Back In The Bedroom

17

EDDIE LAY IN HIS BED as the sun rose and held the love of his life.

Cheri stirred and opened her eyes. “Hmm,” she said, and sat up. Fluffing her pillow behind her, she sighed. “I know that look. You’re thinking too much. Regrets already?”

“Are you kidding?” He nearly laughed, but this wasn’t a laughing matter. “I’ve never been happier.”

“Me, either,” she said, smiling. “Sorry it took me so long to come to my senses.”

“That’s okay. What’s thirty-odd years between soul mates? I love you, Cheri.”

“Oh, Eddie. I love you, too. So much.” She stroked his jaw. “So, if we’re okay…”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m more than okay.”

Cheri laughed and said, “All I’m asking is, what’s the frown about?”

“Reilly.”

“Ah.” She let out a long breath as she continued to stroke him. “You’re going to meddle, aren’t you?”

“Of course I’m going to meddle. It’s what I do best.”

“Eddie-”

“No. I’ve got a good plan this time. Listen,” he said. And he leaned in close, tugging the sheet free of her gloriously nude body as he did, whispering his plans as he made love to her again.

“What do you think?” he asked her when they could talk.

Glowing, Cheri sighed. “You know what? Color me crazy, but I think it just might work…”

WHEN TESSA WOKE UP, she was alone. That is, she was alone until her sister flipped on her bedroom light after she let herself in and, as she tended to do several times a week, went straight for Tessa’s closet. “Do you still have my denim skirt?” Oblivious, Carolyn flipped through the hangers, then whirled around to dig her way through the clothes heaped on the chair next to the dresser. “I wish you’d return the stuff you take-Damn it, here it is. Is it even clean?” she asked, lifting the skirt. She shook it out, then lifted it up again.

She finally seemed to notice Tessa lying silently in her bed. “What’s the matter?” she demanded.

What was the matter? Tessa took stock of her situation. Her entire body was warm and replete and deliciously sated. Not bad. The only thing missing was the fact that Reilly had clearly let himself out, probably shortly after their last tryst in the shower, sometime near dawn.

“Tessa,” her sister said and stood by the bed now, her hands on her hips. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Still sleepy, I guess.” Tessa started to get out of the bed, but remembered she was quite naked.

Carolyn narrowed her eyes. “You’re going to be late for work, aren’t you?”

Somehow she didn’t think Reilly would mind. Unable to get up until Carolyn left, she held the sheet up to her chin. “I think I’ll just snooze another few minutes,” she said.

Carolyn sighed. “Suit yourself. But I left you breakfast in the kitchen.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“It’s just yogurt and a bagel. Figured I’d save your cholesterol intake today, so you can skip the doughnut shop. Come on, come eat with me-” She tugged the sheet free of her sister’s grasp and gaped. “Since when did you start sleeping in your birthday suit?”

Tessa scooped the blanket back up to her chin. “It was hot last night.”

“It was sixty degrees.”

“Well, it was hot in here.”

“Uh-huh. And I suppose you bit yourself on your shoulder.”

Tessa felt herself blush.

“Oh my God,” Carolyn gasped, her mouth falling open. “You slept with him, didn’t you? I hope to hell you used a condom.”

“I’m not stupid.” Tessa bit her lip. There had been no sleeping involved, not even a bed. Nope, they’d used the couch, the floor, her table… “But it was really nice. You know, in case you were wondering.”

Her sister sighed and sank to the bed. She skimmed a strand of hair out of Tessa’s face. “You really like him.”

“Yes.”

“I want to meet him.”

“I don’t think it’ll be happening again, Carolyn.”

“Why?” Carolyn snapped. Her expression went fierce. “He doesn’t like you?”

“He isn’t much on commitment.”

“Of course not. He’s got a penis, doesn’t he? Oh, sweetie.” She leaned in and hugged Tessa. “Just don’t let him break your heart.” She pulled back and smiled grimly. “Because if he does, I’ll break him.”

Tessa laughed and said, “He’s an ex-CIA operative. He probably knows twelve-billion different ways to kill a person.”

“I don’t need twelve-billion, not if he hurts you,” she asserted. Carolyn stood and made her way to the bedroom door. “Feel free to tell him that. And what I can’t accomplish, you know damn well Rafe will.”

Tessa listened to the front door shut and had to shake her head. Love was an awfully strange creature. Carolyn loved Tessa, so she bossed her around and threatened people she didn’t even know. Eddie loved Reilly so he interfered in his life. Cheri loved Reilly so she worked for him even though she’d rather work for Eddie. Sacrifices. All in the name of a four-letter word.

