“My childhood influenced my personal life as well as my professional one, how I’ve interacted with most other people. Then that scrape with mortality made me realize that I wanted more in my life before it’s over.” Tess touched Bree’s arm. “I think it’s time we go whale watching—I’m excited.”
“Are you ready for that grand tour of all twelve hundred square feet of this little box I’m calling home before we take off?”
Tess was grateful for Bree’s easy shift away from the topic of how she’d been raised. “Yeah. I want to see your bed. How many mattresses you have stacked on top of each other. If you have a test pea handy.”
“I want you to know that I don’t show just any woman my bed.” Bree’s tone turned serious. “I’m not a player.” Then her tone lightened, and Tess was glad because she’d never meant to upset Bree that night over peach pie in Monterey. “But since you have a warrant, and you are the queen bee.”
The trip down the hallway revealed several watercolors on the wall, florals and landscapes. “My mom’s favorite pastime—she loved pushing pigment around with bristles.”
Tess stopped in front of a painting of a cut glass vase filled with a lavender bouquet. “She was gifted.”
Bree nodded. “She was. She sold several. I’m grateful I have these. Hank also has some hanging in the office at his house. Maybe someday I’ll be able to show those to you too.”
Tess swallowed. That sounded like Bree might be open to something beyond today’s outing, but she wasn’t going to push it right now. She wasn’t ready to chance a rebuff. She could tell herself that today was simply about getting out of town, but she knew it was more, at least for her. She was in way more trouble than she wanted.
“Here’s where I sleep.” Bree stood in the bedroom doorway.Tess left the paintings behind and moved to join her. The room was orderly but looked comfortable. A large bed with a fluffy light blue comforter spread across the mattress, and large pillows against the headboard looked perfect for reading in bed.
Tess thought about doing other things in that bed. Bree’s bed. It was only Bree who seemed to bring out these feelings with such force, so how could she blame it on hormones?
Bree met Tess’s gaze. The left corner of her mouth twitched with the start of a smile, and her blue eyes deepened to indigo. “You want to see my kitchen before we hit the road? We do need to hit the road. The kitchen’s so sparse with all I’ve had to do that it’ll guarantee we make the whale watching on time.” She looked back and forth between the bed and Tess, blew out a puff of air, then held out her hand for Tess to take.
Tess took it, and they walked to the kitchen together. Bree let go as she locked the back door and then grabbed her purse from the empty kitchen table and a jacket from the back of a chair.
“You look terrific in that sweater and those slacks. I think red is your color, although you offer an amazing professional look in that black robe of yours,” Bree said. “Did you bring a jacket, or would you like to borrow my hot pink one? As I remember, you look much better than I do in it.”
Tess remembered wearing it that night while they’d waited for Chief Myers. “You think red and hot pink go together?” She tsked in an exaggerated show of fashion disapproval.
“You and red and hot pink will look just fine. Better than just fine.” Bree unconsciously licked her lower lip, and Tess looked away as a wave of strong desire flooded her. “I’m sure the whales will approve, and I know I will, so what’s the verdict, Judge Fairchild?”
“I tossed in a light blazer, but now I’m thinking it might not be enough,” Tess admitted.
Bree retrieved the neon pink jacket. “So if you’re going toborrow my sexy flaming pink coat, can we put our reset on hold for the day?”
Tess nodded as they headed to her car and loaded up. It was just ten o’clock as she backed out of Bree’s driveway. She really didn’t want her worry about a reset looming over the entire day. She wanted to enjoy the time with Bree. Besides, she was a pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to stick to the reset for the entire day anyway, not with the chemistry between them.
“We’re booked for the three-hour afternoon whale watching tour, so we have time for an early lunch,” Tess said. “Just don’t tell Marnie that I’m sneaking in more than a granola bar or yogurt for my noon calories because I have a minimalist lunch reputation to uphold. To hold this backside in check. What do you think?”
“I think I like that backside.”
Tess rolled her eyes. “I meant about lunch.”
“Well, I’m not a granola bar or yogurt minimalist. The dancing you’re going to do with me will keep that backside of yours in admirable shape, no matter what you eat for lunch or dinner. I’ve got plans for you to dance those calories right off. There’s going to be no rest for the wicked if I have any say. I want to see your wild side.” Bree gave her a playful look from the passenger seat.
“God, what did I get myself into when I invited you along?” Tess grumbled, though she was already having a good time. Tess felt a low heat surge, unwelcome because it would only torture her today.
“Hey, no complaining. I’m buying lunch,” Bree said. “You can pick whatever you want and take your best shot at my wallet. Lobster, or that crab named Louie you missed out on at Gabby’s play dinner, or—”
“How about we do a repeat and plan on sharing some appetizers for lunch?” Tess was happy to divert her attention tothe prospective menu.
“I could manage that,” Bree replied. “As long as we do a shared dessert too.”
“You really have it out for my backside, don’t you?”
“My unvarnished opinion…it’s pretty doggone perfect.”
“Enough about my anatomy. Divert your attention to your phone and find us a restaurant with a lunch menu that won’t land you in bankruptcy court. And with a dessert menu that has something we can agree to share.”
Bree chuckled. “Sharing dessert seems to be becoming a favorite event of ours. It started in Tahoe if I remember correctly. Not that I’m remembering Tahoe…Dessert in Tahoe stays in Tahoe.” She grabbed her phone from her purse and began tapping away.
