"Tess, wait. Tess!" He put his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to stop.
"Oh, hey Wesley. What's up?" She hoped her nostrils weren't flaring as she inhaled the scent of his yummy cologne.
"I've been meaning to reach out to you for weeks. I know you must be upset with me for not calling. I've had some family issues and then I got buried with my case load."
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah-bedy-blah. "I'm not mad." It almost sounded convincing.
He cocked his head. "Tess, please. I read people for a living. You're mad, and I don't blame you. I came on strong out of the gate and then disappeared. I really wanted to take you out...you look beautiful, by the way."
He did seem sorry, and despite her anger, she wanted to lick the spot right below his ear and run her hands under his shirt. Maybe lower...what was he saying?
"Forgive me?" Oh right, he was begging for her forgiveness. Well, he asked emphatically, so close enough.
She crossed her arms across her chest and pushed her lips out in a contemplative pout. He stepped closer until his lips were by her ear. "Give me a chance to make it up to you."
She stifled a shiver as an army of goose bumps marched along every inch of her skin.
"Okay."
"Okay?" he asked, surprised.
Tess nodded, letting her teeth make an appearance. "Just call me this time."
'I'll do even better. Let me take you to dinner."
Her head tilted to the side. "You made me that same offer before as I recall."
"This time it'll happen. I promise...have dinner with me, Tess."
"I do enjoy eating."
"Are you free next weekend?"
"Um, I have plans Friday, but I'm free on Saturday evening."
His face split. That smile could melt the knickers off a girl. Good thing she wasn't wearing any.
"I'll pick you up at seven."
"Sounds good."
He brushed his lips against her cheek. "See you then, Tess." She watched him walk away. Really, she just watched his ass walk away. It was a nice ass.
She eeked to herself. She, Tess Warner, formerly known as Chubbles, had a date with Wesley Caraway. Double eek.
She must have had a look on her face when she approached her friends because Rebel blurted, "Did you have sex in the bathroom?" The group cracked up.
"No, you heifer. I would never have sex in a bathroom...What?...Okay, I would never have sex in the bathroom at a party thrown for my dad."
"So what's the far away, just had a magic moment look about?" Marin teased.
"Well, I happen to have a date with the most popular guy to ever walk the halls of Crest Ridge."
"I think I've heard of that school. Private, right?" K-Thor asked.
"Yes. I went to public until middle school and then finished there."
"Why do you care about some guy you went to school with almost twenty years ago? Wait, unless he's still hot." Emma added.
"Hot doesn't cover it, little chica." Tess fell back into a cushioned chair, landing in an unladylike slouch, feet sprawled in front of her. "It's with Wesley."
"The reunion interview dude?" Jen asked. Tess nodded.
"Wasn't he supposed to call you, then you never heard from him?" Damn Rebel and her steel trap memory.
"Yes, but he explained and seemed very sorry. He said he'd like to make it up to me." Tess wiggled her eyebrows.
"After not calling, there better not be so much making up, but a whole lot of going down," Jen teased.
"Good lord." Marin huffed, then a look of longing came over her face. No doubt a result of her current dry spell.
K-Thor only smiled at his girlfriend's comment. He was a keeper. Any man who came into their inner circle needed to be okay with certain things—such as all things vagina and the copious use of sarcasm.
"Does that mean you're waving your three date rule?" Ben asked with a smirk.
"Ben, you know I have a desirability clause built in. If he's hot enough, the aforementioned three date rule is null and void...Honestly, I might not even make it past the appetizer," Tess teased...well, kind of.
"Emma, no appetizer innuendoes," Willa threw out.
"I wasn't gonna say anything...at least not now, you party pooping ho-bag. There're only so many occasions where you can slide in a cocktail shrimp joke...ha ha, slide in a cocktail shrimp." Equal number of laughs and eye rolls.
This prompted the rest of the girls to throw out their favorite food double entendres. Rebel and Jen seemed overly fond of the meats in tube form references. The guys even had a few. Cameron's mayo addition to the convo prompted a chain reaction of snorts and chortles. It wasn't very original, but he was fairly straight laced under normal circumstances. You had to be reserved to date Rebel, who was always center stage.
