23 | The Right Call
TESS
I woke to the sound of running water, disoriented for a second before everything came rushing back.
The wine tasting. Blake’s words about Vanessa. The fight. Theo over me in the dark, holding my wrists, promising everything.
Oh god.
My face burned.
I’d basically thrown myself at him. Drunk. Desperate. Begging him to—
The bathroom door opened.
Steam escaped into the room.
And then Theo appeared.
Shirtless. Hair wet. Linen pants riding low on his hips.
Water droplets still clinging to his chest.
Oh God.
My lungs stalled for a second—I actually forgot how to breathe.
He saw me awake and smiled.
“Morning.”
“Hi.” My voice came out rough.
He crossed to his bag. Pulled out a t-shirt.
I watched the muscles in his back shift as he moved.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Um.” I sat up. The room spun slightly. “Hungover,” I said. Then, after a beat: “And… slightly mortified.”
He turned. “Mortified?”
“About last night. I—” I pulled the covers up. Like that would help. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to—to force you into—”
He was moving before I could finish.
Crossed the room. Climbed onto the bed.
Caged me in with his hands on either side of my head.
Again.
“Listen to me very carefully,” he said. His voice was low. Serious. “You never have to apologize for wanting something. Ever. Not with me. Do you understand?”
“But I was drunk and pushy and—”
“You were honest.” He leaned closer. “And brave.” His lips brushed my jaw. “And incredibly sexy.”
Something low in my stomach tightened.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” He kissed my neck. Soft.
My breath caught.
“Tonight—” His mouth moved lower. To that spot below my ear that made my toes curl. “Tonight I’m going to show you exactly what that did to me.”
I made a sound. Half gasp, half whimper.
He pulled back. Eyes dark.
”But right now"—he pulled back, like it actually cost him something, then climbed off the bed. “You need to get ready. Breakfast is at ten. Everyone’s meeting in the main dining room.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Breakfast. Ten o’clock.” He pulled on his t-shirt to the bottom. “I’ll be on the terrace. Take your time.”
Then he was gone.
I sat there in the empty room.
Heart racing.
Body aching.
I took the longest shower of my life.
Tried to make the hangover go away through sheer force of will.
Failed.
But at least I looked presentable by the time I emerged. Sundress. Sandals. Hair dried and falling in waves.
Makeup to hide the fact that I’d had maybe four hours of sleep.
Theo was on the terrace when I stepped outside. Leaning against the railing. Coffee in hand. Looking out over the vineyards.
He turned when he heard me.
His eyes did that thing. That slow sweep from my face down to my feet and back up.
“You look beautiful.”
“I look hungover.”
“That too.” He smiled. Handed me his coffee. “Here. You need this more then I do.”
I took it. Drank. The caffeine hit my system like a gift from god.
“Better?”
“Getting there.”
He moved behind me. Hands settling on my waist.
“We should go,” he said quietly. “Before I decide breakfast can wait.”
Heat pooled low and sudden, catching me off guard.
The dining room was already full.
Long tables set with white linens and fresh flowers. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the vineyards. A breakfast buffet that looked like something from a magazine.
David and Linda were at one end. James and Marcus across from them. Marina and Robert further down.
And Vanessa. With Blake beside her.
She looked up when we walked in.
Her eyes went to our linked hands.
Something flickered across her face.
“Good morning,” David called out. “Help yourselves. We’re just discussing the day’s plans.”
Theo guided me to the buffet. His hand stayed on my lower back the entire time.
“What sounds good?” he asked.
“Coffee. And maybe death.”
He laughed. “That bad?”
I just smiled in response.
We loaded our plates. Found seats at the table. Theo sat close enough that our legs touched.
Few seconds later his hand found my knee and settled there, his thumb tracing slow, lazy circles.
I tried to focus on breakfast.
Failed.
“So,” David said. “We’re thinking a winery tour this morning. There’s a barrel tasting at eleven. Then free afternoon. Cocktail reception tonight at seven.”
“Sounds perfect,” Linda said.
Theo’s thumb kept moving. Up slightly. Down. Up again.
I took a long drink of orange juice.
It didn't help.
“Tessa?”
I looked up. Vanessa was watching me.
“Hmm?”
“Did you sleep well? You look tired.”
The concern in her voice didn’t match her eyes.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Wine headache?” She smiled. Knowing. “Blake mentioned you two did some serious damage yesterday. The tasting rooms can be dangerous if you’re not experienced enough.”
Heat climbed my neck.
“I’m fine,” I repeated.
“I’m sure you are,” Vanessa said. “Just—pace yourself today. We have a long evening ahead.”
Blake shifted uncomfortably beside her.
“The tour starts at ten-thirty,” David said, clearly trying to move on. “Meet at the main entrance?”
Murmurs of agreement went around the table.
Theo leaned close. His lips brushed my ear.
“Ignore her,” he murmured.
I nodded.
But under the table, my hands were clenched.
The winery tour was beautiful.
Endless rows of vines stretching across rolling hills. The guide explaining terroir and harvest and oak barrel aging in a voice that somehow made it all sound romantic.
Theo stayed close. Hand finding mine. Arm around my waist. Fingers brushing my back.
I caught Vanessa watching more then once.
We’d just entered the barrel room—cool and dark and smelling of oak and wine—when her phone rang.
She stepped aside to take it.
The rest of us continued with the guide. Learning about aging and blending and things I’d probably forget by tomorrow.
