Tessa's Wishes (Whispered Wishes #3) (11 page)

Chapter 20

  “That’s just the most romantic thing I think I’ve ever heard,” Holly said, once Tessa finally got home that evening and retold the events leading up to the kiss outside of what used to be O’Grady’s Pub. “You know me, I’m a big believer in fate and destiny. Why do you think I got so hung up on Ben when he suddenly reappeared everywhere in town after Ava’s wedding?”

“Um, because Jared turned out to be a complete loser? And, if I remember correctly,
I’m
the one who had to convince
you
it was fate that Ben kept showing up. You were the one who kept saying
if anything the universe is trying to tell me I’m meant to be with Jared,
blah, blah, blah. Yeah, how’d that work out for you?” She smirked and shook her head. “Funny how your memory seems to have changed over the years.”

“Oh, yeah, right. I can’t believe I actually wanted to marry that guy.” Holly shuddered. “Luckily, something kept nagging at me, telling me there was a reason Ben was back in my life. I just couldn’t shake it. Fate has a way of letting you know when the timing is just right.”

“That’s kind of what Todd said.”

“He sounds like a smart guy. A smart guy who believes in fate. So what happened after your magical kiss? Did the walls come back at record speed like they usually do to lock you in and throw away the key? Poor guy.”

Tessa rolled her eyes. “It was a nice date. I’m not saying I gave him a key, but the door is definitely unlocked at the moment.”

“Oh really?” Holly asked, raising her eyebrows. “And yet, here you are, still standing in one piece without the world crumbling around you. Dare I say you’re even smiling … glowing perhaps? Come on, you know I love it when you admit I’m right.”

“You were wrong about the doctor,” she said, grinning.

“Okay, well, I can’t win them all. However, you do have to admit that he got you back on the market, so in that respect, I was right.”

“How so?” Was Holly really going to stand there and rationalize that showing interest in a married man was a good thing?

“Because, before Dr. Sleazeball, you were just sitting home every night, not even willing to consider dating anyone anymore. I mean, you had a few dates here and there after Scott, but it’s been at least a year now since your last date if I remember correctly, and it wasn’t with anyone you even seemed remotely interested in. Anyway, the doctor, while not the most ideal candidate for you—”

“You can say that again,” Tessa mumbled.

Holly sighed. “I’m just saying he got your emotions stirring and open to dating again, that’s all. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t have given this Todd guy the time of day, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Smiling, she nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”

“What was that? I didn’t get that,” her sister said, putting her hand to her ear.

Tessa sighed a loud, dramatic sigh. “I said perhaps you
maybe
could have been correct in this one situation.”

“Oh, wait a second.” Holly grabbed a piece of paper and pen out of her purse. “There are no witnesses here. Would you mind jotting that down for me, and then just sign and date at the bottom. Or anywhere on the paper.” She smiled wide as she handed both items over to her sister.

“I used to do this to you back when I was trying to get you and Ben together, didn’t I? I can now see I might have been a tad bit annoying.”

“Yes.” She grinned. “Paybacks are a bitch. Go ahead, I’m still waiting on that signature.”

“Don’t you have to get up early for work, Holly?” Tessa asked, gently pulling her out of her chair and pushing her toward the door.

“No,” she replied, picking up her purse and her coat on the way. “It’s really not that late. You still haven’t told me what happened after the kiss. When you called from the restaurant, you said you’d be home in an hour, and now it’s three hours later. A lot can happen in three hours. Care to share?”

“
What? What’s that, Ben? Yes, your wife’s on her way home right now
.” Tessa opened her front door and eased her sister out into the hallway.

“Come on, sis. I live four miles away. You can’t hear Ben calling for me. I’d tell you! You know I would.”

“Thanks again for watching Sophie, Hol. I really do appreciate it. Be careful getting home. Love you.” She softly closed the door, leaving her sister standing in the hallway of her apartment building.

“Love you, too!” Holly called from the other side. “And glad you had a great date!”

