“I’m sorry,” Tess said. “I was trying to be quiet.”
“It wasn’t you. I mean, I knew you were here when the shower went on, but the smell of coffee woke me. I have mine on a timer at home so the smell is better than any alarm clock.” Nina poured two mugs and sat at the table. “So how was it?”
Tess picked up her cup and joined Nina. “Oh my God. It was amazing.”
“Tell me about Miles. Your text only gave me a name and a room number. Very smart, by the way.”
“I met him at the gala. He comes from money. He had a suite at the hotel. Can you believe that? A room costs hundreds a night. A suite? I can’t imagine.”
“Yeah, yeah, so he has money. Get to the good part.”
“He’s gorgeous. The abs. I don’t have words. But he’s funny, too. Excellent stamina.”
“Still not many details.”
Tess lifted a shoulder. She’d never been one to run to girlfriends to rehash every moment of a date. She hit the highlights, and that should be enough. Then she remembered the necklace.
“I have some bad news though. I left your necklace at the hotel.”
“So call Miles and get it.”
“I’d rather just replace it.” Tess took a drink of coffee and looked at Nina over the rim.
“Seriously?” Nina leaned across the table and lowered her voice. “You finally get a guy who’s funny, great in bed, and has a job, and you don’t even get his number? What is wrong with you?”
Tess set her cup down. “It was a great night, but that’s all I expected. My life is messy. I don’t have time for this. He doesn’t know anything about me. The kids. Nothing.”
“And how is he going to if you don’t have a way to reach him? I assume that means you didn’t give him your number, either?”
Tess shook her head.
“I can’t believe you.”
“I got what I wanted. That’s enough.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
Tess took a deep breath. “Any problems last night?”
“Nope. The kids were great. Trevor kept the boys occupied with video games. I gave Zoe a mani-pedi, and we had some girl talk.”
Tess arched an eyebrow. “Did you get any good information out of her? She tells me nothing these days.”
Nina got quiet and sipped coffee. “I don’t want to break her confidence. But I will say she’s really nervous about starting high school.”
Tess waved a hand. “I know. I was hoping for the scoop on boys.”
“Oh, we talked boys.” Nina reached over and covered Tess’s hand with hers. “There’s no one special yet. No dates, no pretend boyfriends, no blowjobs in the alleys.”
The last part made Tess’s heart stop. She hadn’t even thought about that. While she’d tried to be very open and honest with Zoe about sex, the child never wanted to talk about anything, never asked questions. Her daughter took whatever information Tess gave her and filed it away.
“She’s too young,” Tess finally pushed out.
“Kids are doing everything. They don’t think. And Lord knows, they’re not getting it right. I pray for the future generations of girls who are with clueless and selfish boys. ’Cause you know they’ll get their own in that alley, and it’s not being reciprocated.”
Tess made a mental note to talk to Zoe again about having respect for herself and expecting it from boys as well. When she’d brought newborn Zoe home from the hospital, all she’d imagined was having a beautiful, smart girl who would grow up and be her friend. She hadn’t considered all of the traps involved in getting her to adulthood.
Right now, it was damn frightening.
They finished their coffee in silence, and when she heard noise upstairs, Tess set her cup aside and rose to make breakfast.
“You have his name. You can probably track him down if you want,” Nina whispered on her way out.
She watched Nina leave and only thought about how she shouldn’t want to find Miles.
Chapter Four
Two days later, Miles was still furious. Without a last name, he had very little recourse to find Theresa. So he’d stewed all day on Sunday, but now that Monday had arrived, he knew where to find her. He went to St. Mark’s pediatric intensive care unit and stopped at the nurses’ station.
“Hi. I’m looking for Theresa.”
“Last name?” she asked without looking up.
“Um…I’m not sure. I know this sounds weird, but I met her Saturday night.”
That got the woman’s attention. “You’re looking for a patient you met Saturday night?”
He smiled. “No. A nurse. We met at the gala to benefit the hospital.”
“Huh.” She sat back in her chair and the wheels rolled farther. “I don’t know a Theresa. Are you sure you have the right department?”
He swallowed his frustration. “I’m positive.”
She shrugged. “Sorry. I don’t know how to help you.”
Miles leaned against the counter and offered a full-wattage smile. “Come on. Can’t you check a schedule or something? I’m sure she’s working today, because she was off Saturday and Sunday. I’m not some lunatic. I want to say hi and return something she lost Saturday.”
“I wish I could help.” Another careless shrug.
Damn. What was he supposed to do—show up here every few hours to find her? He would look like a lunatic stalker. He turned to head back to the elevators, his mind racing to think of who he might know at the hospital who could help him when he saw Theresa’s friend Angie.
“Angie,” he called.
“Miles?” She walked up beside him and set a file on the counter. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for Theresa.”
“Oh.”
“Oh,” the nurse behind the counter yelled. “You’re looking for Tess. I’m sorry I didn’t pick up on that the first time. She’s not on today.”
