Splendor(75)

She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

Sweat broke out on his brow and his eyes darkened. “Christ, I feel like a horny teenager whenever I’m near you. I’d better get my things before I check another item off your list of firsts.”

She regarded him curiously as he efficiently selected clothing from the racks and drawers. “What item would that be?”

He winked at her cheekily. “Shagging in the closet.”





Chapter Twelve



The quiet, mellow morning was one of the most enjoyable that Ian had ever spent in this big, often lonely house. He typically spent so much time traveling on business, attending meetings or social events that he wasn’t actually here all that much.

But he could certainly make a strong case for spending a great deal more time at home provided that Tessa kept him company as she was right now.

They had cooked breakfast together, assembling eggs, potatoes, and bacon, and then finishing off the meal with tea and the scones Mrs. Sargent had bought from his favorite local bakery. It had been a quiet, companionable meal, the two of them gazing out the kitchen windows as the storm continued to bring heavy rain and winds outside. Tessa had been delighted to discover that there was a secluded courtyard just outside of the kitchen’s sliding glass doors, and was even more pleased when he’d promised her they could have breakfast out there another time when the weather allowed.

After cleaning up the dishes, they spent a couple of hours in his home office. Ian worked on preparing notes for yet another trip he was taking week after next, while Tessa happily curled up on the sofa with a short stack of books he’d helped her select from his library.

He glanced up at one point and smiled fondly as he watched her unobserved. She was wearing the gray yoga pants and pink thermal sweater he’d bought for her, her bare feet tucked beneath her. She was avidly looking through a thick, glossy book with photographs of Tuscany, wrapping a lock of her hair around her fingers. She was enchanting, enthralling, and he thought he could happily stare at her for hours on end.

She looked up then, as if feeling his gaze upon her, and returned his smile a little shyly. “Hi. Taking a break?”

Ian pushed aside the reports he’d been reviewing. “Calling it quits for the day, actually. I don’t want to spend even one more minute of this weekend with you doing work. But speaking of work, we ought to get that issue resolved while we’re able to think rationally.”

“Okay.” She set aside her book as he took a seat next to her on the leather sofa.

Ian picked up her hand, idly brushing his thumb over her knuckles. “You know I’ve broken all of my rules for you,” he began half-teasingly. “In all the years – decades, actually – that I’ve worked for my family’s company I have never dated or even flirted with a female employee.”

Tessa gave him an impish smile. “And I’m guessing it wasn’t for lack of opportunity. An awful lot of opportunities.”

He rolled his eyes at her. “Don’t believe all the gossip you hear, darling. I’ve worked hard to develop a reputation as a cold, unapproachable bastard over the years. It’s done a lot to keep most of the overly optimistic females at bay.”

She snuggled up against him, her hand creeping under his gray cashmere pullover to rub his lower back. “There’s nothing the least bit cold about you,” she whispered, her breath tickling his ear. “You’re actually really, really hot.”

Growling, he yanked her onto his lap. “And you’re making me burn for you, my sweet. Careful about playing with fire, hmm?” He brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Now, before you make me forget my damned name again, let’s talk about the office. More specifically, how you and I are going to have to conduct ourselves while we’re there. At least for the short term.”

Tessa frowned. “Short term? I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Are you planning to have me transferred somewhere?”

“No. That’s not one of the options I’ve considered. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves just a bit.” He brushed her hair behind her ear. “I’ve told you more than once that I don’t want to overwhelm you, Tessa. Nor do I want to control or manipulate you – ever. That’s not the sort of relationship I want to have with you.”

She nodded. “I know you don’t. And that means a lot to me, Ian. It would be so easy for me to just allow you to take me over, to depend on you for everything. But I don’t think I’d like myself very much if I let that happen.”

“Well, it’s nothing you have to worry about because I won’t let that happen, either. You’re a bright, capable young woman and I fully intend to help you realize that. Now, as I was saying, I’ve broken all of my hard and fast rules for you – getting involved with an employee. In particular, an employee who works directly for me. We cannot let anyone else find out, Tessa. The repercussions for both of us would be – unpleasant.”