Standing with her back against the door, Tessa couldn’t help but smile. After the kiss that had left her both speechless and breathless, Todd did in fact take her hand in his again. They walked until the end of the strip of shops, stopping occasionally to sneak into a back alley for more kisses. When the shops ran out, they followed the path along the river, finding a bench to sit on where they talked, held hands, and kissed some more. The path eventually looped back around to where their cars were parked at The Urban Bistro.

“I can’t ever remember feeling like this after a first date
,” Todd had said, cupping Tessa’s face in his hands before lowering his lips down to meet hers once more.

She melted under his touch, trying to savor the feel of his lips, knowing the evening was coming to an end.
Was he going to ask her out again?
She hoped a second date would be in their future. She wouldn’t have to wait long to find out.

“Can I see you again?” he asked, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

“Yes,” she said softly, trying to maintain her balance. Just the slightest touch of his hands on her face made her knees weak.

“I’m free this weekend. Would Friday night be okay? Maybe we can actually make it to a play this time.” He smiled, leaning in to nip playfully at her curled back lips.

“That sounds perfect,” she replied as he straightened back up.

Holding her door open, he gave her another tender kiss just before she slid into the driver’s seat.

“Until Friday then,” he said, blowing her a kiss as she started her engine and drove away.

Chapter 21

“O-kay, these weren’t here five minutes ago,” Tessa said to herself quietly as she walked into her office upon coming back from the restroom. She bent down to smell the enormous bouquet of assorted pink flowers sitting in a beautiful crystal vase in the middle of her desk, which a delivery person must have left when she stepped out momentarily. Taking in the amazing aroma, she spotted the small card sticking out among the sea of pink petals and picked it up to read.

Can’t stop thinking about you.

“He didn’t sign it,” she said, bending down once more to take another whiff, although it really wasn’t necessary, as the fragrance had now filled the room. “They must be from—”

“Must be from me?” the voice said, finishing her sentence.

“Oh shit, you startled me!” Tessa exclaimed as Todd entered her office. Jumping back, she nearly knocked over the entire bouquet. She put her hand on her chest as if that would control her erratic heartbeat. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, the business excuse is I found some more statements to drop off. But, the truth is, I couldn’t wait until Friday to see you again. And since it appears Mr. Abbott is once again out of the office …” He stepped forward and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“The flowers are beautiful,” she said, drawing away slowly, her breathing now perfectly calmed. “Thank you. I have the one you gave me last night in some water on my kitchen table. When Sophie woke up this morning, she was so excited to see it. She said the color reminded her of the dress Princess Aurora wears.”

“I’m sorry,” Todd said, looking confused. “I’m afraid I don’t get a chance to be around little girls very often. Princess who?”

Tessa laughed. “You’ve heard of Sleeping Beauty?”

“Ah, yes. Isn’t she the one who had some sort of evil curse put on her that could only be broken by the handsome prince?”

“Well,” she laughed even harder, “you just described pretty much every Disney movie involving princesses. But yes, technically that is correct. Her curse was that she would forever sleep unless kissed by her prince charming. Her
real
name is Princess Aurora. Sophie’s obsessed with her. You scored big points with my daughter by giving me a flower that matched the color of her dress.”

“Oh, well, I planned that, of course.” He winked. “And what about Sophie’s mom?” he asked, still holding his hands lightly on Tessa’s waist. “Did I score any points with her?”

“Yes, many,” she said, leaning in for another kiss. The piercing ring of the telephone abruptly broke them apart, and she reluctantly reached for the receiver. “Abbott and Associates,” she answered, trying not to sound too breathy.

“Do you have the numbers I asked for?” the brusque voice demanded.

“Y-yes, sir,” Tessa replied, trying to regroup. She slipped back behind her desk and began typing at her keyboard. Sitting in one of the chairs facing her, Todd smiled and watched as she worked. She was completely flustered now. Where was that file she had out just moments ago?

“I’m waiting, Tessa!” Mr. Abbott bellowed.

