by Lea Hart
“You better.” Garret looked around the theater and then crossed his arms. “You’re missing an accessory. Where’s lover boy gotten off to?”
“He’s no boy and, to answer your question, he ran down the street to grab us some coffee.”
Garret clapped his hands together and swept his cape aside and sat in a theater seat. “You like him.”
“Of course, I do. Who wouldn’t like a man who was a real-life hero, bad-ass operator, and lover so talented he needs his own national holiday?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
She swept her hand over her hair and smiled. “No, as a matter of fact, I’m not.”
“And what would you call this holiday? National Seth Orgasm Day or perhaps Seth’s Amazing Penis Day would be more fitting.”
“I’d vote for the first one.”
“You didn’t tell me any deets yet, so go ahead and spill before those hellions arrive and take all your attention.”
“Why are you wearing a cape?”
“Because I’m a fabulous man with more style than one person should be blessed with and…”
“You don’t want little Elijah Bean giving you shit for your outfit.”
Smoothing out an invisible wrinkle, he sniffed. “That nine-year-old mocked my outfit the last time I was here, and I consider it my personal responsibility to put him in his place.”
“His mother is an agent over at CAA, and it’s probably genetically impossible for him not to say exactly what he thinks and give notes to everyone he encounters.”
“Apparently.”
Tessa checked her watch and then picked up her stack of scripts. “You’re going to have to wait for the story because the kids will be here any minute.”
“Fine, but I expect a full download with all the dirty parts included.”
“I’m not dishing on the particulars, but I will tell you that the Malibu Inn lives up to the hype, and it was a lovely treat to spend the night.”
“Based on the indecent smile lighting up your face, I think you could’ve spent the night at the Motel 6 and come away with the same review.”
“Possible.”
“Are you done with your assignment with the spooks yet?”
“Almost.” Hearing heavy footsteps, she turned and saw Seth stride in and told the army of bees in her stomach to cool their jets. “Hey.”
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“Quit flirting with me,” Garrett called out. “We don’t want Tessa to get jealous.”
“I’ll do my best,” Seth replied dryly before bending down and kissing Tessa. “We’ve got a new guy tailing us.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Nah, I can handle him if he starts to annoy us or gets in the way of what we’ve got going on.”
Garrett leaned over and winked. “You’re right; that super-operator thing is kind of hot.”
“I told you.” She took the coffee Seth handed her and watched him collapse into a seat. “The kids will be here any minute, and I want to remind you not to be offended by whatever may come out of their mouths. Most of them are the offspring of some of LA’s biggest movers and shakers, and they have a tendency to say the most inappropriate things.”
Garrett leaned forward and mouthed, “Spawn of Satan.”
“Not all of them,” Tessa replied. “Some of them are delightful, and it’s not their fault they’ve been raised with unrealistic expectations on how the world works.”
“I’ll be fine,” Seth replied as he took Tessa’s hand. “I’m a Marine, so a bunch of spoiled kids is no big deal.”
“Of course.” Giving him a smile, she sat back and drank her coffee and hoped what he’d said was, in fact, true.
***
Seth had been around some of the toughest sons of bitches in the world and knew not one of them could handle the current pandemonium that was erupting on the stage the way Tessa was. How she kept all those kids corralled and engaged was impressive and a skill he never expected to have.
How could twenty-five small humans be so loud and…demanding?
“She’s impressive, isn’t she?”
Seth glanced over at Garrett and nodded. “I would’ve gagged them all by now. How does she handle all those screechy voices and,” he waved his hand around, “disorder?”
“I have no idea,” Garret replied. “She loves it, though.”
“I can tell since she’s been laughing and smiling since the kids arrived.”
“She’s a good actress and all, but I think this is her real gift.”
“Teaching children’s theater?”
“Yep. She’s got a way with bringing out the best in all of them.”
“I can tell since they’re looking at her like she’s the fairy godmother who possesses the power to grant every single one of their wishes.”
“Kind of like you,” Garrett replied.
Ignoring the comment, Seth sat back and added yet another amazing quality to Tessa’s list and didn’t know how the hell he was going to walk away when the assignment was over. Thinking back to his conversation with his brother, he wondered if this was the moment he’d look back on.
“Look alive,” Garrett commented. “Incoming.”
A red-haired waif wandered over, and Seth couldn’t imagine what the little girl wanted. “Are you supposed to be over here?”
“I’m taking a break. I can’t process the emotional undercurrents of the group right now, so I need to relax, so my anxiety doesn’t get the best of me.”
“Okay,” Seth replied quietly as he watched the little girl take the seat next to him. “Sounds like a solid plan.”
“Hey, Bunny, love the purple velvet sneakers. Way to rock your royal vibe,” Garrett said as he leaned forward. “And the animal print jeans are fab.”
“Thanks, Garrett.”
Seth watched the little girl cross her legs and turn with an expectant smile. “I’ve got nothing for you since I don’t do fashion.”
