She nodded, her eyelids drooping. “Okay.” She was unable to stifle a yawn as she whispered, “I love you.”
He kissed her forehead. “And I love you more than life itself, Tessa. Let’s rest now, my love.”
Chapter Fifteen
Tessa was groggy and disoriented when she woke in the big bed alone, and it took her a few minutes to get her bearings. She was startled to notice the time on the bedside clock - ten-thirty a.m. - and tried to remember what day of the week it was. When her brain was functioning enough for her to realize it was a Wednesday, she gave a little squeak of alarm and flung the covers back, in a total panic that she could have overslept this badly on a workday. Why hadn’t her alarm gone off? And why was she waking up in Ian’s bed in the middle of the week? Andrew must be having an absolute fit right about now given her unexcused absence. She looked around frantically for her phone or her purse so she could call him.
And then it hit her. Her phone and purse were gone. Consumed, no doubt, by the fire that had viciously ripped through her apartment building last night. Everything was gone - clothes, furniture, dishes, keepsakes. It was like the cruelest sort of déjà vu, for something this awful to happen to a person not once but twice in a lifetime.
Tessa sat down on the bed limply, too dazed and dispirited to move. Last night’s disaster had brought back far too many painful memories, ones she’d tried to repress for a long time. When she’d stood across the street from her apartment building as the flames moved through it, gutting it cruelly, she’d been reluctantly pulled back to that terrible night in Tucson. The night where she’d lost absolutely everything, including her poor, helpless mother, and when her life had been forever altered.
She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering a bit despite the oversized sweatshirt she wore that smelled like Ian. She still didn’t know how he’d come to be there last night, swooping in like a knight on horseback to rescue her, but she offered up a silent prayer for her good fortune. And while she knew this time would be different, that she wouldn’t be all alone and homeless and scared, that knowledge didn’t lessen the terror she still felt or the sense of empty despair.
She forced herself to wash up a bit, grimacing at the rather wild condition of her hair. She vaguely recalled Ian taking her into the shower, and washing her hair. Undoubtedly she’d fallen asleep with it still damp, which would account for its out of control waves this morning. She rummaged through the vanity drawers until she found a hair clip, and pulled her thick locks up into a messy ponytail.
Ian was in his home office when she ventured downstairs, and she could hear him talking to someone on the phone. Not wanting to disturb him, Tessa walked into the kitchen and plugged the electric kettle in to brew some tea. There was a crisp white bakery bag on the counter that she knew contained Ian’s favorite scones, but her stomach rebelled at the thought of food. She got one of the oversized white mugs that were her favorites from a cupboard, and carried her steaming cup of tea as she went to find Ian.
He was just finishing up his call when he noticed her hovering in the doorway, and beckoned her inside the room urgently. He disconnected the call and came to her, setting the mug aside as he cradled her close against his chest.
“Are you all right, Tessa?” he asked quietly, the concern evident in his voice.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, inhaling deeply of his wonderful, comforting scent and shrugged. “I don’t know how to answer that. Right now everything seems like a bad dream, one that I’ve unfortunately had before. I can’t even think straight, Ian. It’s just too much, you know?”
He kissed the top of her head. “I know, love. Let’s sit over here while you have your tea. Did you eat anything?”
“No, I’m not the least bit hungry.”
Ian frowned as she curled up on the sofa, and he handed her the mug. “You need to eat, darling. After all, you’ve just gone through a tremendous shock.”
She shook her head. “Maybe later, all right? Not now. I just - can’t.”
“All right,” he relented gently. “But one thing I won’t take no for an answer on is the doctor’s appointment I made for you. It’s at three o’clock today, and I’ll drag you there kicking and screaming if I have to. I won’t be satisfied until you’ve been thoroughly checked over.”
Tessa sighed. “All right, you win. But I really, really need to call the office before anything else. I’m sure Andrew is not especially pleased with me right now.”
“Don’t worry about Andrew,” assured Ian. “I sent him a quick text last night and called him when I got up this morning. He doesn’t expect you in until Monday.”
