?”
I rolled my eyes. “Afternoon tea in one of my favorite spots.”
The table had been set up in the great room as I’d requested. A teapot, coffee plunger, and several plates of baked goods rested on the table between the two armchairs. The chandelier glittered overhead, and the view out the window was beautiful and green.
“Brunch and now afternoon tea. I’ll need to do an extra workout.” As he sat, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out and saw another text message.
“Problem?”
“No.” Just my friends blowing up my phone.
OMG, Tessa. You slept with a hot billionaire!!! By accident!!! I need all the details.
That one was from Sierra. She’d sent several other ones, and the amount of exclamation marks she was using was alarming.
The next few were from Jazz.
I’ve been trying to catch you all day but you’re mysteriously busy and not at your desk.
I WILL find you. And you will spill. You can’t hide from me.
The final one was a group message from Allie, sent to Jazz, Sierra, and me.
Cocktails tonight. Tessa’s place. No excuses .
I bit my lip. They were going to ply me with alcohol and interrogate me. I’d worry about that later. Stuffing my phone in my pocket, I sat down in the armchair and studied Ro again. He looked so tense. “Your calls didn’t go well?”
“No.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “There are some problems with the new acquisition.”
I leaned forward. “Where is it? Or is that top-secret?”
“The Maldives.”
“But you already have a Langston Maldives.”
“I’m planning a second one. More exclusive, with overwater villas, Michelin-starred dining, ultra-exclusive amenities.”
I lifted the coffee plunger and poured coffee for him. I mixed in some creamer. “Sounds like a dream.”
“That’s the plan. Someone recently reminded me that we are in the business of providing experiences and memories.” He lifted the coffee and sipped. I saw him relax, lean back in the chair. His gaze drifted to the view.
I poured my tea.
“You missed lunch.” I nudged a plate of pastries toward him.
“How did you know?”
“You’re tired and irritable. Your blood sugar must be low.”
He nibbled at a pastry, closing his eyes to enjoy the flavor. I liked watching him eat.
I unzipped my pouch on my belt, pulled out some pills, and handed them over. “Ibuprofen for the headache.”
His lips curled. “I’m famous for my poker face in negotiations, and here you are, reading me like an open book.” He swallowed the pills and chased them down with a sip of coffee. “Thanks to you and your magic pouch.” He cradled his coffee cup. “I see why this is one of your favorite spots.”
“It’s all cozy comfort. You should see it in winter.” An uncomfortable sensation caught in my ribs. Except he wouldn’t be here in winter.
“You’re right to expand the outside terrace. The outdoor seating would be extremely popular.” He paused. “We’re going to need a new chef.”
Instant denial welled inside me, but I beat it back. I thought it through logically. “Chef Harvey is nearing retirement. He’s been here a long time, and I know his wife, Janet, hates the winters.”
Ro nodded.
“You’re right.” I sighed. Change didn’t all have to be bad. “I think fresh blood will be good.”
“Excellent. I have someone in mind. If I can lure him here.”
I sipped my tea. “No more calls from your father today?”
“No, thank God. Hopefully, Tiffany is keeping him busy.”
“Trinity.”
“Whatever.”
I fiddled with the handle of my tea cup. “You haven’t mentioned your mother.”
His brow creased. “She’s somewhere in the south of France. On a yacht with… her latest boy toy. At least she doesn’t marry them.”
“Do you see her much?”
“A few times a year. I take her to dinner when she’s in town. Or visit her whenever I’m in Europe.”
I hesitated. “Did you see much of them when you were young?”
He let out a harsh laugh. “God, no. Father worked. Mom traveled, lunched, and did spa days. I had nannies, coaches, and tutors.”
I tried to keep my face blank.
“Oh, don’t feel sorry for me, Tessa.” He leaned forward. “By the time I was a teenager, I made the most of my trust fund and parental disinterest, trust me.” He sipped his coffee. “I idolized my father when I was a boy, like most boys do. I dreamed he’d come to my baseball games, or be sitting in the crowd at a school event.” Ro shrugged. “He used to promise, then never show. Once I got older, I worked out what he was really like. Keeping any sort of promise isn’t much of a priority for him. Then, I didn’t care anymore.”
But he did. A part of him did. “Aunt Emily came to all my volleyball games. I was terrible at it. But she was always there for me.”
“You’re lucky.”
I was.
He set his mug down, reached across the table, and rested his hand close to mine. I knew he was conscious of the staff and guests in the room. His pinkie brushed mine. “Have dinner with me tonight. In my penthouse.”
I pulled a face. “I can’t. I have plans.”
His face smoothed out. “Of course.”
