She smiled, and tenderly brushed damp strands of hair back off his face. “I love it when you’re in boss man mode. How everyone snaps to attention and bends over backwards to please you.” She nibbled on his earlobe. “And I especially love it when you’re the boss in our bed.”
He chuckled, pulling her astride his lap and squeezing the firm cheeks of her ass. “And I love how you, uh, just bent over backwards for me.”
Tessa gasped in mock outrage, giving him a little shove. “As I recall, I wasn’t exactly given a choice in the matter.”
“No, you weren’t.” Ian sobered, tracing his thumb over her lips. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
She shook her head. “No, you could never hurt me, Ian. Though it might be a little difficult to walk a straight line today.”
“I’ll hold you up, darling,” he murmured, pulling her head down to his for a long, lingering kiss. “Though a hot bath might help both of us. I’m a bit shaky myself.”
“Not surprising, considering how you were pretty much in barbarian mode a little while ago,” she teased. “I never imagined when I told you I was going to do online classes that you’d be quite so, ah, thrilled.”
“It wasn’t just that and you know it.” He brushed a soft kiss on her lips. “It was what you told me about doing absolutely anything for me. That just - touched something in me, made me go a little crazy with needing you. All I knew at that moment was that I had to own you completely, had to be just as raw and honest as you had been with me.”
Tessa touched her forehead to his. “I love you, Ian. And I meant every single word.”
“My sweet, darling Tessa. You are the love of my life. Now, let’s see about that bath and then breakfast, hmm? After all, we have a wedding to attend.”
***
Julia looked breathtakingly beautiful, Nathan incredibly handsome, and their wedding was rather like a fairytale. At least it seemed that way to Tessa, who had never witnessed a real wedding before. She had seen a lot of lavish weddings being set up when she’d worked at the Tucson resort, but had never actually attended any of them, of course.
Tessa had become a little misty eyed while her friends were exchanging their heartfelt vows, and she smiled gratefully at Ian when he took her hand.
“It’s so romantic, isn’t it?” she whispered.
In reply, he merely pressed a kiss to her temple and squeezed her hand a little tighter.
The words he had spoken to her last month during his parents’ visit suddenly came back to tease her - what he’d said about her being his wife one day. He hadn’t mentioned anything further about marriage since that evening, and she hadn’t permitted herself to think about it too much. But now, in this exquisitely romantic garden setting, with a string quartet playing, flowers everywhere, and two starry eyed lovers pledging themselves to each other, it was easy to imagine her own potential nuptials one day. At the same time, though, the idea made her a little sad, because unlike Julia she had no doting father to give her away, no proud mother watching teary eyed from the front row of seats, and no devoted sister to stand as her maid of honor. If Ian did in fact marry her someday, it would really only be his family and friends in attendance, and it occurred to Tessa for the first time since moving in with him just how alone she would be without him.
Impatiently, she forced her maudlin thoughts aside just as the minister was pronouncing Nathan and Julia to be husband and wife. With something of a twinkle in his eye, the white haired officiate nodded at the rather impatient groom.
“Well, go ahead, Nathan, it’s finally time. You may kiss the bride.”
Tessa joined in the applause as a grinning Nathan wasted no time in sweeping Julia into his arms and kissing her soundly, not seeming to notice that two hundred other people - including her father and uncle - were watching them intently. Somewhere to her left Tessa heard loud whoops and cat calls, as well as several suggestive comments being shouted out.
Ian murmured in her ear, clearly amused. “The, ah, cheering section there would be Nathan’s old college mates that I told you about.”
“The ones from the bachelor party?” At Ian’s nod, Tessa glanced over at the group of a dozen or so noisy thirty-somethings in concern. “Oh, God, I hope they don’t ruin Julia’s wedding! From what she’s told me, and what you saw firsthand, they can get a little rowdy.”
Ian arched a brow. “A little rowdy? Darling, a rugby match is a little rowdy. Nathan’s chums over there take rowdy to whole new levels. Think
Animal House
on steroids.”
Tessa suppressed a giggle, especially when the string quartet started to play a rousing version of the Beatles’
All You Need is Love
as the recessional. She’d heard all about the drunken bachelor party, where Ian had drolly told her he’d been not only the oldest but the most sober of the attendees. It had taken place the same night as Julia’s only slightly less wild bachelorette party, to which Tessa had been invited.
