Taming Tessa Read online

  Funny how she’d never noticed Jack’s dark eyes. “Drake is out of town by now. I’ll be alone. And scared.”

  “Do me a favor, Tessa.” His sensuous cologne snaked around her in a warm lei of exotic fragrance. “Get out. I have a plane to catch.”

  Her heart pounded with the hurt of his rejection and growing anger. “You jerk. You can’t believe I meant any of that.” She would have tumbled from the car if he hadn’t caught her wrist. “You’re the last man I would spend Christmas with.”

  Her exit would not be the theatrical scene she’d hoped to pull off. She stumbled and slid, legs straddled and skirt hiked to her ass. The ultimate disgrace came as she fell out of her shoes for the second time that day. No, now came the most unforgivable act, falling onto her back in the snow.

  She heard the car door slam, but managed to scramble to her feet before Jack could get to her.

  “Let me help you.” He had the balls to laugh at her. “You trying out for the hockey team?”

  “Get away.” She slapped his hand aside. “I don’t need your help. Go catch your plane to hell.’

  He stood back while she scrounged around for her shoes. “Need help yet, Cinderella?”

  She couldn’t think of anything dirty enough to call him. Carrying a shoe in each hand, she brushed past him, stomping up the walkway to her front door.

  Her bare feet burned from the cold and her lips were numb. She hated herself for letting him see her in such a ridiculous situation.

  At the door, she hesitated and glanced at him over her shoulder. Mister Cool watched her every move. Getting the key in the lock seemed to take forever. She finally heard the lock click and pushed the door open.

  Once safely inside with the door closed, she looked out the peephole to see him driving away. The weight of being alone settled on her shoulders.

  She called herself an idiot, watching the red tail lights of Jack’s car disappear in the swirling snow.

  Why weren’t you nicer to him? He would have stayed if you’d treated him right. If you could have made him forget how much he dislikes you.

  Maybe she should call the hospital and ask Griffin if he wanted to make up.

  Her soft groan was the only sound in the dimly lit hallway.

  Don’t be a fool, Tessa. That relationship ended when you broke his pretty nose.

  She knew that didn’t matter. There had never been anything between them. They used each other as party dates because neither of them had anyone to care about.

  Spending the night alone made her nervous. If it hadn’t been storming, she’d go to one of the trendy clubs on the Plaza, maybe meet someone new.

  She sighed and made a halfhearted attempt to hang up her coat. The expensive garment fell unnoticed to the floor. Out of habit, she went through the house, flipping on lights. The fact shamed her, but she feared what she couldn’t see in the dark.

  A thumping sound from the upper level startled her. What if someone had gotten in and hid upstairs? That was stupid thinking. The door had been locked when she came home. No one else had a key.

  Okay, so you don’t have to go up there right now.

  The kitchen seemed the best place to wait for her courage to return. Tessa dropped her handbag on the hall table and walked into the gleaming chrome and granite kitchen. Her grandmother’s service of Bavarian china and Waterford crystal sparkled in the dish cabinets. She had never used it.

  Her gaze went to the stack of unopened mail on the counter where she’d dropped it several days ago. She sorted through the envelopes, tossing most of it aside. The postcard with a pretty winter scene held her attention. The note had come from her brother Drake. He’d sent a last minute invitation for her to join the family at their Squaw Creek lodge in Colorado. Sure, and be bored, questioned, and badgered by her family.

  She glanced around the kitchen and made the decision of a lifetime. In the morning, she would call Drake. Better to be with her tight-assed brother than alone.

  Feeling hopeful and somewhat eager, Tessa hurried up the stairs to her bedroom to pack. She laid out enough clothing for a week. That meant several suitcases for all the shoes, boots, and cosmetics that would be needed.

  Thirty minutes later, she became tired of packing. Why hadn’t she hired that live-in maid to do all this? She knew she’d turned that down because Drake had suggested it.

  Tessa didn’t want someone else in the house. It would have ended what little privacy she enjoyed. She valued that too much to give it up.

  On the flip side, she wondered how living with Jack would be. He was too good looking not to be involved with someone special. Her chances with him had been zero from the day they’d met. Being her brother’s attorney and friend, the chances were zero to nothing.

  She remembered their first meeting. He’d walked in just in time to witness a screaming brawl between her and Drake. She couldn’t remember the reason for the fight, but she did remember Jack’s expression. He’d been amused.

  Plus, he probably thought she was a trollop, easy and available to any shithead that came along. Maybe because he’d seen her with a lot of different men.

  To hell with him.

  She threw a catalog on the floor in disgust.

  He didn’t know her at all, and it looked like he didn’t want that to change.

  The small snapshot of Drake on her desk caught her eye. She wondered what he had in common with Savage. For that matter, how old was Jack Savage? He was in his late thirties, early forties maybe. No gray hair and his teeth were white when he laughed. Even if it happened to be at her.

  She loved his laugh and warmed to her bones whenever he smiled at her. From their first meeting, he’d moved into her heart and there had been no room for anyone else.

  * * * *

  Jack leaned against the window casing and stared morosely down at the snow piling up on the side street where he lived on the re-emerging West Side. He’d moved into this neighborhood for the quiet and the fantastic view of the river and old rail yard.

