The O'Malley Brides (10 page)

Tess had been going to leave today regardless.  Things between her and Rory were getting very intense and she was having a hard time coping.  After being alone for so long it was amazing that Tess had been able to fit in as well as she had at the
O’Malley’s
.  They were a big family who loved hard, play hard and fought hard. They could be overwhelming
.  All the men had dominant natures believing that they were the natural leaders.  As husbands they were
benevolent
care takers, loving, but firm.  Even the Kord men, Mason and Nick shared their outlook.  Friends since childhood
, it was as though
they’d all taken a bite of the same poison apple
,
Molly thought fancifully.  Not all women were suitable mates.  A weak woman would turn into a pi
tiful mess and it would not be a happy union for either of them.  What most people did not understand was that a strong
woman
became stronger with a man like this.  He always had your back, right or wrong.  These men never gave up, never!  They would woo you, win you and take you.  It wasn’t about the chase
,
because once they had your heart
,
they would never give you up.
 
It meant forever and as a woman you
’d
better be prepared for that.

Molly wasn’t sure about Tess.  Tess was falling for Rory, hard.  There was a spark between them, but as yet Rory hadn’t fanned it into a flame.  In the last few months, Tess had changed.  The quiet
withdrawn
little person she had been when she first came to the
O’Malley'
s
home
had become stronger. 
She could fight now, stand her ground more often, but could she go toe to toe with Rory?  Tess wasn’t sure.  Rory was probably the most dominant of all the men.  Molly would not throw her friend under the steamroller until she was sure she could survive.  If it took a little time for her to be sure, Molly would help her get that time.  At least until Patrick found out.  Molly would take a spanking or two for her friend if she had too, but she would not hurt Patrick’s heart or damage his faith
in her.  If it came to that
Tess
,
was on her own.

Chapter 6

Tess unlocked the door of Nick’s law office at eight fifteen Monday morning.  It had taken two bus transfers, but she made it in plenty of time.  The office di
dn’t officially open till nine o’clock,
so she locked the door behind her.  She fully expected Rory to hunt her down today but she didn’t want to be surprised if she could help it.  Monica, Nick’s previous secretary, had gone away to college giving Tess an opportunity to secure the position.  Two nights a week
,
Tess attended the local community college and would finally
have her Associates Degree in Business M
anagement in about six months. It had taken her much longer than the average student, but she was proud of herself just the same. 

Nick and Maggie would be back tomorrow from their abbreviated
honeymoon and it occurred to Tess that no one had heard from Rebecca or Mason in a few days.
She made a mental note to give Rebecca a call later in the day to see how she was feeling.  Dell, the intern Nick had brought on
,
would be there promptly at nine
as always.  It freaked Tess out a little bit th
at each day at precisely at 9:00
a
.
m
.
,
on the first stroke of the mantle clock, Dell would open the door
; never
a minute early and never a minute late.  He would set his briefcase down, put his umbrella in the umbrella stand and hang up his coat in the closet.  Tess wasn’t afraid to be alone with him
.  S
he didn’t t
hink she’d ever met a more mild-
mannered
young
man.  He was quite tall and lean and always impeccably dressed in a suit
.  In a confrontation with Rory, Tess didn’t think Dell would be much help to her but he would make a great witness for police brutality if Rory took her over his knee. 

Tess started a pot of coffee brewing, turned on the office machines and listened to the messages from Friday.  The office had been closed as everyone prepared for the wedd
ing and Tess carefully wrote down
each one.  At eight fifty-five, she unlocked the door
, smoothed her skirt down and prepared to face her day.

“Good Morning, Ms
.
Martinez,” Dell said as he walked in the door just as the first chime struck.  “How w
as the wedding?  I do hope Mr. a
nd Mrs. Kord are having a nice time.”

“Me too,” Tess replied.  “The wedding and reception were lovely.  I’m sorry you couldn’t make it.”

“I am too
,
Ms. Martinez.  Unfortunately
,
I had other obligations.”

Suddenly the door opened and Tess gasped, her hand going to her throat.  Bridget flew into the roo
m, her
cheeks p
ink from the cold.  Flinging her book bag to the floor
,
she slapped her hands down on Tess’s desk and leaned forward.

“What the hell happened
,
girl?  I can’t believe you took off like that.  Ma was fit to be tied.  You should have hea
rd her tearing a strip of Rory
last night.  I tell you it was a sight to behold.”

Bridget’s golden hair was actually bouncing she was so animated.  Swinging around
,
she plopped her mini-skirted ass on Tess’s desk, not even noticing that they were not alone. 

“You got any coffee
?
” she asked, jumping off the desk and heading for the tiny room in the back, still talking.  “Colleen and I couldn’t believe it.  I haven’t heard Ma yell at him like that in years.  Not Rory, the exalted oldest son,” she snickered as she scooted out of sight.

Tess looked at Dell, who stood there with his mouth hanging open. 

