“Do you want me to go down and ring the doorbell?” Gray asked her as she put her lipstick on.
Tessa rolled her eyes. “No. This is fine. Are you ready?”
“When you are.”
A glance in the mirror showed him holding his suit coat in his hand but otherwise completely dressed.
“Give me a couple of minutes.” She probably didn’t need that much, but better to be ready sooner than run “late.” “Would you grab my shoes out of the closet for me, please? The same heels I wore to the wedding.”
She could see him frown as he headed for the door. “Are you sure you can handle those tonight?”
“Yeah. I’m feeling better, and the shoes weren’t the biggest part of the problem that night. I’m feeling a lot better than I was then. Not well enough to dance the night away, but you can’t do that anyway.”
Another bit of fluffing her hair, and she was ready to go.
“You already look incredible, Mrs. Beach.”
Tessa felt the heat rush to her cheeks. He’d called her that several times since he’d asked her out the afternoon before. She’d blushed each time.
This time they worked their way down the stairs more quickly than they had the last time they’d dressed up, though Gray carried her shoes again. This time she put them on to walk to the SUV where it was parked in its usual spot.
It was also easier to get in.
The drive took a lot longer. Savarino’s was at least forty-five minutes from the farmhouse, probably closer to an hour.
“We need to do something about our apartments,” Gray said as they drove through Trumanville, their fingers linked. “We probably should have a while ago, but with your fall and everything else, we haven’t.”
“My lease is up next month, so I can always let it run out. I think I need to give thirty days.” She pulled out her phone and made a note. “I’ll call tomorrow while you take me to school. I should probably try driving again, too. You won’t be able to take me next week.”
“Someone will.”
“Maybe, but we won’t have Sean’s SUV much longer. Heidi wants her car back. Sean won’t want to drive mine, and you need the gas mileage on yours.”
“With the funds Pop Pop left us for the farm, and no rent payments soon, we can probably swing me paying a bit more for gas for a while. We can probably buy you something new. We need to talk to the lawyer about what the funds he left are actually for, since the Beach House is basically done except the furniture.”
That reminded her... “Do you know what happened to that box I was bringing down the ladder? I wanted to look through it. It had some old papers and pictures and stuff I thought might belong to your family.”
Gray rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. “I think it’s still in the barn. I didn’t pick it up when we left. I did talk to a friend of mine who apparently helped do the work on the house. Most of what’s in the barn was in the attic of the house until renovations last year. The attic is now livable, but doesn’t have stairs to it. Pop Pop never had them add anything besides the pull-down ladder.”
“Interesting.” Thoughts she couldn’t quite define roamed through her head. “Would you rather live in the Beach House instead of the one we’re in? Could we?”
Gray shot her a surprised glance. “You’d want to move?”
“Maybe. That attic could be great for slightly older kids.”
His laugh made Tessa smile.
“What?”
“We’ve barely kissed, we certainly don’t have any kids or any concrete plans for when we want to have kids, and suddenly you’re considering where to live based on theoretical preteens.”
Her face heated again. “Then what about offering it to Madi? Cheap rent for now. Maybe sell it later.”
“Do you want to do that?” Gray’s soft voice reminded her how well he knew her.
“Not really,” she admitted. “But it was your family’s property first.”
“Not in nearly a century. We’ll decide what we want to do with it together, but I think a KrazBnB or rental are better options.”
“I think so, too.”
Before too much longer, they pulled up in front of Savarino’s. The valet took their car, and they walked inside.
This time, they ran into someone else, but not who she’d expected to see.
Gray shook hands with Christopher Bayfield while Tessa hugged Julia.
“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about, Christopher,” Tessa told him. “We need to do a big premiere party for Madi and Eli’s movie.” After all, Mia’s husband was the star. “But it needs to be more about being based on Madi’s book if that’s okay with Eli.”
Christopher nodded. “I think we can handle that. Let me do some digging around and see if we can get a firm premiere date and plan from there.”
