Splendor (Inevitable #2) (42 page)

And then he was off, running as fast as his weary, jet-lagged body would move, trying to stay out of sight before another emergency responder noticed him and tried to get him to leave.

Ian was not an especially spiritual man, but he offered up every prayer he could remember from his youth as he hurried along. The very thought that Tessa could be injured – or worse – was not something he could bear to think about. If he were to lose her now, when they’d really just found each other, he wasn’t sure he’d want to go on living either.

The Chinese restaurant in question was closer to two blocks away than one, but he didn’t care and offered up a silent thanks as he walked inside the dimly lit establishment. Inside, the chaos continued, as the victims of the fire seemed to be either shouting or crying, and in at least half a dozen different languages. A couple of individuals carrying clipboards with Red Cross badges clipped to their collars were bustling about, attempting to calm as many people as they could. Ian considered approaching one of them to see if they knew if Tessa was here, then gave up and went to look for her himself.

He’d very nearly given up, the despair he felt sapping the little energy he had left, when he finally spotted her.

She was sitting by herself at a little corner table, her hair wildly tangled and her face streaked with tears and soot. Someone – presumably the Red Cross – had given her one of those ultra-light space blankets, which she was huddling inside of, her body shivering with cold – or more likely fear. Beneath the unsubstantial blanket, she wore only a pair of sleep shorts and a flimsy tank top, and her feet – Jesus – her feet were bare and dirty. She looked so forlorn and terrified that he wanted to weep. Instead, he pushed past all the other people milling aimlessly about until he was kneeling in front of her.

“Thank Christ,” he muttered hoarsely, taking her face between his hands. “God almighty, Tessa, tell me you’re all right.”

She gasped, her hands drifting up to cover his as the ridiculous excuse for a blanket fell away from her body. “Ian. Oh, my, God, how are you here? How did you find me?” Her voice was hoarse, either from crying or smoke inhalation.

He stood and lifted her into his arms, letting the blanket fall to the floor as he cradled her against his chest. “I’ll always find you, my love. Now, let’s get you out of this hell hole and take you home.”

He carried her out of the restaurant while somehow still managing to dig his phone out and pressed the speed dial for Simon’s number. He answered on the first ring.

“I’ve got her, mate. Yes, unharmed so far as I can tell. Meet us on the southwest corner of the block, past the barricades. Be there shortly.”

He stuck the phone back in his pocket and hefted her a bit higher in his arms, scarcely noticing her weight. He would have gladly carried her for miles, crawled through the actual fire, or walked over broken glass, just as long as she was safe.

“Ian,” she murmured huskily. “Put me down. I’m too heavy for you to carry.”

“Hush, darling. It’s no bother at all and you are not walking a step on these filthy sidewalks in bare feet. Ah, there’s Simon.”

Faithful, devoted Simon was standing anxiously by the side of the car as they arrived, holding the back door open.

“Give Miss Lockwood to me, sir, while you get inside,” offered Simon. “I’ve left a blanket on the back seat.”

Ian quickly shifted Tessa to Simon’s waiting arms, giving his loyal chauffeur an appreciative pat on the back. “You think of everything, mate. Thank Christ you were here tonight.”

He slid inside the Town Car as Simon gently set Tessa down on the seat next to him. Ian wasted no time in covering her shivering, scantily clad body with the much more substantial wool blanket, and then pulled her onto his lap as Simon started the car.

“I want you to be seen by a doctor,” he told her firmly. “Tonight. Simon, would you take us to the University Medical Center, please?”

“No,” she protested weakly. “Please, Ian, I just want to go – home. The paramedics checked me out and aside from being in shock I’m okay.”

“Tessa – I would be much happier if you’d agree to this,” he argued. “Your voice – you must have inhaled a lot of smoke.”

She shook her head before resting it wearily on his shoulder. “Not so much. My voice – I think it’s like this from crying so much. I was so scared, Ian.”

“Christ, and I was terrified, Tessa, absolutely fucking terrified. I kept calling your phone numbers and when I didn’t get an answer, I started imagining all sorts of terrible things that could have happened to you. God knows this wasn’t one of them.”

Tessa began to cry, burying her face against his chest, and he rocked her like he would a child, murmuring to her soothingly. Her hair reeked of smoke, her face was grimy with tears and soot, and her body still shook uncontrollably within his arms. He rubbed his cheek against hers, uncaring that his skin, too, was now smudged, or that his suit would also begin to smell of smoke. The only thing he cared about was making sure Tessa was safe and well, to offer her comfort and shelter, and most of all, his love.

By the time they reached his house, he was almost numb with exhaustion and was grateful for Simon’s assistance in bringing Tessa inside. She was almost collapsing in shock and fatigue herself, but he made himself strip off their clothing before lifting her into a hot shower. While she sat slumped over in helpless surrender on the built-in bench, he shampooed her hair and soaped up her body, washing away all traces of soot and smoke. The water was almost scalding hot, but still her body felt chilled to his touch and he forced himself not to panic, hoping it was only shock that was responsible for her continued shivering.

After toweling both of them off, he wrapped her in her robe while tiredly searching around for some night clothes. He cursed softly as he realized the few nightgowns he’d bought her were all sheer, lacy confections that would do absolutely nothing to warm her up. He managed to dig out a pair of her yoga pants before grabbing one of his own sweatshirts and some thick athletic socks.

Ian dressed her as though she were a little girl, a task made that much more difficult by her limp, uncooperative limbs. He tucked her into bed before belting on his own robe, then ventured downstairs to pour them each a brandy. He practically had to force the first few sips down her throat, until the liquor finally seemed to have its desired effect, warming her up enough so that she was able to drink the rest of it down on her own.

He slid into bed next to her, cuddling her still trembling body close, and stroking her hair comfortingly.

“Ian, I - ,” she began.

“Hush, love. Not now. We’re both exhausted. Sleep now and we’ll talk in the morning.”

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 Eighteen

Tessa was groggy and disoriented when she woke in the big bed alone, and it took her a minute or two 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 assumed he’d washed 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, even something as plain as the breakfast treat. She got one of the oversized white ceramic mugs that she loved 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 – 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 steaming mug of tea. “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 - ”

“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 on a World War I prop 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.”