Stretching her arms above her head, Tess blinked her eyes open. It was still dark in her room, and she had no idea what time it was. Reaching for her phone on the bedside table, she pressed the large, center button, lighting up the screen. 10 am. Oh my, God, she swung her legs off the side of the bed and threw on her robe. She couldn't believe she'd slept that long. She never slept that long. Those heavy-duty drapes let in no sunlight what so ever. Rushing into the shower she lathered herself up and rinsed herself off. 10 am.
Noticing it was the first morning she had risen, relatively pain-free, she dabbed at herself with the fluffiest towel she'd ever seen. She may live to regret moving from her apartment but she would never regret trading in her old mattress for that bed.
Wrapping the towel around herself, she made her way back to her bedroom, grabbed the bag Cole had brought for her and rifled through it. She pulled out a less than crisp, white shirt and held it up against herself. Picking up her discarded striped tights, she pulled them on. She really needed to do some laundry. She buttoned up the shirt and pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
But first, breakfast.
Despite the large meal and the basket of cookies the night before she was ravenous.
She wasn't looking forward to joining Cole's mother and father for another family feast. Maybe she could sneak in the back door to the chef's kitchen. There was an old staff entrance that led out to the back of the property. Even if she could rustle up some cereal or a bagel or something.
Anything to dispel this unusual hunger.
She wandered down the hall to the guest house kitchen and her eyes were drawn immediately to the drying rack. The coffee mug had disappeared again. Her heart raced. She was certain she'd left it there last night, she knew it 100%. Rushing over to the cupboard above the sink she yanked the door open and there, taunting her was the damned unicorn.
AGAIN!
With trembling hands, she pulled her phone from the shirt pocket and scrolled down to Cole's number, when she noticed a serving tray on the counter covered with a silver dome.
Glancing around, she approached it and lifted the lid. Inside was a plate of pancakes, complete with a tiny decanter of golden syrup. Her breath escaped her lungs in a pounding rhythm. It was the staff; they'd brought her breakfast. Her hand flew to her chest where her heart pounded back at her.
Her imagination had run wild again.
She smiled.
Vanishing unicorns.
'Pft."
Wait until GG hears about this.
***
Tess enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, pottered around, watched some television and collected a load of dirty laundry from her few items that still fit her and shoved them into the machine and when they were done she threw them into the dryer and set it going.
On the dot of midday, there was a knock at the door. Flinging it open she saw Cole standing there. A gasp betrayed her, by escaping her lips and flying out into the air. The sun behind his head, giving him a halo of light and dressed in shorts and a short-sleeved, sky, blue shirt had her wanting to grab him by the hand and drag him into her bedroom and close the door.
The softer color looked good on him, it made his eyes twinkle and his skin appeared more tanned than usual. Seeing him like this, it would be easy to convince herself to forgive him. Pretend he didn't throw her away without a second thought.
Tess mentally reminded herself to call GG. If she was going to continue to resist this man, she would need a pep talk.
Like an addict ringing her sponsor.
"Well this is awkward, are you going to invite me in?" Cole teased her.
"Sorry." She muttered. "I was busy picking my jaw up off the floor."
He quirked a brow and a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I'm sorry. You what?"
"I just mean... it's strange to not see you in a suit. I'm shocked you even own casual clothes."
"I see." He drawled. "So, are you going to let me in?"
Stepping aside, she ushered him in and took the plastic container he held out to her as he walked through to the kitchen. Plonking himself down on top of one of the bar stools lining the kitchen island, he nodded at the container in her hand.
"We noticed you didn't make breakfast; you need to eat so I brought you some lunch."
"I slept in. That bed is so comfortable and those thick curtains had me thinking it was still the middle of the night.
"I'm glad you got a good night's sleep. You should be resting. That's why you're here remember?"
"Yes, I remember." She rolled her eyes.
"We just missed you at breakfast that's all so I thought I'd bring lunch."
"I didn't realize I was expected to join you all for meals." She peeled the lid off the container to find rows of tiny, triangular sandwiches. With an assortment of fillings.
"You're not, but if you want to eat here, you will need to let the chef know so he can send some food over. I don't want you not eating."
"But I did eat. He sent pancakes with maple syrup, they were waiting for me when I woke up this morning." She said.