“Thanks.” Tessa gave him a hug. She hadn’t known him or Alexander well growing up, but her cousins had. So had several of the Beach cousins.
Christopher and Julia had evidently come for an early dinner, because they were on their way out. They said their goodbyes, and the maître d’ showed Tessa and Gray to their table.
They’d ordered their dinner and talked quietly about Tessa’s work load at school when Gray suddenly stopped.
“What is it?” Tessa couldn’t really turn to look, not with her back still the way it was.
Gray shifted his gaze back to his plate. “Sean. And your cousin. This is definitely a date.”
One part of Tessa was happy for them. The other wondered if Heidi had ever talked to him and what would happen if she showed up.
This could end well, or it could end poorly. Gray wasn’t sure which side he’d put his money on.
He was glad Tessa couldn’t turn around to see Sean guiding her cousin to a table with his hand on her lower back.
Gray’s eyes met his brother’s for a second. Sean’s widened then he turned his attention away from Gray.
“What do you think is going on with them?” Tessa asked him quietly. “You don’t bring someone to Savarino’s unless it’s serious.”
“We came,” Gray reminded her. “It definitely wasn’t a date.”
“That’s different. You owed me dinner. I picked the nicest place around. We’ve been best friends for decades.”
“They’ve known each other a long time, too.”
“Not like we have. They were friends in high school and college. I think they even went out once or twice, but as far as I know, they’ve only seen each other at random gatherings for years.” Tessa leaned forward slightly. “Do you think Heidi found him yet?”
“I doubt it. I think we would have heard through one of the family grapevines. Madi always knows everything, and she hadn’t heard anything when I talked to her earlier.” Gray leaned back in his chair as the waiter returned with their drinks and salads.
“You don’t think there’s any chance she’ll show up here, do you?” Tessa tried to glance over her shoulder where the other two were sitting close together but wasn’t quite able to turn that far around.
“I can’t imagine why she would think he’s here.”
Tessa took a bite of her salad, a thoughtful look on her face. “Her car may have that GPS tracker thing in it. She might be able to see where it is.”
“Then why wouldn’t she have gone to see him yesterday?”
Tessa shrugged. “Maybe he was gone or maybe he was somewhere she couldn’t find him, like at the mall or something.”
“Wouldn’t she just wait him out?”
“I don’t know. Just a couple of thoughts.”
He’d unintentionally hurt her feelings by dismissing her ideas. “They are good ideas. If she tracked it, but he was somewhere she couldn’t tell where to find him, she might just leave. Like the resort. If someone was parked at the resort, they could be anywhere.”
“Exactly.” She stopped her fork halfway to her mouth. “You don’t think that’s where they’ve been, do you?”
&nb
sp; Gray finished his bite and swallowed before answering. “The resort? Why would they be at the resort? It’s not a thing either of them would do without being married.”
Tessa lifted one shoulder. “I have no idea. Just a thought.”
He leaned back in and gave her his best grin. “Let’s not talk about them. Let’s talk about us.”
She smiled back at him as a becoming flush colored her cheeks. “What about us?”
“Going on a real honeymoon. I don’t have any more time off, not really, until my work anniversary closer to Christmas, so I’m thinking maybe somewhere warm this winter break.”
Using her fork to poke at a crouton, Tessa thought for a moment. “Would you want to miss Christmas with your family? My family has done Christmas on Christmas Eve for years, but I know your family does Christmas Day. Plus, until we know when Madi’s premiere is, we shouldn’t plan to be gone. It could be as late as a couple of days before Christmas.”
“I know. I was thinking maybe for New Year’s. Surely her movie will be out before then.”
“Where would you want to go?”
He waited until the server took their salad bowls away and put their meals in front of them before answering. “I have no idea. I haven’t gotten that far yet. Maybe a Caribbean cruise? Florida? Somewhere warm. Just the two of us.”