Apparently his good mood was starting to wear off.

“I have them right here, sir. I can read them to you over the phone, or would you like me to email or fax them to you instead?”

“What do you think?” he replied snidely.

Was this a trick question? She had no idea. If she told them to him over the phone and he wrote them down wrong, she’d get blamed for that. So no. The fax machine where he was located might not be confidential, so no on that one also. He was calling her from his smart phone, so email it was. “I’ll email them right over,” she said, proud of her rational thought process.

“I don’t have time for that. The client’s waiting!” he hollered. “Just give me the damn figures.”

She sighed. “Yes, sir.” She read him the numbers
and
followed them up with an email so he’d have them in writing as well, more to cover her back than anything else.

Hanging up the phone, she put her head down on her desk.
How humiliating.

“He’s in a good mood,” Todd noted. “Sorry. He was yelling so loud, it was hard not hear.”

She lifted her head and rolled her eyes. “It would probably be inappropriate for me to comment, you know, given the business relationship you have with him. I’m sure in your meetings he’s very pleasant.”

“He is. I didn’t realize there was another side to him. Business can be very cut throat at times. Some people think they have the right to act a certain way behind closed doors, especially toward woman. I’m personally not a fan. I don’t think it gets you anywhere. It certainly won’t help you get ahead.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather his little outburst just stay between us,” Tessa requested. “I don’t want to upset the status quo at your office. If Mr. Abbott found out I was bad mouthing him, I could lose my job. Between you and me, I’m looking around for something else, but until I find that something else, I need to stay here. This job may be a little rough at times, but it pays the bills. Well, it pays most of the bills. And I do actually enjoy the work.”

“Don’t worry,” Todd said. “Mum’s the word. Besides, you weren’t bad mouthing him at all. Half of Forest Hills could probably hear him screaming. In any event, the last thing I want is for you to get fired. I selfishly like being able to hand deliver statements here just so I can see you. In fact, give me that one back.” He picked up the statement he’d brought and shoved it back into his briefcase.

“What? Why are you taking that? I need it!”

“I know you do, but I need an excuse to come again tomorrow. So you’ll have to wait one more day.”

“Oh really?” Tessa asked. “And what about the day after that?”

“That’s Friday … our date night.”

“You’ve got it all figured out I see.”

An alarm on his phone beeped just as he seemed to be about to say something more. “I’ve got a meeting I’ve got to rush off to.” He took her hands in his and kissed her, pressing his body tightly into hers. His phone beeped a second time, and he slowly backed up, leaving her feeling flushed and light-headed. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, kissing her nose lightly.

“Yes, tomorrow,” she repeated, as she sank down into her chair, barely able to move.

Chapter 22

The theater lights went on as the actors took their final curtain call, and Tessa wiped the tears from her eyes.

“It was a comedy,” Todd noted. “Why are you crying?”

She smiled. “I just miss it, being here in the theater. It’s where I belong. Come on, let’s go backstage. I recognize half of the names of the stage crew listed in the program.”

Grabbing Todd’s hand, she led him down the aisle, against the flow of people leaving the theater. Once next to the stage, she pushed open the heavy black door marked no-admittance and navigated the dark passageways that led back behind the curtains.

“Ah-ha! I knew it!” she shrieked, jumping into the arms of a balding, thin man wearing thick black-framed eyeglasses. “Jim Fergo, that production had your direction written all over it.”

“Tessa? Tessa Haines?” he asked, pushing her back slightly to look at her. “Well, look at you! I haven’t seen you in forever. You know you were my favorite assistant director.” He looked around and whispered, “The assistant director I have now is a complete mess. Please tell me you’re here to ask for your job back.”

Shaking her head, she shrugged. “Sorry, Jim. We just came to see the show and say hello. This is my … um … my—”

“Her boyfriend,” Todd interjected.

Tessa glanced at him and smiled. That sounded nice. It was only their second date, but they’d seen and talked with each other every day since they’d met earlier in the week on Monday.
Wow, had it only been four days?