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“That’s what you were thinking about during her speech?”
“Mostly, I was thinking about the proximity of your tits to my mouth. Too far away.” She blushes a bit, and I bump her hip like we’re in high school. I need to maintain some professionalism. If it weren’t for my staff all around us, I’d be shoving her up against the wall right now. “I’m ready to guess.”
She says, “And you swear on Linda DeWalt you didn’t google.”
“I swear on Senator DeWalt.” She’s going to lose. I need to sweeten the pot for the winner. “What do I get when I’m right?” I say smugly.
Tess speaks again, “I’ll give you the same thing you gave me. I’ll change my schedule for you. And if you don’t guess correctly, you do it again at my command.”
I look down at my feet and ask a question I already know the answer to. “Academic Scholarship?”
She gives me a hint I don’t need. “You want to be my mixed doubles partner?”
“Tennis! Not a hobby?”
“It is now.”
“What if I only need one guess?” I raise an eyebrow hoping she raises the stakes.
“Then, I’ll change my schedule at your behest twice.”
“Deal. FSU.”
“Dammit!” She throws her arms in the air. “I should have bet you wouldn’t know Tessa Guare.”
I’m completely confused. “Who’s Tessa Guare?”
I look around and take her into my arms.
She says, “Once upon a time, I was internationally ranked, as Tessa Guare. Things fell apart, literally and figuratively, in the tennis world for me. I was an early viral star, falling on a ball at Wimbledon and shredding both ACLs during a match.”
“Holy shit, that was you?”
“Yes, it’s why I didn’t want you to google. There was a Teresa McGinty on tour. I played under Tessa Guare.”
“You never played again?”
“Not professionally.”
“Why not go back after you rehabbed?”
“Lots of stories for another day.” She squirms a bit in my arms. “How did you guess, FSU?”
“It’s on your book jacket.”
“Fuck me,” she mutters.
“Absolutely. Later, I promise. You can go if you want if you have work.” I lean in and steal a quick kiss.
“Yes.” She smiles and settles my soul.
I bring my hands to the sides of her face. “I like the way you say that word. Yes, to what?”
“To whatever comes next.” She licks her lips, and I’m thickening.
“Early dinner. I have to be on a plane at 10:30.” She pouts. “I know. But we weren’t supposed to even have this time.”
“Or even know each other,” she says wistfully.
