Shelby, who was wearing a skintight pink bandage dress that clashed oddly with her strawberry blonde hair, was already making the chirpy bird sound laugh when Tessa reached her side. Tessa had met Shelby’s date – a slightly overweight, prematurely balding young man named Grant – when he’d taken Shelby out to lunch a couple of weeks ago. Tessa chose to ignore how Grant’s close-set eyes lingered a little too long on her boobs.
“Sweetie pie, you look a-maz-ing!” exclaimed Kevin. “Wow! If there was any woman in the world who might have a shot at turning me straight, it would definitely be you!”
Tessa couldn’t help laughing in delight at his praise, and let him envelop her in a hug, not even caring that his new cologne was even more pungent than his old one.
“Thanks,” she answered demurely. “Um, a friend of mine helped me get ready.”
She intentionally didn’t mention Julia’s name, fairly certain that no one at the office would mind her friendship with the interior designer, but thought it prudent not to advertise the news, either.
“Well, she did a fabulous job on you, sugar, just fabulous,” gushed Kevin. “Now, aren’t you glad we all talked you into coming tonight? Much better than sitting home all by your lonesome.”
She had finally confessed to her co-workers that she and Peter had split. The news had sort of slipped out a few days before Thanksgiving, when she hadn’t been able to stem the flow of tears that had started after Peter still hadn’t responded to her email of five days earlier.
All five of her co-workers had been sympathetic, and even Gina and Alicia had seemed genuinely kind and concerned. When Kevin had learned that Tessa was going to be alone on Thanksgiving, he’d insisted she join him and Terence for dinner at their home. She had felt a little out of place among the two dozen or so people at their “little gathering”, but it had definitely been preferable to spending the holiday by herself.
The group had next ganged up on her until she’d reluctantly agreed to attend the office Christmas party. And even though the round tables were really only set for ten, they were squeezing in an extra chair so that Tessa could sit with everyone else.
It had touched Tessa to have the support of her team, who had acted like real friends to her, helping to lift her spirits and give her encouragement. And, so far as she knew, they had kept the news of her impending divorce to themselves as she’d requested. At least, no one else in the office had said a word to her about it.
Within a few minutes. Marisol and her husband Raul, Gina and her boyfriend Alex, and Alicia and her date Ross had all arrived, the girls gushing over Tessa’s dress and hair and makeup. Of course, Gina and Alicia were dressed to kill in obviously expensive designer gowns, their own hair and makeup flawless. Tessa tried not to worry about how cheap her own dress and shoes – the same ones Julia had assured her looked awesome – must appear next to not just Gina’s and Alicia’s but to every other woman’s here tonight.
She accepted a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, but was careful to sip it very slowly. While Peter have never outright asked her not to drink, she had always tried to be supportive of him and had usually refrained. She’d never had more than a glass or two of wine at one time, and most definitely didn’t want to experiment with more at the office Christmas party, where every member of the management team was in attendance.
She was aware of Ian’s presence well before she actually saw him. He had that sort of magnetism, the kind that drew everyone’s attention no matter who else might be in the room. Tessa merely had to glance in the same direction as everyone else around her to find him, and her heart did a rapid little flutter when she saw him for the first time this evening.
He’d been traveling these past two weeks to several of the hotels in Mexico and South America, and his ruggedly handsome features were deeply tanned. His hair had been cut very recently, and was as expertly styled as always. Ian wore a beautifully tailored black tuxedo, paired with a snowy white shirt and classic black bowtie. He was suave and sophisticated, classy elegance and overwhelming masculinity all rolled into one mouthwatering package.
To Tessa, he was far more attractive and compelling than any movie star. He could easily be some sort of diplomat or head of state, or even the prince of some small European nation.
She didn’t realize how long she’d evidently been staring at him until Gina’s voice murmured slyly in her ear. “His Hotness looks even hotter than usual tonight, don’t you think?”
Tessa swiftly glanced away from her undeniably hot boss, but was afraid she’d already betrayed her attraction to him to the very perceptive Gina. Trying desperately to seem nonchalant, she gave a small shrug and smiled. “Most men always look extra special in a tuxedo.”