by EC Sheedy
"Sounds... interesting."
She laughed at his hesitation. "Interesting, it was. Marketable, it wasn't."
"But a good effort, I'll wager."
"Uh-huh." Tessa rolled her mug between her palms, warming them. "He left a lot of ideas unfinished when he died. I like to think one of them might have worked out for him one day." She smiled at the memory of her loving but eccentric father. "But he needed someone like Rand to bankroll him. Selling household appliances—unenthusiastically—didn't bring in much money."
Milton studied her. "You loved him a great deal."
"He was a great dad—and my best friend. I miss him every day." Her lower lip trembled. All these years and she still got teary when she thought of him.
Milt patted her hand. "Then whether his inventions were marketable or not, I'd say he was an unparalleled success as a man."
She nodded, lifted her chin, and smiled. "Yes, he was." She set her mug on her plate and carried it to the dishwasher. "And now I'd better get going. Marie, that's the owner of the kennel, will be wondering where I am."
"What would you like for dinner?"
Tessa cocked her head. "I'll have what you're having—and I'll have it here in the kitchen. I think Rand can do without my company at dinner."
"But I—"
She stared him down.
Milt didn't argue. "What time will be you home?"
Odd, he should use the word home. "Around six? Will that be okay for you."
"Perfect."
As she loaded Licks into her Chevy, Tessa glanced at the sky. The sun was starting to peek through the morning clouds. It wasn't going to rain after all.
She touched her lips for the hundredth time, reliving the heat and heart in Rand's kiss. A wonderful breakfast, the sun in the sky, and the memory of Rand's mouth on hers... it didn't get any better than this.
Life was alive with possibilities.
* * *
"We've got an offer on Dawg's Inn," Marie said. "It's a good one, Tessa, but—"
Tessa was still numb. Marie had come into her office within five minutes of her arrival, looking as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders rather than the good news she and Gordon had hoped for. Tessa wanted to be happy for them—and she was—
but she couldn't quite grasp the fact Dawg's Inn was about to be sold.
"The thing is the people buying want to run the place themselves." Marie looked as though she were going to cry. "And I don't think they plan to keep you on." She wiped at her cheek. "I don't know what to say, Tessa. You know Gordon's health isn't the best, and this offer—well, it's all cash for both the business and the land it sits on. It's a good offer, very fair. Except for you." Now she was crying in earnest.
Tessa forced herself to stand, went around her desk and hugged her employer and her friend. "You have to do it, Marie. You know you do. I know you do. It'll be okay. I'll help as long as I'm needed, then I'll find another job."
"But it's so sudden. So..."
Tessa took a step back, said sternly, "You're to quit fretting about me, Marie Linden. Hear me? Put that worrying time into planning a cruise around the world—or whatever it is you and Gordon want to do. I'll be fine." And didn't she wish she believed it!
"Oh, Tessa." Marie hugged her hard enough to delay her circulation. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. Please. It's high time I grew up—" she managed a crooked smile, remembering that she'd been fifteen when she'd started working at Dawg's Inn after school"—and moved on." But where would she move on to? Refusing to cry, she stepped back from Marie and asked, "When is the sale set to close?"
"The lawyers are drawing up the papers now. We'll sign the agreement in a week or so. The new owners—their name is Carter, by the way—will take over on May first."
Six weeks! "May first it is," Tessa said, trying to sound cheerful.
Marie dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "As a matter of fact, I'm expected at the lawyers' now. Can you manage things for a while?"
Tessa forced a laugh. "I think I can handle it."
Marie's own laugh was shaky. "Of course you can. I don't know why I said that." She kissed Tessa's cheek, touched it. "Oh, Tessa..." She turned and left the room.
Tessa walked over to the corner where Licks chewed ferociously on a rubber bone as big as he was. Absently, she picked him up, held him close. Other than Licks' training, she was basically out of a job. Despite the sun streaming in her office window, her skin chilled. All she'd ever wanted to do was work with animals.
At this rate she'd never be a vet. But the bigger problem was how she would be able to help out her mom and Annie.
