Tessa's Temptation(30)

"Oh, that." She hadn't meant to come off as ungrateful after everything  he'd done for her and her dad, but there were times when she felt like  she should be doing more. "I just meant that I'm used to pulling my  weight. I'm not used to being..."

"Unemployed?" He laughed.

"Kind of." She'd started babysitting neighborhood kids when she was  twelve, working at local fast food joints when she was sixteen and  waitressing just out of high school. "I've been working for years. It's  been great focusing on school, but I can go back to work."

"In about a month your dad will be home. You won't have to juggle your  time between school and running to visit him. I'm going to hire a home  healthcare aide and a physical therapist so he'll be well taken care  of." He laced his fingers behind his head, giving her a nice view of his  chest and abs. "I thought you might want to get a job."

"Sure, I can start working again. I saw a sign on campus at the  bookstore but I was thinking maybe a restaurant would be better because  then I'd make tips."

"I have a better idea." He patted the bed. "Come join me. Let me tell you all about it."

She crawled up next to him, resting her feet on his thighs. "Since I'm  here..." She wiggled her toes because he gave the best massages.

"A foot rub?" He took one dainty foot in his strong hands and applied  pressure to the ball of it. As he massaged, he continued, "There's a  real estate office that leases in my building."

"Avalon Reality," she recalled. "I've seen the signs."

"You pay attention." He grinned as he concentrated on her feet. "The  owner, Zach Avalon, is looking for a part-time assistant. Someone who  can answer phones and do some administrative work. It's a good  opportunity for someone thinking about going into real estate." He  looked up at her and smiled. "Know anyone who might be interested?"                       
       
           



       

"Seriously?" Was he kidding? A job with a realtor would be a dream come true.

"I spoke with him today and told him your interests. I thought maybe  he'd have an internship or something. It's only a few hours a week and  it won't start until January. I let him know you're a full time student  but I think this is a good fit for you."

"I'll get to work in a real agency? Where they actually buy and sell houses?"

"I think that's what they do there." He winked. "I told Zach we'll  arrange for you to meet with him soon to make sure this is something you  want to do."

"Are you kidding?" She climbed on top of him. "I'll get to learn and see  what goes on instead of just reading about it in class."

"You'll also be in my building every day, where I can keep an eye on  you." He pulled her down to kiss her. "Making sure no one else bothers  you."

"You're awfully possessive, Mr. Carlisle." She straddled his hips. "You already know I'm yours."

"Knowing that makes my world much more interesting." He ran his hands  over her thighs. "You give me more than you realize, Tessa."

"I didn't mean to come off as a brat the other day when I said that stuff about you giving me so much."

"You are a brat." He squeezed her legs. "But you're my brat and I would  do anything for you. Don't feel like this relationship is one-sided  because I'm in a better financial position than you are."

"That's an understatement."

"It's no secret I have money." He moved his hands to rest on her hips.  "More than I could ever spend. My father was extremely wealthy and I  told you I've made some wise investments. My business is thriving. I've  thrown years into making it the success it is, but during that time I've  missed out on so much."

"You don't look like you've missed out on anything." She looked around the bedroom. "You have everything."

"Material things, sure. I know my life can be overwhelming for you  because you grew up without this kind of luxury. The reality is, none of  this matters if you don't have someone to share it with. You may think  I'm doing all the giving in this relationship but you couldn't be more  wrong."

"I couldn't?"

"You've given me a purpose. A reason to come home and enjoy the things I  have. I'm a workaholic, but now I can slow down and appreciate what  I've worked for. You're helping me see there's more to life than work.  You're my life, sweetheart."

When he said things like that it made her head spin. She believed him,  but it was all too much. Three months ago she was poor and hungry and  now she had everything. Not just money, clothes and an expensive car.  She could leave all of those things behind in a heartbeat if she had to.  She'd never had anything of any financial value so if it all  disappeared tomorrow she'd find a way to survive. It was Chase that  she'd grown dependent upon. The way he treated and cared for her. If he  went away, that was what she couldn't handle.

"You don't need to feel like you don't give back." He reached up and  curled the ends of her hair around his finger. "I do the things I do for  you because I want to. That's all you need to know."

"It just takes some getting used to." She leaned into his hand. "I'm getting there."

"Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere." He tugged on her hair, guiding her to his lips. "Not ever."

As he kissed her he reached up and turned off the lamp by the bed. The  deeper the kiss, the harder his erection pressed against her. Her heart  beat faster with each breath she took. His touch set her body on fire,  and she found herself surrendering everything she had to him.

"Ready to go to sleep?" she whispered.

"No." He rolled over so he was on top. Slipping his hand between their  bodies, he pulled her panties down her legs. "I always sleep so much  better after we're together."

"Make love to me, Chase." She opened her legs for him as he slipped his  pajama bottoms off. When he entered her she closed her eyes and lost  herself in him. Nothing else mattered. She was his.



***



"You just keep rolling out that pie crust like I taught you," May said. "You'll get the hang of it."

Tess wasn't sure she'd ever get the hang of making homemade pies. Cookies, maybe, but pies were a lot harder.                       
       
           



       

"You work on that." May picked up the rolling pin from where Tess had  set it down and handed it back to her. "These will be your practice  pies. By Thanksgiving you'll be a pro."

"If you say so." Tess rolled out the dough. "How many people are you cooking for?"

"Oh, well let me think." She pulled the large mixer from the walk-in  pantry and plugged it in. "My sister's family is coming too so we're up  to around twenty-five."

"Twenty-five!" Tess couldn't imagine eating with that many people.  "Maybe you should ask Chase to let you have it here. How are you going  to fit that many people around the dining room table?"

"We always manage to make it work," she said. "I'll have my boys move  the sofa and chair into the garage for the day and set up a second table  in the family room."

"You're really looking forward to this, aren't you?" May had been  talking about Thanksgiving dinner for almost a month. Chase said it was  her favorite holiday. The more people the happier she was.

"I'm glad you'll be with us this year." She measured out the flour and  dumped it into a mixing bowl. "I'm also happy Chase won't be alone this  holiday season."

Tess was glad to be spending the holidays with him too. Her dad would be  home for Christmas and the three of them could have a relaxing day  together. May was already planning what she would prepare for them. She  was going to Florida for a few days to visit her daughter's family, but  promised to make sure Chase and Tess were set up before she left.

"Hey." Chase came into the kitchen. "Are you supposed to have that much  flour on your face?" He tweaked her nose with his finger.

"I'm making pies," she announced to him proudly. "I'm rolling the dough."

"It's adorable." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I can't wait to taste them. It smells delicious."

"Don't distract her," May chimed in. "We're in the middle of a lesson."

"Are you?" Chase nuzzled his face against her neck. "You smell really good too."

When he kissed a path down her jaw to her lips, she abandoned the rolling pin and draped her arms over his shoulders.

"Chase." May cleared her throat. "Get out of my kitchen."