Tess shrugged. “If I play along with the not-now-but-maybe-later scenario, I let myself become more and more exposed to growing feelings and hope on my end. There’s something between us that I can’t control. She makes me happy. I’m like a frog in a heating pot of water. I’ll end up cooked.”
“Well, you can play it safe and never risk going up in flames, or you can see where these smoldering embers you’re feeling take you—maybe even full-blown love.” Alice held Tess’s gaze before she pushed her empty plate away. “And that’s all I have.” She clearly didn’t mean the food.
“Thanks. I suspect I really don’t have much choice because my resolve to avoid that cooked frog scenario seems to disappear when I’m around her.”
“Well, maybe that’s your first clue. You’re smart—just take it at a slow pace. Now, are you up for a little of my strawberry shortcake?”
“There’s another thing in life that my resolve is useless against, but it’s worth the extra time on the treadmill. Thanks. You’re the best.”
“Or pretty darn close.” Alice laughed. “Aunt with a therapy couchandstrawberry shortcake.”
“I just wanted to remind you that you and Judge O’Brian each have an orientation to attend in Monterey.” Helene was updating Tess on the upcoming courthouse schedule.
The trip was scheduled in Tess’s mind. She’d even arranged for Flo to take the cats. But she hadn’t realized the new judge orientation was at the same time as her presiding judge continuing education sessions.
“Okay. Do you have the docket and case assignments under control while we’re gone?” Tess asked.
“No need for you to worry. I’d alert you if there were issues.” Helene turned to leave. “I’m on my way home, so have a good night.”
Tess responded, then sat for a moment. Maybe she should wander down to Bree’s chambers and see if she was there. Just to touch base and see how she was doing—she knew the flat tires had traumatized her. Before she could talk herself out of it, she stood up and headed in that direction.
Tapping on Bree’s doorframe, Tess looked in on Bree, who was reading some paperwork at her desk. Bree glanced up. There was no misreading the warmth in her eyes, and then her lips twitched with a smile that overtook her. It was an expression that hit Tess dead center, both chest and lower.
“Need something, Judge Fairchild?”
“Just checking in with my legume-afflicted colleague—‘Princess and the Pea,’ Mazda tire beans.” Tess wistfully thought of their time in Tahoe, then brought herself back to the moment. “Helene informed me that we’ll both be out of the courthouse in another week.”
Bree’s eyebrows rose. “I’ve got my new judge orientation. You?”
“Presiding judge training.”
Bree chuckled. “Yes. You need to take the required class, the one Huffington obviously aced. Arrogance 101.”
“You don’t think I’m arrogant enough?” Tess chuckled too. Then she sobered and confessed. “I suspect that a lot of people take my demeanor as arrogance.” If they only knew how far she was from a feeling of self-importance.
“Oh, you’re a lot of things, Judge Fairchild, but not arrogant.”
“I don’t know whether to take that as a compliment or something more cryptic.”
“It was a compliment,” Bree softly replied. “Thanks again for being there for me on Saturday night.”
Tess wanted to sayMy pleasurebecause holding Bree and kissing Bree on her front porch as they’d waited for the police chief had been just that, her pleasure. But she needed to focus on the conference. She couldn’t help feeling a lot more enthusiastic about the training now that she knew Bree would be there too.
“I know continuing education isn’t new to either of us, but I’d like to hear about any new practices or other information that you find interesting as a novice judge. Shall we plan to meet for some dinners?” Tess decided that was professional and safe enough.
“I’d like that,” Bree replied. “Can we touch base once we get there and then make some plans? I’ve only glanced at the schedule. I know that I have evening events on some nights, and you undoubtedly do too.”
“That works for me—leave things a bit loose until we figure out just what our other commitments are.” Tess thought of them spending more time together. Dinner together at the end of a long day was a normal professional activity and it should be fun. Heaven help her, but she wanted to do a little happy dance as she suddenly found herself really looking forward to going.
Chapter Fifteen
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Those had been Flo’s words of advice when Tess had dropped off Thelma and Louise before she’d headed north to Monterey. They’d laughed because they both knew what Flo would do if she were in Tess’s shoes. Thoughts of Bree in Tahoe were the first thing that had come to Tess’s mind. She’d felt herself blush, and Flo had continued to laugh. Busted.
Now Tess pulled up in front of a pink cottage in a row of similar cottages that only varied by color. Rather than book the hotel where the training would be held, she’d decided a few weeks ago that she’d enjoy a more self-contained space located nearer the beach. Not that she’d make it to the beach, but she’d have the option, and she’d appreciate the privacy of the place.
Tess had actually debated this cottage reservation before she’d learned Bree would be here in Monterey too. Helene had let it slip that Bree was planning on staying in the conference hotel. Flashes of Tahoe and their shared night of exquisite sex, of chemistry and closeness, deluged Tess. Tess lectured herself that this cottage certainly provided much safer accommodations than being in the same hotel as Bree. So much safer for her heart.
It was late Sunday afternoon, and she imagined Bree was checked in too. As she settled her luggage into the sleeping area, Tess glanced at the kitchen space, and dinner crossed her mind. Her stomach protested the lunch she’d skipped. The interior of the small cottage had one large space with designated livingroom, kitchen, and bedroom areas, and a separate bathroom. The living room area had a sofa, and the sleeping area had a queen-size bed.