She hugged Licks and kissed the top of his soft head. He thanked her with a nose nuzzle to the neck. "At least you don't have to worry, Licks, you're all set."
And so will I be—just as soon as I can think things through, come up with a plan. There's lots of jobs. All I have to do is find one. The phone rang. Another day at Dawg's Inn began. Her problems would have to wait until later.
* * *
Rand found Tessa behind the house, well after eight. Not that he was looking. She was working with Licks under the patio lights on the far side of the swimming pool. Licks was on a long leash, and from what he could see, she was teaching him to sit and stay. The pup was doing okay, too. His sudden surge of pride surprised him.
A strange dog sat beside Tessa, occasionally wagging its tail while watching Licks go through his maneuvers. When it spotted Rand, it fixed its gaze on him, rising to all fours when he drew close to Tessa.
Tessa obviously didn't hear him come up behind her, but the dog's low growl alerted her, and she spun to face him.
"It's okay, Millie. Good dog." The dog sat down and wagged its tail.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't hear you coming." She tilted her head in that curious way she had. "Are you always so quiet?"
"Only when I don't have shoes on."
She looked at his bare feet, the towel draped over his shoulder... his swimsuit. Her eyes went wide. "You're going for a swim?"
"That's the idea."
She wore jeans, a sweater, and a fleece vest. March evenings in the Pacific Northwest weren't exactly balmy. "It's a bit cold, isn't it?"
He was holding an edge of the towel with each hand, so he jerked his head in the direction of the pool. "The water's heated."
She nodded, but didn't smile. She was different tonight, more subdued. "I'm outta here then," she said, giving a tug on Licks' leash. "Our boy here has had enough for one day anyway."
He lifted the edge of the towel, gesturing with it toward the strange dog. "You've got a new friend?"
"Old one. Her name's Millie. I missed her today, so I went home after work and picked her up." She looked defensive. "I told you I'd be bringing her here sometimes."
"Yes, you did. I'd forgotten. No problem."
The defensiveness left her face. "Good. I'll leave you to your swim then." Still no smile.
"Not so fast." He lowered his head, lifted her chin between his thumb and index finger. He scrutinized her face. "You've been crying."
She snapped her chin from his grip so fast he feared she would get whiplash. "I have not."
"Have so."
"Have not!"
"Have—" He wanted to grin.
"I haven't played that game since I was ten." She smiled but it didn't stick. "And yes, I've been crying, but it has nothing to do with you, so don't ask me about it, because I won't tell you anything."
"Okay."
She looked surprised at his easy acquiescence, then said, with the softest of sniffs and a trace of disappointment in her eyes, "Thank you."
"No thanks required." He touched a loose tendril of her dark hair. "It's a simple act of self-preservation. If you were to tell me why you were crying, you might start again. Then I'd put my arms around you and—" he fixed his gaze on her, hard "—we both know where that would lead."
She stared at him, eyes wide, leaving the silence of their he
artbeats between them.
A night wind disturbed the surface of the pool, causing shadow and light to flicker across her smooth skin. She didn't move, didn't speak, but her eyes, darkened now in the dim light of the pool area, said it all.
Sex. Yes. Definitely sex. His groin throbbed and tightened.
But there was more, something shadowy and undefined. The air between them was alive with possibilities.
She'd tilted her head, narrowed those tell-all eyes, still shiny from crying. "And going where that would lead? That would be a bad thing?" she asked, the question a challenge.
"It would be a waste of time." He dropped the towel on a lounge. "Particularly yours."
She chewed on her lower lip, played with Millie's ear with one hand and held Licks' leash in the other.
"It's decided then." She met his gaze. "We're not going to get up close and personal."
"It's decided."
"You're definitely not going to make love to me, no matter what?"
His breath snagged in his throat. This was one plainspoken lady. "No."
For the first time since he'd found her at poolside, she smiled, a small smile, more wistful than challenging. "I might take that as a dare, you know."
