Splendor (Inevitable #2) (25 page)

Tessa couldn’t help the rush of tears that filled her eyes as she tentatively ran her hand over a pair of designer jeans before admiring a gorgeous silk blouse of pale blue.

“Do you like them?”

She turned to face Ian, who stood just behind her, a rather anxious expression on his face. It touched her deeply that he had evidently hand selected all of these lovely things for her, and even more so that he was worried if they were to her liking or not.

Tessa wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling her face against his bare chest. “How could I not?” she replied tearfully. “I know without even looking at everything that it will all be perfect. You have wonderful taste.”

He tipped her chin up, frowning at the sight of her tears. “If you like everything so much, then why are you crying?”

She felt a tear begin to trickle down her cheek. “Because you’re so good to me,” she whispered brokenly. “I’m not used to anyone doing these sorts of things for me, or trying to take care of me the way you do. I guess I’m just a little amazed.”

Ian kissed both of her eyelids. “This is just the tip of the iceberg, you know,” he told her solemnly. “I intend to buy you whatever your heart desires, Tessa. I don’t ever want you to be deprived again.”

She shook her head. “I don’t need things, Ian. I’m used to making do with what I have. I hope – I mean, that’s not why I’m here with you. Because of your money, I mean. That’s just not important to me. So don’t expect me to ask you for things because I won’t.”

“I know that, darling.” He combed her damp hair through his fingers. “Which is exactly why you can expect to receive a great many surprises from me. Ah, let’s not forget these.”

He opened a built-in drawer to reveal half a dozen sets of lacy lingerie, each in a different color. Ian picked up a very sexy bra of black lace and a matching pair of panties.

“I’ve been imagining you in this particular set since I picked them out,” he murmured in a husky voice.

Tessa fingered the lacy cups of the bra, feeling a little shy that he’d personally chosen lingerie for her. “They’re beautiful. And I’ll wear them for you whenever you want me to.”

The smile on his handsome face was positively amoral. “”Well, if I had my preference, I’d keep you dressed in nothing but these skimpy bits – or nothing at all – twenty four seven. But I suppose I need to let you out of my bed once in a while, don’t I?”

She giggled, liking this playful side of him. “Don’t forget I have a job. And a very demanding boss. Somehow I don’t think he’d consider these “skimpy bits” proper office attire.”

“You’re damned right he wouldn’t,” he growled, banding an arm about her waist and yanking her against him. “I haven’t waited this long for you only to share the sight of this luscious body with anyone else.” He cupped her breast through the soft fabric of her robe, his thumb rasping over the nipple. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear these under your clothes, so I can fantasize about how you look in them all day.”

Tessa gave a little moan as he continued to fondle her breast. “I’ll do whatever you want so long as you keep touching me like that.”

His fingers splayed open over her breast before giving it a squeeze. “You are quickly becoming a lusty little thing, aren’t you?” he purred. “But I’m afraid you’ve wrung me dry for the moment, love. Christ, I’ve never had this much sex in such a short amount of time. You’re like a constant aphrodisiac. Now, it’s time to take care of other appetites, hmm? Let’s find you some clothes so we can head out for breakfast.”

She ran a hand up over his pectorals, loving this opportunity to touch his bare skin. “Is it still raining?”

“Absolutely pouring. It eased up a bit during the night, I believe, but a second front is passing through right now. Why do you ask?”

Tessa rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers plucking at the towel wrapped around his waist. “Would you mind very much if we just stayed here today? I’d love to cook breakfast for you. I mean, my cooking skills are pretty basic but I can manage breakfast.”

“I don’t want you to have to work at all this entire weekend,” he declared. “That is – I hope you can stay with me the rest of the weekend. Am I interfering with any plans you’d made?”

She grinned. “Just a hot date with my laundry. And a very fun afternoon at the grocery store. Nothing that won’t keep a couple of days. And I really don’t mind making breakfast. You have such an amazing kitchen that I’d love the chance to use that stove. Provided I can figure out how to operate it, that is.”

“Ah, so now the real truth comes out,” teased Ian. “It’s my kitchen you’re really interested in, not me. I’ll tell you what, love. We’ll cook breakfast together, all right?”

