Splendor (Inevitable #2) (7 page)

“Oh, my God.” Tessa pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around her shins. “God, are we really getting a divorce? It sounds so final.”

“Our marriage will be over, Tess, but not our friendship,” he reassured her. “We’ll always be family, okay? And I’ll help with money as much as I can. The lease on this place isn’t up until April, you know, and you won’t be able to afford the rent on your own. I’ll put some money in your account each month until the lease is up and you can move to a cheaper place.”

She hid her face against her bent knees, unable to think about practical things like paying bills or eventually having to move. “How long?”

“The divorce will take a few months to be final.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” she corrected. “How long until – you leave?”

“I fly to New York tomorrow morning. I’ll be going through a two week orientation program, finalizing my work visa and stuff like that. I leave for Bahrain after that.”

Tessa heaved a weary sigh. “So this is it, huh? Our last night together. Can’t we have a few more days, Peter? So I can get used to the idea a little.”

“It’s better this way, Tess,” he insisted. “I know you won’t agree, but if I stay any longer you’ll just try to convince me to forget about everything. And I’ve been putting a move like this off for far too long already. It’s time, Tessa. Time for both of us to start over.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “I know I’ve held you back. I know the only reason you stayed with me so long was because I was too helpless to take care of myself.”

“That’s bullshit, Tess. We’ve gone over this too many times to count. You are not helpless or incompetent or dumb. Or any of the other unflattering terms you always insult yourself with. You’re smart and capable and you amaze me every day with how much you’ve grown.”

She raised huge eyes to him. “I’m scared, Peter,” she confessed in a trembly voice. “Scared of being alone. And terrified that I’m going to be like her.”

“You aren’t. You won’t. You’re nothing like your mother, Tessa, nothing,” Peter assured her fiercely. “You’re so much stronger than you’re even aware of. And I know how hard this is but you’re going to be okay. If I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t be leaving.”

“Will you hold me?”

He took her into his arms, rocking her gently as though she were a small child. “Of course I will.”

“I knew something bad was going to happen today. I felt it the minute I woke up. God, I hate Wednesdays,” she said bitterly.

“Shh. It’s just a silly coincidence, nothing more. Now, we should both get some rest. My flight leaves pretty early in the morning.”

Tessa wasn’t certain she could sleep, given how upset she was, but as she snuggled close against Peter she did manage to fall into a somewhat restless slumber, hoping against hope that she would wake to find all of this was just a bad dream.

But when her alarm went off the next morning, she was once again alone in the bed, as she was so often these days. And this time, Peter wouldn’t be back.

Chapter Four

October

“How are you, Tessa? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you here.”

Tessa had been tidying up the refreshment table in the large conference room but glanced up at the soft, melodious voice of Julia McKinnon. Though smiles didn’t come easily to Tessa these days, she couldn’t help but return the interior designer’s friendly greeting.

“I’m well, thank you. I’d ask how you’re doing but I think that’s fairly obvious,” Tessa replied in a lightly teasing tone.

Julia’s smile deepened into a grin. “And here I thought Nathan and I were being discreet. I guess I just can’t help the way I look at him.”

“You’re in love. I don’t blame you for being happy. And Mr. Atwood is obviously just as crazy about you,” Tess told her warmly.

Nathan Atwood was the co-owner of the architectural design firm that was currently creating the newest Gregson resort – this one in the Napa Valley wine country. Julia was the interior designer assigned to the project, and it had been rather obvious to Tessa the first time she’d met the gorgeous Julia that Mr. Atwood was extremely taken with her. They had been a couple for a few months now, and both of them positively glowed with happiness. And though they were discreet and professional, Tessa couldn’t help but notice all the ways they found to touch each other – fleeting little touches, affectionately given, almost imperceptible. Tessa had found herself envying them the easy, natural affection they shared, something she and Peter had never come close to having.

Julia seemed inordinately pleased at Tessa’s comment. “Well, it took him long enough to admit it, but now that he has it’s awesome. It’s – well, you know how it is – you’re a married woman, after all.”

Tessa knew her facial expression must have been a dead giveaway, because Julia instantly clutched her arm in concern.

“Are you all right?” she asked worriedly. “My God, you look like you’re going to faint, Tessa.”

