Tessa smiled as she piled her plate up, though she doubted she’d be able to eat even half of the delicious food, given her rapidly escalating case of bridal jitters. “Ian went over that menu with a fine tooth comb. He wanted everything to be perfect. And when Mr. Gregson wants something, believe me - he gets it.”
Julia looked at her slyly. “Well, he wanted you badly enough to wait two and a half years for you. But he got you in the end, didn’t he?”
“He did.” Tessa smiled dreamily as she brewed herself a cup of tea. “And I got way, way more than I ever dreamed of with Ian. And I’m not even referring to his money. Though I have to say the man’s idea of a wedding gift goes way beyond what most people would consider generous.”
Sasha speared a slice of honeydew melon. “I thought he gave you those beautiful pearl and diamond earrings and the matching bracelet for a wedding gift. Those must have cost a small fortune, Tessa.”
“I’m pretty sure they did,” she sighed. “But evidently that was just a warm-up for the real thing. He, um, sort of gave me a house. In particular, that beach house up on the Sonoma coast we’ve rented a few times. He knows how much I love that place so he bought it for me. And put the deed in my name.”
Julia’s fork clattered to her plate. “Holy shit!” she whispered in disbelief. “Is that the same place you showed me pictures of, Tessa? That house has to be worth close to three million dollars! And he just gave it to you? It’s not in both of your names?”
Tessa shook her head. “No, just in mine. He told me that he wanted me to have something that was just my own, and even though everything else he owned is now in joint name that this house was going to remain in my name.”
“That’s a wonderful gesture, Tessa,” said Sasha quietly. “And I think it’s not so much the money he spent on the house but his intention in giving you something that would belong only to you.”
Julia scrunched up her nose. “And to think Nathan only gave me some naughty lingerie and a nightie for our wedding - a gift that was really more for him than for me.”
“He did give you a car for Christmas year before last, though,” pointed out Tessa. “And that had to cost him big bucks.”
“You’re right,” acknowledged Julia. “Though it’s not in the same league as a three million freaking dollar beach house. Then again, Nathan’s net worth isn’t even in the same ballpark as Ian’s.”
Tessa recalled now when she and Julia had gone shopping together last year, right after the fire at her old apartment where everything she’d owned had been destroyed. Tessa had fretted about spending too much of Ian’s money, especially after Julia had told her how much the outfit she was wearing had probably cost. And when she’d protested about buying even one more blouse or sweater, Julia had confided what Nathan believed to be Ian’s approximate net worth - a sum that had sent Tessa reeling in shock.
But even that lofty sum hadn’t come close to the real value of Ian’s assets - the mansion in Pacific Heights, his cars, artwork, antiques, savings accounts, and stock portfolio. And when he’d brought Tessa with him to his attorney’s office a few weeks ago in order to sign a stack of paperwork that would name her as a joint tenant of everything he owned, she had nearly dropped her pen in disbelief at seeing the grand total of it all.
She’d protested that it was too much, that he couldn’t possibly mean for her to be entitled to half of this much money, and that if he wanted her to sign a pre-nuptial agreement she’d be more than willing. But Ian had given a firm shake of his head, telling her that since the mere possibility of a divorce was too ridiculous to even think about, the need for a pre-nup was nonexistent. He’d stuck the pen back in her hand and urged her to sign the mountain of paperwork.
Later, when she’d expressed surprise at just how much he was really worth, Ian had carefully explained how he’d managed to grow his wealth to such a high level.
“My brothers and I were fortunate enough to have some seed money given to us,” he’d begun. “Both sets of grandparents were extremely wealthy, and set up trust funds for each of their grandchildren. When I was twenty-one I came into what most people would consider a sizeable fortune. And when I began working for the company, I earned a good salary that kept increasing the higher I rose up in the ranks. When I turned thirty I began receiving shares of the company stock once a year, and the dividends they paid each quarter were considerable. On top of all that, I did a great deal of investing on my own, researching stocks and mutual funds and annuities, and I was able to further add to my net worth. Which is now half yours, darling. So when I tell you that it’s not necessary to wear the same pair of shoes a dozen times, or wait until a dress goes on sale, or do your own nails because you don’t want to spend fifty dollars on a manicure, you can fully understand why that’s so. I appreciate that you aren’t a spendthrift, but you don’t have to be a penny pincher, either.”