Gray didn’t mean for his voice to deepen a bit, to insinuate the things they could do on that trip that they hadn’t done during the few days before her fall.
Given the way her cheeks colored and her eyes fluttered his direction, maybe he should have.
But he knew it could be a while before she felt well enough for those kinds of... amorous activities. As much as he was looking forward to kissing her more intensely, to far more than kissing, he would let her take the lead when she felt ready.
Gray would admit to hoping it wouldn’t wait until this as-yet-unplanned second honeymoon.
But he wouldn’t admit that out loud.
“I think a cruise sounds nice. Somewhere with a beach maybe.”
“That sounds great. I’ll start looking into something soon.” He reached over and covered her hand with his. “I’ll pray.” He said a quick one, just thanking God for the hands that prepared the food and for the time he got to spend with his wife. “I do wish I could ask you to dance again. Even though I’m allowed to walk in this boot, I probably shouldn’t do that.”
Tessa twisted her hand until it clasped his and squeezed lightly. “I wish you could, too, but it’s probably best for both of us that we don’t.”
“Agreed, but I promise to bring you back when we can.”
She grinned at him. “I’ll hold you to that.”
They continued making small talk as they ate their meals.
“Did you save room for dessert?” Gray asked, noticing her plate was still half full after she set her fork down.
“I was hoping I could convince you to get frozen custard on the way home.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you know the answer to that.” It was his favorite.
The laughter died in his throat as he noticed the woman walking through the dining room.
“What?” Tessa asked, trying again to look around, but unable to.
“We were right.” Gray wiped his mouth on his napkin. “Heidi is here.”
He wasn’t going to go interfere, but quickly texted his brother he was here if Sean needed him.
Sean glanced at his phone, a puzzled expression on his face as he turned to look at Gray.
That’s when Sean saw his ex-fiancé walking across the room and the color drained from his face.
Sean gave Gray a nod, then stood.
“This is going to be bad, isn’t it?” Tessa had managed to turn her whole body in her chair to look at them.
Gray could only nod. This was bad.
22
How on earth could they prevent a scene from spoiling dinner for everyone? Tessa watched as Gray pulled some cash out of his wallet and put it on the table. He started for Sean and Heidi before Tessa could finish standing up.
She followed behind him as Sean stood to talk to her sister, but as Gray and Tessa approached, Sean waved them off.
Gray ignored his brother. “Heidi! How good to see you!” Gray took her attention off Sean and Lexi. “Are you meeting someone?”
Heidi turned from the table to greet Gray, but her eyes blazed fire. Tessa had been on the receiving end of that look many times growing up. Gray should watch out.
“I’m here to talk to my fiancé,” Heidi told Gray. “Go back to your dinner with your consolation prize.”
Gray laughed. “Consolation? Tess? She’s not a consolation, Heidi. She’s the love of my life.”
Heidi let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Oh, please. You two have known each other since you were in diapers, and suddenly you’re the greatest love story since Romeo and Juliet?”
“I prefer Cory and Topanga,” Tessa told her sister, knowing it would irk her. Cory from Boy Meets World had always annoyed Heidi. “Romeo and Juliet are two teenagers who kill themselves a few days after they meet. Cory and Topanga, now they went the distance.”
“Whatever.”
Tessa slid her hand into the crook of Gray’s arm. “But he’s not wrong. We just took longer than we should have to realize what a good thing we had together. Now, we get to live in our dream home, on property that’s been in our families for nearly a hundred and fifty years. We’ll raise our kids on the same farm we grew up exploring and grow old while we live there.”
“It should have been mine,” Heidi hissed. “Pops said he was glad I was marrying Sean so the whole property would stay in the family, but he never made it sound like I had to stay here and be married to Sean to get it. What did you do to Pops to change his mind?”
Tessa had never heard Heidi talk like this. Heidi had never cared about the property and generally didn’t spend much time with Pop Pop, who hated being called Pops. Something else was going on, but she had no idea what it could be.
