The Boss's Marriage Plan (Proposals & Promises 2)

Her friend smiled with a little wrinkle of her nose. “I knew you’d like the colors. I hope they work in the new kitchen you’ll be sharing with Scott.”

She could already picture the bowl on the big island in Scott’s kitchen. “It will work just fine. I’m sure he’ll like it, too.”

“I hope so.” Stevie hesitated a moment, then blurted, “I know we said no more talk of relationships tonight, but I have to ask. Just for my own peace of mind...”

“What is it, Stevie?”

“Do you love Scott?”

“I—” It was such a simple question. It shouldn’t have taken her by such surprise. And yet it occurred to Tess only then that Stevie was the first one since this had all begun to even think to ask.

“Tess?”

“Yes,” she whispered as sweet memories of laughter and kisses, long conversations and leisurely lovemaking, flashed through her mind. “I love him.”

Should that answer really make Stevie look only more worried? Shouldn’t she have found it reassuring?

“Just one more question,” Stevie said. “Does he love you?”

Tess swallowed. “He said there’s no one else he’d rather marry.”

Stevie held her gaze for a moment, letting her silence express a great deal, and then she reached for the door. “Thanks for being honest with me. I hope to God you’re being honest with yourself. Good night, Tess.”

Placing the bowl from Stevie and a beautiful spring cardigan from Jenny on the passenger seat beside her, Tess fastened her seat belt and started her car, her movements deliberate. Her gloved hands gripped the wheel tightly enough to cause pain in her knuckles as she drove away from Stevie’s little house.

I hope to God you’re being honest with yourself.

“So do I, Stevie.” Her strained voice echoed hollowly within the darkened interior of her car. “So do I.”

* * *

It wasn’t uncommon for Scott to stumble into his house past 10:00 p.m., weary and ravenous yet satisfied after a long day of business operations. Particularly at this time of the year, he hardly had a minute to himself. Fortunately most of the professional and social obligations were out of the way now, with this week being reserved for family celebrations. He opened the fridge and drew out a container of yogurt, a little hungry but too tired to make a meal. He hadn’t forgotten that he’d promised to call Tess that night, but he needed to catch his breath a minute first. He hoped she would still be awake by the time he finished his snack.

He was sure she’d had a good time with Jenny and Stevie. The three women had formed a tight friendship. A man would do well to keep in mind that he’d better not attempt to come between them, not that he would even want to try. He remembered before Tess met Jenny and Stevie. Though he hadn’t given it much thought at the time, blindly ambitious as he’d been back then, he realized now that she must have been lonely, working long days while attending classes and taking care of her parents until she’d lost them so close together. He’d tried to be a supportive employer to her during those days, a good friend, even though he’d worked to keep the friendship professional. Perhaps getting involved with that guy James not long after her mother died had been a result of her loneliness. She’d done well to dump the jerk; Scott had met him only a couple times, but he hadn’t liked him.

It was only during the past couple of years that Tess had really come into her own as a strong, competent, satisfied adult. Earning her degree, buying her condo, meeting her friends, taking on more supervisory responsibilities in the office, establishing her independence from her overly critical sister—all those things had contributed to a new confidence in her, a difference he’d observed

and admired. She’d been looking for companionship on her own terms, unwilling to settle despite her expressed desire for home and family, and he was damned lucky she’d considered his proposal worthy of her. That she considered him worthy of her, despite his limitations when it came to romance.

How many women would have forgiven him for that boneheaded blunder at her cousin’s party? Or would be so patient with his crazy schedule and his sometimes unpredictable moods? He hadn’t showered her with compliments or gifts, as Sharon had pointedly and repeatedly informed him most women desired from a man. In fact, he hadn’t given Tess anything at all, including an engagement ring, he thought with a frown. Hell, he hadn’t even given her one of the restaurant gift cards he’d distributed to the staff.

Tossing the empty yogurt container in the trash and the spoon in the sink, he carried a glass of water into his bedroom to make the call he’d promised. He could at least do that, he thought guiltily.

“How was your evening with your friends?” he asked after they’d exchanged greetings.

“We had a wonderful time. Great food, good conversation, and we exchanged gifts. How was your day?”

“Long,” he said with a sigh, and gave her a quick summary of what he’d accomplished since he’d last seen her. “Tomorrow’s going to be just as long,” he warned.

“Yes, I figured. I have a lot to do tomorrow myself. I’m hoping to finally have time to finish wrapping gifts and do my Christmas baking. I always take stained glass cookies and pear tartlets to my sister’s house for Christmas dinner, and I haven’t even started them.”

“I’ve had your pear tartlets,” he reminded her. “You made me a batch last year, remember? They were out of this world.”

“I thought I’d make extras of everything to take to your family’s house Christmas. Do you think they’d like them?”

“Are you kidding? They’ll love them. Jake and Eli will probably arm wrestle for those tartlets.”

She laughed musically in his ear. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll make plenty. Your mother was so insistent that as a first-time guest I shouldn’t have to bring anything this year, but I feel as though I should take something.”