Splendor(92)

Tessa kept the phone tucked into a pocket of her purse, where she could easily take discreet little peeks at it without any of her co-workers noticing. She forced herself not to smile or betray her reaction in any other way, but couldn’t stop the warm feeling that spread throughout her body as she read Ian’s text.

Good morning, love, Wishing I could give u a big kiss right now. Can’t wait 4 tonite.

She waited until she was sure no one else was watching and tapped out a reply.

Morning to u 2. Txs for wearing my fav suit. U look very sexy.

There was a prompt reply. Txs 4 wearing my fav undies. Counting minutes till I can take them off u.

She had to fight off the urge to giggle as she replied. Yes but I might have 2 take them off cuz they’re kind of damp.

Ian didn’t respond for almost ten minutes, and she’d almost given up hope that he would when the familiar ping sounded. This time she couldn’t hold back the smile that stretched across her features.

Sorry on a call. Sounds like u need 2 keep spare undies with u. We’ll buy more tomorrow.

Kevin looked at her curiously as she forced her attention back to her computer screen. “You look like you’re in a good mood, sweetie. Whatcha smiling about?”

Tessa tried her hardest to seem nonchalant. “Oh, just thinking about an episode of Modern Family I caught last night. This really hilarious scene where the gay couple had these oversized stuffed animals strapped to the roof of their car.”

Kevin’s face instantly lit up. “I know exactly what scene you’re talking about. The stuffed gorilla keeps rocking back and forth like it’s trying to hump the elephant. Priceless, isn’t it?”

That fortunately distracted him – sadly, it didn’t seem to really take much to accomplish that – and he was riffing about other TV shows for the next half hour. Meanwhile, Tessa continued to feel a little thrill each time she got a flirty little text from Ian. It was almost like they were high school sweethearts, exchanging naughty messages during English class. Except that she’d never had a real boyfriend in high school, and had certainly never been carefree enough to text flirt with one. So she allowed herself this indulgence now, this feeling like she was sixteen again and flirting with the really hot guy she’d had a mad crush on for two years. She allowed the indulgence because she’d never had the opportunity before, had never really been sixteen or even a teenager, had never known the sweetness and innocence of a first love.

The work day flew by quickly, as it usually seemed to do when Ian returned from a trip. Andrew was delegating tasks to the team right and left, no doubt as quickly as his boss was passing them on to him. Tessa had three complex spreadsheets to update plus two new ones to create, and immersed herself in her work.

She was so engrossed in what she was doing that at first she paid no attention to what Gina and Alicia were yakking about. Tessa honestly had no idea how the two of them got any significant amount of work done, given the frequency and length of their conversations. But then she caught the tail end of a question Gina was asking, and found herself listening discreetly for Alicia’s reply.

“...didn’t bring a date to the ballet fundraiser? Not even his little ballerina friend?”

Tess knew they were discussing Ian, and an event he’d attended last week. It had been, as Gina mentioned, a fundraising cocktail party for the San Francisco Ballet, of which Ian was a patron. He had been reluctant to attend without Tessa, but had glumly acknowledged he couldn’t very well take her along. Yet.

“This is why you need to move things along, darling,” he’d admonished. “Why you need to resign and move in with me – so that I can take you with me to these dreadfully boring events and show you off to everyone.”

She hadn’t been able to resist teasing him just a little. “But if they’re so boring, wouldn’t we be better off finding something more – er, fun to do?”

He’d given her a light smack on the ass. “Cheeky little devil. Yes, you’re right, but there are some events I just can’t shrug off, I’m afraid. However, if you were with me, then they wouldn’t be nearly so boring.” He’d whispered in her ear then, causing a shiver to run up her spine, “I’d probably try to find ways all evening of copping a feel. That would certainly make things a damned sight more interesting.”

Tessa bit her lip to keep from groaning at the memory, especially when she recalled what had happened next. She distracted herself from her wayward thoughts by casually eavesdropping on the rest of her co-workers conversation.

“No, he was definitely there solo according to my mother,” confirmed Alicia. “And didn’t stick around very long, either. Plus, his date for the Christmas party – remember the banker in the Elie Saab gown? – has apparently been seen out with a new man.”