“I was here skiing over Christmas and met a man on the lifts who needed to sell this place, so I bought it.” They pulled into the driveway and he pointed to an area in the trees. “In the winter we can cut through a trail right over there and you’re on the slopes.”
“Its ski-in and ski-out?”
“Yep.”
Tom opened the door and put their things on the kitchen counter. He inhaled heavily and drug his fingers over the stubble on his face. Tess grimaced wondering what could possibly be wrong.
“Tess, can you sit down for a minute?” he asked, nervously holding his hand out toward a bench on the porch.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. I have something for you.”
“Okay,” she replied hesitantly, taking notice of a box Tom held in his hand.
He opened the box, revealing a key inside.
She smiled with bewilderment. “What’s the key for?”
“This cabin. I don’t want to be without you. Not now, not in a year, not ever. I’ve stayed here one time, by myself, alone. I want this to be our place.”
A surprised smile crossed her lips. “You do?”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I do.”
“What about my house? I love my house.” She was ecstatic, but couldn’t wrap her head around what he’d just said.
“No, Tess, you’d keep your house. I still have my house in Malibu and I have another one also. I want to be with you all the time.” He played with the key. “I bought this place on a whim. It felt like home as soon as I stepped through the front door, but after I left, I had no desire to get back here. I knew buying it wasn’t a mistake, I just didn’t feel compelled to come back and dive into it. Now, I know why. We can go wherever we want, here, Malibu, or Vegas, but this is supposed to be our home. So, I have this key for you. I want this to be ours, Tess. Officially. On paper.”
“What do you mean? Officially?”
“I want to give you half of this cabin, legitimately. Don’t say no simply because I’m trying to give you something monetary. It would hurt my feelings. If you don’t want to live together then I’ll understand. Not really, but I’d try to understand. I want this to be a commitment. It’s something I’ve never made to another woman, Tess, a commitment.” He smiled his crooked grin, attempting to charm her.
Tess sat on the bench overjoyed, staring at him, looking slightly bemused.
“I love you, Tess.” He pulled her to her feet and held her hands in his as he gazed into her eyes. “I love you. I have been crazy about you since the moment I first saw you. I’ve been struggling to tell you for a while. It tore me apart to leave you. Life is short, and I want to share mine with you. Just you. I don’t want you to be with another man, Tess. Just me.”
Tess beamed. “I love you, too. I almost told you at the airport, but I was afraid you’d leave and never come back. I don’t want anyone else, Tom. I only want to make you happy.”
“You make me happier than I ever thought possible. I love everything about you.”
Tess understood how difficult this was for Tom. She was thrilled, happy, and excited but he was beyond that and more. This was a first for him.
“So is that a yes?” he asked.
“Of course it’s a yes! I love you. I want to live with you, but I don’t legitimately want half of your cabin, Tom.”
“That’s the deal, Tess. Take it or leave it. Partners, remember?”
“Partners…Okay, deal, but I’m not really comfortable with it. I don’t love you because of all of this.” She looked around the cabin. “None of this matters to me. I’m not going to lie, I’ve had a ton of fun, but I love you no matter what you have.”
“I already know, Tess. You don’t have to tell me.” He smiled at her. “You can decorate the whole cabin, or we could do it together.”
“Together. I like that.”
“It has six rooms, so your kids can come here whenever they want. We could all spend Christmas here together,” Tom suggested with a lot of enthusiasm, but then quickly backtracked, appearing as if he might’ve crossed an unseen line. “Well, I mean, do you think we could all spend Christmas together? You can spend it with your kids if you’d rather.”
“Tom, I’m going to be with you for Christmas. Thanksgiving and New Years Eve too. If we’re going to be a couple, then I don’t want to lead separate lives. That won’t work for me.” She waited for him to let out a big heavy sigh but he only smiled. “Are you sure you’re ready for all this? I come with a family.”
“What do you mean exactly?” he asked with hesitation.