Love.

If she’d truly done as she was beginning to suspect, if she’d truly started to fall for Reilly…then what sacrifices would she make?

And would she be happy with those sacrifices, especially if she was the only one to make them?

With her sister gone, she got out of bed and showered. She was sore in places she hadn’t imagined and besides the mark on her shoulder, there was an interesting one she didn’t remember getting on the inside of her thigh.

For some idiotic reason, it made her grin.

When she got into work, Cheri was behind the front desk taking a phone message. When she hung up, she looked Tessa over until she wanted to squirm. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Tessa asked.

“Well, my son came in here in a decent mood. You have anything to do with that?”

Tessa bit her lower lip. “Maybe,” she admitted.

Cheri nodded. “Good,” she said, lifting some files. “Here’s your work for the day. I have to run out for a few.”

Tessa had started in on her work before she saw Reilly. He stopped by her desk and just looked at her.

She set down her pencil. “Hey.”

“You okay?”

“You know, you’re the second person to ask me that today.”

His eyes never left hers. “Really? And what’s the answer?”

“Are you asking because we got a little wild last night?”

“Yes.”

She carefully shut her files. “Do I look that fragile, Reilly? That a few orgasms should have me falling apart?”

He craned his neck to see if Cheri was anywhere close.

“She took a break. We’re alone.”

“Good.” He pulled Tessa out of her chair and down the hall to his office.

“Reilly, what-”

Through his office, stopping only to lock it, then past his desk to the attached bathroom. He locked that door, too. The small room was black and white and she could smell his soap from when he’d showered after his morning run. “You’re driving me crazy,” he muttered and pressed her against the counter.

She let out a little laugh. “I didn’t do anything,” she said.

“You said orgasms and it put a picture in my head of you panting my name as you came.”

Her legs wobbled. Her nipples hardened.

He noticed. He made a rough, satisfied sound and slid his arms around her, down the backs of her legs and up again, beneath her dress now.

She closed her eyes. “You could have stayed with me until morning. You could have-”

“Should have,” he agreed, whispering her name, then his mouth covered hers as a slow burn took root in her belly. Her body fit itself to his in a desperate attempt to capture some of what they’d experienced last night.

She wore a sleeveless dress with a sweater over it. He tugged off her sweater and unzipped her dress, letting it pool in a heap at her feet.

She opened his pants and slid her hands inside, helpless to keep them off him. Once she touched him she couldn’t think of anything else. He was hard, needing release and she was more than willing to give it.

Her bra and panties fell away and they were both lost then. He lifted her to the counter while she tore at his shirt and opened her mouth on his bare chest. He thrust into her and she arched back, taking more of him, taking all of him. He thrust again, and again, until, with a surprised cry, she came. Vaguely she heard his long, guttural moan as he followed her over the edge, but mostly all she could do was hold on and ride it out.

After what might have been an hour or just a moment, Reilly lifted his head from the crook of her neck. “What the hell was that?”

“Our bodies saying good morning, I guess.” She slid off the counter. “Don’t look now but I think they like each other.”

He laughed. Laughed. “That’s an understatement.”

She went still and looked at him as he reached for his shirt. What was he saying? That it was more than like for him?

Even…love?

But as he pulled on his shirt and tossed her panties at her, he gave no indication of such a thing. Not a single sign.

“A bedroom,” he said softly, and kissed her again. “Next time, a damn bedroom.”

She just stared at him, confused. He smiled at her and she managed a smile back. As she went to leave his bathroom, he reached for her, cupping her face, giving her a soft, clinging kiss before letting her go, a kiss she’d never forget.

THE NEXT MORNING Tessa was dressing for work when the phone rang. It was Eddie.

“I’ve got a favor to ask,” he said. “I’ve got a client who needs a bookkeeper. It’s confidential stuff and he doesn’t trust anyone but me to send him the best and you’re my best, Tessa. You interested?”

“Oh,” she said. This caught her off guard. “But I still have today and tomorrow left at Reilly’s, and-”

“Yes, well, I know that’s been a terrible burden for you, working for my son. It was wrong of me to ask you to do it, so I figure this is a way to repay you. This new job will double your salary, plus it’ll give you the one thing you asked me for when you first signed with me.”

“What’s that?” She couldn’t think past one thought-she wasn’t going to be working with Reilly anymore.

It didn’t matter. It wasn’t like they couldn’t still see each other if they chose. And she chose.

