That was true. Tessa didn't speak of her mother often, but anytime she did she always mentioned how she had walked out on them.
"Nothing's come easy for her." May pursed her lips and shook her head. "It breaks my heart to think of how scared she must have been when her dad got hurt. She did everything she could to keep their apartment."
"She's been dealt a bad hand." Chase vowed to change all of that for her; from now on she'd be happy and he'd do anything to keep her that way.
"When she first got here she was sad and lonely. You were so busy keeping your distance, I don't think you realized just how desperate she was for company."
"I tried to give her space so she could get used to me and her new surroundings." He should have been more attentive to Tessa in the beginning, but he didn't know how to deal with his feelings. "She's doing better now. She likes school and she's made some new friends. Her dad's doing so much better now too. The doctors think he may be home by Christmas." Of course, Pat didn't have a home, but Chase was working on a solution for that too.
"She has you now," May said. "That's a big part of her transformation. You make her happy so please don't do anything to change that."
"I won't."
"You've never done well with serious relationships." She shook her finger at him. "I've been around a long time. You know I'm right."
"This is different."
"At first, I agreed with you when you were trying to fight Tessa off. I saw the conflict, the fleeting glances and the way you wanted to care for her. I thought it was a dangerous situation brewing."
"And now what do you think?"
"I think she was made for you." She got up from the chair, picking up her bag. "Just don't hurt her. She doesn't deserve it."
"Thanks, May."
"I told you, it's my job."
"Tessa wasn't your job, but you stepped in and helped her through a difficult time. I'll never be able to repay you for that."
"You just keep that girl happy. That's enough payment for me." She walked out of the study and called back to him, "See you in the morning."
"Good night, Miss May." He smiled when he thought about how fond May had grown toward Tessa. His girl was easy to fall for. She'd managed to wrap him around her little finger in a matter of weeks.
About twenty minutes later, Chase heard Tessa come in through the garage and down the hall to his study. She was home sooner than he'd expected.
"Chase." She stood in the doorway, her jacket still on and her cheeks red from the cool afternoon air.
"Hey, beautiful." He grinned. "I'm just about done in here."
"Something … happened."
"What?" He got up from his desk and met her where she leaned against the doorframe. "Are you okay?" He titled her chin, noting her red eyes. "You've been crying. What's wrong?"
"It's the car."
"Were you in an accident?" He touched her all over looking for damage. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head as the tears flowed down her cheeks. "I wasn't in an accident … but-"
"Hey." He wiped her tear soaked face. "It's okay. As long as you're not hurt, nothing else matters. Did it get hit on campus?"
"Can you just come to the garage and I'll show you?"
"Sure." He took her hand as they walked back to the garage.
"I feel awful. Someone keyed it," she said as he opened the door and walked down the steps to where the car was parked. "I parked it in the same place I always do," she sobbed. "I'm sorry. I don't know why someone would do this."
Chase surveyed the damage, trying to contain his rage over what some asshole had etched into the side of her car.
Whore.
Why would someone do that? "That's horrible," he said.
"I know." She took a breath to calm herself. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" How could she possibly think he would blame her for this?
"Because you let me borrow your car – a very expensive car – and now it's ruined."
"It's not ruined. The auto body shop can buff that out." He ran his fingers over the deep scratches. "And repaint it. No big deal."
"You're sure?" He heard the relief in her voice.
"I'm positive." He took her hand. "As long as you're okay I don't care about this."
"You're not mad?"
"I'm mad someone did this but I'm not mad at you." He pressed her against the car and kissed her. "This isn't your fault."
"Of all the cars to pick, they had to go after that one." She glanced back at the derogatory slur keyed into the driver's side door. "I'm guessing it was a pissed off girlfriend who got the wrong car or something."
"A pissed off girlfriend?" He thought for a moment. Would Audra stoop this low?
"Or an ex-girlfriend." She shrugged. "Either way they got the wrong car."
She wouldn't dare.
"It could have been a random idiot too," Tess said. "I'm just glad you're not upset."
"It's a car. It can be replaced. When I saw your face I thought something had happened to you." He ran his hand down her soft face. "You can't be replaced."
"I'm fine." She rested her head on his shoulder. "It's just been a long, crappy day."
"You're here with me now." He stroked her hair. "I'll make it better."
"You always do."
"Come on." He took her hand. "May's left chicken parm' for us. Let's eat and then we'll watch a movie."
"Cuddle time?"
"Is there any other time?" He needed to get Audra out of his head. Surely she wouldn't have done something like this. But it was a possibility.
"Thank you." She kissed his cheek.
"For?"
"Being you."
Chapter Fourteen
"She'll need a rental car too," Chase told Allison, his assistant. "Her car will be in the shop for a few days."
"I'll take care of it," Allison said. "Anything specific?"
"Something reliable." He wrote down Tessa's cell number on a note pad. "Why don't you just call her and work it out with her? That would probably be the easiest thing to do. She's easy going so she won't give you any trouble. Let her have whatever she wants."
"Thanks." She took the pad from him. "I'll call her now."
"Great." Chase glanced at his watch. "Did that package come from Seth yet?"
"Not yet, but I'll go check the front desk." As she headed for the door she practically ran into Audra.
"Is this what you're looking for?" She held up the thick envelope the messenger had dropped off. "I found it at the front desk."
"Thanks, Allison," Chase said, completely disregarding the fact that Audra had brought it. "Let me know what you and Tessa come up with."
"I will." Allison hurried out of the office, closing the door behind her.
"What did Seth Anders send you?" Audra asked as she settled into the chair across from his desk. "I thought I was your attorney."
"You are." He held out his hand for the package. "My business attorney. Seth handles any personal transaction I make. Those I want to keep separate from the firm."
"What about Tessa's father? I helped you with that. His situation had nothing to do with the firm."
That was true. At the time he had no idea he'd get involved with Tessa so he didn't see the harm in having Audra help him. Now that he was seeing Tessa, he didn't think it was appropriate to have Audra involved in his personal affairs especially when they concerned Tessa.
"You did a wonderful job with that but since then I've decided to have two separate attorneys to handle things for me. It keeps everything in order."
"You always consult me before you sign anything."
"I haven't signed anything." He took the envelope from her and placed it in his top drawer. "It's an old property out by a lake. It's been foreclosed on and I want to buy it."
"Why?"
"It has sentimental value." He didn't want to discuss this with her. If she hadn't intercepted that package she wouldn't be interrogating him now. "It's a good price for a large piece of land that I hope to build a summer home on one day."
"Since when? You've never mentioned wanting a house on a lake. Ocean view in the Caribbean yes, but a lake in Massachusetts?"
"Aspirations change." People change. They can fall for a captivating redhead in the blink of an eye and never know what hit them... "I spent some time there as a teenager. It left a lasting impression on me. When I found out it was on the market I inquired. I want this property."