Tess giggled at his response. “My kids are my family, and if you and I are a couple, you’re part of that family too. I can already tell they like you, even John. So holidays, college graduations, weddings, you get to share in all those family traditions with your girlfriend. Are you ready for all that? I come with a few…accessories.”
He acted as if he were mulling it over, tilting his head from side to side as he led her upstairs. “Yep, I’m sure.”
“You said you stayed here for Christmas two years ago. What do you usually do for the holidays?” she asked curiously.
He stopped and chewed on his lip furrowing his brow. “Truthfully, I spend Christmas alone. I usually drink too much, wherever I am, and try to figure out what the hell is wrong with me and why I don’t have someone special in my life. It’s actually somewhat pathetic.” Tom chuckled, trying to make light of his situation.
“Not any more, Tom. Christmas is my favorite holiday and this is going to be our first together. I promise, you won’t be wondering, What the hell am I doing?” Tess laughed. “You’ll probably wonder, What the hell have I gotten myself into? I guarantee you’re still going to drink too much, but happily. How about martinis?”
“I love you, Tess.”
“Do you think Benny and Lisa would come here for Christmas?”
“Maybe! That would be a good time. I texted both of them to tell them we’re fine, but I’m sure Lisa might want to talk to you soon. She seemed very impressed with your determination to ignore me, and had you been standing in front of her, she might’ve actually high-fived you for running over your phone.”
Tom looked around at the empty cabin. “So, Tess. Do you want to stay home and decorate this place or would you like to go back to Greece first?” He grinned saying the word home.
“Those are some incredibly tough decisions you’re asking me to make.” She put her arm around his waist examining the cabin. “You do realize you’re spoiling me?”
“I like spoiling you. Right now I know you’re tripping out because I’m being generous to you, aren’t you?”
She exhaled heavily and smiled. “Maybe. It makes me feel like I’m taking advantage of you. I do struggle with the whole money issue. I love that you’re so good to me, but I feel awkward about it. I’m used to taking care of myself.”
“Starting now, you need to get used to it. I know you’re not taking advantage of me. I want to give you things and I just want you to enjoy them. Do you remember when you told me your theory? Give some, save a lot and have fun with the rest, you can’t take it with you.”
“Yes, that is my theory.”
“I happen to agree with you. Tess, I’ve saved a lot, for a long time. You need to get over those feelings and simply say ‘thanks’ or ‘great’ or ‘that sounds perfect’. It would make me happy.”
“Thanks, great, that sounds perfect.”
“Now let me start spoiling you. Pick one. Greece or the cabin?”
“Can we stay here until Thanksgiving, then go to Greece?”
“We can fly there, eat dinner and come back if you want. We can do whatever your little heart desires.”
Tess glowed. “Well, I don’t know about dinner, but there’s this great little Inn I’d like to go back to.”
“Let’s do it and be home in time for Christmas.”
A few hours later, Tom and Tess pulled into the first
shop in the quaint mountain town near their cabin. Equipped with pictures and a tape measure, they set out to furnish their home.
Tess asked, “So what’s our budget?”
“We don’t have a budget. Let’s just get what we want.” Tom shrugged nonchalantly.
“I’m better with a budget. It’s a big cabin,” she sputtered.
He whispered a number in her ear with way too many zeroes at the end of it. “Whatever it takes, Tess. It doesn’t matter.”
Her mouth hung open and her eyes blinked in astonishment. “Are you serious?”
“Yep! Dead serious. I told you, I’ve saved all my life and I’m very good with my finances. Wipe that look off your face and let’s go shopping.”
The cabin was coming together nicely. They decorated each room with elegant, rustic furnishings and ordered the dining table and leather couches. Several other pieces that would be waiting for them when they returned from Greece. Tess wanted to repaint one of the bedrooms. If Benny and Lisa came to stay over Christmas, it would be their room, and the lovely hunter green walls needed to go.