She raised a brow in surprise. “You know how to cook?”

He shrugged. “Well, I’m no Emeril Lagasse but I can manage some basics. My brothers and I were required to work our way up from the bottom in the company, and for me at least that included a stint or two working in hotel restaurants. My housekeeper usually restocks supplies on Friday, so we’ll see what we can put together. Now, I suggest you get some clothes on, love. If you stay in that robe, it will be far too tempting – and easy - for me to slip it off you at a moment’s notice.”

Tessa tugged playfully at his towel. “Not as easy as it would be for me.” Then she squealed as his big hand swatted her bottom.

“Behave,” he admonished. “I think we’ll both be safer if you dress in here while I go shave. And don’t even start looking at price tags. I should have had them all cut off.”

“When exactly did you have time to put all these things away, anyway?” she asked curiously.

“I’m afraid I had to leave that task to my housekeeper,” he admitted. “Fortunately, Mrs. Sargent is both accommodating and discreet. Though I could sense she was very anxious to ask me several questions about who all these things were for.”

“So you don’t normally buy things for your overnight female guests?” she asked pointedly.

Ian shook his head. “Except for family members, I have never purchased clothing – much less very fetching lace undies – for a woman. Same thing with overnight guests. The only women who have ever been in this house are Mrs. Sargent and family members.”

Tessa was extremely pleased at this revelation. “So I’m a first for you in at least a couple of ways, too.”

He held her face between his palms and kissed her forehead. “More than a couple, love. Let me grab some clothes now and I’ll go change outside after I shave.”

She clasped his wrist. “Wait.”

As he gazed at her expectantly, she asked him shyly, “Would it bother you not to shave today? I – um, like you this way for a change. The stubble, I mean. It’s very sexy.”

Ian grinned as she caressed his cheek. “I don’t mind at all, Tessa. In fact, I don’t always shave when I’m home on the weekends. And if you find it sexy, then I definitely won’t do it today.”

She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

Sweat broke out on his brow and his eyes darkened. “Christ, I feel like a horny teenager whenever I’m near you. I’d better get my things before I check another item off your list of firsts.”

She regarded him curiously as he efficiently selected clothing from the racks and drawers. “What item would that be?”

He winked at her cheekily. “Shagging in the closet.”

Chapter Twelve

The quiet, mellow morning was one of the most enjoyable that Ian had ever spent in this big, often lonely house. He typically spent so much time traveling on business, attending meetings or social events that he wasn’t actually here all that much.

But he could certainly make a strong case for spending a great deal more time at home provided that Tessa kept him company as she was right now.

They had cooked breakfast together, assembling eggs, potatoes, and bacon, and then finishing off the meal with tea and the scones Mrs. Sargent had bought from his favorite local bakery. It had been a quiet, companionable meal, the two of them gazing out the kitchen windows as the storm continued to bring heavy rain and winds outside. Tessa had been delighted to discover that there was a secluded courtyard just outside of the kitchen’s sliding glass doors, and was even more pleased when he’d promised her they could have breakfast out there another time when the weather allowed.

After cleaning up the dishes, they spent a couple of hours in his home office. Ian worked on preparing notes for yet another trip he was taking week after next, while Tessa happily curled up on the sofa with a short stack of books he’d helped her select from his library.

He glanced up at one point and smiled fondly as he watched her unobserved. She was wearing the gray yoga pants and pink thermal sweater he’d bought for her, her bare feet tucked beneath her. She was avidly looking through a thick, glossy book with photographs of Tuscany, wrapping a lock of her hair around her fingers. She was enchanting, enthralling, and he thought he could happily stare at her for hours on end.

She looked up then, as if feeling his gaze upon her, and returned his smile a little shyly. “Hi. Taking a break?”

Ian pushed aside the reports he’d been reviewing. “Calling it quits for the day, actually. I don’t want to spend even one more minute of this weekend with you doing work. But speaking of work, we ought to get that issue resolved while we’re able to think rationally.”

“Okay.” She set aside her book as he took a seat next to her on the leather sofa.