I immediately thought of that boy scanning the crowd, hoping to see his father. Reaching out, uncaring of who was nearby, I covered his hand with mine. “My girlfriends have demanded a cocktail night. It’s at my place, so I can’t say no.”
He relaxed and squeezed my fingers. “Tomorrow night?”
“Deal.”
I sipped my tea again, savoring the flavor. A strange creaking noise caught my ear. I glanced around, and heard another creak. Wood? Metal? It was difficult to tell. Across from me, Ro was frowning.
Creak .
Then I looked up. I blinked. The chandelier was crooked.
No, the chandelier was falling .
I had no time to think. I tossed my cup, then dived out of my chair and aimed at Ro.
His eyes went wide. “Tessa?—?”
I hit him at full force. His chair tipped over and we both fell backward. He rolled us, and ended up on top of me.
He must have instantly realized what was happening, because he covered my body with his.
Crash .
The chandelier made a horrible noise as it smashed into the floor. Shards and chunks of glass sprayed everything in a twenty-foot radius. I felt things ping off us.
My heart hammered in my chest, making it hard to breathe. Oh. My. God .
Someone had really tried to kill Ro this time.
Was he hurt? Had the glass hit him? I turned my head. “Ro, are you okay?”
“I’m all right. What about you?” He sat up, pulling me with him.
Panic drilled into me. He could have been killed, if I hadn’t realized the chandelier was falling. I patted his shoulders, his face. “Are you sure you aren’t hurt?” I dusted some glass out of his dark hair. “Ro, God.” I cupped his cheeks, trying to get a hold on my fear.
“Look at me.”
I met his amber eyes.
“I’m okay, Tessa. Thanks to you.”
I let out a ragged breath. I was vaguely aware of people running into the room, but all I could see was him.
“Damn, you have a small cut on your cheek.” He rubbed it with his finger, just below my right eye, and I felt a small sting.
“It’s fine.”
His face hardened. “No, it’s not. This asshole has gone too far this time.”
“Ro, I’m okay. We’re both okay.”
He rested his forehead against mine, then, heedless of our audience, he pressed a light kiss to the cut. Butterflies took flight in my stomach.
Then he rose, held out a hand, and hauled me up.
Glancing around, I saw plenty of staff all standing around looking shocked. Coral, Archie, and Rupert were staring at me, their faces stunned. Enzo was beside them, his face hard as he glared at the ruined chandelier.
A moment later, Everett, Piper, and Caden appeared.
“Jesus,” Piper said.
“Everett, I need this cleaned up.” My voice wasn’t as steady as I would have liked.
He nodded.
“Caden,” Ro said. “My office.” Then he turned and grabbed my hand. “Tessa…”
“Go, deal with it. I’ll reassure my staff that everything is okay and get this cleared away.”
“When you leave tonight…” His hand tightened on mine. “Don’t go anywhere alone.”
“Ro—”
“Please?”
I nodded.
As he stalked off with Caden, I straightened my shoulders. “All right, everyone, the drama is over. Let’s get this mess cleaned up.”
* * *
“Well, thanks.”
Caden stopped at my front gate and nodded.
Unless it was about work, the man didn’t say much.
“I appreciate you walking me home.” Night had fallen, and while I didn’t think I was in any danger, I’d appreciated Caden walking me home.
“It’s what Ro wanted.” Caden glanced at my house.
I looked over. Lights were on inside and I saw a twitch at the curtains. The girls were already here. They all had keys. I cleared my throat. “Any news on what happened with the chandelier?”
How the hell someone had gotten up into the beams and loosened the damn thing was beyond me. I did know Everett had set up a long ladder for Caden so he could investigate.
Caden didn’t look like he wanted to tell me anything.
“Caden, I was there. I…” I blew out a breath. The thought of the huge chandelier hitting Ro made me sick. “I deserve an answer.”
“Someone had attached a small device to the cables holding the chandelier. When they activated it, it generated enough heat to melt the cables.”
My mouth dropped open. “This is way beyond pranks now.”
He nodded.
“Right. Okay. I need a margarita.” I gave him a nod. “Good night.”
“Night, and be careful. Keep an eye out and stay aware of your surroundings.”
I fought back the need to salute. “I will.”
He turned to leave.
“Caden?”
He glanced back.
“Watch Ro’s back. He’s the target, and…” I wasn’t sure what to say. All I knew was that I didn’t want him hurt.
Caden nodded. “I’ve always got his back.”
As he disappeared into the darkness, I walked up to my house and stepped inside. Sierra and Jazz were manning a blender at my island.
Allie stood by the window.
“Oh my God, Tessa,” Sierra yelled. “You slept with Ambrose Langston!”