Fortunately, Nathan’s friends quieted down long enough for him to walk down the aisle with his beaming bride on his arm, the two of them waving and smiling to as many guests as they could. When Julia saw Tessa and Ian she blew them a kiss before continuing down the white carpet to the back of the outdoor chapel.
“She looks so beautiful,” sighed Tessa. “And so happy.”
Ian slid his arm around her waist, guiding her out of their row of chairs as other guests began to leave the chapel. “They deserve it, darling. Like with us, it took a little time for the stars to align properly so they could be together. Now, come, the festivities are beginning.”
He steered her over to the expansive patio area where champagne and hors d’oeuvres were being passed around. All of the wait staff seemed to know exactly who Ian was, treating him with extreme deference and care. At various times during the cocktail reception, the hotel manager, catering manager, and head bartender all came over to shake his hand and inquire if all was well, as though he were the groom or the father of the bride instead of merely a guest. As always, Ian was graciousness personified, greeting them by name and asking about their families. It never ceased to amaze Tessa at how much respect he commanded, and how eagerly all his employees rushed to please him. He was, she though fondly, like a well-loved king among his subjects.
And the two of them seemed to be drawing almost as much attention as the bride and groom. Tessa thought with a little smile that they did make rather a striking couple, both tall and impeccably dressed. With Joanna’s help, she’d chosen a gorgeous pink silk pleated dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline. With it she wore killer pale pink satin Jimmy Choo sandals that had a satin bow attached to the ankle strap, plus the triple strand pearl necklace and dainty pearl stud earrings that Ian had given her months ago. He had chosen a complementing Armani suit in a pale silver gray, paired with a pearl gray shirt and a silk tie patterned in varying shades of gray and mauve. Tessa hadn’t missed all the admiring female glances directed his way, and she made sure she stuck to his side like glue.
Julia and Nathan were doing their best to circulate among all their guests, stopping to greet as many people as possible. When they eventually reached Tessa and Ian, Julia pulled her down into a fierce little hug.
“Oh, you look so pretty, Tessa! God, just look at the pair of you together. Like two movie stars or European royalty,” sighed Julia.
Ian grinned and bent to kiss her cheek. “Ah, but the bride is supposed to be the center of attention on her wedding day. And as lovely as my Tessa looks, I think she’d agree that you are the most beautiful woman here today. Congratulations, Mrs. Atwood.”
Nathan was beaming as he shook Ian’s hand and then kissed Tessa’s cheek. “I told you on your birthday, Ian. We’re the two luckiest bastards I know. And with the two most beautiful woman in the world by our sides.”
“Hey, I heard that, Nathan. And since Jules and I are identical twins, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Nathan rolled his eyes as his very outspoken sister-in-law Lauren sidled up alongside Julia, slipping an arm about her twin’s waist. Tessa had only met the very formidable Lauren McKinnon once - at the bachelorette party that Lauren herself had organized - and she confessed to being more than a little intimidated by her. Julia’s sister was utterly fearless, extremely outspoken, and could put away an astonishing number of tequila shots. She seemed sassier than ever today, though she looked far softer and more feminine in her mint green floral print bridesmaid dress than she had in the boots and jeans she’d been wearing the night of the bachelorette party.
Nathan gave his sister-in-law a good natured jab in the ribs. “Okay, the three most beautiful women in the world. You’ve met Tessa, haven’t you?”
“I have. Tried like hell to get her drunk at Jules’s party, but I think her man here gave her strict orders to behave. Good to see you again, sweetie.” Lauren then turned and winked at Ian. “Hey, handsome. I’d ask how you were doing but I can see that for myself. You two look like Ken and Barbie.”
Ian grinned and gave Lauren a peck on the cheek. “Lovely to see you as always, Lauren. Break any hearts lately? Or noses, for that matter?”
Lauren glared at him darkly. “I should have never told you that story. And I didn’t break the little crybaby’s nose, just made it bleed a little. On accident.” She gave Tessa a sheepish look. “Blind date gone bad. Really bad. Ask Ian to tell you the story sometime, he thought it was hilarious.”
As the call came to sit down for dinner, Tessa gave Ian an inquiring look. “I didn’t realize you’d met Lauren before.”
