Alicia flushed and began to stammer an apology. “I’m very sorry you had to overhear all that, Mrs. Gregson. I didn’t mean - that is, I’m just -”

“Disappointed that Ian didn’t choose you?” Joanna raised a dainty brow. “My dear, there have been a great many women like you over the years who’ve pursued Ian - pretty, well-bred, well-educated. The woman he was engaged to once was very much like yourself. But do you know why none of them ever held his attention, why he didn’t pick you over - ah, what did you call Tessa - oh, yes, a nobody?”

Alicia could only shake her head, too cowed to utter a reply.

“It’s because that girl loves him for who he truly is,” replied Joanna softly. “She sees far beyond the man that everyone else sees, beyond his obvious attributes like good looks and wealth and power. And that is why there will never be anyone else for either of them. Because deep down, where it really matters, they are two of the kindest, purest souls you’ll ever meet, and somehow they’ve managed to find each other.”

Alicia stared rather sullenly at her shoes, refusing to acknowledge what Ian’s mother had just said. She knew, just knew, that bitch Tessa was most likely telling Ian all the awful things she’d just said to her, and wondered wildly how she was going to talk her way out of this, especially when his mother had apparently overheard every word.

“How long have your worked for our company, dear?”

Alicia was a bit startled at the question but replied, “Almost five years, Mrs. Gregson.”

Joanna nodded. “Ah, well, that will look impressive on your resume, won’t it? And if you don’t have it up to date, I’d strongly advise polishing it up, dear. Maybe at the same time you’re typing up the letter of resignation I’ll tell my son to be expecting on his desk tomorrow morning. Now, do be sure and enjoy the rest of your evening, Alicia. And lay off the alcohol, dear. Otherwise your complexion will start to look like your father’s before you know it.”

With a charming smile, Joanna exited the lounge, allowing Alicia the dignity of sobbing her heart out in private.

Chapter Twenty-Two

June

“Hmm. Good morning.”

Ian glanced up from his newspaper and smiled at the sight of the gorgeous blonde framed in the doorway. Her hair was rumpled and she was in the middle of a very wide yawn. He knew that beneath her long white cotton robe with its ruffled neckline that she would be nude, and his blood immediately started pumping a little hotter at this realization. Even with a severe case of bedhead and not a scrap of makeup, Tessa never failed to arouse him, often just by being in the same room.

“Tired?” At her nod, he gave her an indulgent look. “You should have kept sleeping then, love. After all, we were up a bit late last night and will probably be so again tonight.”

Tessa shrugged, causing the gaping neckline of her robe to slide over her bare shoulder. “I got lonely in there without you. Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Ian chuckled. “For the same reason I ought to be tucking you back into bed right now. You obviously need your rest, darling. We have plenty of time until the wedding, you know. Why don’t you go back to sleep for a bit?”

She shook her head and started walking over to where he sat on the sofa. He sat up a little straighter, watching with unabashed interest as her robe parted with each step, revealing the endlessly long length of her legs. Ian held out his arms as she sat down next to him, cuddling her close and kissing the top of her head.

“Mmm, this is so nice,” she purred, burrowing her head against his shoulder. “I missed waking up with you.”

He stroked her tangled curls lovingly, and couldn’t prevent the way his body responded all too quickly to the feel of her unbound breasts crushed against his ribcage. “I promise to stay in bed with you tomorrow morning. We’ll sleep in as late as possible, all right? After all, another perk of owning this place is that I don’t have to worry about trivial details like check-out times.”

They were spending the weekend at the company’s luxury resort in Pebble Beach, the gated community adjacent to the quaint coastal town of Carmel. Today was Julia and Nathan’s wedding, and Ian was glad to see that the couple would be enjoying warm, sunny weather on their special day.

Ian nearly always used the owner’s suite when he visited one of the company’s properties, unless there was some dignitary or celebrity who’d requested it. At those times he would simply stay in another, smaller suite, much like the one he and Tessa were occupying now. As part of their wedding present to the couple, Ian had arranged for them to stay in the owner’s suite, though Nathan had had the plush accommodations all to himself last night. Even though he and Julia had been living together for almost a year, she’d insisted on sleeping apart the night before their wedding as tradition called for, and had stayed at her parents’ home in nearby Carmel Highlands. Ian gave Nathan a great deal of credit for abiding by his bride-to-be’s wishes; for himself, he honestly didn’t think he could ever willingly spend a night without Tessa in his bed.

“Why don’t you let me fix you some tea, love? Then we can call down for breakfast when you’re ready,” he offered.

Tessa gave another yawn. “I can get it. Why don’t you go back to your newspaper?”

“Hush. I’ll read it later. I’d much rather spend time with you. Be right back.”

Their suite was equipped with a state of the art beverage bar that included a Nespresso single serve coffeemaker with a wide assortment of brews, and a sophisticated electric kettle and selection of Tazo teas. He brewed them each a cup of their favorite Darjeeling blend, then carried the two steaming mugs back into the living room area.

“Mmm, thank you,” murmured Tessa after taking the first sip. “Just what I needed.” She had tucked her legs up under her, and he ran his hand up and down the back of her calf.

“My pleasure, love. And the least I can do, considering how many other times you’re the one brewing our morning tea.”

She gave him a sweet smile, the sort that never failed to make his throat catch just a little. “You know I don’t mind, know how much I love taking care of you.”

Ian’s fingers moved to her ankle, then her instep, giving her the sort of little foot massage he knew she adored. “The feeling is very mutual, my sweet.”