Page 104 of Book Club Confidential

Tessa turned away from the coffee machine upon hearing the final word.

Grant held an open container with a slice of layered chocolate cake so decadent looking she nearly wept.

“I think I’m in love,” she said teasingly, then turned away when she felt her cheeks heat with a blush.

Grant arranged the meal on the island, and Tessa delivered two cups of coffee a few moments later. A fresh burst of energy rose through her as she inhaled the perfect salty aroma of her awaiting burger, mixed with the spicy scent of Grant’s cologne. Fresh affection, relief, and gratitude washed through her as she lifted the burger and took her first bite.

Hours passed, and the business proposal took its final form. Together, Tessa and Grant created extensive support documentation with well-planned proposals for all potential pitfalls. Tessa was elated and proud. Grant had brought her dinner. He was in her home. Sharing her coffee. He’d helped her all day on a business project instead of the other way around, and they’d made an incredible team.

She walked him to the door with fresh bolts of adrenaline despite the hard-earned fatigue. “Thank you again for dinner,” she said. “For being here for me and for all this help. I couldn’t have done it without you.” In fact, despite her fierce, long-standing independence, she’d enjoyed working together. She had a far better time with him than without.

“I had fun,” he said. “Thanks for letting me stay, and for not calling the police when I showed up uninvited.”

She grinned, stepping closer and arching her neck a little, for a better look into his eyes. “I would never.”

“That’s good.” His cool gaze flickered over her face and rested on her lips. “I wouldn’t make it in jail.”

She laughed, and his hands came to rest on her forearms, holding her gently in place.

“The last time I said goodbye to you in person, I kissed your cheek.”

“I remember,” she said, more breathlessly than she’d intended. The enticing scent of him pulled her closer, the lure of his voice, the warmth of his touch.

“I’ve been thinking about doing it again,” he said.

Her arms snaked upward on instinct, drawn by the crackle in the air between them. She set her fingers on the nape of his neck and felt the soft brush of his hair on her knuckles. “Oh, yeah?”

Grant stepped forward, closing the inch of space between them. He cradled her in strong arms and held her eye contact as he lowered his lips to hers.

Tessa’s eyes closed, her body tingled, and the sweet press of his lips was everything she knew it would be. He kissed her chastely at first, gently, reverently as she melted into his embrace. Then she was flying, fireworks blasting, and all the other silly things Kate swore a first kiss should be. Things Tessa didn’t know existed before.

Grant’s kiss delivered it all to Tessa. And more.

Tessa woke the next morning with soaring rockets of hope. She’d finished the business plan, with Grant’s help, and she was quite possibly falling in love.

She’d submitted the polished proposal package to several online lender sites before going to bed and falling into a deep sleep.

Based on her scant personal finances, a business loan was a big ask, but her thoroughly researched and heavily supported documentation forecast a significant ROI within two years. Hopefully, that would make her request much more reasonable on paper. She and Grant had run the numbers a dozen times and were confident in their findings. She might have to exist on instant noodles for a while, but the sacrifice was more than worth the reward. Best of all, if the lenders saw things as she did, Tessa would be an independent business owner in a matter of months!

She hopped out of bed and dressed quickly, then made coffee. She imagined an inbox filled with positive responses and calling Grant to help her assess the details and determine which offer to choose.

She smiled as the coffee brewed, enjoying the possibilities ahead and her growing relationship with the handsome investor.

When the coffee was ready, Tessa carried a steaming mug and her laptop onto the balcony to check her email in the fresh morning air. She hated that she couldn’t continue her work with all the small shops and cafés she loved, but when her former clients’ contracts with Hello, Marketing ended, they might choose to work with her for their next campaign.

Hopefully they all knew that was an option.

Maybe she could send out postcards and other materials to clarify that point. Perhaps she could donate goodie bags with swag from her new company at the next HHHH meeting.

Maybe she was putting her cart before the proverbial horse.

Tessa sipped her coffee for strength, then set it aside and opened her laptop. This was it. She quelled her excitement, then logged in. She’d applied via online portals and systems. It might take days to receive a response, and it’d only been hours. But, she thought, the systems might also make auto approvals. The only way to know was to look.

Her inbox had two dozen new emails, but one sender in particular caught her eye. Business Bank, her number one choice for a business loan. The subject line gave nothing away, with a simple re: money for your new business.

She released a long breath, then opened the message.

“Dear Ms. Michels,” she read, forcing herself not to skim ahead. Be present, Tessa. Read every word. This is important.