Harvest Moon (Borrowed Brides 2)

Chapter Fifteen

David opened his eyes. Horace Greeley sat perched on his chest. Tessa lay cradled against his side, her body nestled against his, her head pillowed on his shoulder. Greeley flicked his tail in agitation, leaned forward, and sniffed Tessa’s hair.

Arching his back, the cat stretched and then ambled across David toward Tessa in an effort to reclaim his favorite spot in the bed.

Realizing Greeley’s purpose, David intercepted him. He picked the cat up and moved him away from Tessa. “Get your own girl. This one’s mine.”

David scratched the underside of Greeley’s chin. It was true: Tessa was his. He listened to the contented purr rumbling in Greeley’s chest, wishing he could do the same. But things had become more complicated. Tessa had given him her virginity, become his lover as well as his client, and now David wasn’t sure what to do.

God, what a mess! He’d been so convinced he wouldn’t be the first man in her bed. After a

ll, Arnie Mason was murdered in her bed. But Tessa had been a virgin. Until last night. David watched her sleeping. She was loving and beautiful and brave. He turned his head and pressed a kiss against her shining red hair. She was everything he could want in a woman. And he wanted her. God, how he wanted her. But he couldn’t have her. Not again. Not until she was free. It wasn’t fair to her, and it wasn’t fair to him. He was her defense attorney, but he wouldn’t be able to defend her properly if he couldn’t think about anything except making love to her.

David was struck by the tremendous responsibility. Their lovemaking had been a mistake. It should never have happened. David could have prevented it, but didn’t. Instead, he’d welcomed her with open arms, and she hadn’t disappointed him. He was a fool.

He was haunted by the idea of Lily Catherine in an orphanage somewhere back east. He couldn’t stand the thought of Tessa going to prison, Tessa possibly bearing a child, his child, in prison. He couldn’t take the risk. What had happened between them could not happen again.

But, David realized, he wouldn’t have changed last night for anything in the world. The loving was spectacular. Better than anything he’d ever experienced. There was no doubt about that. But he was confused. Had she come to him out of gratitude or had she given herself out of love? Would she have chosen him if she were free or had last night been the result of a moment of weakness? He wasn’t sure. He only knew that before they made love again, Tessa had to be able to choose. She had to be free. David didn’t want her to come to him out of gratitude. He didn’t want payment. He wanted love.

He carefully eased his body out from under her, then lifted Greeley off his chest and rolled to the side of the bed. He couldn’t make love to Tessa again while she remained in his custody, but he could try to make her life as pleasant as possible. He pulled on his pants and headed into his office.

* * *

Tessa awoke to the smell of bacon frying. Her nose twitched at the delectable scent. She opened her eyes, rolled to her side, and stretched. Memories of the night came flooding back. Tessa reached for David. The sheets were cold, and the bed was empty except for Horace Greeley.

“David?” Tessa sat up in bed. Sunlight streamed in the bedroom window. “Where is he?” she asked, hugging the orange tom, nuzzling his fur. “Where’s our big handsome man?”

She felt light, giggly. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, to embrace the world and everyone in it. It was wonderful, this thing between men and women. David was wonderful, incredible. Tessa reached for his white shirt on the foot of the bed, slipping it on to cover her nakedness. She flipped back the covers and stood up.

Crossing the bedroom, Tessa opened the door, and padded down the hallway, buttoning his shirt along the way.

She paused in the doorway.

David stood at the stove. He wore black trousers and socks. Nothing else. The rest of his body was bare. He held a plate of freshly scrambled eggs and a few strips of bacon in one hand and a steaming cup of tea in the other. The cup and saucer rattled against the side of the plate as he caught sight of Tessa.

“Good morning.” His words warmed her. The look in his eyes made her stomach flutter. “I cooked breakfast.” He moved with the grace of a cat and deftly set the plate in front of Tessa’s chair. “I thought you might be hungry.” He offered her the cup of tea.

Tessa walked to the stove. “Thank you.” She blushed as she took the cup of tea from him. Her movements were slow and awkward. Tea sloshed over the brim of the cup into the saucer.

David cleared his throat. He let his gaze roam over her. His shirt, open at her throat, covered the essentials, but left her long, shapely legs exposed. Her feet were bare, her toes curled against the cold floor. “Why don’t you sit down?” David suggested. He pulled out her chair and patted the seat.

“Are you going to join me?”

He wanted to. God, he wanted to. “No.” He didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I’ve already eaten.”

She set her cup on the table next to her plate. “Oh.”

“I like what you do for my shirt.” David didn’t realize he’d said the words aloud until Tessa’s face turned a deeper shade of red. He sat down across from her.

She toyed with the top button. “I didn’t think you’d mind. After last night…” She looked around the room.

“I don’t mind.” David had promised himself he wouldn’t think about last night, but not thinking about their lovemaking was impossible. His gaze followed Tessa’s around the room. He’d swept up the broken glass, but that was all. Her clothing was still scattered across his desk and on the floor, lying where it had fallen when he undressed her.

He cleared his throat again. Looking at his desk, David realized he’d never be able to work there again without remembering how she looked and sounded lying naked on top of it. “Uh, Tessa, about last night…”

“Oh, David.” Tessa’s blue eyes sparkled with emotion. “It was wonderful!” She smiled at him tentatively. “I never dreamed men and women could do such things.” She speared a mound of eggs. “Can we do it again? This morning?” She was eager to explore his body and the depths of his passion in the light of day.

“No.” David’s voice was flat as he forced the refusal.