Tessa closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before shaking her head. “I’m – okay, yes. Thanks for asking. I’d, um – better finish cleaning up here, though. I need to get back to my desk soon.”

But Julia wasn’t so easily dissuaded. “I’m so sorry if I said anything to upset you. Look, do you want to talk about it? Why don’t we have lunch together? What time do you normally take your break?”

“Um, at one o’clock. But I – that is, I always bring my lunch every day. I don’t think –” stammered Tessa. It would be too humiliating to confess that she couldn’t afford to eat lunch out. Now that she was completely on her own, money was tighter than ever.

Julia seemed to sense her dilemma and laid a small, gentle hand on Tessa’s forearm. “My treat. There’s a cute little café about a block from here that I love. Nathan thinks it’s too fussy and never wants to eat there with me. But they have really yummy desserts so you’d be doing me a huge favor if you’d go with me.”

Tessa hesitated, not at all convinced that Julia wasn’t just feeling sorry for her. It had to be quite obvious to the always beautifully dressed designer – with her chic sheath dresses, sexy high heels and perfectly coordinated accessories – that Tessa wasn’t exactly in the same sort of financial circumstances. Her own clothes were very plain and inexpensive, and someone who had an eye for fashion like Julia did would have been sure to pick up on that fact. The navy pencil skirt and simple navy pumps were both items she wore often, though the pretty yellow blouse with the ruffle down the front was new. It had been an impulse buy a couple of weeks ago – a futile attempt to cheer herself up. Fortunately the blouse had cost less than ten dollars on a clearance rack at Forever 21.

“I don’t know,” she demurred, looking down at her shoes. “I do have a lot of work to do.”

“Do you want me to clear it with Andrew?” offered Julia. “He doesn’t scare me in the least, you know, even though everyone else around here seems to be terrified of him.”

Tessa gave a little laugh, probably the first time she’d done so in a month. “Andrew’s not so bad. He just has high expectations. The first manager I had when I joined the company was much worse than he was. And – no, I don’t need to check with him. I’d like to have lunch with you, thanks. Where should I meet you?”

Julia beamed and gave her the name and address of the little bakery café, arranging to meet just after one o’clock. She wrinkled her nose in distaste a moment later, though, as she glanced across the conference room.

“God, that guy gives me the creeps,” she confided in a hushed tone. “At last month’s meeting he actually came up to me afterwards and put his arm around my waist. I thought Nathan was going to break a couple of his fingers.”

Tessa followed Julia’s gaze and frowned. “Ah, Mr. Baldwin. Yes, he has something of a reputation around here. You’re lucky you have your boyfriend to watch out for you.”

“Does he harass you, too?” asked Julia in concern.

Tessa shrugged. “He tries, but I do my best to avoid him. I think Andrew’s been told to keep him away from all the women on this floor.”

“Hmm, I can see why. It doesn’t seem to concern him in the least if a woman is married or otherwise spoken for, does it? And he must think he’s God’s gift to women, but he isn’t
that
good looking,” sniffed Julia. “My Nathan is ten times more attractive. And I can’t understand why any woman in this office would look twice at a creep like Jason Baldwin when they have a hunk like Ian to stare at instead.”

Tessa cursed her fair skin as she felt a warm flush stain her cheeks. Aware that Julia must expect some sort of response, she stammered awkwardly, “Um, yes. I – uh, agree.”

To mask the sudden discomfort she felt at the mention of her boss’ name, Tessa turned her attention back to cleaning up the refreshment table. Julia thankfully took the hint and left, reminding her about their lunch engagement at one o’clock.

But a few minutes later, after everyone else had left the room, Tessa pondered the wisdom of going to lunch with the very perceptive Julia. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the bubbly, beautiful designer. On the contrary, Julia had been exceedingly kind to her from the very first time they had met back in February. And her boyfriend – Nathan – had always treated Tessa like a gentleman, never trying to flirt with her or ogle her the way so many others did. The entire design team for the Napa hotel had monthly meetings here at the office with management, and Tessa was nearly always assigned the job of setting up the room, taking meeting notes, and then cleaning up afterwards. Julia always sought her out, taking a few minutes to chat and thanking her for helping. Tessa was flattered by the attention, for she didn’t really have any friends of her own, especially no one as pretty and outgoing as Julia. Tessa just knew somehow that Julia had been one of the popular girls in high school, while Tessa had always been a loner, an outsider.