  There was something comforting about living near the abandoned stockyards. The West was never far away.

  People like Tessa and Drake Duval were messing with his peace and quiet, and he didn’t like it.

  Drake had a huge set of balls to ask this of him. Being with Tessa compared to a hot summer whirlwind with a crazy witch in the center. A sexy, mouthy witch.

  He figured he’d be lucky to get to the airport at all. He sipped his cognac, the last in the house, and thought about what he’d done earlier that evening.

  Not much of a hero, you bastard.

  Tessa hadn’t been out of his thoughts since he’d left her. He was being ridiculous. The woman was just that—a woman, and a damn tough one at that. Why was he worried about her? If he didn’t stop thinking that way, she’d ruin the holidays with his family and friends.

  Think about the parties and women you’re going to miss. Mom’s fabulous meals. The women. Aw, shit!

  Jack was furious with himself, but grabbed his overcoat and keys, slamming the door as he left to go pick up the world’s biggest nuisance: Tessa.

  He had been kidding himself, knowing from the start he was going back for her. He hated like hell to call his parents with the lame excuse that he was busy and wouldn’t be home for Christmas.

  He heard the disappointment in his mother’s voice now and her saying she understood. He sure as hell didn’t.

  Driving the hazardous streets to pick up a woman he had no desire to spend time with gave him reason to question his mental capacity.

  He clenched his teeth as a skidding city bus groaned past him and hit a traffic light. Not only was he crazy, he was a danger to himself. Hell fire. He was from Arizona. What the hell did he know about snow and ice? Nothing.

  That settled it. If he did manage to get Tessa and himself back to his place, they weren’t leaving till spring thaw. He wondered just how safe they would be from each other, caged up in his bachelor pad.

  After witnessing a do
zen collisions on the way to her place, he breathed easier. He pulled up in front of Tessa’s townhouse, grinning when he noticed all the lights were on.

  He got out of the car and glanced around the area, a habit all attorneys were wise to adopt. He never knew when an unhappy felon wanted his head.

  There was at least another three inches of fresh powder on the walk. He plowed through it while his dress shoes filled with snow. Why the hell hadn’t he changed his clothes? His earlier thought that he might like the fresh, crisp scent of the air died a quick death. There wasn’t anything good about this weather.

  He tried the bell and then pounded on the door. There was no response.

  “Tessa.” He stomped his feet, testing to make sure they weren’t frozen. “Open the door, damn it.”

  The doorknob turned, but nothing else happened. He grimaced, wondering what was going on. Laying his shoulder against the sturdy door, he pushed with all his strength.

  He couldn’t believe it. He was airborne.

  Whoa, damn it!

  That’s all he had time to think while he flailed his arms and spreads his legs on the slick tile floor, then fell face down in Tessa’s hallway. When he slid to a stop and looked up, she stood over him, her smile taunting.

  “Hello, Jack.”

  “Why don’t you lock your damn door?” There was no dignity or anything close for him to grab on to. “Get your stuff. You’re going home with me.”

  “What made you change your mind?” Her smile was smug, and her eyes sparkled with what she probably considered a victory.

  “You looked like you could use a vacation.” His back hurt when he got up to stand face to face with her.

  He calculated their lips would have no trouble locking since she was almost as tall as him. His fingers itched to cup her pretty chin and trace the fine line of her jaw. He was getting hard just being this close to her. Would her breasts fit in his hands?

  “Jack?” She moved a fraction of an inch closer to him, smothering him with her sensuality. “I’ll go get my things.”

  He woke from his erotic fog with a start. “Hurry it up. The car will be ice cold if you keep screwing around.”

  Such a witty choice of words. Her soft laughter clung to him long after she’d walked serenely up the stairs, leaving him to think about the way her hips looked as she walked.

  While she was upstairs humming, he paced the floor and called himself a fool.

  What was he going to do with a woman so rich her fur coat lay in a heap on the floor? He picked it up and hung it on a fancy oak hall tree.

  He looked around, taking in the fine brocade couches and designer club chairs in front of the stone fireplace. There had never been a fire in that thing.

  The liquor cabinet was a glass affair filled with bottles of fancy labels he’d never considered buying. He was surprised to see she hadn’t opened any of them.

  He wondered what she would think of his two bottles, one scotch and a half bottle of cognac. Hell, he didn’t care what she thought. He was going to treat her just like he always did.

  You’re kidding yourself, Savage. This is going to be different, and you’re worried about being alone with her.

  He hoped he could keep his desire for her his secret problem.

  “It’s about time.” His gruff comment spewed from his open mouth when Tessa came down the stairs. She looked sensational in a black coat that hit the floor and fit her waist like a hug. Her long blonde hair hid under a red tam on her head.

  “I hope I wasn’t too long.” Her gaze darted from him to the two suitcases she’d pushed down the stairs. “Is this too much?”

  “Is it enough to last until March?” Her eyes rounded with shock. “Relax. We’ll kill each other before then.”

  She reached for one of the bags. “I’ll be gone long before I have to put you out of your misery.”

