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Tess blows out a breath. “I get that siblings can be complicated,” she says. “But you and Frank need to work this out. Sooner rather than later.” She leans toward me. “You may be surprised by what he says.” Before I can respond, she lifts her hand from its semi-permanent spot and gathers mine in hers. When she entwines our fingers, it’s like she’s squeezing all four chambers of my heart.
“I’ll talk to Frank,” I say. Truth is I’d probably do anything Tess asks me to right now.
“Good.” She leans in even closer, and I’m hypnotized by her cantaloupe scent. In this moment, I’d give Frank all my money just to stay right here.
“Good,” I whisper.
“I already said that,” she whispers back.
“And I’m agreeing with you. See? We do have something in common.” I inch forward, so near to her now, I can practically taste her breath. Tess either had mints at the hospital, or she’s magic. Maybe two things can be true at once.
When there’s barely a lip’s breadth between us, she shuts her eyes. Then she makes a small noise in the back of her throat that I swear sounds likekiss me.
I’m probably imagining it. Wishful thinking and all that. But maybe not. Maybe one more kiss.
We’re so close, I’m overcome with the need to hold her in my arms. To make this real. To feel the warmth of her soft skin. The taste of her sweet lips.
I lift my thumb and gently brush the edges of her mouth from one corner to the other. Then with a finger, I trace her jawline, skimming lightly along the bone. She sucks in air. A tiny gasp. It would be so easy to—
“Nope,” I moan, ripping myself away from her. And believe me, I almost feel a tear.
When she whispers, “Please,” the entire contents of my chest cavity explode.
“Tess McCoy,” I growl. “You are a wizard of temptation crossed with some kind of singing siren, but I willnotbreak the rules. We literallyjustswore on them.”
She opens her eyes and whimpers, and I take back everything I said. “Okay, fine. I surrender.” I reach for her. “You win.”
“No.” Tess slides off the stool away from me. “You’re right. But we need to leave here. Now. I can’t be anywhere alone with you and not want to exercise my right as your superior to tell you to kiss me again. And that’s just not right. It’s even illegal. Spencer Crane, you’re making me want to be illegal.”
I choke out a laugh. “Hold on.” My lip twitches. “Did you just stomp your foot?”
“That sounds like me, but no.”
“Then someone’s coming.” No sooner are the words out of my mouth than Mrs. Lockhart brushes through the swinging doors into the kitchen.
“Oh!” she exclaims, patting at her head and her face simultaneously. Her raccoon eyes are smeared with mascara, and her beehive has collapsed. “I. Oh. Well. I,” she stammers. “I didn’t expect anyone to be in here this early. I merely wished to procure some … water.” Her mouth quivers. “I’m very … thirsty.”
Her eyes dart to the sink. Then back to me. Then over to Tess. This is not unlike her expression behind the dining hall last night. She looked a bit like a raccoon then too. One caught rifling through the trashcan.
“Morning, Mayor,” I say, my tone as sweet as berry pie. “You’re looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at this hour.”
“Yes. Well. Thank you, Spencer.” Her chin tips, and she shifts her weight, waiting for the elephant in the room to charge at her. But Tess and I just smile, sticking to our vow never to speak again about our bosses’ extracurricular activities.
“And thankyouso much,” Tess chirps, “for letting me go to the hospital. I could only do that because you offered to stay here last night.”
“Yes. Well.” Mrs. Lockhart gulps. “You and I have this place running so smoothly, it was no imposition.”
“Still. I’m eternally grateful. Brooke and Mac are too.” Tess splays her hands. “It’s a boy! His name is Teddy.”
“Oh my,” The mayor lays a hand over her heart. “Another McCoy in the world. Isn’t that… fortuitous.” She could be genuinely moved, or just relieved the elephant didn’t charge her. Either way, hopefully she’ll cut Tess and me some slack from now on.
“By the way, Tess,” she adds. “Bernard Dudley told me he never had any intention of running for mayor.”
“He did?” Tess’s eyes fly open first. Then her mouth. She’s gaping now, and speechless. If this topic bothers her for some reason, I’m more than happy to come to the rescue.
“Is that what you two were talking about last night, Mrs. Lockhart?” I raise an eyebrow. “When you were … alone?”
She flicks her gaze my way, and I aim a deadpan stare at her. Absent of emotion. Full of meaning.
