Im just glad you were there. Shes one of my favorite employees.
If that wasnt a load of crap. They both knew damn well that as long as the employees were female, they were all Eddies favorites.
Call me. You know my cell.
Reilly closed his eyes. He meant to drift off, hed long ago taught himself to clear his mind and sleep at will.
Only today his mind wouldnt clear and sleep evaded him.
Instead, he pictured mossy wet eyes and lips that tasted like heaven-when they were kissing him, that is, and not talking.
6
TESSA WENT HOME to her little apartment, trying not to think. She didnt want to remember facing those burglars and she didnt want to remember meeting Reilly. And she really didnt want to remember what shed done with him, because to have lusted like that so quickly, sofiery, was just damn uncomfortable in the light of day.
Being just outside downtown Los Angeles, she had a lovely view of the city line, complete with smog to the south and the Angeles Crest Mountains to the north.
She parked beneath the carport and felt smug about getting a covered spot-normally she was forced to park in the blazing hot sun. But normally she wasnt coming home at ten in the morning on a Saturday either.
She got out of her VW but instead of seeing her place, she saw Eddies. She remembered how Reilly had looked standing outside the house, his dark hair gleaming beneath the sunrise, his face not giving away much of anything. Hed stood there with easy confidence and a relaxed air, even though she knew damn well he wasnt relaxed.
They hadnt said goodbye.
Her building was red brick with white trim, and being mid-spring, the small yard was out in full bloom. Since her sister, Carolyn, who was in charge of the landscaping for the place, hadnt yet mowed, Tessa sank in up to her ankles as she crossed the small lawn to her front door. Two-B, home sweet home, where there were no nasty-tempered burglars, no guns, no small gray cots and no tall, dark and wildly magnificent strangers who kissed so well she lost brain cells every time she thought about it.
She sighed and fished through her purse for her keys. Everything seemed so normal here, so quiet, it was hard to believe what the last twenty-four hours had held.
Her sister popped out of apartment One-B so fast Tessa dropped her keys.
So did you forget my phone number? Carolyn asked very politely, tossing back her long, dark-blond hair.
Oh boy, the queen of the Delacantro household was ticked. No, I didnt forget your phone number.
Eyes that matched her own flashed at her and Tessa sighed. Carolyn thought of Tessa as her little chick, and she really hated it when her little chick didnt toe the line. Then maybe you got swept off your feet by a wild hunk of a man who held you prisoner all night long, she suggested. Maybe thats why you didnt call me to join you at your bosss fancy house.
A half-hysterical laugh bubbled out of Tessa. You know, thats just close enough to the truth to be scary. Except- She opened her apartment door, not surprised when her sister followed her inside.
Her sister always came in uninvited, ate her ice cream uninvited, felt obligated to tell Tessa she was wrong on a regular basis uninvitedand Tessa loved her anyway.
She tossed her purse and keys into the wicker basket on the floor where she put everything she didnt want to lose, sank to her couch, and sighed in pleasure. God, it felt like itd been a year since shed been home.
Exceptwhat? her sister asked.
Well, while he was a rather wild hunk, he didnt hold me prisoner all night long. Four other guys did that.
Carolyn laughed.
Tessa didnt.
And slowly Carolyns smile faded. She eyed Tessas sundress, a bit dusty from her crawl through Eddies attic. You wore that yesterday.
Yep.
You never repeat clothes.
Nope.
Tessawheres your left shoe?
Oh. I forgot to go back for it. Her apartment consisted of the great room-kitchen, living room and dining room all in one-and a small bedroom and bathroom. Since she favored bright colors, the place was full of them, from the blue-and-green couch she sat on to the sunshine-yellow kitchen table and matching chairs shed painted herself, to the plants she had thriving in every corner. On the walls were Rafes photographs-some abstract, some of their family, some of the places hed traveled to far and wide. She sank deeper into the couch, kicked off her one shoe and put her feet up. Im starving.
Carolyn was still staring at her. Slowly she came to the couch, hunkered down near Tessa and took her hand. Honey, youre scaring me.
I know how you feel about cooking, but I swear Ill be your best friend if you could whip me up some toast and an egg or something. Even PB and J would be great.
Carolyn didnt budge. Are you hurt?
Do I look hurt?
Your dress has a tear- She fingered a rip at the seam over Tessas collarbone. Then her eyes went hot, and she reached out and touched Tessas throat. Her extremely bruised throat. Oh my God. Baby, youre-
Its okay.
Im calling the police.
Tessa caught her hand and brought it up to her cheek, turning her face into it. Im okay.