Now, however, Tessa didn’t comment further, not willing to share something as confidential as the size of Ian’s bank account - correction, their bank account - even with her two best friends. Fortunately, right about then the beauty team from the spa knocked on the door, and began to wheel in all of their supplies and equipment.
There had been such demand for spa services from all of the guests who were staying at the resort for the wedding that additional staff had had to be borrowed from other nearby Gregson hotels - San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Carmel, and Lake Tahoe. And Ian had made sure that the very best technicians would be taking care of Tessa and her bridesmaids today, doing their hair, nails, and makeup. They had already spent hours in the onsite spa the previous day, each having a facial, full body exfoliation, and a massage.
Julia, of course, loved all things girly and feminine, and had gushed over being so pampered and catered to, while Sasha seemed more than a little overwhelmed by so much lavishness. Of course, she was herself an extremely skilled masseuse, focusing primarily on deep tissue and intense therapeutic work, rather than the more relaxing styles offered here at the hotel.
The pampering continued all morning and into the early afternoon, the technicians rotating between the three women. More food was brought in around lunchtime, though only Julia seemed the least bit hungry. Tessa merely nibbled on some sushi and drank a cup of soothing herbal tea that Sasha had insisted would help calm her mounting case of bridal jitters.
“Everything’s going to be just fine, you know,” assured Sasha at one point. “During my morning meditation, I could sense the good vibes all around us. And while I was hiking everything just felt completely in tune with the world. Your wedding is going to be perfect, Tessa, so there’s absolutely no need to stress, okay? And if you do feel the least bit nervous, just practice those breathing techniques you and I do during our sessions, okay?”
Tessa nodded, taking one of those very same deep, calming breaths right now. “Okay,” she nodded. “But I might need you to remind me to breathe as we get closer to the ceremony.”
Sasha grinned. “Of course. That’s what bridesmaids are for, after all. That and telling you how beautiful you look.”
The beauty crew finally packed up all of their supplies mid-afternoon, though two of them promised to be on hand right before the wedding started to do any needed touch-ups on hair and makeup. Soon after they left, it was time for Tessa and her attendants to start getting dressed. Even though the ceremony wouldn’t start until four-thirty, the photographers would be arriving in less than an hour to start taking photos. Since the owner’s villa had its own private terraced garden, it had been decided to take all the pre-wedding shots of Tessa, Julia, and Sasha right here.
Tessa had just finished shimmying into her bridal lingerie - an exquisite, hand sewn corset of ivory silk and lace, matching panties, and ultra sheer ivory silk stockings - when Joanna and Francine arrived. She had asked both women - one her future mother-in-law, and the other the woman who’d been both her mentor and a surrogate mother of sorts - to be here to help her dress and also offer up any las
t minute words of advice and encouragement.
She would have expected Joanna’s eyes to shimmer with tears at seeing her fully dressed in her bridal attire, but Tessa was more than a little shocked to realize Mrs. Carrington also looked a bit weepy. But the real shock was seeing how the normally buttoned-up office manager, who had always favored starchy tweed suits, tight buns, and plain, low-heeled shoes, looked this afternoon. Francine had ditched the severe suits for a pretty flowered silk dress and matching pastel heels, and while her dyed auburn hair was still pinned up, it was in a much more attractive French twist. She had even - miracle of miracles - worn a bit of makeup, and didn’t look nearly as terrifying as usual.