Vanessa returned five minutes later.
Her face was bright.
Excited.
“Great news,” she announced. “That was Thomas Henderson. I convinced him to fly in tonight instead of tomorrow. He’ll join us for drinks at seven.”
The group perked up.
“Henderson?” James said. “That’s fantastic.”
“I know.” Vanessa was practically glowing. “He’s notoriously hard to pin down. This is a huge opportunity.”
“Who’s Henderson?” I asked quietly.
“Big client.” Theo’s jaw was tight. “We’ve been trying to land him for a while.”
Vanessa continued. “I promised him that the whole team would be there. So we should all plan to attend tonight. Without plus one’s, sorry guys.” She said unapologetically. Mostly to me, clearly.
“We have plans,” Theo said.
The group went quiet.
Vanessa blinked. “What?”
“Tessa and I have plans tonight. We won’t be at the reception.”
“Theo.” Her smile didn’t waver. “This is Thomas Henderson.”
“I’m aware.”
“I promised you will be there. He wants to meet with the lead analyst on the proposal.”
“Then you shouldn’t promise something that you can’t deliver.”
She laughed. Sharp. “This is a fifty-million-dollar account, Theo.”
“I know what it is. I’ve arranged it.”
“Then you know you need to be there.”
“No.” His voice was calm. Final. “I don’t.”
I touched his arm. “Theo, you can go. It’s fine.”
“No T.”
“It’s just a few hours—” Vanessa pushed.
“No.” He said to her, then looked at me. His voice softened. “I’m not going.”
“Maybe you could stop by for a bit?” I tried. “Just to say hello? And then—”
“My plans for tonight involve the entire evening,” he said to my ear. His eyes held mine. “Not a few hours. Not stopping by. The entire evening.”
Heat flooded through me.
Vanessa stepped closer. “Theo, be reasonable. If you’re not there, Henderson might go with someone else from the team.”
“Then he goes with someone else.”
“You’d throw away six months of work and a huge bonus because of—” She gestured at me. At us. “One evening?”
“Yes.”
“David won’t be happy.”
“David will understand. We have a meeting with Henderson tomorrow morning at nine. If he makes his decision based on drinks and small talk instead of our actual proposal, then I don’t want this account anyway.”
“That’s not how this works—”
“That’s how I work.” His voice was steel now. “I don’t land clients by schmoozing at cocktail parties. I'm good presenting solid numbers. And if that’s not enough for Henderson, then I’m ok with losing him.”
Vanessa’s face flushed. “You’re making a mistake.”
“That’s my call to make.”
“You are making me look ridiculous in front of him. I’m taking this to David.”
“Be my guest. The world doesn’t end because I missed one cocktail party.”
She stared at him. Then at me.
“This is about her,” she said quietly.
“Yes.” Theo’s hand found mine. Squeezed. “It is.”
Vanessa’s mouth opened. Closed.
Then she turned. Walked away.
Blake gave us an apologetic look and followed.
The rest of the group had scattered. Suddenly very interested in the wine barrels.
We fell behind the group as we walked through the vineyard rows.
The sun was warm. The air smelled like grapes and earth and summer.
I looked up at Theo. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to lose—”
“I’ve been waiting for tonight for months. Years, if I’m being honest. I’m not postponing it for Thomas Henderson or anyone else.”
“Theo,” I said quietly. “It sounded like a lot of money—”
“Tessa.” He stopped walking. Turned to face me. “It’s just a bonus and trust me—I have more then enough without it.”
“But—”
“No buts. I made my choice. I’m keeping it.”
I looked up at him. At the set of his jaw. The certainty in his eyes.
“Do you understand?”
My heart was hammering and I couldn’t help it. Rose up on my toes and pressed my mouth to his.
He made a sound.
Surprise, then hunger.
His hands went to my waist.
Pulled me closer.
I slid my hands up his chest. Into his hair.
The kiss deepened.
Turned desperate.
He walked me backward. My back hit the stone wall of a small building.
His body pressed against mine. Solid. Warm.
One hand slid into my hair. The other gripped my hip.
I gasped against his mouth.
He took advantage. Deepened the kiss further.
I forgot where we were. Forgot everything except the taste of him and the feel of his hands and the way my body was lighting up everywhere he touched.
“Well, well.”
We broke apart.
David and Linda were standing ten feet away.
David looked amused. Linda was smiling.
My face went nuclear.
“Sorry to interrupt,” David said. Not sounding sorry at all. “We’re heading back for lunch.”
“Right,” Theo said. His voice was rough. “We’ll catch up.”
“Take your time kid.” David’s smile widened. Then to me: “It’s good to see him happy, Tessa. He works too much.”
“David,” Theo warned.
“I’m just saying.” He paused. “I heard about Henderson tonight. For what it’s worth, I think you made the right call.”
Theo blinked. “You do?”
“Of course. Life’s too short to miss the important things for a cocktail party.” He glanced at Linda. Smiled. “Trust me on that.”
Linda touched my arm as they passed. “Enjoy your evening, dear. The resort has excellent room service.”
Then they were gone.
I stood there. Back against the wall. Face burning.
“Oh my god.”
Theo was grinning. “Well. That’s one way to make our relationship official.”
“I’m going to die of embarrassment.”
“You’re going to do no such thing.” He kissed me again. Quick. Sweet. “Come on. Let’s get that lunch.”
We walked back toward the main building.
And despite the embarrassment.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
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