She thankfully wasn’t as socially awkward as she’d been back then – years of working so closely with others had helped improve her social skills a lot – but she was still extremely shy and not especially clever at conversation. Tessa just hoped she wouldn’t be too boring for the vivacious Julia. She knew from past conversations as well as snippets of gossip she’d overheard that the designer had attended an Ivy League college, spoke fluent French, and was a talented artist. Not to mention having a wardrobe that Gina, Alicia and Shelby were all green with envy over.

Plus, Tessa was more than a little concerned that Julia suspected something was bothering her. She’d done her very best to conceal how devastated she was about the breakup with Peter, and hadn’t said a word about it to any of her co-workers. She rarely discussed anything about her personal life anyway, and her separation and impending divorce were still too new, too raw for her to be able to discuss them with anyone. She very much feared, however, that Julia McKinnon had already surmised something was wrong, given the way Tessa had reacted to the comment about being married.

She had just finished tidying up the conference room, and was about to return to her desk, when Ian Gregson strode briskly into the room. He stopped short at seeing her, his expression as reserved and impassionate as always.

“Tessa. I didn’t realize you’d still be here.”

She simply couldn’t help the little thrill that shimmered up her spine at the sound of his deep, cultured voice. Or the way her heart rate picked up at the sight of his tall, broad-shouldered body clothed in his elegant charcoal gray suit, impeccable white dress shirt, and expertly knotted tie.

She blushed yet again as she realized he was gazing at her somewhat impatiently, evidently expecting some sort of reply. “I, um, was just leaving, sir. Can I – is there something you needed?”

He frowned slightly, already looking around the head of the table where he always sat. “I seem to have misplaced my pen. Did you happen to find it when you were tidying up?”

Tessa shook her head. “No, I didn’t, sir. But I’ll be happy to help you look for it.”

Ian waved a hand in dismissal. “It’s no bother. I’m certain it will turn up somewhere.”

From the corner of her eye she spotted an object on the thick carpet beneath the table that could be a pen. Dropping to her hands and knees, Tessa crawled the short distance, her hand closing around the pen at the exact same moment Ian squatted down beside her.

“Here it is.”

“I’ve got it.”

They spoke simultaneously, his hand brushing over hers as they both reached for the pen at the same time. Flustered by the feel of his warm hand on hers – however fleetingly – she glanced downwards only to have her mortification increase by leaps and bounds. For not only had her slim fitting skirt ridden up her thighs several inches, but the neckline of her pretty yellow blouse gapped open enough to reveal the lace of her bra. She could only hope that Mr. Gregson hadn’t noticed, but those hopes were quickly dashed when she realized his gaze was fixed firmly on her cleavage.

She knew her face must be red as a beet as she somewhat awkwardly got to her feet, smoothing her skirt down as she did so. Ian, too, stood up abruptly, then uttered a hasty “thank you” before striding out of the room in his usual authoritative manner.

Tessa was still cursing herself for her gauche, awkward behavior when she left to meet Julia for lunch. She had lost count of the times she’d made a fool of herself in Mr. Gregson’s presence – always stammering or blushing or acting like she didn’t have an ounce of sense. It was small wonder that Andrew had never once assigned her to fill in for him when he was on vacation or away on business. Marisol or Gina typically filled in, though Kevin and Alicia had also helped out before. There was no possible way Andrew would ever trust Shelby to work as Mr. Gregson’s temporary PA but evidently Tessa hadn’t been deemed worthy, either. She had always assumed it was because she lacked the college degree that nearly all of the others had. Marisol was the only one besides Tessa who didn’t have a degree, but she did have seniority over everyone else and had obviously earned Andrew’s trust because of her length of service.

But now Tessa wondered if perhaps Mr. Gregson simply didn’t think she was bright enough or capable of handling the responsibility of being his temporary PA. God knew she’d done absolutely nothing to change his impression of her, given how tongue tied she always was when he was nearby. She hoped fervently that he only thought she was a silly, not especially bright girl rather than suspect the truth – that she had a massive crush on him. The former was embarrassing – the latter would be utterly devastating if he ever knew.