She gaped at him in astonishment. “Um, what exactly did you tell him?”
He took her hand in his. “The truth, darling. All of it. No point in lying to him, he’s like a bloody hound dog sniffing out a clue at times. You can’t get anything by that boy, he’s far too clever for his own good.”
Tessa stared down into her mug. “He - he’s trustworthy, right? I mean, he won’t say anything -”
“He won’t say a word,” confirmed Ian. “Andrew has proven his loyalty to me - and to you, I might add - time and time again over the years. He might be a royal pain in the arse most of the time, but there’s no denying his devotion.” He brought her hand to his lips. “And he’s very supportive of our relationship. Cheeky bastard actually had the nerve to tell me he’s known from the very beginning that I fancied you.”
In spite of herself, Tessa couldn’t suppress a giggle. “Well, not much gets past him, that’s for sure.”
Ian brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “I also told him to expect your resignation on his desk very soon. He’s not especially pleased about that, swears you’re the only truly dependable one among the team, but understands why it has to happen. And he’s quite happy that you’ll eventually be traveling with me as my PA. Of course, he has ulterior motives there.”
Tessa smiled. “It will save him some work, I’m sure. Work he can delegate to me.”
“Spot on, love.” He placed an arm around her shoulders, easing her head against his chest. “Are you up to talking about what happened last night, or do you need some time?”
She buried her face against his chest. “All the time in the world won’t make it easier, so I might as well get it over with. But before I do - how on earth did you happen to be there last night? Your flight wasn’t due in until this evening.”
Ian gently massaged the back of her neck, working on a stiff spot until she felt like purring. “The board meetings wrapped up a day earlier than expected. I confess to having pushed the agenda along a bit each day in the hopes that we could eliminate a day. I was desperate to see you by then, even by a few hours, and changed my flight. Which turned out to be the flight from hell.”
Tessa listened in sympathy as he told her about the mishaps he’d encountered during the flight - the long delay for takeoff, more turbulence than expected, the cramped seat in coach, his noisy neighbors.
“None of that matters,” he told her firmly. “I’d have flown home in an aircraft carrier or a cargo plane in order to see you a day early. The only thing I really curse is the delay in leaving London. If we’d taken off on time, I would have been able to pick you up and have you here at the house well before the fire started.”
She shrugged. “In the end, does it really matter? Whether I was there or not, all of my things were destroyed. Again.”
He twirled a loose tendril of her hair around his finger. “At least you wouldn’t have experienced the trauma I’m certain you must have felt at running for your life. Can you tell me exactly what happened - how you got out?”
Tessa took a deep breath before nodding. “I’d gone to sleep a little earlier than normal. I, well, I figured the sooner I fell asleep the sooner it would be today when you’d be coming home. Silly, I know, but -”
“No.” He kissed her cheek. “I was counting the hours until I could see you again, so I understand. Continue, love.”
“The smoke detectors woke me up. I know most everything else in the apartment is old and dilapidated but at least those worked. Very loudly, too. Then there was banging on the door, and the firefighters were hustling me out of there. I didn’t have time to grab my phone or purse or even shoes.” She stroked her hand over his chest, covered in a navy cashmere pullover. “I’m sorry about the phone. I know it was expensive.”
“Shush.” He hauled her onto his lap. “A phone is replaceable. All of the things you lost in the fire are. You, however, are completely, irrevocably, irreplaceable. When I couldn’t reach you on the phone, I imagined all sorts of dreadful things had happened to you. And when Simon and I learned about the fire, when I was running around in a panic trying to find you - all I could think about was making sure you were safe and unharmed.” He tipped her chin up to meet his gaze, which was so filled with tenderness that her own eyes filled with tears. “Nothing else matters if I don’t have you, Tessa. All of this - the house, cars,
things
- it’s all meaningless if you aren’t here with me.”
“And you know it’s the same for me,” she whispered. “I’ve only ever cared about you, and not the things you give me.”
