Page 18 of Holiday Home 3
“Noticing something interesting?” she asked.
Liam shook his head, finally finding enough air in his lungs to speak normally. “Just reminiscing a little. Anna and I got into a snowball fight on our way to deliver her to Avril the other day. Same day you drained me like you just did five times.”
Tess returned to him with a beatific smile. “Today’s not done. It’s only about six o’clock, after all.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t get the prize I was hoping for,” he said, sighing. “And you said I wouldn’t find out about my consolation one until tomorrow.”
“Both those statements are true,” she agreed. “But that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to find some more ways to make sure today ends on a positive note. Let me think for a moment.”
He did. He then recognized the flash of remembrance as it appeared in her eyes. Seconds later, Tess grinned.
“You know, I remember us discussing me trying on the runner-up dress for our New Year’s Eve party. Actually, I think we were supposed to have done that hours ago.”
“Yeah, there was a bit of an interruption in the afternoon.”
“But not now.” Tess batted her eyelashes coquettishly. “Assuming you still want to see me in them.”
He stared directly into her eyes. “I know you’ve got a doctorate and all, but I’m going to start thinking you’re not as brilliant as I’ve always assumed if you ever say something like that again.”
Tess merely shrugged. “I’m just checking.”
“You don’teverneed to check for something like that. I’d drive a thousand miles to see you in one of those dresses.”
Her smile belonged among the stars. “Well, fortunately for you, you only need to drive about a mile more this time.”
Every stop sign in his way earned his eternal enmity. But about three minutes after her enticing offer, after making sure they could escape into her house under the cover of darkness, he dropped off the root beer in her fridge and then raced upstairs after her.
Chapter Six
Planning Ahead
Upon catching up to her in her bedroom, he saw her heading for her enormous walk-in closet. Yet, as he sought to pursue her, she paused long enough to plant her hand on his chest and stop him in his tracks. Smiling as she shook her, she nodded toward her bed, thus dashing his hopes to watch—or help—her change into this dress of hers.
“You’ve got to stay in here. I’ll come out when I’m good and ready. I won’t be doing my hair up or anything, so you won’t have to wait for very long, I promise.”
Instinctively, he frowned.
Laughing, Tess patted him on the shoulder. “Just make yourself comfortable. Your patience will be rewarded.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, retreating a step.
Tess smiled and slipped into her closet. The door shut before he could gain a hint about which outfit she was looking to change into.
Sighing loudly, just so she could hear how impatient he was, he moved to her bed and sat on it.
“Oh!” Tess’s voice called out, somewhat muffled by the door between them. “Before I forget, I think you should see if Anna’s available tomorrow. The two of you really ought to get together and discuss things again,withoutany distractions. You can go ahead and text her while you wait for me.”
“That’s… fair,” he replied. “I’ll do that.”
Freeing his phone from his pocket, he popped open his messages with Anna. While he decided what to say, he glanced at the closet door again and again. His excitement could not be stemmed. Once he’d typed out a serviceable text, he sent it Anna’s way, then discarded his phone on the bed and resumed his impatient vigil.
Her reply lit up his screen a few minutes before Tess emerged from her closet.
Yes, I think that’s a good idea. Is there anywhere you’d like to meet?
“She says she thinks it’s a good idea,” he told Tess, beginning to type out a reply.
“Where are you two going to meet?” Tess asked.