Tom had wanted to hire someone to come and paint, but she assured him it would be more enjoyable to do it themselves. Tess quietly slipped out of bed, prepped the room with plastic and taped off the trim. She rocked out to the music playing on her Ipod, soon sensing Tom’s lingering eyes. Game on! I knew he’d help me paint. After several minutes she said, “Good morning, Tom.”
Holding out his hand for a paintbrush, he scanned the length of her body. Tess wore nothing but her unbuttoned flannel shirt, revealing her bare breasts. She had a roller in her hand, but he pushed it off to one side and wrapped his arm around her waist to kiss her.
“Is this how you always paint?” He slowly examined her body.
“Nope!” She grinned.
“We’re not going to get much painting done!” he chuckled, flicking her nipple with his tongue.
“Really? I thought we’d get it done faster.” Tess pulled her shirt to the side to expose her other nipple, not wanting it to miss out.
Halfway through painting the second wall, Tom was distracted, watching her dance and sing to the music. He stood behind her and said in her ear, “Tess, you’ve got paint all over your back.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I do?”
Tom pinned her back to the wall, kissing her passionately as he eagerly fondled her body. “You do now.”
Before Tess could get one word out of her mouth, he had her shirt off, covering her bare back with wet paint.
“Wait, let’s finish painting first,” she said under his lips.
“I don’t think so.” He drew her thigh up around his hip, pulling his face back to look at hers. “You don’t really want me to stop, do you?”
She giggled. “No, I don’t.”
He made love to her right there up against the wall. Paint covered his hands as well as her back and butt, changing the tips of her hair to creamy white. They both burst out laughing as they tiptoed into the shower.
“Are you sure this isn’t how you paint all the time?” he teased her curiously.
“No, this is definitely a first!”
“I love firsts with you, Tess.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Tess and Tom had spent October and November settling into the cabin and their new relationship. Thanksgiving was a week away, and Tom was expected in Malibu. He and every other A-list actor were invited to attend the fiftieth birthday party of Hollywood’s top movie director.
Upon arriving in Malibu, Tess suddenly realized she was home and smiled from ear-to-ear.
“What?” Tom asked.
“It just dawned on me, I live here with you! Can I go unpack and hang my stuff in the closet?”
“Yes, you can, but I have to warn you, I have a bit of OCD with my closet. Well, I guess it’s our closet now. This could be difficult for me.” He said it jokingly, but she knew he was serious. His closet was as big as a bedroom and everything in it hung perfectly organized, color coded and sorted.
“I’m not that…particular. If it makes you feel better, I can take a different closet or I can even let you organize my clothes for a while.”
They both laughed. “I know it’s ridiculous, but it might help me adjust.”
She poured them each a glass of wine while Tom made room for her clothes and helped put her things away. She didn’t mind. Whatever made it easier.
“Are you going to be the same way with the bathroom? Or can I put my own things away in there?” she teased.
He smirked with embarrassment. “No, you can do whatever you want in there, smartass.”
Tom went to pour another glass of wine. When he returned, her clothes lay scattered on the closet floor and Tess was wearing his tie. Only his tie.
“That happens to be my favorite tie.” His eyes slowly drifted up her body.
“Hmm, it’s my favorite, too. I’m hoping you might find a new appreciation for it.”
“Oh, I think I can.” He set the wine on the bathroom counter, took her hand, and headed for the bedroom.
“I had something different in mind.” Tess sauntered back into the closet.
“I don’t think so.” He stopping at the closet door.
She sat down, flipping one leg over a bench in the center of the closet. “Oh, I know so.”
“Tess.”
“Tom, if you want me, you’ll have to come in here to have me.” She leaned back on the palms of her hands, exposing every inch of her body.
He gave her the crooked grin she loved and strolled over to sit on the bench. She took his shirt off and tossed it on the closet floor.
“That doesn’t bother me, Tess.”
She took off his jeans and threw them on the floor, too.
“Okay, I lied. It bothers me.”