“Technically, there was no sleeping.”
Jazz shook her head. “Only you would decide to throw caution to the wind for one night, and manage to sleep with a smoking hot billionaire, who’s also your boss.”
“He’s not technically my boss.” I dumped my bag on a chair.
“Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody walked you home,” Allie said.
“He did. Ro doesn’t want me walking around alone.”
“He’s scary. Caden, not Langston. He skulks around the hotel, watching, staring, intimidating everyone.”
“He’s the head of security.” I kicked my shoes off. “That’s his job.”
Allie pulled a face.
“Caden’s hot in an intense kind of way,” Sierra said from the kitchen.
Allie frowned.
“Here.” Jazz held out a margarita in my fancy glasses. “Tessa gets the first one for surviving falling chandeliers and rolling around on the floor with a billionaire hotel magnate.”
My stomach cramped at the memory. “I was saving his life.” I took the cocktail and sipped. As usual, Jazz had a heavy hand with the tequila.
“I heard he kissed her forehead.” Sierra grinned. “And was all uber protective. Everyone’s talking about it.”
Great, just great . I gulped more margarita.
“I bought this new syrup.” Sierra held up a bottle. “It’s Turkish and made from figs. It’s meant to be awesome and an aphrodisiac.”
Allie groaned. “Your special additions never work.”
Sierra poured a splash in her drink. “But they might. One day, I might hit the jackpot.” She lifted her glass, sipped, then poked her tongue out. “Oh, that’s awful.”
Allie rolled her eyes. “What do you need an aphrodisiac for, you’re single?”
“A girl can hope.” Sierra tipped her cocktail down the sink.
“We’ll stick with what we know.” Jazz started mixing up another batch of drinks in the blender.
Allie slid onto a stool and grabbed her glass. “What we know is that Tessa has the hots for her billionaire.”
“No, I don’t,” I said while ignoring my inner hussy screeching that I was a liar. “And he’s not mine.”
“She’s already let him tune her engine.” Sierra waggled her eyebrows. “Several times. We definitely know that.”
“I had no idea he was a billionaire then.” I took a big gulp of margarita. “And now we’re working together and keeping things…professional.” I looked away.
“Ah-ha, that’s your tell.” Allie pointed at me. “You can never hold anyone’s gaze when you lie.”
“I’m not lying.”
“But you’re holding something back.”
I felt like I was in a police interrogation.
“After the chandelier incident, Langston went all alpha male protective. One of my housekeepers heard him yelling at Broody in his office. He was mad you almost got hit by the chandelier.”
Hearing that made my stomach go warm. I reached up and touched the small cut on my cheek. “He was the target.”
“Well, he wasn’t acting like a CEO with his hotel manager. He was acting like a man worried about his woman.”
“I’m not his woman.” I drank more margarita and looked away again.
“You slept with him,” Allie exclaimed. “Again!”
“Ooh,” Sierra exclaimed.
Jazz watched, wide-eyed.
“No. Not… exactly.”
Allie arched a brow. “Either you did or didn’t. This isn’t a maybe situation.”
“We didn’t go all the way. We kissed and…” I took another sip of my drink.
“How many orgasms this time?” Sierra teased.
I hesitated for a second. “Two.”
“God, this man.” Allie threw up her hands. “He’s clearly no greedy, selfish billionaire.”
I dropped to the stool beside her. “We’re having dinner tomorrow. In the penthouse.”
Sierra squealed.
“This is temporary. He’s not here forever. We made a deal to…enjoy this thing between us. Then he’ll leave.”
Now, Allie’s face changed. She looked worried. “You don’t do one-night stands, Tessa.”
“The old Tessa doesn’t. The one who always followed the rules, and was good all the time. But why shouldn’t I enjoy myself for once? We’re two consenting adults. He’s agreed that it’s got nothing to do with work.”
Sierra nodded. “I like this idea.”
Jazz nodded as well. “If I wasn’t married, I’d take a bite out of that man myself.”
Allie was quiet. “This could blow up in your face.”
“It won’t.”
“I’ve known you most of my life, Tessa Ashford. You’re going to catch feelings.”
“I won’t . I won’t let that happen.” I smiled. “He won’t be here long enough for that to happen. I’m going to enjoy spending some time with a hot, smart guy. He surprised me. I like him. He’s not what I expected.”
The worry on Allie’s face didn’t dissipate.
“Chill out, Allie, and let her enjoy herself.” Sierra held her glass up. “All right, here’s to multiple orgasms with hot billionaires.”
We all clinked our glasses together.
I leaned into Allie. “And here’s to good friends.”