“The smoke detectors woke me up. I know most everything else in the apartment is old and dilapidated but at least those worked. Very loudly, too. Then there was banging on the door, and the firefighters were hustling me out of there. I didn’t have time to grab my phone or purse or even shoes.” She stroked her hand over his chest, covered in a navy cashmere pullover. “I’m sorry about the phone. I know it was expensive.”
“Shush.” He hauled her onto his lap. “A phone is replaceable. All of the things you lost in the fire are. You, however, are completely, irrevocably irreplaceable. When I couldn’t reach you on the phone, I imagined all sorts of dreadful things had happened to you. And when Simon and I learned about the fire, when I was running around in a panic trying to find you – all I could think about was making sure you were safe and unharmed.” He tipped her chin up to meet his gaze, which was so filled with tenderness that her own eyes filled with tears. “Nothing else matters if I don’t have you, Tessa. All of this – the house, cars, things – it’s all meaningless if you aren’t here with me.”
“And you know it’s the same for me,” she whispered. “I’ve only ever cared about you, and not the things you give me.”
He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Ah, but now you’re going to have to let me give you more things. I’ve been busy making all sorts of arrangements so far this morning. Your replacement phone will be delivered this afternoon. Andrew is having a new ID badge sent over by messenger later today. And I made an appointment for tomorrow for you to get your driver’s license.”
She kissed his cheek. “You think of everything, don’t you? Thank you. I’m not sure I can remember much of anything right now.”
“Leave it to me then, love. I’ve told you more than once – there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
Tessa forced a lightheartedness she certainly didn’t feel right now. “Well, looks like the fire did cheat you out of doing one thing you’ve threatened to do for a long time now.”
He looked at her quizzically. “And what exactly would that be?”
She chuckled. “Tossing my raincoat into the fireplace. I’m just assuming it burned with everything else.”
***
“You’re certain you’ll be all right if I go into the office? I’m going to make it an early day. God knows I’ve still got the worst case of jet lag I can remember having in recent years.”
It was Thursday morning, and Ian was getting dressed for work, buttoning up his shirt as she watched him from the bed.
“Yes, I’ll be fine. And I’m going to work tomorrow, not Monday,” she insisted. “The doctor told us yesterday that I’m physically fine so there’s no reason for me to just sit around here an extra day. I’d much rather keep busy, it – well, helps me to forget a little.”
“All right,” he agreed gently. “So long as you don’t overdo. Physically you may be fine, but you’ve suffered a tremendous emotional trauma, Tessa. You don’t get over that in a couple of days.”
“Okay, let’s put it this way. The sooner I get back to work the sooner I can resign.”
Ian grinned as he finished buttoning his shirt before leaning down to give her a lingering kiss. “Good thinking, darling. Though I’m still a bit miffed you allowed Andrew to talk you into four weeks’ notice. Two should have been sufficient.”
She shook her head. “I feel guilty enough as it is. A month is barely enough time for him to find a replacement and have them trained. And he’s been good to me in his way, as well as taken very good care of you.”
He sighed. “Fine. But it’s not going to be one damned day longer, understood? Especially since that wily bastard will still be able to delegate work to you. Now, what time is Julia coming over?”
It had surprised her yesterday when Ian had suggested she call Julia and tell her about the fire. And she had been almost speechless when he’d also urged her to share the news about their relationship.
“Are you sure?” she’d asked worriedly. “I mean, it won’t be much longer until we can go public with it. Should we be taking a risk like that?”
“It’s fine,” he’d assured her. “I trust Julia – and Nathan – implicitly. Both of them will understand the need for discretion, and since they don’t work directly for us the chance of them accidentally telling anyone is extremely unlikely. And,” he’d added tenderly, “you need your friends around you right now, darling. Julia is cheerful, nosy little wench that she is, and she might be able to help you through this. I’ll try to overlook the fact that she’ll be gloating about being right about my feelings for you.”