“Stay,” Tessa said, trying to sound convincing. “We were just going to watch TV. Right, Leo?”
“Right,” he said but not with much conviction.
“Oh. Okay,” Juliet said. “Well, I’ll go put my bag away, and maybe I’ll join you.”
“I’ll help you,” Viv said, wisely following her down the hall.
That left them facing each other in dead silence. Except for the tiniest little meow.
Cosette crawled out from under the couch and walked out to where they were standing.
“Oh, no. She was under the couch,” Tessa said.
“Is that a problem?”
“Well, do you think she got a little squished under there? With us…on top?”
Cosette plopped herself down on the floor right in front of them, lifted her back leg into the air, and began to give herself a bath.
“She’s basically telling us she couldn’t care less what we do.” He turned and took her hand. “And did your sister just refer to the spare room as her room?”
“You don’t mind if they stay?”
“I’ll pick a movie.” He paused, deadpan. “But is it okay if I choose one with murder and mayhem?”
Tessa shook her head and chuckled. Every day, she seemed to like Leo more and more. And every day, the barriers she’d put up to protect her heart seemed to be tumbling down. This was getting even more twisted than his silly puzzle game.
…
Leo walked straight into the upstairs bathroom and turned on the shower. Standing under the pounding stream, he tried to beat thoughts of Tessa out of his mind.
He’d never thought she was ugly.
He’d always thought she was fricking gorgeous. All that thick wavy hair; those big wide eyes that could never quite hide what she was really feeling. She didn’t have the ability to hide her emotions behind a smile like he did.
She wasn’t hard-hearted, cold, or emotionless. She was melted chocolate.
And he wanted to lick every bite.
Okay, that was a little ridiculous. But he meant it.
He’d never been so…aroused. He’d definitely never felt this way for someone who also had the capacity to annoy him so much.
Honestly, he’d never felt this way for anyone before.
And he’d never worried about a few kisses before like he was worrying now. Not because they weren’t amazing. But because he’d been filled with a feeling that he made certain to never mix with sex.
Tenderness.
He liked and admired her. And he absolutely did not want to be just friends with her.
He wanted her, plain and simple.
But she deserved someone who was dedicated, faithful, and capable of giving her 100 percent. Not someone who avoided love at all costs because it simply hurt too much.
Leo dried off, brushed his teeth, and collapsed onto his bed, trying to decide if he could really muster the ability to watch television. As he rolled on his side, a scent permeated his brain—lilies of the valley, ocean breezes, grassy hillsides…he had no idea what he was smelling, but he knew this: it was hers, left behind from when she’d slept in his bed last night.
She’d left her scent in his bed and her imprint on his soul.
And he was in big trouble. Because he’d gone and fallen for his wife.
Chapter Seventeen
The following Saturday, Tessa got Vivienne to cover her in the bakery so she could go over to Leo’s for the big lunch “presentation” that he’d arranged for his dad. They’d been so busy preparing the last few days, there hadn’t been any time to think about the couch incident. She was brushing her hair and retying it in a ponytail when her grandmother came up behind her at the old mirror that hung in the supply room at the back of the bread shop.
“Is that lipstick?” her grandmother asked.
Tessa rolled her eyes.
“I saw that,” her grandmother said.
“Well,” Tessa said, finishing her hair tie, “I can’t look like I’ve been up since four thirty this morning, can I?”
Her grandmother came up behind her and tugged at her ponytail, something she used to do when Tessa was a girl. “You’re nervous for him.”
“Yes.” She met her grandmother’s eyes in the mirror. “He’s poured everything into this. Farm-to-table, organic, delivery options. And it’s all much different from what his father is used to.”
“And you’re going to support him?”
“I’m in charge of dessert,” she said proudly as she reached into the old fridge and pulled out an enormous cake lined with a row of strawberries, layered with airy patisserie cream, and topped with piped-icing flowers.
“You made fraisier,” her grandmother said, clapping her hands.
“It’s summery and delicious, and it wows with its looks.”
Juliet whistled from behind her.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” Tessa asked.
“Lunch hour,” she said. “That’s spectacular.”
“Will you make me a gluten-free one?” Vivienne asked, walking in from the main shop. “Because that looks incredible.” She looked a little sweaty, and her ponytail was askew, causing Tessa a little pang of guilt. Tessa hoped that if they got things off the ground, they might be able to afford to hire someone before the end of summer, freeing Vivienne to return to her life in Paris.
Tessa’s mom motioned for Tessa to stand next to the cake and pulled out her phone. “Smile,” she said. Then she made everyone gather around it and took another. And then Vivienne took over and got some artsy shots for Tessa to use on her channel.
All of which made Tessa feel really good, because her mom seemed proud of what she’d baked. And it wasn’t even bread.
“Who have you made that for, exactly?” her mom asked.
“Leo’s father, aunt, and uncle. I think that’s all who are coming. He’s just really worried about what his dad will think.”
“Well, I admire him for what he’s doing,” her mom said. “An improvement in any business in town helps us, too.”
“I wish Leo the best,” her grandmother said as she bagged the piping hot loaf of bread fresh out of the oven that Tessa had baked especially for the lunch. “Even though your cake is going to be the star of the show. It looks professionally made.”
“Thanks, Gram,” Tessa said, hugging her. The compliment meant a lot. And also, it seemed that they were willing to be cordial, which was a good thing, right?