They straddled the bench, facing each other. “Am I going to need to do this every day so I don’t have to keep your closet perfect?”
He swallowed hard. “I promise I won’t be upset if you don’t keep your side perfect.”
“I promise I will try to be neat in our closet.” She climbed onto his lap.
“Can we go in the bedroom now?”
“Nope. Right here. Right now.” She made love to him right there on the bench.
As they headed for bed, Tom confessed, “Tess, I love the way you get your point across.”
His tie still hung around her neck. She smiled as her eyes closed. “My side won’t be quite as perfect as yours, but I’m definitely willing to compromise.”
Tom took Tess shopping to get a dress for the party. People recognized him everywhere they went, and paparazzi followed him relentlessly. At times, she felt similar to a fish in a fishbowl. In Colorado, people were much more laid back, and nobody seemed to care who he was, but in the land of the lifestyles of the rich and famous, everyone was watching.
That night, limos lined the drive as they pulled up to the house. Tess chuckled nervously, turning to glare at Tom.
“What?” he asked innocently.
“This is not a house. This is a mansion. It looks more like a resort, or a spendy re-hab facility.”
“Judging by the guest list, you probably nailed it on the head with re-hab facility.” They both laughed. “Trust me, Tess, you’re going to have a great time.”
She shot him a humorous glance of disbelief.
Entering the ostentatious foyer, many faces looked familiar as her eyes scanned over the crowd of several hundred people. Guests dressed in everything from cocktail dresses to birthday suits. Tess exuded modern elegance in a slinky, one-shouldered black dress, and Tom looked outrageously sexy in jeans and a charcoal grey V-neck sweater. She wondered how long she’d be able to keep her hands off him. She grinned to herself. We are definitely having great limo sex on the ride home.
People loved Tom. Women followed him everywhere. For that matter, so did men. They all needed to touch him when they spoke, placing their hand on his arm or shoulder. Some turned red m
erely saying hello. Tess became acutely aware of people watching their every move. Tom loved introducing her as his girlfriend and Tess smiled proudly, standing by his side.
Weaving their way through the sea of partygoers, he led her through the house to the backyard. Tess mingled outside while Tom went to the bar to get drinks. The merrymaking obviously started much earlier because a number of guests were very intoxicated. Several men introduced themselves, but as soon as ‘Tom Clemmins’ girlfriend’ slipped her lips, they miraculously disappeared quickly.
Two men approached Tess. She made polite conversation, but fidgeted uncomfortably at their audacious leering. She scanned the room again, searching for Tom, and jumped when he laid his hand on her bare shoulder, handing her a drink. Judging by the concern in his eyes, he recognized her uneasiness and pulled her close, kissing her cheek. Tom knew both men, and by his greeting, didn’t care for either.
Both men snickered when Tom introduced Tess as his girlfriend. “Tommy, when you’re done with her, give her my number.”
Tom remained unruffled. “You’re drunk. Maybe you should get a ride home.”
She couldn’t hear their response because Tom’s arm cinched around her waist, walking her away abruptly. “Sorry, Tess. The guy is a jerk whether he’s drunk or not.”
They found a spot under a pergola. They were having a good time hanging out with a comedian and his wife and several other couples. The comedian was hysterical. Tess laughed so hard she needed to find a bathroom. She excused herself and told Tom she’d be right back.
Exiting the restroom, the two men who’d hit on her earlier stood in the hall, waiting for the bathroom. Tess tried to walk past, but one guy stepped directly in front of her and stretched out his arm, placing his hand against the wall so she couldn’t pass by.
The man towered over Tess, even in her high-heels. Cocking his head from side-to-side disdainfully, he brazenly gawked at her boobs. Slumping his head, nearly resting it on her bare shoulder, he mumbled something. She could only make out the words lucky bastard through his garbled speech. Tess flinched with alarm. He was too close. Close enough that the heat from his alcohol saturated breath rustled her hair. Her lip curled in disgust.
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