She leaned her head against Gray’s shoulder. “I wish you could have what we do, Heidi, but you chose to move halfway around the world. We love our home and aren’t going anywhere.”
“Oh, please. You’d rather sell it and move somewhere else, too. Drop the act.”
The maitre d’ was coming over with what appeared to be the restaurant manager. Time to get Heidi out of there.
Sean handled it for them taking Heidi by the arm. “I’ll talk with you outside for a minute, Heidi, but that’s it. I’m in the middle of dinner with someone very special to me.”
“Oh, please.” Heidi tried to wrench her arm away from Sean, but Sean held on tight as he ushered her out of the restaurant.
Tessa turned to Alexis. “I’m sorry, Lexi. I have no idea what’s gotten into her.”
Lexi shrugged. “I’m kind of surprised it didn’t happen sooner. We heard she was back. I don’t know how she found us though.”
“The GPS in her car, I’d bet.” Tessa reached out a hand and Lexi took it. Tessa squeezed. “I’m sorry my fall led to that. If you’d had Sean’s SUV, it wouldn’t have mattered.”
Lexi shook her head. “No, Tess. It would have happened anyway, though maybe not quite so public. Go enjoy the rest of your meal.”
“We were about done.” Tessa glanced over to see Gray taking a to-go box from their waitress. “We should do lunch sometime soon. Either come out to the farmhouse or once I’m driving again, I can meet you somewhere.”
Lexi gave her a sad smile. “I’d like that. And congratulations to you and Gray. I don’t think I’ve said that yet. No matter what Heidi said, the two of you are great together.”
Gray returned and let his hand rest on the small of Tessa’s back, a move she was coming to love. “I’m just sorry it took Pop Pop’s death to realize it,” he told them. “He would have loved seeing us together, I think.”
Lexi grinned. “You know, if you’d realized it in high school and gotten married s
ooner, Pop Pop could have known his great-great grandkids.”
Tessa shook her head adamantly. “Even if we had, we’re not ready for kids yet. Not until after school and Gray is more established. The internship with Time Trek is going well, but we’re not ready for a baby.”
A shadow crossed Lexi’s face but disappeared before Tessa could decide what it was about.
Pressure against her back led Tessa to say goodbye to her cousin before they caused even more of a scene. When they left the restaurant, Tessa could see Sean and Heidi arguing at the end of the building but couldn’t tell what they were saying.
The valet brought the SUV to them, and then they were headed toward Serenity Landing and frozen custard.
At least, she hoped Gray hadn’t forgotten.
The drive was quiet until he flipped the blinker to turn in the parking lot.
“Do you want to take it home? My lunch cooler is in the back.”
“That sounds nice.” It was getting dark. Maybe they could sit out back and watch the stars appear.
Rather than wait in the long drive thru line, Gray parked and told Tessa to stay put. She tried to protest that he shouldn’t be walking that far, even though he was allowed to bear weight in the boot, but he was already gone.
She leaned her head back and smiled to herself. Maybe marrying your best friend wasn’t the worst thing in the world. He didn’t even need to ask what she wanted.
He’d probably suggest walking to chairs out by the fire pit. She wouldn’t have to suggest it because he’d just know.
Yes, if she had to do it all over again, marrying her best friend was just what she’d do.
Neither one of them actually suggested taking the frozen custard out to the fire pit, but when they walked in the back door and Tessa kicked off her heels to put some sandals on, Gray knew that’s what she wanted to do. Him, too.
Gray rested his hands on her hips before they went back outside. He pulled her closer to him, something he’d never done before. “Why don’t we go change into something more comfortable? You’d probably rather wear shorts or something. I know I’d rather be in a t-shirt.”
Small Town Girls Don't Marry Their Best Friends: Contemporary Christian Romance (Beaches of Trumanville Book 3) Page 16