"If not for your dad setting me straight, I would have really screwed my life up. He worked me hard those summers at the cabin. Kept me away from some bad influences."
"He knew your mom?"
"They went to school together but lost touch after she married my dad." He remembered the year Pat came to work for his family. He did odd jobs around the estate. "Shortly after my father died, my mother hired your dad to work on our property. He maintained the landscaping and did some other odds and ends for her."
"My dad could always find work."
"He's a good man. I remember him always telling me how important it is to provide for family."
"How did you end up coming to stay at the cabin?"
"I was hanging with the wrong crowd. I was really out of control. By the time that summer started, I'd already been kicked out of two prep schools."
"Rich people problems." She rolled her eyes.
"I guess, but I experimented with drugs and alcohol too. My mom was going through so much and your dad offered to have me spend that first summer with your family. You were a baby. Every time I see a little girl with red hair I think of you."
"That's sweet, but I don't remember you."
"You were young but I did spend three summers with your family. He encouraged me to pursue architecture. I would sketch at night while we sat by the fire. You and your mom would hang out with us for a bit before she took you to get a bath and put you to bed."
"We continued to go there every summer until I was twelve then we had to sell." Disappointment settled in her eyes. "I loved that place."
"The property was incredible. That's prime real estate today. I wonder who owns it?"
"The bank took it from my dad, so whoever got it probably made out really well." She played with the napkin in front of her plate. "Some of my best childhood memories were spent there. I wish I could go back."
"I'm sorry." He reached across the table and took her hand, feeling the need to comfort her. "That must have been hard on you."
"It was just one more thing to add to my shitty childhood." She laughed, but it was different from her infectious giggle. "So you wouldn't have all of this," she looked around, "if not for my old man?"
"Well, I might have had all of this, but my life wouldn't have turned out this good. Some of the friends I hung out with back then didn't do as well as I did. Three of them were pretty bad. One went to jail, another is snorting his trust fund, and I lost track of the other one. Your dad got my ass in gear and made sure I didn't give my mom any more trouble. I went off to college after that last summer I spent at the cabin."
"Did you lose touch with my dad? I don't ever remember you coming around."
"We kept in touch for a while. I studied abroad for a few semesters. Then I moved to San Diego for a couple of years. I worked for a firm there before coming back to Massachusetts and starting my own company. I've been so busy the past few years that I lost touch with him. A friend of my mom's mentioned his accident to me because he remembered I stayed with your dad."
"I'm glad you reached out to him, but I'm still embarrassed he asked you to take me in. That was totally unexpected."
"I was surprised myself." He smiled when he thought about that conversation in the hospital. Pat had caught him off guard, but when he saw the desperation on Tessa's face there was no way he could say no. "When I went to visit him, I had no idea I'd be leaving with a roommate."
"Do you regret it? It must be hard to have someone invade your space." She glanced down at their joined hands.
"Sorry." He let go of her hand. Holding it seemed so natural that he had forgotten he was even doing it. "Now I've invaded your space."
"I don't mind."
"I'm glad I came home for dinner," he said. "It's been nice getting to know you."
"Do you think we could do it again next week?" She looked up at him with those persuasive blue eyes of hers. They were full of hope and anticipation. "If you're not too busy."
"I'd like that."
"Cool." She stood and collected the dirty plates. "You want to go watch a movie? You have that massive home theater that I never see you use."
"Sure, that sounds like a plan." Just as he was about to help her with the dishes there was a knock at the back door. There were only a small group of people who came to the back door and he hadn't invited any of them tonight.
"Expecting someone?" she asked.
"I don't think so." He moved toward the door, looking through the glass to see who it was. Crap!
His attorney and ex-girlfriend was standing there holding a six pack of beer. Chase pulled open the door to greet the woman who often showed up when she had nothing better to do. She'd been dating someone for over a month and hadn't come knocking in weeks. Not once since Tessa moved in.
"Audra," he said, "what brings you here?"
"I have those papers for you to sign and I thought maybe we could order a pizza. I brought beer." She held up her offering. "Did you eat?"
"Yeah, I did."
"This early?" She stepped into the kitchen. "Since when are you even home at this hour?"
"Hi." Tessa moved to stand next to Chase. "We have some pizza left over if you're hungry."
Tessa had taken Audra by surprise. Chase could see it in her expression. He'd mentioned he'd taken in his friend's daughter but he hadn't given her any details. He hoped his unstable ex didn't misbehave.
"You must be Tessa," Audra said as she glared at Chase. "I'm Audra Sinclair, Chase's attorney."
"Cool," Tess said. "I'll bet he keeps you busy. He's such a workaholic."
"He's a real slave-driver." Audra set the six pack on the counter. "Do you want to go over those contracts tonight or are you busy?"
"Tessa and I were going to watch a movie..." He ran his fingers through his hair. There was no way he was sitting in the movie room with the both of them on either side of him.
"I'll take a rain check," Tessa said. "I can head over to campus to meet some friends."
"Now?" Chase didn't want her to go.
"Yeah, it's Friday night." She loaded the last plate into the dishwasher. "There's always people on campus."
"Sounds like fun," Audra said. "We'll just be going over boring business."
"Lucky you." Tessa dried her hands on a paper towel. "Can I take the car?"
"Sure." Chase's gaze followed her to the hall. "You're going now? Dressed like that?"
"Chase," Audra said, "that's how teenagers dress."
"She's twenty," Chase mumbled. "I just meant the temperature is going to drop. You might get cold."
"I'll be fine." Tessa giggled as she walked toward him. "I won't be late." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Have fun working."
"It was nice meeting you, Tessa," Audra said in a cold, clipped tone.
"You too," Tessa called over her shoulder. "I'm sure I'll see you around."
Chase watched, still feeling the warmth of her lips on his skin, as she bounced out of the kitchen and down the hall. He hadn't expected her to kiss him. She'd never done that before.
"Seriously?" Audra asked as she popped open a beer and grabbed a slice of pizza.
"What?" He sat down at the island, reaching for a beer. He wasn't in the mood for a game of twenty questions.
"Why didn't you tell me about her?" She sat across from him.
"I did."
"You omitted a lot," she said. "I didn't expect her to be so vivacious."
"I hadn't noticed."
"You're such a liar." She sipped her beer. "That's why you've been spending so much time at the office. You can't be around her."
"That's ridiculous." But so true.
"You're not fooling me." She shook her head. "I know what you like."
"Here we go."
"You like sex and you like it often."
"Why don't you be blunt about it?"
"I could be. I know you, you know." She smirked. "Remember?"
How could he forget? She reminded him of their brief tryst every chance she got. Ten months ago she'd accompanied him on a business trip. One thing led to another and they came back as a couple. Chase liked her, but she was needy. The affair only lasted two months. She was still hung up on her ex and trying to forget. He had been single and up for some fun. They had a good time but when he figured out she wanted to pick up with him where she and her ex left off, Chase decided she wanted way more than he was willing to give. They both agreed to end the physical relationship. She even left the firm for a few months. It was a mutual decision. She said she needed to get away but Chase knew she was in the middle of a breakdown and paid for her to stay in the Caribbean at one of those spas that catered to mental well-being. She'd been seeing a therapist ever since.