Miles smiled at the woman and turned his attention to Angie. So much for Theresa working so much she wouldn’t have time to go on a date. “Do me a favor?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. He scribbled his cell number on the back. “Give this to Theresa—Tess. Tell her I have her necklace.”
Angie took the card. “Okay. Is there anything I can do?”
Her eyes were filled with sympathy, as if she was well aware of how her friend had played him.
“Why didn’t she give me her real name?”
Angie stepped back and tilted her head to get him to follow. They moved down the hallway a little, and she leaned against the wall. “Theresa is her real name. She goes by Tess. Very few people call her by her full name.”
“Can you tell me why she snuck out of my hotel room in the middle of the night without a word?”
Angie gave him a sad smile. “That’s for her to tell. Just understand that it’s complicated.” Something started beeping at her waist. “I have to go. I’ll make sure she gets the message.”
“Thanks.” Miles stared as she hurried away. Angie’s words didn’t make him feel any better. Theresa’s life was complicated? Hell of a code. With his luck, she was married.
He’d been down that road before, learned his lesson. The scandal had nearly killed his mother. His siblings still gave him grief over getting involved with a married woman. At the beginning, everything had been simple and easy. They’d messed around and had a good time. He’d thought he’d landed the perfect relationship—a steady woman in his bed who didn’t expect anything more from him. She’d failed to mention she was married. He should’ve suspected when she never wanted to have the talk about where they were headed.
Of course, it had all changed when she wanted to leave her husband for him. As in to settle down with him and start a family, so she could have what her husband wouldn’t give her. That was when he realized the relationship had become complicated.
He preferred simple.
Miles left the hospital and went to the office, still cranky about Theresa. Tess. Not tha
t what name he used mattered, because he simply had to return her necklace and then they’d be done. But that would be a face-to-face interaction so he could ask why she lied and left. If all she’d wanted was to fuck, she could’ve said so.
…
Tess stared at the business card in her hand. She couldn’t believe Miles had come to the hospital to look for her. Angie had texted her Monday morning to let her know, and Tess had stopped by to grab the card and then kept it tucked in her purse for the last three days. She didn’t know what to do.
That wasn’t true. She needed to call him back so she could get Nina’s necklace. But she didn’t want to have the awkward conversation about why she’d left. Bottom line, he wasn’t supposed to care.
Finally, she sucked it up and dialed, quietly praying for his voicemail.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Miles, it’s Tess—Theresa. From last Saturday at St. Mark’s gala?” She already felt foolish.
“I wondered if you were going to call.”
“I had to work up to it.”
An awkward silence hung between them.
“So, you have my necklace? It actually belongs to a friend.”
“I do. It’s quite beautiful. I also have the gift certificate I gave you.”
“I told you that was too much.”
“Why didn’t you tell me your real name?”
“I introduced myself to Mr. Baldwin as Theresa, which is my name. I just never corrected you. I go by Tess because it’s short and simple.” She flipped his business card between her fingers.
“If all you wanted was a one-night stand, why not say so? Sneaking out is pretty immature,” he teased.
Tess swallowed hard. Being called out stung, even if he was joking. “I had a great time. I really did. I thought it would be awkward to explain.”
“Explain what? That you’re married?”
“God, no. My life is very full and busy right now.” She paused with a guilty thought. “Are you?”
“I’ve never been married. Totally single. You’re so busy that when I came to the hospital on Monday, they told me you weren’t working. So you had Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off.”
Did he expect her to explain her whole life right now? Their night together was supposed to have been complication free. “The hospital isn’t my only job. Would you like me to pick up the necklace?”
“I think you owe me a real explanation. Face-to-face.”
“I just said I’m busy. You’re treating me like I’m a jerk, which maybe I am because I snuck out of your room without saying goodbye. So why would you want to spend more time with me?”
“Because I don’t think you want to be a jerk. And I had a great time, too. I’ll bring you the necklace if you have coffee with me.”
His bargaining raised her hackles. It was too reminiscent of her ex. “I’m supposed to let you blackmail me into a coffee date? Over some knock-off necklace I could just replace?”
“Blackmail is harsh. If the lure of coffee and time with me isn’t enough, I’m not going to force it. And while I’m no expert, I’ve spent enough time around the real thing to know that your friend’s necklace is no fake.”
She was going to kill Nina for lying to her. Unless Miles was lying to get her to agree. Crap. Now her brain hurt. She needed to get this over with. She ran her schedule through her head. Between her regular shifts and the extra home healthcare hours she took on, her week was full. “I’m working tomorrow night. Stop by the hospital around nine, and maybe I can have coffee.”
“No maybes. I’ll bring some magical coffee so you won’t be able to refuse.”
“It’s not about the coffee. And I’m not looking for a reason not to meet. I can usually take a break. But I can’t dictate when shit’s going to hit the fan. It’s not like I can look at a baby and say, ‘Sorry I know you’re not breathing right now, but I’m on break.’”
He chuckled, which just infuriated her.
“What is so funny?”
“Us. This whole crappy conversation is the exact opposite of everything we had Saturday night. I want to talk. Okay, Tess?”