Cole's brows knit together. "Really? How strange."
"Strange how?" Her skin started to prickle again.
"Well, we were all commenting about you missing breakfast. Mother has been nagging me all morning to come down here and bring you food but I didn't want to disturb you. The chef wouldn't have taken it upon himself to just do that without one of us asking him to."
"Well, I don't know who made the decision but the pancakes were delicious." She buried her face back into the container of sandwiches. The last thing she needed was to convince herself something weird was going on.
Cole scowled, shaking his head like he was trying to make sense of the situation. "We didn't even have pancakes. Today was bacon, eggs, fresh rolls and porridge with honey. Why would he make a separate meal for you when there was plenty of the bacon and eggs?"
Tess tore her eyes from the sandwiches and saw the confusion etched across Cole's face. That was all it took for her resolve to crumble. She felt the color drain from her face.
"The coffee mug was gone." She blurted as she reached for a chair. So much for staying calm and sane.
Cole jumped up and grabbed her elbow and ushered her to the living room. "I think you need to sit down. You're looking awfully pale."
They made it across the hall and he eased her down onto the couch. "Wait here, I'll grab you a glass of water."
He vanished from sight, leaving her, briefly to her own thoughts. She didn't know what to think, she was so disorientated, so confused. She'd never felt like this before.
Ice clanged against a glass, alerting Tess to Cole's return. He carried a cold tumbler of water and placed it on the table in front of her. "Here drink this, I'm worried about you."
With trembling hands, she reached out and took the glass, and ran it across her forehead before lowering it to her lips and taking a series of small sips. The whole time Cole sat quietly at her side rubbing her back.
With each stroke of his palm, her skin warmed. It was nice having him touch her.
Dangerous.
But nice.
It was likely he'd do that for anyone feeling poorly but she found the gesture endearing. Just having someone there with her, lifted her spirits. Trying to help despite her being distracted by the strange happenings of the guest house.
She gulped. "I'm feeling much better now. Thank you."
"Now what was this about a coffee mug?" He asked.
She considered telling him about the coffee cup but realized she'd sound like a lunatic.
"Hmm? A coffee mug." She feigned ignorance. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Just before..." His voice trailed off and he pointed back towards the kitchen. "Didn't you say..." He stopped mid-sentence.
"Maybe I was just dehydrated," She interrupted. "I'm feeling much better now I've had some water."
Yes! She remembered a documentary she'd watched a few years back about survival in the wilderness, the presenter had mentioned hallucinations due to dehydration. Yes, I'm sure that's what happened.
"I'm glad. You look better too, but maybe I should hang around today just in case." He smiled at her, his dimples showing.
"Why do I have the feeling you're enjoying me being an invalid?" She replied and couldn't help but flash a smile back. "But really, I'll be fine. I'm sure you have better things to do today than babysit me."
"Not really." He said, not letting her off the hook that easily. "In fact, I was going to see if you'd like to grab those sandwiches and join me for a picnic at the lake... but if you're not feeling well?"
"A picnic sounds great." She agreed before she had time to think it through.
Damn. Heart over the head again.
He stood up. "Wait here, I'll be right back." And then he was gone.
Tess pulled her phone from her pocket and searched GG's number. She pressed the call button and listened to the ring tone while she waited for her to answer.
"Hello, Sweetness. Tell me everything." GG's voice rang through the phone.
"The house is gorgeous GG, you should see it, and the grounds are even more gorgeous than when I worked here, flowers everywhere. When can you come for a visit?"
"If I could somehow manage to escape the salon, the chances of me escaping the studio as well... it's impossible Sweetness, I'm sorry. Especially with my best worker out of action."
"It's alright, I know you're busy, I just feel so stifled already and..." The sound of an engine cut into her thoughts, followed a few seconds later by Cole calling out to her.
"Sorry GG, I've got to go, can I call you tonight? Cole's here to pick me up."
"What? Why? Where's Cole taking you? Have you forgotten everything I told you already?" GG said, her voice stern.
"No, I just, I wasn't feeling well and... Look I have to go, I'll call you tonight?"
She heard GG sigh before she said, "Yeah okay but make sure you do. Now I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine, talk tonight."