“Where’s the creamer?” Bridget yelled.  “You wa
nt a cup?  I have to say though that I almost felt sorry for him.  Can you believe that?  I can’t.  I mean as many times as he’s read me the riot act I…”

Bridget came around the corner and stopped dead in her tracks.  Standing in front of the fireplace was the…well
,
the world’s tallest geek.  From his perfect suit, to his wingtip shoes, he absolutely screamed establishment.  He held a leather briefcase in one hand and pushed his huge black rimmed glasses up on the bridge of his nose with the other.  Bridget would have bet her last buck he had a pocket protector under that vest.  His short hair was sandy
blonde and she had to admit
he had nice eyes
behind those hideous glasses
.    

Dell could feel his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.  The young woman wore a green plaid skirt that barely covered her ass.  With her high heeled boots and a bulky golden sweater, she was very attractive.  Her green eyes were wide in surprise and h
e
r pink lips formed a perfect O
for
the first time since she’d breezed in the door, she was quiet.

Bridget approached the desk and handed Tess her coffee.
 
“I’m sorry
,
Tess.  I didn’t know you had a client,” she apologized sweetly.

“No he works here,” Tess told her.  “This is Dell…”

Before she could finish
,
Dell reached for Bridget
’s
hand
. 
 
“Delbert Bertram
W
inston
IV,
I’m
very pleased to meet you
miss—”

Bridget slipped her small hand in his and
turned
to look at Tess over her shoulder.
 
“He’s kidding right?” she laughed.

Tess quickly shook her head
,
no
,
and frowned at Bridget.

“And you are?” Dell asked, clearly beginning to feel insulted.

“Bridget O’Malley
, Ms.
Bridget O’Malley,
the first,
” she supplied trying hard not to snicker.

“M
s.
O’Malley.   I hope
you’re
not disparaging my name?  I’ll have you know t
hat I come from a long line of W
inston
s, all
of
who
m
have had distinguished
careers
in…”

Bridget could not control herself a m
oment longer.  Setting her coffee down as quickly as she could, she slumped against Tess’s desk, ben
t her head down and covered her
face with her hands.  Bridget was laughing so hard, tears ran from her eyes and she could not catch her breath.

“Oh my God,” she managed to choke out.  “You think I’m laughing about Winston?  That is too funny,” she spit out, laughing so hard now she snorted.  Raising her head
,
she held her stomach and stared off into space.  “What kind of woman names her son Delbert?” she asked
in wonder before going into another peel of uncontrollable laughter.

“My Great-Grandmother,
my
Grandmother, and my mother apparently,” Dell informed her stiffly. 

“Bridget, please,” Tess implored her, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from grinning.  It really was a horrible name, but she liked Dell and could see that he was getting angrier by the minute.  Imagine
. C
alm, collected Dell getting mad.  It was almost too much for her.

“Ms. Martinez, I will be in my office.  Excuse me.”

“Wait,” Bridget cried, wiping the tears from her face and staggering over to him.  “I’m sorry,” she told him, grabbing his arm to stop his retreat
.  “Delbert,” tipping
her head
back.  S
he tried to look sincerely into his eyes.  Nope, not going to be able to do it
,
she thought
as she howled.  The more she tried to stop laughing, the more uncontrollable the urge became. 

Looking down at the cute blonde, Dell wondered how someone so alluring, could behave so rudely.  “Ms. O’Malley, I find it hard to comprehend how someone with the impeccable manners of Mr. Kord
’
s wife, could possibly be related to you.”

“Maggie?”  Bridget asked in surprise.  “Impeccable manners?   Oh, that’s rich.  Did he tell you she got drunk and puked in his shoes?” 

For a m
oment Dell looked horrified, the revulsion
on his face cause
d
Bridget to snort again, so he quickly went
into
his office
and closed the door with a bang, her howls of laughter ringing in his ears.

“Bridget!” Tess scolded as she grabbed her arm and pulled her into Nick’s private office and shut the door.  “Dell is a very nice man,” she told her, still biting her cheek. Finally she gave it up and collapsed into Bridget’s arms.  “It really is a horrible name, is it not?” she laughed.  “Oh, I feel so guilty for laughing.  Look what you have made me do?  We should be ashamed of ourselves, yes?”

“Yes,” Bridget agreed trying to pull herself together.  “In theory
,” she hiccupped before the next round hit her.

“Come,” Tess insisted.  “Let us step outside and get some air.  Do not look at me.  You will get to escape but I have to stay here all day.  How will I be able to look at him now without…
?
”

“Okay,” Bridget agreed sniffing.  They went outside and stood on the sidewalk, back to back.

The only way she would be able to stop was to change the conversation to a serious matter.  “So where are you staying?”

“I cannot tell you.  I promised and I am afraid that your brother will get it out of you.”

"
Never, but that’s
okay if you keep it a secret.  He will find you eventually, you know that right?”

“Yes, I know.  I need some time to thin
k things through.  I hope your m
adre understands.”

“She understands better than you know,” Bridget told her.  “I’ll tell her I talked to you and
that
you will call her in a few days.  Is that okay?”

“It is fine.  Are you okay now?  I need to get back inside.”

“Yes, I’m under control, but I need to grab my book bag.  Do you think I should go in and apologize to Winston?”