Ian picked up her hand, idly brushing his thumb over her knuckles. “You know I’ve broken all of my rules for you,” he began half-teasingly. “In all the years – decades, actually – that I’ve worked for my family’s company I have never dated or even flirted with a female employee.”

Tessa gave him an impish smile. “And I’m guessing it wasn’t for lack of opportunity. An awful lot of opportunities.”

He rolled his eyes at her. “Don’t believe all the gossip you hear, darling. I’ve worked hard to develop a reputation as a cold, unapproachable bastard over the years. It’s done a lot to keep most of the overly optimistic females at bay.”

She snuggled up against him, her hand creeping under his gray cashmere pullover to rub his lower back. “There’s nothing the least bit cold about you,” she whispered, her breath tickling his ear. “You’re actually really, really hot.”

Growling, he yanked her onto his lap. “And you’re making me burn for you, my sweet. Careful about playing with fire, hmm?” He brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Now, before you make me forget my damned name again, let’s talk about the office. More specifically, how you and I are going to have to conduct ourselves while we’re there. At least for the short term.”

Tessa frowned. “Short term? I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Are you planning to have me transferred somewhere?”

“No. That’s not one of the options I’ve considered. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves just a bit.” He brushed her hair behind her ear. “I’ve told you more than once that I don’t want to overwhelm you, Tessa. Nor do I want to control or manipulate you – ever. That’s not the sort of relationship I want to have with you.”

She nodded. “I know you don’t. And that means a lot to me, Ian. It would be so easy for me to just allow you to take me over, to depend on you for everything. But I don’t think I’d like myself very much if I let that happen.”

“Well, it’s nothing you have to worry about because I won’t let that happen, either. You’re a bright, capable young woman and I fully intend to help you realize that. Now, as I was saying, I’ve broken all of my hard and fast rules for you – getting involved with an employee. In particular, an employee who works directly for me. We cannot let anyone else find out, Tessa. The repercussions for both of us would be – unpleasant.”

“I know,” she agreed readily. “I’m good at keeping secrets, Ian. I’m also very closed mouthed about my personal life, even if the rest of the team is pretty much an open book about theirs. Especially Kevin.”

Ian grimaced when he noticed the way she wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Yes, I’ve had the great misfortune of overhearing some of that young man’s – er, exploits. I can just imagine some of the tawdry tales he’s offended you with.”

“It’s okay,” she assured him. “He’s an airhead and – well, kind of a slut – but at least he’s always been kind to me. Not like A - ”

“Alicia,” he finished. “No great surprise there. That one’s a nasty, stuck-up little witch. Unfortunately, her parents attend many of the same events that I do, and she’s invited along occasionally. I’m not pleased that she knows quite so much about my social life.”

“She’s pretty fixated on you,” Tessa told him quietly. “She’s even talked about quitting her job so that you’d be free to date her.”

Ian made a small sound of distaste. “It certainly wouldn’t bother me in the least if she quit, but there’s nothing she could do that would entice me to ask her out. Ever. Alicia is definitely not my type, so put that thought out of your head right now.”

“Okay,” she agreed happily.

“I appreciate that you’ve always been the epitome of discretion at the office, Tessa. You’re going to have to take even more precautions to make sure no one suspects we’re involved. If someone asks what you did on the weekend, for example, or if you’re dating someone, you’ll have to find a way to diffuse the situation.” He hesitated. “I hate to outright ask you to lie, but if it becomes necessary - ”

“I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect both of us,” she insisted. “And I’ve become pretty good at avoiding personal questions. Fortunately, the others love to talk about themselves so much that they seldom ask about me.”

Ian was beginning to feel a little less worried about what could easily develop into an awkward situation. “All right. I’ll count on you to keep everything under wraps and simply avoid discussing your personal life as much as possible. The far more difficult part, I fear, is going to be for the two of us to act as though nothing has changed.”

“I know.” She began to twirl a lock of her hair through her fingers again. “While we’re at the office, you’re back to being Mr. Gregson. And we really don’t see much of each other during the day anyway. Especially since you travel so much.”