Her regular name sounded foreign coming from him. She liked being Theresa to him. As Theresa, she could be open and fun and forward. As Tess, she was her usual, guarded, safe self.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She disconnected and couldn’t put her finger on how she felt. Messed up was the best way to describe it. She’d spent days thinking about him and what a good time she’d had. And it hadn’t just been the sex. She’d been able to talk with him, and the conversation had had nothing to do with her kids or work. They’d talked about movies and books and wine, of all things. Of course, that had been a short-lived conversation because she drank the cheap stuff and he didn’t really like wine.
But it had been adult conversation. With Miles, she could pretend her baggage didn’t exist.
Until now. Tomorrow night, she’d lay out that baggage so he would understand why she’d snuck out—in order to preserve what the night had been.
Then he’d get it and move on back to his normal life.
Tess did her best to put Miles out of her mind, but she couldn’t. While making sure the kids had their stuff packed for William’s house for the weekend and getting them to day camp that morning, Miles had lurked in the back of her thoughts. She was now into her ninth hour of work, and all she could think about was that in three hours she would see him again.
The thought made her a little nauseated. She had never been good at letting a guy down. Not that she’d had tons of experience. And coming face-to-face with a guy she’d blown off was horrible. She didn’t know what to say to him. They’d had a fabulous night together. What guy wasn’t happy with that?
She stood at the nurses’ station, letting her thoughts get away from her. For once, when she wanted work to be crazy, it was an utterly quiet night. Angie rolled her chair over from the other side of the desk.
“Why are you letting this guy twist you up? What’s the big deal?” Angie asked.
Tess took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I don’t know how to do this. I tried telling him my life is too busy for dating, and he wanted to have coffee anyway. I don’t want to be a bitch, but what do I say?”
Angie leaned her elbows on the desk. “Why exactly can’t you date?”
“I have three kids who require a ton of supervision and chauffeuring. I have to cook and clean and help with homework. And I work two jobs, one of which involves twelve-hour shifts.”
“You make yourself sound like a cross between a martyr and an old woman. You get off work by ten tonight. You could go for drinks. On your home healthcare days, you make time to meet your friends at Sunny’s for coffee. You could do that for a guy. And what happens if you skip mopping your floor one week in order to have a real date? Will the world fall apart?”
Angie didn’t get it. “It’s just so much all the time. I don’t know how to fit something else in.”
“Bullshit.”
“What?”
“You’re scared. You don’t want to start a relationship because you might fall for the guy. It might go somewhere, and then your kids will see you as an actual woman, not the maniac robot you tend to be.”
Tess opened her mouth to argue, but Angie had known her a long time. Not quite as long as the New Beginnings divorcees, but close.
“I don’t know what I’m doing, and you’re right. It’s scary.”
Angie smiled and waved her to the other side of the desk. “Come here.”
Tess sat in the chair beside Angie.
“I know you wouldn’t think to do this because you’re so closed off on the idea of dating Miles, but I think he’s just what you need for getting back into the groove.”
“Do what?”
Angie pulled out her phone and started typing and scrolling. “After he stopped by with his card, I checked him out. Online, of course, and all as part of my duty as your
friend.” She handed Tess her phone. “This guy comes from a big money family. Computers and shit, but he’s like the goof off.”
Tess looked at the phone where Miles stared up at her from the screen. “What is this?”
“Social media. You can look at pretty much everything everyone is up to based on what they post. This guy’s Facebook page is filled with pictures of him partying. He’s not looking to move in and be a dad to your kids. He’s out for a good time.”
Tess handed Angie her phone back. “And we did.”
“Who made the rule that it could only be a one-time deal?”
“Because more than one time leads to feelings and expectations, and then before you know it, you’re in deep.”
Angie tapped her thigh. “Not him. Never married, and a different woman in every post. As long as you can control yourself, I think you might’ve found a safe one.”
Tess wheeled away on her chair and went back to work. While she would never actively pray for an emergency, she kind of hoped for one. All the kids slept peacefully and she finished her charts. She’d skipped a break earlier to have time with Miles when he showed without having to admit to him her night was almost done.
When the elevator dinged, she assumed a parent was returning to spend the night. Then a cup of coffee was waved in front of her face. She looked up, and Miles smiled at her.
“You brought coffee?”
“I told you I would. You and Angie said hospital coffee sucks, and I didn’t know if you’d be able to leave to get something better.” He pointed to a tray holding five more cups. “I brought enough to share, but I didn’t know how many nurses would be here.”
Angie swooped in. The girl had a nose for coffee. “Hey, Miles.”
“Angie,” he said with a nod. “I brought coffee.”
“For me?”
“For whoever wants some.”
Angie grabbed a cup and winked at Tess. The friendly gesture did nothing to settle her nerves. Although Miles didn’t look angry, she knew he might be. Their phone conversation hadn’t gone well.
“Is this an okay time for your break?” Miles asked.
“Yeah.” She stood and slipped her phone into her pocket. “Let’s go out here.”
One Night with a Millionaire (Daring Divorcees) Page 4