He nodded as he ushered her to their assigned table. “Once, last fall. It was at a dinner party Julia and Nathan were giving. I was lonely, and rather miserable since I was still pining away for a woman I couldn’t have - namely you. I thought meeting Julia’s sister might prove something of a distraction.” He shook his head. “I’m not certain there’s a man alive capable of taming that girl. She was definitely too much for me to even consider handling. And as beautiful as she is, she still wasn’t you.”
Tessa clutched his arm a little tighter. “Sometimes I wish I’d known sooner how you felt about me. I don’t know how that might have changed things but -”
He shook his head. “It wouldn’t have. I know you too well, Tessa, and the fact that I was attracted to you would not have compelled you to leave your husband. The way we finally got together - it had to happen that way, love. You had to end things with Peter first, and for the right reasons. As much as I wanted you, I would never have broken up your marriage.”
“I know. And you’re right, of course. Still…”
“Shh. We’re together now and that’s all that matters. Ah, here’s our table.”
They had been seated with several of Julia’s and Nathan’s co-workers - the co-owner of the firm, Travis Headley, and his partner Anton Nguyen; Nathan’s PA Robyn Reynolds and her husband Dan; and Jake Harriman, the associate architect working on the new Gregson resort in Napa, accompanied by his date Abby.
During the multi-course wedding meal, Tessa learned that Travis had been the interior designer responsible for decorating Ian’s home; that Anton also worked as a personal shopper at Neiman Marcus, albeit in the men’s department, and that Marlene Brennan was a mentor of his; and that Robyn had originally worked with Nathan and Travis at a different architectural design firm before - as she fondly recalled - “the boys decided to spin off on their own and practically shanghaied me into going with them.”
It was, all in all, a beautiful wedding with wonderful food and wine, pleasant company, and a magnificent setting. Tessa took a sip of her wine and gazed admiringly around the trellised patio.
“This is so beautiful,” she told Ian. “I think this might be my favorite of all the hotels I’ve seen so far. Not that I’ve been to all that many, of course.”
He nodded in agreement. “It’s one of my favorites, too, and one of our most popular. Especially for weddings. But,” he added mysteriously, “I have an even grander venue in mind for the day I finally make you my wife. And before you ask, darling, that bit of information is going to remain a closely guarded secret. Let’s just say it will be another first.”
Once the lavish meal had been cleared away, the dancing began. Tessa and Ian watched along with all the other guests as the bride and groom shared a tender first dance before changing partners multiple times in order to dance with parents, siblings, and the members of the wedding party. As soon as the rest of the guests were invited to join in, Ian tugged Tessa to her feet, and smoothly drew her onto the dance floor.
She went into his arms with a little sigh, resting her cheek on his shoulder, and smiled when she recognized the song.
“This is what was playing when we danced for the first time in Lake Tahoe,” she told him as he guided her around the dance floor to the tune of
If I Ain’t Got You.
“I remember. Very, very well,” he replied with a warm glow in his hazel eyes. “And it’s true, you know, what the lyrics say - if I can’t have you, Tessa, then nothing else in this whole world means a thing.”
She touched his cheek, which was already starting to show signs of a five o’clock shadow. “Same here. I told your mother that sometimes I wish you didn’t have all this money, that you were a truck driver or something like that, and that we lived on a little houseboat somewhere. Just so you’d know you were the only thing that mattered to me.”
He pressed a kiss to her palm and smiled. “I do know, darling. You show me that every day in more ways than you realize. As for driving a truck - I much prefer the Jaguar, thank you very much. And as for the houseboat, I have to confess to an occasional bout of seasickness so I’m afraid we’ll have to stay on land.”
She laughed along with him as the song finished, and then Ian went to claim a dance with Julia while Tessa and Nathan paired up.
Tessa couldn’t recall a time when she’d enjoyed herself more - laughing with all the other guests when Nathan “accidentally” smeared cake frosting all over Julia’s mouth, and then egging him on as he slowly licked it all off; watching Lauren start up a raucous conga line that was quickly joined by most of Nathan’s drunken friends; and then listening dreamily to Julia’s father Robert serenade his daughter with a touching rendition of
Sunrise Sunset
in his beautiful baritone voice.