But would he?

Would he want to continue what they’d begun? Given the heat they generated, given how he touched her, held her, she’d say yes, he’d definitely be interested in continuing their physical relationship.

But it would just be physical. If he felt more than that-which she suspected he did every bit as much as she did-he wouldn’t want to face it, much less admit it.

“You wanted to travel,” Eddie said. “You wanted adventure. I think this job’ll fit the bill, as it’s on a yacht in the Greek Islands.”

She sank back to her bed. “What?”

“It’s a three-month job and I just know you’re going to have the time of your life.”

Tessa went still. “Three months? In the Greek Islands?”

“My old friend is a world traveler. He’s currently cruising the Greek Islands with his financial business right on board with him. Isn’t it exciting?”

My God. Exciting didn’t begin to explain it. But-

“This will kill two birds with one stone,” Eddie said. “It’ll get Reilly back his favorite temp, Marge, and you’ll get what you wanted as well. Perfect, don’t you agree?”

“Perfect,” she agreed softly.

“CAROLYN.” TESSA SHOOK her sister, then plopped on her bed. “Wake up.”

Carolyn yawned. “Just take what you need from my closet. Quietly.”

“I’ve got the choice between the Greek Islands for three months or staying and making a complete fool of myself over Reilly.”

Carolyn’s eyes flew open. “Come again?” she queried.

Tessa sighed. “Greek Islands, or Greek god in my bed.”

“Some choice. Tell me about the paying option.”

“Eddie’s got a job for me on a yacht. But…”

“But… Don’t tell me that but is Reilly.” Carolyn sat up, looked into Tessa’s face and sighed. “It’s Reilly.”

Tessa smiled, too. “Yeah,” she admitted.

“So, I have to pick between some exotic water disease or a man I’m sure isn’t good enough for you?”

That caused Tessa’s first good laugh. “Yes, but remember, it’s my decision.”

Her sister nodded, looking amused and asked, “Then why are you here asking me?”

“Um…” Good point.

“Well, I vote for neither, if you’re still asking.”

“You know what? I’m not.” Tessa hugged her sister hard. “But thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for always being there for me.”

“Wait!” Carolyn called when Tessa headed to the door. “Which is it going to be?”

If only she knew. “I’ll let you know.”

“Tessa! Come back here. Mom and I were talking and we decided you should go to work for Dad! He promises you an annual two-week vacation, sick days and health insurance-”

Tessa gently shut the door. She’d handle this, on her own. She’d surprise everyone.

Even herself.

REILLY GOT OFF the elevator. He was early, so he was surprised to see Cheri’s sweater hanging on the coatrack.

She came down the hall and smiled at him.

“How nice to see you two days in a row,” he said with just a hint of sarcasm. “Eddie didn’t need you today?”

“No, but that reminds me. I wanted to tell you I’m going to date your father.”

“You’re going to…why?”

“I think he’s cute.”

Reilly shook his head. “You’re crazy, you know that?”

“Yep.” Cheri eyed him up and down. “Hmm.”

Oh good Lord. He hated the hmm. “What?”

“Well, don’t look now, but you actually resemble a normal person. A…happy person.”

“Yeah. I’m happy. I’m happy you showed up for two days running.”

“Uh-huh,” Cheri said. She crossed her arms and leaned back. “Want to know what I think?”

He let out a long breath. “If I say no, will you go away?”

“I think you’ve been having sex.”

“Mom.” He covered his ears.

She laughed. “Well, it’s about damn time. Isn’t it amazing what getting a little will do for the soul?”

There hadn’t been anything “little” about what he and Tessa had shared.

“You going to see her again?”

“Who?”

“Who,” she said. His mother threw up her hands. “You know what? Don’t even talk to me.”

“You were talking to me.”

“Well, I’m sorry I did.” She started to go by him, then apparently changed her mind and waggled her finger in his face. “You know what your problem is?”

“Uh…” He stopped. “Is that a trick question?”

“You think in black and white, that’s the problem. Well, guess what, Reilly? Life doesn’t come in those colors. Love doesn’t come in those colors.”

“Mom, honest to God, you’re making no sense.”

“And furthermore, if you think you can make the same mistake I did and ignore what’s in your heart for thirty-something years, think again. It’s a stupid thing to do, do you hear me?”

He let out a disparaging sound. “It was one night.”

And a bathroom.