"Anyone else want to raid the dessert table?" Tess asked. Alcohol always made her crave sweets. Alcohol...breathing...pretty much anything activated her sweet tooth.
"Did you see the tower made of truffles?" Emma asked.
"Oooh chocolate, let's go." Marin hopped up, grabbing Willa's hand. The guys passed, opting for a cigar and a scotch by a nearby reflecting pool.
Three rounds of dessert and two more glasses of champagne, and Tess was in a blissful haze. She found her father sitting on a stone bench under an arch of ivy. "Daddy, why are you over here all alone?" she asked, taking a seat beside him.
"I needed a time out."
Tess put her head on his shoulder. "Did you enjoy your party?"
"I did." The rumble of his voice tickled her ear. "Not sure I deserve all this hoopla, but it was affirming."
She pulled her head up. "What do you mean?"
He claimed her hand with delicacy, his skin warm and dry. "I know I wasn't always around for you girls. Being a workaholic seems to be an acceptable form of addiction these days." She started to protest. "Now, Tess, stop. I know you resented me for it. I saw it flit across your face sometimes. Oh, you tucked it away quick enough, but I noticed." She watched him for a moment. His hair was mostly silver and there were deep wrinkles on his temples. He was getting older, but was still as handsome in her eyes.
"Oh, dad. It wasn't as much resentment as it was longing. You're my hero, so I just wanted you to want to spend time with me...to notice me, I think."
He turned to her and kissed her temple. "Baby, I always saw you, always."
Now, as an adult, she believed it. Balancing career and family can't be easy. Sometimes it was hard enough for her to juggle the career part. She felt the love, it was a gentle, steadfast kind.
"You're loved, daddy. If you were ever in doubt, tonight was proof."
He chuckled. "Yep, they really rolled out the red carpet for my old ass." He stood up and put out his hand for her. He pulled her to stand and she wrapped her arms around his waist, putting her nose in his coat. She loved his smell. It was childhood and comfort. "Whelp, I better go find my bride. Care to escort me, lovely lady?"
"I'd be honored."
He stopped short and looked down at her, his expression soft. "Go easy on your mom, Tessy. I know it's hard to tell sometimes, but...she sees you. And believe it or not, she wants you to see her, too."
"But does she like what she sees? That is the million dollar question."
"Never doubt it, baby. You and your sister are her crowning achievements." They started to amble towards the dwindling crowd.
Tess wasn't sure if she agreed with her dad, but she figured if anyone knew the inner workings of Tiffani Warner's heart and head, it was him. Maybe the key to understanding parents was to let go of what you'd grown to believe. Instead, look at them as humans doing the best they could.
She would try, but thirty-four years of programming wouldn't be undone in one night of mild revelations and a shared smile over a plate of pâté-covered crostini.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"Damn it!" Tess threw her brush onto the counter with a shrill crack. She'd been bra and panty-clad in front of her vanity for the last thirty min
utes and still couldn't get her hair to cooperate. She pulled it up on top of her head, then balled it at the nape of her neck. She even tried a floppy hat, a la JLo. If she'd had shears within her grasp she would have pulled a G.I. Jane.
Huffing, she pulled the coppery wheat strands back into a slick ponytail. "I give up." For once her wardrobe had been the easiest to nail down. The dark skinny jeans and Royal blue silk top had been on the hanger on the door knob of her closet for four days. Her makeup looked great, so hopefully Wesley wouldn't notice the last ditch effort pony. Men usually didn't.
She wasn't sure if the feeling in her stomach was anticipation or trepidation. This was kind of a second date, if she counted the lunch they'd shared. But since it happened months ago, she didn't feel as if this was a second. Her stomach and sweaty palms had first date written all over it.