He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Ah, but now you’re going to have to let me give you more things. I’ve been busy making all sorts of arrangements so far this morning. Your replacement phone will be delivered this afternoon. Andrew is having a new corporate ID badge sent over by messenger later today. And I made an appointment for tomorrow for you to replace your driver’s license.”
She kissed his cheek. “You think of everything, don’t you? Thank you. I’m not sure I can remember much of anything right now.”
“Leave it to me then, love. I’ve told you more than once - there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
Tessa forced a lightheartedness into her voice that she certainly didn’t feel right now. “Well, it looks like the fire did cheat you out of doing one thing you’ve threatened to do for a long time now.”
He looked at her quizzically. “And what exactly would that be?”
She chuckled. “Tossing my raincoat into the fireplace. I’m just assuming it burned with everything else.”
***
As Tessa left the bathroom after washing up for the night, she paused upon entering the bedroom, feasting her eyes on the truly magnificent sight of her man. He was sitting up in bed, his back propped up against the pillows as he read something on his tablet. He’d stripped down to just his black briefs, and her mouth watered as she took in the beautifully defined muscles of his chest, arms and shoulders. His body, she thought dreamily, was truly a work of art, so finely and powerfully sculpted that the gods themselves would envy him such a physique.
Since he’d been at home with her all day, he hadn’t shaved, and she longed to run her nose along the dark stubble that covered his cheeks and chin. He was so sexy this way, much more raw and primitive then when he was clean shaven and dressed in one of his expensive designer suits. Not that he wasn’t equally as yummy that way - this was just
different.
Both parts of his persona - the elegant gentleman and the lusty lover - turned her on to the same degree. And while she’d been far too upset and almost catatonic last night to enjoy him, there was absolutely no way that was going to happen again tonight.
Tessa smiled when she thought of how caring he’d been today, how concerned for her wellbeing, and so attentive to her every need. He’d fussed over her all morning, worried when she wouldn’t eat, until she had finally, reluctantly, nibbled on a scone, mostly to satisfy him. Throughout the day he had continually given her hugs, pressed kisses to her cheek, tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear - so many tender, caring little gestures that it had nearly brought tears to her eyes. She had never in her life felt loved this way, never had someone as strong and devoted as Ian to look out for her. And despite the fact that she’d lost everything in the fire last night, Tessa knew she’d been lucky enough to find a far greater treasure in the beautiful man she continued to stare at in fascination.
A smile tilted the corners of her mouth as she recalled how concerned he’d been when they had visited the doctor this afternoon. The physician - a kind, but somewhat impersonal man in his late fifties - had examined Tessa thoroughly enough for her own peace of mind, but Ian had been far from satisfied at the relatively brief check-up. In his usual commanding manner, he’d asked the doctor a dozen or more questions, insisting on definitive answers, and by the end of it, the older man had looked more than a little frazzled. Tessa had felt a bit sorry for him, for no one had evidently warned him ahead of time that Ian Gregson was not a man willing to accept less than someone’s absolute best effort.
He glanced up at her then, and her heart soared at the smile that lit up his arrestingly handsome face. He set his tablet aside instantly and extended a hand towards her.
“Come here, love,” he told her in that deep, husky voice that always,
always
aroused her. Without the slightest hesitation, Tessa walked over to the bed and let Ian tug her up beside him. She sighed contentedly as his arm went around her shoulders, cuddling her close against his nearly nude body. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against that firm, broad chest, inhaling deeply of that overtly masculine scent she loved so much.
“Mmm, why do you always smell so good?” she murmured, her lips caressing a path across his pectorals. She heard the slight indrawn hiss of his breath as her hand followed her mouth, her thumb brushing over his flat male nipple. Ian twined his hand into her hair and took a long, deep inhale.
“You smell delicious, too, my love,” he told her softly. “Vanilla and spice and woman. It’s my very favorite scent in the entire world.”
They snuggled together happily for several minutes, and she could hear the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek. At some point she lifted her face to press a gentle kiss against his darkly stubbled cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything you did today and last night. I don’t think I could have survived it all if you hadn’t taken such good care of me.”