Rand had never seen himself as weak-willed before this moment, but he barely stopped himself from reaching for her. She'd made it plain she'd give him what he wanted in a heartbeat, and he was rock-hard. And needing to the point of pain.
Think of Ned. Think of anything... but her.
Before Rand embarrassed himself, he dove into the pool. He swam a few strokes and came back to rest his forearms on the edge of the pool. "Take your dare, the dogs, and get the hell out of here, Tessa." He tried to harden the line of his mouth, probably failed. "Believe me, this is no place for a lady."
"I guess I don't feel much like a lady tonight." She gave him the barest of shrugs and picked up Licks, who was fast growing past the portable stage. "Come on, Millie." She looked down at Rand, her expression for once unreadable."The man's afraid I'll bite him."
He watched her walk away, open the French doors to the library, and step in. He dragged in a long breath. "It's not your bite I'm afraid of, Tessa. And if it weren't for Ned—" He pushed away from the side of the pool.
He swam hard for over an hour.
And he planned to work sixteen-hour days until Ned got back from California. Only a fool would put himself in temptation's way... especially when temptation's bedroom was only a few feet down the hall.
* * *
"What in hell do you mean, you're married?" Rand said, struggling to keep his voice down, even though, thank God, Ned had closed his office door behind them.
Ned, half-sitting, half-leaning against Rand's desk, appeared unaffected by his outburst. "What getting married usually means. Tylla and I tied the proverbial knot."
"Who's Tylla, for God's sake?" Rand figured when it came to Ned, nothing would surprise him. But his coming back from a business trip married was definitely a jolt.
Ned smiled. Smugly, Rand thought.
"Tylla Taylor. The model?" he added. "Vogue? Elle?"
Rand drew a blank.
Ned rolled his eyes. "Last year? Mexico. She came with us on the communications deal."
Ah, yes, Tylla, nearly six feet tall, with blond hair and endless legs. The affair had been hot and short, ending with the woman leaving in a rage when Ned insisted she turn down a modeling assignment in London to stay with him in Mexico.
Rand, who had been standing near the window, strode back to his desk and sat down. Some of the surprise drained out of him, because he also remembered loading a drunken, angry Ned into his suite the night after she left and watched his social life rev even higher since. Trying to forget? Rand knew all about that.
"Yeah," he said. "I remember her."
"Good, because she'll be here tomorrow. She's flying up with Cullen Macy in the Red Earth plane."
"And where does Tessa Darwin fit into this cozy picture?" Rand hated to admit it, but it had been Tessa who'd jumped to mind immediately he heard Ned's news. "I guess it's a waste of time to remind you she was the girl of your dreams a few weeks ago. Which is why she's in my house, and I have a dog chewing his way through my shoe inventory. He prefers Italian, by the way." Rand still wouldn't own up to his fondness for the puppy, even though he did let Licks sleep at the foot of his bed—and took him out for his midnight pee breaks.
Ned grinned. "I knew you'd love him." His smile dimmed. "And as for Tessa—" he glanced away and had the grace to at least look guilty, "—she was right and I was wrong. We'd never have worked out." He met Rand's gaze directly. "I'll speak to her, have her out of your house by tomorrow."
"No!" The word hit the air like a pistol shot, surprising him as much as it obviously did Ned. Rand spoke more quietly, careful to keep some steel around the edges. "I'll take care of her."
Ned cocked his head. "So that's the way it goes."
Rand narrowed his gaze. "It isn't going anywhere. The woman is currently under my roof. It's my house, my responsibility. That's it."
"Whatever you say."
"Good." Rand wanted to belt him. If he'd known Tessa was available—
Rand shut his brain down. Tessa might be available, but it didn't change a thing. Rand wasn't in the market for a woman. Any woman. Especially one who boiled his blood at fifty paces. Tessa had to go. He frowned, although he wasn't too sure about Licks.
"By the way—" Ned swallowed the last of the scotch he'd helped himself to, "—what time will she be home tonight?"
"Sometime after six. Why?"