He’d never look at his Corinthian tile in the same way again. In fact, he’d been wondering if today they could try the storage closet…

“Oh, sweetie. Listen, I know you’ve been hurt before,” Cheri said, touching his face. “God, I know it. And I’ve watched you close yourself off, I’ve watched you retreat, and it’s killed me. But you’re so brave, so strong. Surely, a man like yourself knows the wisdom of trying again.”

“Mom-”

“You can’t possibly believe you only get one shot at love-”

“Mom-”

“Don’t fool yourself,” she whispered. “Please don’t. Tessa isn’t like Loralee. She isn’t.”

Well, she was right about one thing. Tessa was different. First of all, she wasn’t a cold-blooded killer. But more than that, she wasn’t a one-night sort of woman and that was a problem. If they continued on, he would hurt her that way, when hurting her was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

But she wasn’t the one for him, she was too cheery, too happy, too…everything that made his heart sing. He didn’t want to do it. Not because of her, but because there was no one woman for him anymore, there just couldn’t be-

The elevator dinged and off came Tess. She came through the glass doors and it took him a moment to figure out what was wrong. She was without her customary bright morning smile.

“Hi,” she said nervously.

Nervously?

“Eddie called me this morning. Oh, here-” she said. She set a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts on the front desk. “I bought you two days’ worth.”

Cheri divided a glance between her and Reilly, before moving down the hall. “I’ll just give you two a moment alone.”

“Why do we need a moment?” Reilly asked, a very bad feeling filling his belly. He turned back to Tessa. “And why did you buy two days worth of doughnuts?”

“Because I’m not working here anymore,” Tessa said quietly. “Marge should be arriving any sec-”

The elevator dinged again and when the doors opened, Marge walked off. She was a large woman with prematurely gray hair ruthlessly twisted on her head, small wire glasses high on her nose and, in Reilly’s experience, a perpetual frown on her face.

Only a few weeks ago, he’d thought she was the greatest thing since sliced bread. She worked hard, spoke to him only if necessary and never, ever looked so sexy he couldn’t work, couldn’t think, couldn’t do any damn thing except drag her into his office bathroom.

She came through the glass doors and nodded to him, then tossed her purse on the front desk and sat behind it.

“What are you doing?” he asked her.

“What I always do when you need a temp. Looking for the files you leave out for me to do.”

“But-”

Tessa put a hand on his arm. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. You’ve got your wish. Eddie brought Marge back,” she said.

They both looked at Marge.

Marge stared back at them.

“Eddie called me this morning,” Tessa said to him. “He’s sending me on another job. Goodbye, Reilly.”

And then, unbelievably, she started walking back toward the glass doors.

“Wait.” He shook his head to clear it, but she was still walking away from him. Lunging forward, he grabbed her hand. “What did you just say?”

“Oh, Reilly. I’ll never forget you,” she murmured and touched his face. “I had a great time.”

She pulled free, then moved through the doors toward the elevator, which was still open. She stepped on and pushed the down button. Her eyes were suspiciously damp but she was smiling when she turned back to wave. “Bye. Good luck.”

But…that sounded like a very final goodbye. Even if-and he couldn’t believe his father had done this-she wasn’t going to work for him anymore, that didn’t mean they couldn’t see each other. Right?

And in any case, he wanted her to work for him. He wanted those cheery smiles. He wanted to hear her talk and sing and laugh.

He wanted…her.

Damn it.

The elevator doors closed. And just like that, she was gone.

He whipped around and stared at Marge.

She stared right back, still not a smile in sight.

He knew Marge never smiled at work. She didn’t sing either. In fact, she often turned off the stereo on him. She often left the shades closed.

And she hated doughnuts. Now that he thought about it, that was practically sacrilegious in itself.

“Where are today’s files?” she asked, no-nonsense. Nope, no dallying for this woman.

She’d done a great job for him for a long time. She always came through when he needed her and she was a wonderful worker, but…

She wasn’t Tess.

And, he realized, it had nothing to do with work at all and everything to do with the way his heart felt as if it had just been ripped in two.

Having felt that feeling before, he braced for the cold iciness to descend. Waited to feel…nothing.

It didn’t happen.

Instead, he felt a bone-deep certainty that this time, if it went bad, he had no one to blame but himself.

He raced for the doors.

“Mr. Ledger?”

“Take the day off, Marge.”

“Mr. Ledger!”

He waved, and even added a smile. “Go ahead, take it off on me. Go do something you normally wouldn’t.”

“Well,” she said, blinking. Then for the first time in his presence, she smiled back. “You do the same, Mr. Ledger.”

He planned on it.