  “You got that right, sister.” Jack grabbed both bags. “Open the door and lock it after we’re out.”

  “Let me have one.” Her offer sounded limp as he hurried out the door, fighting two heavy bags to the car.

  “Get in the car…please.” Jack threw the bags in the trunk and stomped his way back to the front of the car. He got in and turned the heater to full blast.

  She huddled in her coat, watching him with a wariness he hated. He decided to ignore her and try to get home with as little trouble as possible.

  What happened once they were alone in his apartment was not going to be pretty. Why had he chosen to stay here in the frozen wastes of the Midwest? Tessa had nothing to do with his decision.

  Liar.

  Chapter Three

  “You’re mad.” Of course he was mad. He probably had planned to be with someone he cared for.

  “That’s not even close.” His dark gaze drilled into her long enough to say how despicable he found her.

  She knew one way of changing his mind. She would have sex with Jack. Maybe.

  He didn’t speak again until they got to his apartment. “We’re here, ma’am.”

  She made a face of distaste. He lived in a two-story salt-box brick house. It sat perched on the edge of a cliff and overlooked nothing but a rusting rail yard and abandoned warehouses.

  He got her bags from the trunk. “You can look out a window where it’s warm.” She knew he was strong when he easily lifted both bags and ran up the short flight of steps. He unlocked the door and set her bags inside. “Well, come on in. It’s reasonably clean.”

  She didn’t doubt that. He was always neat and smelled so damn good. “Where am I to sleep?”

  “With me.” A hint of a teasing smile played over his sensuous mouth. “You got a problem with that?”

  “Not at all.” He probably thought she was teasing. She wasn’t.

  “Don’t get excited, Tessa. I have two bedrooms.”

  He broke her bubble easily enough.

  The inside of his house smelled like him—clean and exotically male. She took off her coat and draped it over a cocoa-brown armchair.

  “They’ve invented a place in the wall for that.” He took the coat and handed it back to her. “I’ll show you where your closet is.”

  “My things?” He was already halfway up the winding staircase, carrying her bags.

  “Later.” He eyed her with a slight smile. “Right now, I want to get you settled in your bedroom.”

  What was that little smile—a tease, a warning, or indigestion?

  “I’m ready if you are.” She followed him to the upper level, hating to admit that the place was nicely furnished and spotless.

  “This is where you’ll bunk.” He flipped the light switch and the room came alive with warmth. “Plenty of room for you and all your stuff.” He nodded to an open door across the room. “Your private bath.”

  “Do you have candles?” He arched his dark brows. “I always have candles in my bathroom.”

  “What do you take me for?” He tossed her coat onto the white down comforter on the bed. “You’ll make it without them. Or do you need me to scrub your back?”

  “If you’re offering, it would be a nice change from your hostile self.”

  “Oh, this is going to be fun.” His mumbled words made her smile.

  “What did you say, Jack?”

  “I said yes, ma’am.”

  He went back downstairs, leaving her to explore.

  He liked comfort and no clutter. The bed was a nice big one, covered with a sea-blue down comforter and a folded green blanket at the foot. He also liked to be warm.

  Thinking there might be leftover women’s things in the double closet, she opened the doors. The soft familiar scent of his cologne was the only occupant.

  That was going to change right now. She hurried to open her luggage and began to hang up her clothes.

  “Tessa.” She swung around, surprised to see him in the doorway.

  “What’s wrong?” Maybe he was going to take her back home. She closed the closet doors. “Has Griffin found me?”
/>   “Wouldn’t matter if he did.” Jack handed her towels and washcloths. “I can handle that.”

  Her stomach churned, and she hugged the towels to her chest. “He’s cruel.”

  “And I have a thirty-eight.”

  “Really?” Jack fascinated her even more now, and his cool demeanor fired her attraction to him. The idea he would protect her made her love him more.

  He paused at the door, turning to look at her. “I really wanted to tell you there are no strings attached to this. Okay?”

  Okay, that proves he isn’t attracted to you.

  She turned down the comforter. “I didn’t think so.”

  He drummed his fingers on the door and smiled at her. “I’ll try to find something for you to eat.”

  She’d always wondered how being alone with him would be. None of her ideas had been accurate. The idea that he felt nothing for her hit like a ton of bricks.

  She remembered the way he’d gone out of his way to avoid her, leaving Drake’s office the moment she showed up. Much to her shame, she’d driven by Drake’s office on a regular basis just to see if Jack was there.

  He’d made it crystal clear she wasn’t the girl of his dreams. But maybe she’d be the woman he couldn’t forget.

  The aroma of coffee made her lick her lips. Something else smelled wonderful, and she realized she hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday.

  He’d changed while she had been snooping. She’d never seen him in faded jeans and a dark blue flannel shirt. They looked good on him.

  “That smells good.” Tessa looked at the table he’d set for two. “What is it?”

  “Porterhouse steak and scalloped potatoes.” He frowned at her questioning of the fare. “It’s tomato soup and butter sandwiches.”

  “Just like on television. Perfect.” She’d never had a butter sandwich, but they looked heavenly.

  “Just eat it and keep your compliments to yourself.”