Francine fluffed out the wide tulle skirts of Tessa’s gown before making an unneeded adjustment to the antique bridal tiara that had been in Joanna’s family for several generations. The priceless diamond encrusted band was Tessa’s “something borrowed”. Her dress, shoes, and lingerie qualified as something new; the ruffled satin garter she wore high up on her thigh the something blue; and threaded among her thick blonde curls was a slender piece of white satin ribbon that Glen Rockwell had found in the envelope containing Gillian’s pictures. He guessed that the ribbon had once embellished a dress or blouse of Gillian’s, or perhaps even a baby garment of Tessa’s. Either way, it had been appropriated as her “something old” today.
“You look absolutely stunning, my girl,” Francine told her in a slightly unsteady voice. “Like a queen about to marry her king. And while I never knew your mother, Tessa, and you’ve talked so little about her over the years, I’m very, very sure that if she were here right now she would be immensely proud of you. But no more so than I am.”
Tessa bent and gave the tiny woman a fierce hug. “Thank you for being here today,” she whispered. “There are so many of Ian’s family and friends and associates here, while I have hardly anyone. But you’ve always been there for me, far more than my own mother was capable of being, and it means the world that you came today.”
Francine made a clucking noise. “As if I would miss it,” she scolded. “Not to mention the fact that Ian insisted on paying our way up here, even arranging first class airline tickets and a chauffer to drive us up from the airport.” In a softer voice, she added, “He knew that you didn’t have any real family, dear, and that no matter how kind and welcoming his own family and friends have been it wasn’t really the same. So he made sure that Oliver and I were here, even though I told him I would have taken a Greyhound bus if necessary to be at your wedding.”
Tessa felt tears well up in her eyes, only to be immediately scolded by four horrified women, “For God’s sake, don’t cry now! You’ll ruin your makeup!”
Instead she burst into laughter as she hugged each of them in turn - best friend, teacher, mother-in-law, and surrogate mother. And suddenly she felt a little bit less alone as she realized that all of these wonderful women were here for her, that they would be her family today.
Chapter Seventeen
“Feet getting cold yet, old man? Oh, wait. I forgot I can’t call you that anymore. Not since the night of your bachelor party when you and the missus were ninety seconds away from getting it on right there in that chair. Got to tell you that lap dance made Selina so hot she jumped my bones the minute we got back to our hotel suite. Well, the Cosmos she was bolting down all night might have helped a bit, too. Not that I was about to complain, of course, but -”
“Enough,” interrupted Ian, holding up a hand in protest. “I thought we agreed when you got married that there would be no more sharing of your amorous exploits. And to answer your question - no. My feet are actually quite warm. Literally and figuratively. Unlike you, I’m very anxious to put an end to my bachelorhood.”
“I was anxious,” replied Colin a bit sullenly. “I mean, it took me some time to come around, of course, and then Selina refusing to take my calls until I made a commitment to her. But once I got over all that, then I was gung ho to become a married man.”
Hugh grinned. “That’s not exactly how I remember things happening, but Colin’s always had a bit of a short memory. However, he’s happily married now, and Selina isn’t about to let him forget it. Seriously, though, Ian. How are you feeling, mate? Given that you’ll be a married bloke yourself in, let’s see, less than an hour’s time?”
Ian smiled at his older brother confidently. “A bit impatient, to tell the truth. Oh, not because I’m nervous about tying the knot, or having even the smallest doubt about getting married.”
“In other words, you’re looking forward to the wedding night more than the wedding itself,” supplied Colin helpfully. “Well, if I was marrying a woman as hot as Tessa, I can tell you right now I wouldn’t have even bothered with all of this pageantry. I would have eloped to Las Vegas or Scotland and then taken a month long honeymoon somewhere warm enough where she didn’t have to wear much clothing.”
“That thought did cross my mind once or twice,” admitted Ian. “But I wouldn’t have had the nerve to break the news to Mother that we’d eloped and denied her the opportunity of finally seeing me married off in front of everyone. And even though Tessa would have willingly done anything I suggested, she deserves to have the sort of wedding most girls dream of.”