She pressed the disconnect button and shoved the phone back in her pocket. "Coming." She called out to Cole, as she heaved herself off of the couch, down the hall and out the front door.
There, parked right out the front on the grass, was a green pickup truck. Of course, it wasn't a rattly, old rust bucket. It was a sleek, Chevrolet, with dark black tires that looked like they had never actually touched dirt before. Only the Washingtons knew how to make a pick up look exclusive.
Cole ran around and opened her door and offered his hand for her to lean on as she climbed in. Taking it, she slid, less than gracefully into the front seat and the leather creaked under her weight.
The new car smell, made her stomach roll. Oh no... pregnancy sickness was running ramped today. Not wanting to ruin the moment she lowered her window to let some fresh air in.
Cole dashed back inside and returned a few moments later with the sandwiches and a few bottles of water. He tossed them in the back and jumped in the front seat. "Ready?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be." She mumbled.
The engine roared as Cole turned the key and shattered the silence of the expansive grounds, where the guest house stood hidden away amongst the garden. Birds flew from a nearby tree to seek refuge somewhere quieter and as the car rolled off towards the lake the air in the cabin cleared and became fresh.
The lake was only a short walk from the little white house. So the introduction of the pickup was a surprise.
"Why the chariot?" She asked. "The lake is only a minute away."
"I don't want you hiking up and down the uneven ground and what if you were to go into labor while we're down there? Then what?" He said, keeping his eyes on the path as he drove.
She hadn't thought of that. She knew she would soon be a mother but the thought of the actual process, the part that turned her from an ordinary woman into a mom, just freaked her out. So she tried not to focus on the details.
They whipped past trees and drove for some time. Cole continued on along the lake but appeared to have no intention of stopping.
"Where are we going?" Tess asked eventually.
"The lake." He said.
"We're at the lake. Look its lovely green grass all along the bank here. Can't we just stop here?"
"Nope."
She stared out at the water, great, so now he's kidnapping me. First, he doesn't want me and throws me away and now he's stealing me. Amazing what a baby can do to someone. She thought. GG was right about him.
After a few more minutes he pulled up and got out. He rushed around to her side to open her door but she was already halfway out of the car.
"I can open the door myself, I'm not an invalid." She reminded him.
"Alright then." He stepped aside and watched as she struggled to yank herself from the cabin of the pickup. Finally, she rolled to her side and reached her hand out to him.
He stepped forward and pulled her to her feet, biting his lip to keep for laughing.
She slammed the door behind her and they stood face to face.
Neither wanting to look away first.
His eyes twinkled.
She frowned.
"Well, are we eating or what?" She asked, her voice clipped.
He winked at her, and without responding walked to the tray and picked up the container of sandwiches, the water, and an old blanket. He lay the blanket out inside the tray and set the food and drink in the middle. He pulled the back down and climbed up into the back of the pickup. "Your table awaits." He said. He held out his hand to help her up into the back of the pickup.
Hesitating for a moment, she took in his face. He was smiling a pathetic half-smile and she could see something unfamiliar in his eyes.
Was it fear?
No, that didn't make sense.
Fear of what?
Rejection maybe.
Sighing, she dropped her shoulders, stretched out her hand and he took it and pulled her into the truck.
She could see he was trying really hard and she appreciated it. It would be good for their child if they could be cordial to each other.
But he was being too nice.
Much too nice.
It made it difficult to be around him.
It made her want to touch his face.
Run her fingers through his chestnut hair.
Lay on his chest.
She wanted to...
Heat rose in her cheeks.
They say being pregnant can make some women experience unexpected desires, she was sure that was it. She needed to listen to her brain and not all the crazy pregnancy hormones coursing through her body.
The fact Cole's muscle's rippled as he twisted the caps off the water bottles and the dimple in his left cheek had been on display pretty much since she arrived at the ranch, had absolutely nothing to do with why her heart was racing right now.
She needed to keep him distant to protect her heart.
She kept thinking it.
Telling herself.
Yet here she was on a picnic.
A picnic for God's sake.
What the hell was wrong with her?
It would be easy to lean back against his toned, hard chest that pulled at his shirt buttons and pretend he loved her.
Pretend he'd always loved her.
Pretend he realized what a fool he'd been letting her walk away.
Pretend he'd been searching for her ever since.