Her sister had come over earlier that day to give her a pep talk. "Just think, this time next year you could be giving me pep talks about dates," Bristol had said, her smile genuine, but her eyes were brimming with tears. She'd asked her cheating chump of a husband to hit the bricks. Even though she wanted it, and knew it was the right decision, it still hurt. Her boys had taken the news alarmingly well, further solidifying the knowledge that Stewart wouldn't be receiving father of the year award either.
Tess had pulled her sister into a firm hug. "You will date again. And who knows? You might enjoy not having a two legged man-child to take care of. I think they're more high maintenance than any toddler." Her sister laughed through her tears and wiped her nose on Tess's t-shirt. "Hey, use your own shirt!"
"What? Hell no. I got this at Anthropologie. You're wearing a Target special, no doubt."
Tess laughed and shoved her sister in the shoulder. "There's the snob I know and love."
Bristol's face fell.
"Hey, I'm kidding," Tess said, rubbing her sister's shoulder.
"I know...it's just, Tess...I've been such a bitch. Can you ever forgive me?" Her platinum blonde bangs lifted with the shift of her brows.
"Bri, it's already forgiven. I'm just glad to have my sister back." She wasn't sure how long they sat on her couch, clinging to each other. All she knew was that a hollow part of her heart had filled. It was a wonderful feeling.
Tess smiled as she pulled on her fawn colored peep toe ankle boots, thinking about her sister. The split was going to be rough and painful, for that she was sorry. She had an inkling they too, would relax without the looming oppression of their father. One positive was spending more time with her nephews. Tess's animosity towards her brother-in-law was no secret and had a direct effect on the amount of time she saw her nephews and her sister. It was refreshing to think, her family script hadn't been set in stone. Maybe she was changing, too. The knock on the front door pulled her into the present moment.
Date...with Wesley...like, really...like...oh god, her stomach...shifting and swirling. Then the drop.
Why was she so nervous? It was really ridiculous when she thought about it. Why was who he was such a factor in the here and now? But, he was Wesley Caraway! She used to doodle his name in the inside of her spiral notebook. The sparkly one with the kitten wearing sunglasses.
She had to stop thinking of him as the him he used to be. It wasn't fair to Wesley and it was making her a nervous wreck. So, Tess took a deep breath. She'd talked to him numerous times while writing the interview. He was down to Earth and kind.
This was not a laminated list moment.
This was not a laminated list moment.
This was not a laminated list moment.
Tess repeated the mantra to herself a few more times, as her shoes clicked on the planks of hard wood. Her hand rested on the brushed nickel handle of her front door. One more lung filling breath through the nose, bright smile...and...
"Hi! Right on time." Oh god, he was gorgeous.
His lips curled in a smile, and the look in his eye said he felt his view was just as appealing. She felt warmth on the back of her knees. It always started there, she had no idea why. She was still standing in the open doorway when he brushed his lips against the apple of her cheek and whispered, "You look amazing."
His breath was warm against her skin. The faint scent of peppermint reminded her of swirls on a candy cane. Then her thoughts went to licking and sucking...She cleared her throat. "Thank you."
He pulled back long enough to let her lock the door, then he offered her his arm. "Shall we?"
"We shall," she answered with a laugh in her voice. "Where are we shall-ing to?"
"I thought we could decide in the car." The lights of a black Range Rover flashed, accompanying a small beep of the locks.
"Nice," she remarked as he came to her side.
"Thank you. I've had it forever, but can't part with the old thing." He opened her door and helped her into her seat. She thought his fingers lingered under the crook of her elbow just a second longer than he needed to. It was funny, when she really liked someone the slightest touch felt as intimate as sex. She would rather have sex than an elbow fondling any day of the week, but she had to put sex out of her head or she'd never make it through dinner.
Pap smear, childbirth, a root canal, dry shaving your bikini line, taxes, Donald Trump's comb over.
It worked. Sex was now the furthest thing from her mind. She just had to stare forward...but even his voice. Maybe he wouldn't talk until they got to the restaurant.
"So, what do you like to eat?" He had to speak.
I like to be eaten out.
I mean eat me out.
Damn it!
"I love to go-out-to eat." There she said it. "I'm not picky."