“I figured as much since you’re wearing boring clothes.”
Not knowing the appropriate response, he gave her a faint nod and returned his attention to the stage.
“Are you dating Tessa?”
“Excuse me?”
“You look like one of the princes in a Disney movie, and you’re looking at her like you’ve got hearts in your eyes. So, I was wondering if you’re dating or just hooking up.”
Closing his eyes, he let out a long breath and prayed that someone or something would come along and end the conversation. “That’s not a question you should be asking.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s none of your business.”
“So, it’s a hook-up then?”
Seth looked over at Garrett and noticed he was as serene as a monk and then glanced back at the mini Barbara Walters sitting next to him and sighed. She wasn’t going to let it go. “We’re not hooking up.”
“That’s good because Tessa deserves her very own king.”
He gave the girl a faint nod and prayed she would soon Zen out and not ask any more questions.
“Are you lovers, then?”
“I’m fairly confident that you know that’s an inappropriate question.”
“It was worth a shot.” She crossed her arms and looked him over. “You have to be something, though, since Garrett is the only boy who’s ever shown up.”
“Still not your business.”
“You’re going to need a grand gesture to get her attention.”
“I think it’s time you joined the group again.”
Garrett stood and swept his cape over his shoulder. “Bunny is the daughter of the best shrink in Los Angeles; she’s relentless and more than ten minutes in her company is going to make a drink more than necessary.”
Bunny clucked her tongue. “Garrett, we talked about unhealthy coping mechanisms last week.”
“The conversation is burned in my brain; don’t you worry, missy.” He gave them both a finger wave and walked toward the
stage.
“How old did you say you were?”
“I’m nine going on thirty-five. At least that’s what my parents always tell me.”
“I’d say forty, but what do I know?”
“Let’s get back to this grand gesture thing. What’s your plan?”
“I don’t have one since I don’t need it.”
“Oh, you need one; believe me.”
Giving her a glare that had been known to make grown men piss in their pants, he waited. When she didn’t run away crying, he tried again.
Nothing.
In fact, she was giving him a hell of one in return.
“Impressive.”
“I know; it’s a gift.”
He stretched his legs out and rolled his shoulders. “Why do you think I need a grand gesture?”
“Because you’ve been looking at Tessa the same way my dad looks at his third wife, which, according to him, is his one true love.”
“You’re not buying it?”
“Not really. My mom says that dad is going to have a lot of one true loves since he’s a boy parading in a man’s body and can’t resist shiny twenty-four-year-old women. Mom also told me he has more issues than Vogue and I shouldn’t allow his lack of decency to in any way influence the men I choose in the future.”
“I’m pretty sure your mom wouldn’t want you sharing that info with strangers.”
“She has a podcast with a million followers, and she’s shared a lot more personal stuff, so I think she’d be okay with it. Sharing is caring and holding stuff in only makes your tummy hurt.”
“I’ve got nothing.”
Bunny patted Seth’s leg. “I know.”
“So, what are you thinking for a grand gesture?”
“A lighted Cinderella carriage ride along Ocean Ave in Santa Monica. You can have lobster rolls at the Blue Plate Oysterette and then take a romantic walk along that park that sits above the cliffs.”
“You’ve given this some thought.” He watched her tiny shoulders hitch as a smile formed on her lips.
“It’s what my dad did for mom after he had his first affair and she let him come back for almost a year, so I figure it has to be good.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Showing Tessa you’re serious is your only chance of getting the thing you want most.”
“You are wise beyond your years.”
Sighing dramatically, she unwound her legs. “Tell me about it.”
“Bunny, are you ready to rejoin the group?” Tessa called out.
“Coming.”
“See ya, Bunny.”
“Later,” she replied as she jumped off her seat and ran toward the stage.
“She schooled my ass,” he said quietly as he caught Tessa’s attention and waved, knowing that he’d likely just gotten some really solid advice from a nine-year-old.
CHAPTER NINE
Tessa watched Seth walk into the bedroom with a bag from Noah’s Bagels and clapped her hands. “You are the best.”
Collapsing on the bed, he handed her the bag and then pulled her in for a kiss. “I sure the hell am, and I think your neighbors know it too.”
“I wasn’t that loud.” When he didn’t offer an immediate agreement, she bit her bottom lip. “Was I?”
He finished slipping off his boots and then glanced over his shoulder. “Your neighbor called me by name when we passed in the hall.”
Grimacing, she dropped her head to his shoulder. “I guess it’s a good thing that I’m moving across the country, then.”
“Are you driving or flying?”
“Driving.”
“Then you need to stop in Vegas and stay with me for a while.”
“Whaaaaat?”
“Make Vegas your first stop on the road trip and hang out with me.”
“Really?”
He pulled her against his chest. “Yeah, why not?”
“Well…”
“We’ve got something good going on and…”
“But, I’ve got a plan.”