Ned glanced at his watch. "Not five yet. I can still catch her, ask her to bring my dogs to your place so I can pick them up tonight." His grin widened. "I am invited to dinner, aren't I?" He reached for the phone.
"I'll have Milt call her," Rand said. "You confirm Cullen Macy's arrival time tomorrow. And see if you can crunch the numbers on the German offer into something that makes sense for us."
"Sense or money?"
"Both."
"Done. I'll see you around eight tonight." Rand picked up the phone to call Milt, and punched in Charlotte's number instead.
"Charlotte, get me the number for the Dawg's Inn Kennel, will you? No, don't put me through, just give me the number."
He stared at it for a full five minutes.
Chapter 7
Tessa shook hands with Miriam and John Carter and smiled, while Marie Linden looked on worriedly. "It was nice meeting you, Miriam—" she glanced at the tall thin man beside her, "—and you, John. I'll look forward to seeing you again in May when you take over the kennel." Which was a lie, because Tessa hoped she'd never set eyes on the pair again. They reminded her of winter trees, all bony and bleak.
Marie looked flustered. "You'll see them a bit before that. John and Miriam are planning to spend a couple of weeks here before they take over the kennel. You know, look around, see what they want to change?"
Something inside Tessa crumpled. She guessed it was the last of her spirit. While she digested this news and tried not to look too dismayed, John started to mutter.
Tessa knew she'd have to pay attention to make any sense at all of his clipped, fractured speech.
"Not sure of needing you, too long, Miss Darwin. After that is. When Mir and I take over, I mean. A month maybe. Cash flow. That kind of thing. Not much to learn. We'll be two weeks here before the signing."
"I see," Tessa mumbled, stealing a glance at Marie who winced as if the glance were a slap. Disappointed and disheartened, Tessa put on another fake smile. At least these people loved the dogs. That was something.
"On our way then. Tour was good. Thanks."
When the door closed behind the Carters, the only sound in the office was three homesick yelps from the kennel below.
"Tessa, are you okay?" Marie asked.
"Fine," she lied. "Perfectly fine."
I've just learned I'll be out of a job sooner rather than later—with Annie's college fun
d running short.
And if that weren't enough, she was in major emotional meltdown over a man who refused to recognize she existed.
Of course I'm, fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?
But, damn it, she would be fine. She'd make sure of it. All she had to do was quit feeling sorry for herself, something that did nothing for the state of her mental health.
Just when it looked as though Marie was going to say more, the phone rang. Bless it. Because Tessa couldn't think of one more word to say.
She wished her feelings for Rand weren't so wildly confusing. If she didn't need the puppy training job so badly, she'd quit and get out of the man's hair. Trouble was when it came to Rand's shiny dark hair, what she longed to do was curl her fingers in it. Even the thought of it made her knees weak.
"It's for you, Tessa," Marie said.
When Tessa took the phone, Marie mouthed a "see you" and left.
"Tessa Darwin, can I help you?"
"No, but you can do a favor for Ned."
Tessa, who'd been standing behind her desk, sat down in a sloppy, thumping heap. "Rand?"
She'd barely caught sight of the man in days—no matter how hard she tried. She was sleeping in a bedroom a few feet from his, but it might as well be in a hotel across town. The man, a top-grade workaholic, kept the most incredible hours.
"Yes, it's Rand. I should have introduced myself."
His voice was low, silky with a trace of teasing. It went straight to her heart and made it beat faster. Tessa picked up a pen, rolled it between her fingers, and concentrated on staying sane. "No, it's okay. It's just, hearing your voice on the phone for the first time, I, uh, wasn't sure."
She fumbled for more conversation. "Ned's back?"
"Yes," Rand said. "He was in my office today. He's coming for dinner tonight, and he was wondering if you'd bring his dogs Pam and Lansky home with you. Save him a trip to the kennel."
"Sure. No problem."
"Good. He'll appreciate it."
Silence.
"Is that it?" she asked, disappointed her Prince Charming hadn't called to invite her to a ball.
"Join us for dinner?" he asked softly. "We'd enjoy your company."