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“So do I.” But she couldn’t keephimalive, could she? And she couldn’t justify hiding herself the way she wanted to, because she had to show her girls how to live. That was what Jace had asked her to do. That’s what he would’ve wanted.
“Well, I’m glad to see that you’re getting out and having so much fun.” Even DeAnn’s raised eyebrows conveyed her distaste for Tess’s dancing antics. “It’s hard to get over losing someone you love. But you seem to be moving forward.”
“I don’t have a choice.” That was the truth.
“Right. Of course.” She overexaggerated her smile. “I should get back to Steve. It was good to see you.”
Tess didn’t return the sentiment. In fact, she did an about-face, walked in the opposite direction, and kept going all the way out the doors and onto a patio where a huge firepit glowed. Late spring snow had started to softly fall on the stone benches, but the anger kept her toasty warm.
Out of habit, she opened her purse and pulled out her phone to call the ranch.
“Hi, Mommy!” Willow’s little voice answered. “Are you having fun? You looked like a princess in that picture you sent.” Her younger daughter was still very into princesses.
“Sure. It’s great, honey.” She’d had fun. Maybe for a half hour or so. She should be grateful for that. “What about you? Are you having fun with Grandma and Grandpa?”
“Yes! We’re making chocolate chip cookies and then we’re going to have a tea party.”
“That sounds wonderful.” She should’ve stayed home with the girls tonight. She could’ve been in her flannel pajamas by now, all snuggled up on the couch with them. “Can I say hi to Morgan?”
“Sure, Mommy! See you tomorrow.” There was a shuffling as Willow handed the phone off.
“Hey, Mom. How’s Uncle Aiden and Aunt Kyra’s party?”
“It’s good.” She drew closer to the fire to warm her bare shoulders. “And how are things there?”
“We’re having a great time,” her daughter assured her. “I love it when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit.” There was a pause. “Oh, we have to go, Mom! It’s time to put the dough on the cookie sheet!”
“All right, sweets.” She told them both she loved them and then hung up. Grandma probably made them get off the phone so Tess would be forced to go back to the party. But she couldn’t go back. Not after that exchange with DeAnn…
Behind her, the door to the ballroom whooshed open.
“Tess?” Silas came charging at her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. It’s freezing.” He wriggled out of his suit coat and draped it over her shoulders. “What’re you doing out here?”
To her utter horror, tears built in her eyes and spilled over.
“What?” His voice was panicked. “What is it? What happened? Did someone upset you? I’ll go in there and find them and I’ll—”
“No. It’s fine.” Her voice got all soggy and pathetic and she tried to turn away before he could see what a mess she was.
“Aw, come here, honey.” He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “I can’t stand to see you cry,” he murmured against her hair.
She couldn’t stand to cry either. And yet here she was, sniffling on his shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”
He said nothing more and simply stroked the hair at the back of her head while she shed a few more tears.Okay.That was enough. She wouldn’t continue to blubber all over him for the rest of the night.
Tess lifted her head and found herself peering up and into those baby blues that were usually so playful. Right now, however, they were filled with concern. For her. “Tess,” he murmured in that intimate tone he so rarely used.
“Silas.” It came out in a whisper. She’d looked into this man’s eyes hundreds of times over the last few years, but this time something shifted. There was a hard tug at her heart and before she knew what was happening, her lips were touching his.
For the briefest second, Silas’s arms tensed around her, as if the contact had shocked him, but then he seemed to recover and he tightened his hold on her with his hands strong on her lower back. Tess breathed him in, some masculine-scented cologne that reminded her of the woods right after a rainstorm. Their mouths fit together, exploring a rhythm she hadn’t anticipated, powerful enough to grip her by the heart.
A moan resounded deep in his throat and then his tongue grazed hers and flung her body into delirium—blood racing through her, hot and fast, knees failing—and suddenly she was reminded that she was alive. She was still alive.
“Let’s go upstairs,” she murmured against his lips. They could go now and she’d still be in her own bed before the party ended and Lyric came back to their room.
Silas drew back a few inches, his breaths heaving, bewilderment in his eyes.
“You promised fun. With no judgment, no cares.” She kissed him again, for herself, so the tingling in her body wouldn’t stop.
