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)
Tessa turned her gaze away from him and back to the screen. For a moment, they both stared at the frozen shot of the flattened hat on the ground.
In a gentle tone, she said, “You don’t have to prove anything anymore.”
Arch let out a small laugh. “You sound like my mom. And Mila. And, frankly, everyone else who’s talked with me about the accident.”
But Tessa didn’t crack a smile. She still looked deeply worried, and it hurt him to see the pain etched across her forehead.
“I know I have no right to tell you this,” she said, “but I can’t keep it in. Please don’t do another stunt like this one.” There was a painful pause. In a husky tone, she said, “Your mom’s not the only one who cares about you. I do too.”
He searched her face, her eyes. She was sincere, as always. Tessa was the most down-to-earth person he’d ever met.
Instinctively, he leaned toward her. She was so close that he could catch the scent of her. His stomach somersaulted.
She wanted him to kiss her. He could feel it. And, man alive, he had thought about this moment enough. He turned his head and was about to press his lips to hers when she pulled away.
He stared at her, shocked. Had he read the signs all wrong again? But no. There was desire in her eyes. She couldn’t hide it.
She wanted him as much as he wanted her.
But clearly, she wasn’t ready, and he respected that. Instead, he would store away the information she’d let slip.
She cared about him. I do too. Never had three words meant so much.
He cared about her too. In fact, he wanted nothing more than to admit to her that he’d seen her painting—and that she no longer had to hide any part of herself from him. Earlier, he’d decided to wait until she felt comfortable enough with him and trusted him enough to tell him that she was an artist. But though that did make sense, when he did finally tell her he knew, would she be stunned and hurt by the fact that he hadn’t come clean right away?
So instead of mentioning her painting, he wanted to give her what she’d just said she wanted from him. “I won’t do another stunt like that.” And he meant it.
It was a promise he hadn’t even been able to make for his mom. But he couldn’t stop himself from making it for Tessa.
At this, she gave him the most beautifully radiant smile he’d ever seen. “Good.”
And for a moment, every single thing in the world felt just right.
“I’d better start dinner,” she said, and he felt a jolt of happiness when she walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, “Oh, how beautiful,” when she saw the flowers.
He’d bought a crazy-huge bouquet that included everything from sunflowers to daisies to roses and had Mila place it in a large vase on the kitchen table. He’d taken his time choosing the perfect thank-you card and could tell from the heavy silence that Tessa was reading it.
“Oh, Arch,” she said, coming back toward him, the card in her hand. “You don’t have to thank me for doing my job.” But he could see how pleased she was.
“As I said in there,” he reminded her, “you make my life better in every way. Flowers are the least I can do to say thank you.”
Oh yes, there were so many ways he wanted to thank her… but he’d vowed that she had to make the next move. So until then, he’d wait and dream of this woman.
The one he was falling more head over heels for every second of every day.
Chapter Seventeen
The following day, Tessa smiled contentedly as she swung her backpack to her shoulder and headed out for the afternoon.
Arch had completed all his exercises that morning without complaint. He was getting stronger every day—she felt the evidence in her hands as she guided his rippling muscles, trying hard not to tremble with need at the sensation of her hands on his skin. And then they’d shared a delicious lunch of fish tacos before Arch excused himself politely to work on learning his lines for the new movie.
She admired how diligent he was, how much he loved his job, and wondered if he would ever ask for her help in reading lines with him. Just the thought made her flush with warmth. She could picture the idyllic scene: the two of them on opposite ends of the couch, two glasses of wine, the sun setting through that huge window.
But no. She shook her head, letting the dark curls tumble over her shoulders. Her romantic daydreams were getting out of control. For starters, neither of them was drinking alcohol at the moment—Arch for health reasons and Tessa because she was trying so hard to stay professional. She couldn’t get tipsy and risk saying something she’d regret. Besides, the more she stayed out of his movie-star world, the better.