“Just tell me you’ll think about it.”
She looked up and noticed the serious intent in his eyes and nodded. “All right.”
“Good,” he replied. “I’ve got a good-sized house, so when you scream my name, no one is going to hear.”
“How could they since your growling and shouts are so damn loud?”
He flipped her over and braced his hands on either side of her head. “You don’t expect me to make polite noises when I’ve got the most fucking delicious woman in my arms, do you?”
“Well…not really.”
“Because there’s nothing polite about the way I want you and I’m guessing the more we’re together, the less civilized I’ll become.”
She slid her hands through his short scruff and smiled. “Yeah?”
“Yeah!”
“Well, then I’ll be sure to stop in Vegas because there’s nothing I’d like to see more than your barbaric side.”
“I better give you a little taste now, just so you can get yourself ready.”
“If you insist,” she whispered before lifting her head and nipping his bottom lip. Desire flooded her body so intensely that she felt it all the way to the bottom of her soul.
His warm breath brushed over her cheeks as he growled into her mouth and she knew that all the kisses she would ever receive in her life would be compared to this one.
It was more than lips meeting.
It felt like a communion of their souls.
Which meant she either had extremely low blood sugar or Seth McCallan was the devil sent to derail her carefully laid plans.
Either way, kissing him felt religious and made her believe in things she’d long ago given up on.
What she would do with that little nugget of truth had yet to be revealed.
Tessa pulled the sheet higher and took a bite of her bagel, feeling a little river of excitement as she picked up the calendar section of The New York Times. Opening it carefully, she folded it and took note of the exhibits she wanted to see once she got settled.
So many incredible choices made the little ball of fear shrink in her stomach, and she knew that even if she didn’t take Broadway by storm, the new life she made could be exciting.
“I’m hoping all the dirty things I just did to you are making you smile like that.”
She kissed his big bicep and then fluttered her eyelashes. “Truth?”
“Always.”
“I’m starting to get excited about my move and all the new things I’m going to experience.”
“Are you going to start auditioning right away or get yourself settled first?”
“Depends on what my agent comes up with. I’m definitely going to take some workshops at the Michael Howard Studios and then probably take a couple of lessons with a voice coach since I haven’t done much singing in the last year.”
“Do you dream of your name in lights and an Oscar?”
“Those would certainly be nice, but I’m a realist and know that less than one percent of actors ever achieve that. I really just want to make enough money to support myself and be able to buy the good cheese at Trader Joe’s.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. I want to be rolling in enough acting money so that the cheese that costs seven or eight bucks for a tiny little square will be a regular thing.” Seeing his expression, she knew he had no idea what she was talking about. “Anyway, I want a modicum of success, so I don’t have to always have another job.”
“The good cheese?”
“The really good stuff.”
“Got it.”
Doubting very much he got any of her ramblings, she picked up her bagel and went back to the paper and started circling things that interested her.
“I was impressed as hell yesterday when I saw you with those kids.”
“Thank you, though I don’t know why you would be since it’s relatively easy.”
“I had a fifteen-minute con
versation with Bunny and was sweating five minutes in, so I know there’s nothing easy about it.”
“All they want is to be seen, heard, and not judged. And for three hours every Saturday, they get that from me.”
“I’m guessing, ultimately, that’s what most adults want, but few have the courage to ask for it. Those kids are lucky they’re getting a dose of it early on, so they’ll know what to look for later in life.”
“That’s a very astute assessment, Seth.”
“Thanks, sweetie. I’ve been known to come up with at least three a year.”
“You’ll have to text me the next time it happens.” Seeing his jaw tighten, she wondered what she’d said. “You may be able to head home tonight if we can manage to get inside Ian’s house while he’s at Drake’s party.”
“I’d rather err on the side of caution, so if we have to wait until tomorrow to get in, then I’m fine with it.”
“As much fun as this op thing has been, I’d like to wrap it up as soon as possible, so I can give my notice. My lease is up at the end of the month, and I don’t want to prolong being in Ian’s employ longer than I have to.”
“That’s a tight timetable.”
“It’s intentional.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want to chicken out and stay in Los Angeles because it’s familiar.”
“Do or die?”
“Pretty much.”
“Makes sense.”
“I hope so,” she mumbled before going back to the paper.
“I’m serious about you stopping in Vegas on your way to New York.”
“Okay.” Feeling his hand grip her leg, she looked over and once again saw his determined gaze which told her he wasn’t likely to give up the idea easily.
Whether she would decide to give in wasn’t clear yet.
CHAPTER TEN
Seth sat inside Ian’s office and watched the Trojan he’d installed work its way through the network and heard his phone buzz. Checking it, he answered immediately when he saw Daisy’s name. “What’s up?”
“Wanted to let you know the techs just informed me we fully own the network at PJ Aviation and whatever you did the other night was sufficient.”
“I’m almost done with his private one, and I’m guessing this is where the motherlode of information resides.”