"A woman who isn't picky. I'm not sure if I believe that. A unicorn sighting might be more likely," he teased, pulling out of the parking spot.
"I'm not picky about food. Believe it, my friend. Oh look, a unicorn!"
He laughed. "So, no salad with dressing on the side for you?"
"Hell, no. Well, let me say, I like salad, but not like you meant it. Remember our lunch?"
"Oh, I forgot. What women eat on a first date if they like you or they just want a free meal, right?" He laughed at the memory.
Wait. Was he doing the "laugh at everything they say" thing? That was a girl's move, which she'd totally planned on doing. Unless, he really found her funny. She'd go with choice B.
The blinker clicked as they waited at the stop light. "How about Mexican?"
"I'm a Texas girl. The answer to Mexican is always yes." He chuckled again, which made her brow crunch. She made herself stop. There was no way she was going to spend the whole night worrying about whether he was faux-laughing at her quips. Insecurity, no matter how covert, was never a good thing. She believed herself to be quite clever, so it stood to reason that Wesley, who was equally intelligent and witty, would think the same.
"Great. How about Guillermo's?" he offered.
"One of my favorites."
"Mine, too." See, a match made in heaven.
It was Saturday night, so of course, the place was packed. One would think with so many restaurants around, there wouldn't be such long waits, but people loved going out to eat. Wesley put their name on the list and they decided to sit at the bar and grab a drink. Imported beer for Wesley. A top shelf margarita on the rocks for Tess. When a tall bar table opened up, they grabbed it.
"Why don't we just eat here?" Tess asked.
"You would't mind?" He sounded surprised.
"Of course not. Besides, in the hour it takes for our table to become available I'll be so full of tortilla chips and salsa, I won't have room for real food."
"That's sound logic." He smiled, the chair scraping against the ground as he pushed her close to the table. After a few sips of tequila, her nerves fell away. Now, she could admire the view. Some of the highlights included: full lips—the bottom almost twice as full as the top. Short, yet somewhat unruly, sable waves. Yes, sable. Straight white teeth. Not glaring bleached white, but just right. Butter teeth would get a
person stricken from her list almost immediately. She didn't have the time or the energy to teach a grown man about dental hygiene.
Anyway, back to the handsome. Where was she? Oh yes, the eyes. Round blue eyes, under dark lashes and groomed brows. Not those metro-sexual waxed brows, lightly man-scaped. His nose was straight. Dimples? Not sure yet...wait, yes. One dimple by the left side of his mouth detected. She could tell from the fitted shirts he wore that he was in good shape. The sleeves of the white one he wore tonight were rolled, revealing shapely forearms with a light dusting of dark hair. Which was a good sign—if a man had Sasquatch working on the arms then there was a good chance it translated to the rest of the body. Yuck. If she wanted to wrap herself around a furry body, she'd get a dog. No. She imagined his skin smooth, soft, and fur free. Ass...oh that ass...was bitable. She certainly appreciated his consideration when he selected the dark jeans he was now wearing, which perfectly showcased his firm round backside. She would be able to report on ab status and penis deets upon further investigation.
It was amazing how she was able to accomplish her leering list while pretending to read her menu. She always got the same thing, so when he asked, "Do you know what you want."
"Definitely." She realized how that 'definitely' sounded, so she quickly added, "Definitely, the fajitas."
"I was thinking about getting those as well. How about we get an order for two and share?"
She took a quick sip of her drink and said, "Sounds great. You pick the protein." He picked a combination of shrimp and steak. She loved both.
"I don't meet a lot of women who eat meat these days."
"Really? Maybe you should stop trying to pick up women in Whole Foods."
"I know. The last girl I dated was a vegan."
Tess's face soured. "Oh no, not a vegan. I tried to eat vegan as a New Year's resolution. By dinner I was eating a turkey sandwich with bacon mayo. Life's too short. I almost choked on a piece of tofu once...true story."
He laughed. "Do you like to work out?"
"I wouldn't say like. It's a necessary evil I indulge in minimally...why do you look so surprised?"
Spinster? Page 11