With her other hand, Carolyn stroked Tessas hair off her face. Are you sure? What happened? Tell me everything.
This is the worst of it, she said of the bruises. I promise.
So you werent-
No one touched me. Well, no one that she hadnt wanted to.
Spill, damn it. Tell me right now or Im calling Rafe.
Their brother was the oldest of the three of them and even more protective than Carolyn. When his sisters had first started dating, itd nearly killed him. Eventually, hed gotten used to it, but only by pretending they were still virgins.
If Rafe thought shed been hurt, nothing would stop him from exacting revenge. I was supposed to watch Eddies house this weekend.
Yes, her sister said impatiently. The bosss house in the La Canada hills with all its riches and finery. What happened, Tessa?
When I let myself in, I interrupted a burglary in progress.
Carolyns mouth fell open. Oh my God.
Before I could get out of the house, one of them grabbed me and locked me in a room so he could finish what hed started, which was stealing from Eddie.
Carolyn wrapped her arms around Tessa. He grabbed you?
Luckily, all he wanted was me out of his way. Eddies son had also been shoved into this room, so I wasnt alone.
Eddie has a son? Is he okay?
Hes not a little kid, hesall grown up. Really grown up.
So the two of you were together, locked in a room? All night long?
She tried not to squirm because Carolyn could read a squirm at thirty miles. Yes.
Tell me hes a nice guy, Tessa.
Her sister looked so distraught, so worried, she managed a smile. And though nice wasnt quite the word she would have used to describe Reilly Ledger, she said, Hes a very nice guy.
Her sister studied her for a long moment. You must have been terrified.
How to explain that with Reilly her terror had taken a back seat to other things, such as a lust she was embarrassed about now.
How did you get out?
Good. A question she could answer. We waited for dawn, then crawled up through an attic access. Eddies son beat the crap out of the bad guys and called the cops.
Carolyns eyes were huge. Does Eddies son have a name?
Reilly.
And he was good to you.
Very, she said simply.
Well, then. Carolyn squeezed Tessa again. I want to hug him, too.
Hes not really the huggable type. She hugged her sister back because, now that it was over, things other than fear were beginning to make themselves known. Embarrassment, exhaustion, hunger You know what I really want?
What, baby? said Carolyn, stroking her hair. Anything. You want me to go burn something for you?
Tessa let out a little laugh and burrowed in closer. Yes. But while you do that, I want a long, hot shower. Im going to go wash it all out of my system. She pulled free and headed toward her bedroom. Lots of butter on the toast, okay? And can you try to scramble an egg? I have cheese you could add to it-
Ill get it.
Thank you, she whispered, a little too close to tears. All her life shed fought her two siblings for her independence, for liberation from baby status, but at the moment, she felt just shaky enough to be grateful for the way they loved to smother her.
As she stripped and stepped into the steam and hot water, nearly whimpering in gratitude at how it felt on her bruised, tired body, she wondered what Reilly was doing right now.
The man had a serious back-off attitude. She sincerely doubted hed ever let anyone baby and comfort him So where was he now? All alone? Shaken? Needing to be consoled and reassured?
Lonely?
Then she laughed at herself. She had a feeling that the man enjoyed being alone, very much. He wouldnt ever be weak enough to need someone to comfort him.
And he sure as hell didnt seem the type to need to be reassured about anything.
A knock came on the bathroom door, just before it opened. I brought you some hot tea, Carolyn said.
Thanks. Hot tea. She should want that and her bed. But she didnt think shed be able to sleep with her mind whirling around in circles the way it was.
Ill just leave it here on the counter, her sister said over the rush of the water. You doing okay?
Sure.
Are you almost done?
Tessa sighed and stuck her head out of the shower curtain. You called him, didnt you.
Carolyn held out Tessas portable phone.
Tessa turned off the water and put the phone in the crook of her neck. Hey, big brother.
Tell me youre really okay.
At the sound of Rafes voice, low and rough with concern, her throat went tight. Im really okay.
But her voice cracked and he swore softly. Tessa, listen. Im in Paris on a photo shoot but Ill get on the next plane-
No. She both laughed and sobbed and wiped her nose. Im fine, I promise.
You dont sound fine.
Its your voice. Thats all, she said. I heard you andI miss you. But Im not hurt, Im just tired and hungry.
Youre always hungry.
Yes, so you know I must be okay, right?
Rafe sighed. Promise me. Promise me youre not lying just so I wont come home early.
I promise.
Im going to call you tonight.
And probably every day until you come home, Tessa teased, somehow feeling better just for talking to the brother whod spent a lifetime making her feel better.