Searching long before he found out about the baby.
How long would a lie like that keep her happy, though?
Not for a lifetime surely.
The devil on her shoulder was already telling her to go for it, while the angel shook her head in disgust. That angel bitch always told the cold, hard truth. "Don't give in to your desires Tess, he only loves the child."
"If you feel up to it, after lunch, we can go down to the bank and put our feet in the water. The cold water might be good for the swelling." He pointed to her feet.
"How do you know about swollen feet remedies?" She asked with a roll of her eyes. She took a bottle of water and gulped it down. It was still nice and cold, despite the sun getting hotter by the second.
"I may have read a book or two when I found out we're expecting."
He made it impossible to be mean, the way he said, we, instead of, you, and the fact he took it upon himself to get the books and then read them, argh. If only he wasn't such an untrustworthy snake.
After lunch, they strolled along the river bank, just enough to get their ankles wet. Tess had pushed her tights up to her knees and accepted his hand when he offered it.
The mossy rocks were slippery.
Just in case she was to slip, in her condition and all.
Justifying these little moments of contact, the secret smiles and spending time together was becoming second nature already. Unfortunately, justifying it to her heart was a different story. How could she experience so much happiness and so much heartbreak all from the same touch?
One day in and they had already kissed, held hands and were now, pretty much on a date. She hated herself. She had no willpower when it came to Cole. It was like finding out your favorite movie just released a sequel. You know it's not going to be any good, you tell yourself to just be happy with the memories of the first. Yet there you are, opening day, parting with your money and buying a ticket. Only to ultimately be disappointed. Sure, once in a while, on a very rare occasion the sequel may exceed your expectations and might even be better than the original, just like The Godfather Part two. But realistically, the odds aren't stacked in your favor.
Despite her knowing this, her stupid heart insisted on holding out hope that Cole could, in fact, defy those odds and be, the Godfather part two or even Lethal Weapon two. She was setting herself up for disappointment, of this she was certain.
'But what if you're not?' That devil whispered.
Would she rather have these days of walking side by side with Cole than to be followed by the ghost of his memory for a lifetime?
Probably.
Yes.
Today, she was going to let it be and enjoy it.
"Do you remember this spot?" He asked her suddenly.
"This specific, exact spot?" Tess looked around trying to find something that looked familiar. "No. Should I?" she finally admitted.
They rounded a bend and Cole pointed out to a wooden pontoon floating on the water.
"Does that help?"
"Oh my God, Cole." She turned to him, her eyes twinkling. "It's where we met."
"It certainly is. Now you know the real reason we brought the pickup."
"I doubted you would even remember this." She whispered.
He pulled her into him. Still able to reach around her middle, he clasped his hands behind her back. She tilted her chin up to look at him, and he gazed down into her eyes. "How could I forget, the single... worst day of my life?" He said with a laugh.
"Oh, you jerk." She squealed and broke away from him and kicked up the dirty lake water over his creamy colored shorts. "Take that. I hope a fish gets in your underwear."
They laughed and joked as they made their way back towards their park. The day zipped by, as they shared memories and told stories and laughed. The sun dipped down behind the lake, casting a pallet of oranges and pinks across the sky. Cole looked up, seeming to only just realize it was starting to get dark.
"Well, we better get you home," Cole said. He leaned in and Tess's heart raced and goosebumps sprung up on her arms. He planted a kiss on her forehead and Tess couldn't help but feel disappointed. "See, you're getting cold." He pointed to her arms.
"Su...sure, yeah I'm cold." She stuttered.
It just went to show that even intelligent, savvy men could be total idiots.
***
Cole pulled up outside the door of the guesthouse. "Are you sure I can't convince you to come to the main house for dinner?"
"No, I'm feeling really tired and I promised GG I'd give her a call," Tess said.
She clambered out of the pickup and walked towards the door.
Cole shouted, "Father has gone back to the city, if that helps?"
She tilted her head to look at him. "I'm not in hiding if that's what you're thinking. I can handle your father."
Cole didn't hide his amusement. "Oh, I know you can handle him but can he handle you, Tess Barker?"
"Probably not, maybe that's why he's gone into hiding." She winked at Cole and a smirk played on her lips.
"I'll have chef send some dinner over." He said and pulled away from the house.