“It’s a good thing, what you’ve done,” Hugh assured him. “The right thing, to have all the family here together. With you living in the States and Colin over in Hong Kong, we don’t see each other nearly as often as we should. Spending so much time together over the past week has been fantastic. And I can see how happy it’s made the parents. So you definitely made the right decision, Ian. Both about the wedding and your choice of bride. I’ve never mentioned this before, figured it was none of my damned business, but Davina wasn’t the right woman for you, mate. Oh, you would have had a good life with her, a pleasant life. But you wouldn’t have had a happy life. Not like you’re going to have with Tessa.”
Colin nodded. “I agree. Davina’s a pretty girl, classy, smart, all that sort of thing. But she doesn’t have an ounce of passion in that skinny body. Can you imagine her agreeing to give Ian a lap dance? Or letting him kiss her in public like someone who hadn’t seen a woman in twenty years? Your bride-to-be, though - she’s a real tigress, isn’t she? Shy on the surface, but I’ll bet behind closed doors she’s anything but. Am I right?”
Ian scowled. “I’ve told you more than once, you nosy bastard, that I won’t discuss my physical relationship with Tessa.”
“You don’t have to give us any raunchy details,” cajoled Colin. “Well, not unless you want to, that is. In which case, I am all ears. Just answer one simple question, Ian, that’s all. Is she as hot in bed as she looks on the outside?”
Ian couldn’t help the grin that split his features. “Hotter. In fact, if she was any hotter I’d need to keep a fire extinguisher by the side of the bed. And that,” he told his two brothers sternly, “is all I’m going to say about it. Subject closed. Permanently.”
Colin was about to protest when the photographer walked in and began to set up his camera equipment. Edward joined them moments later, looking as elegant and dignified as his three sons in his tuxedo. Ian had elected to go with a very formal and very traditional black evening suit, white shirt, and black bow tie. He rarely fussed about his clothes, preferring simple, classic styles and neutral colors, and had done the same in choosing his wedding suit.
“Where’s Mother?” inquired Hugh as the photographer motioned Ian to stand between his two brothers for a shot.
“She’ll be along in a few minutes,” replied Edward. “She and Francine are helping tend to the bride, I believe.”
Colin snickered. “Better hope that old witch Mrs. C. isn’t giving your bride any fashion tips, Ian. Otherwise, Tessa might be walking down the aisle wearing a white tweed suit and horn rimmed glasses. Then again, she’d probably look hot even in that - sort of the sexy secretary image.”
“I sincerely doubt Tessa is taking fashion advice from Mrs. C.,”
replied Ian drolly. “Francine is - well, something of a surrogate mother to Tessa, hard as that is to believe. And it means the world to Tessa to have her here today.”
“I get that,” replied Colin gently. “Though when I worked for the Dragon Lady during that summer of hell, she was more like a surrogate dungeon master to me. Longest bloody summer of my life that was.”
Hugh nodded. “For all of us, mate. Ah, here’s Mother now. Just in time for the family photo.”
Ian endured the next forty-five minutes or so of a seemingly endless round of photographs - ones of him alone, others with his brothers/groomsmen, more with his parents, additional ones with all five of them. He silently cursed himself for having selected the biggest, most elaborate package the photographer had offered, and wondered how many more photos he was going to have to endure before getting to the actual event.
Fortunately, the photo session wrapped up just a few minutes later, though Ian was well aware that this was just the beginning. Once the wedding ceremony was finished, there would be dozens of other photos he’d be expected to pose for with Tessa and their attendants. He sighed impatiently until he reminded himself why he was doing all of this - so that Tessa could have the wedding of her dreams, the sort all women deserved, but especially her. He knew that her first wedding to Peter had been worlds apart from the lavish event that would be taking place in just a short time, that the teenagers had married in a brief, impersonal civil ceremony at their local city hall, with no family or friends present, no flowers, no photographers. And the extent of their post-wedding celebration had been dinner at some chain restaurant in a shopping mall.
No, he chided himself. Whatever minor annoyances he would have to endure over the next few hours would all be worth it, just to see the joy on his bride’s face. He would do absolutely anything for Tessa, anything at all to make her happy, and if posing for an endless round of photographs was part of the package, then he would do so gladly.
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