Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
He couldn’t argue with that. She was right. It had always been career first. And he couldn’t play games with Tessa the way he had in the past with others, enjoying their time together, however brief, with no hard feelings when it ended.
Tessa wasn’t the kind of woman he could put second to his career. But more important, he didn’t want to.
He was in love with her.
Completely in love.
But how to respond to Mila? As he’d said to Smith, he had to tell Tessa he loved her before he told anyone else. “You’re going to have to trust me on this one, sis. Tessa is different. Everything is different. She’s not like anyone else I’ve ever met. I’m no fool. She’s the real deal.”
Mila’s expression softened as she nodded. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear you say that.”
The sales associate cleared her throat and approached them. “Just wanted to see how you’re getting on,” she said, smiling. “I imagine they all looked stunning on you.”
Mila grinned. “We’re taking the silver one. It’s perfect.”
“Great choice,” the woman replied. “I had a feeling you might say that, so I brought these to show you.”
She lifted the lid of a cream and gold box and took out a pair of delicate silver heels. They were subtle, understated, and not too high, but sophisticated enough to set the dress off perfectly.
Mila looked at Arch, and when he nodded, Mila gave the woman Tessa’s shoe size.
Together, they walked to the register, and Mila browsed the sunglasses while Arch paid. “Do you want anything?” Arch asked his sister before the woman took his credit card.
But Mila shook her head. She was too stubborn to accept a gift. She preferred to pay for things out of her own hard-earned cash, and he respected her wishes. He’d find another way to thank her for her help today.
At the car, Mila carefully hung the dress from a hook and set down the shoe box. She chatted amiably as they drove to his place, but Arch had trouble focusing. All he could think about was Tessa on his arm, heart-stoppingly gorgeous in her new dress and heels, at the kind of event he usually dreaded, but was now actually looking forward to.
“Thank you,” he said to his sister as he collected the dress and shoes. “I really appreciate your help today—as well as the advice. I know you’re only looking out for Tessa, and I promise I won’t let either of you down.”
Mila’s white teeth flashed against her tanned skin. “Wow… maybe you have grown up, Archer Davenport.” And with that, she drove off, waving.
He let himself into the house and checked the time. Tessa would be back any minute. As fast as his leg would let him, he rushed to his bedroom and stashed the dress in its protective zip-up bag and the shoe box at the back of his closet, just as he heard Tessa come in through the front door. She called his name, and he went out to the hallway, excited to see her, even though they’d been apart for only a couple of hours.
“Hi,” she said as he came to kiss her hello. “You look pretty happy about something.”
He kissed her again and stood back, enjoying the sight of her. She was wearing battered jeans, her long dark hair was windblown, and there was a smudge of green paint on her cheek. He knew that she’d look amazing in that $5,000 dress—but right now, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
She didn’t need a fancy dress to make her shine.
He was, he realized, deeply and forever in love with Tessa.
His heart was beating double time, but he managed to keep his cool. “Just seeing you, and being with you, makes me happy.”
She smiled, a smile that started in her eyes and spread to her rosy cheeks. “Let me put my stuff away, and then I’ll be right back,”
But Arch shook his head. He couldn’t wait even a minute. He wanted—needed—to make love to Tessa right now. If he couldn’t tell her yet that he was in love with her, because he still didn’t think she was comfortable enough with their relationship for such a declaration, then at least he could show her with his body.
Planning to bring her to the heights of new pleasures she hadn’t even imagined, he took her hand in his and led her into his bedroom, leaving her backpack in the hallway.
She followed silently, and when he looked at her, he could see the same desire that he knew was in his own eyes. Clearly, she was feeling this connection as deeply as he was. The thought made him stir.
He ran his thumb tenderly across the paint smear on her cheek, the words I love you on the tip of his tongue. He kissed her then, for fear of blurting them out, but let the loving sensation travel from his chest to his fingertips, trying to will her to feel the love in his touch as he undressed her and slowly began to caress her.