Finding His Mrs. Right (Mending Hearts Series) (7 page)

“I can’t believe you spent the night with him.” Gwen said
, as I pulled my hair up into a ponytail.

“I
didn’t mean to.” I insisted looking at her through the mirror, as my phone chimed. Gwen picked it up, and squealed.

“You have to tell me what happened.” She pushed. She had been asking me for the past two hours, but I refused to answer her directly. What happened between me and Landon was just a spur of the moment ordeal, and wouldn’t happen again.
I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t remember.

“It was nothing.” I sighed.

“Well, he sure must’ve liked “nothing”, because he just texted you.” She smiled brightly.

“What?” I asked turning to her, and grabbing my cell phone.

Landon:                                                        8:36 AM

Hey beautiful, what are you up to?

Landon Brooks, CEO of Brooks Enterprises

He really had texted me. What the hell? I wasn’t prepared for this. It had just been a one night stand, and it would be left at nothing but that. I texted him back as nonchalantly as I could.

Tessa:                                                        8:37 AM

I’m in my hotel room, getting dressed.

Shoot! I hit send before I realized that could’ve come off as a flirt. I wanted to kick myself even more, now.

Landon:                                                        8:37 AM

I’m sure whatever you choose
, will look great on you.

Landon Brooks, CEO of Brooks Enterprises

I smiled, as I sat on my hotel bed, and Gwen noticed. I
immediately wiped the smile clear from my face, but it was too late. Her interest was at an all-time high.

“What’d he say?” she asked, prying.

“Nothing,” I lied.

“Oh, come on. I’m your best friend. You can’t leave me in the dark.” She pouted.

“Gwen, please.” I replied, texting Landon back.

Tessa:
                                          8:38 AM

Thanks, how are you feeling this morning?

Landon:                                          8:38 AM

Rough around the edges, but thanks for
askin’, and thanks for the Tylenol

Landon Brooks, CEO of Brooks Enterprises

Tessa:
                            8:39 AM

No problem

Landon:                                          8:40 AM

Can I see you later?

Landon Brooks, CEO of Brooks Enterprises

Uh oh, I knew this would probably follow. Maybe I was getting my panties in a bunch for nothing.  Maybe Landon just wanted to get back to finding his, “Mrs. Right” for all I knew. Either way, we weren’t going back to what happened last night. Not if I could help it.

Tessa:

Sure, we can get talk about your date, and find you a new one.

Frowning, I trie
d
to decipher Tessa’s last message. Was she joking or what?! Last night had not been a dream, I was sure of it. I had a feeling Tessa was trying to brush me off, which meant one thing. I had scared her off. I couldn’t remember if I had said anything too incriminating or not, but I must’ve. Or maybe… My heart was racing as I tried to piece together the rest of the night’s events, but everything was so damn foggy. The only thing that stood out was Tessa. Damn it, why hadn’t I just called Tyler? I was being an idiot, that’s why. One thing was definite; Tessa and I were definitely going to have to talk now.

My cell phone buzzed, and grabbed my attention. It had to be Tessa, and I was glad for it. I wasn’t a text-
er so, it couldn’t have been anyone else. Maybe she had only been joking. Checking my phone I saw:

Tyler:

Who the eff are you texting right now?! Pay attention, this is a big deal!

On cue, Tyler nudged me, hard. I winched in pain as I looked up to him. The look in his eyes was of pure rage and scolding. He was right. This wasn’t me, and I wasn’t into blowing this deal. Tessa would have to wait, as much as the thought killed me. Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I looked up and finished listening
to Brandon ramble on.

“I want details, now.” Tyler snapped as we headed to the parking lot. The meeting had been postponed until a later date because Mr. Wright and his team weren’t too fond with giving up his company just yet. I was fine with the delay because I had other things to do.

“Against better judgment, I got pissy drunk last night and drunk dialed Tessa.” I said, stating the best part of my night.

“Tessa?
As in the hot matchmaker I knew you had chemistry with?” Tyler smiled as he unlocked his car, and we got in.

“So, did she spend the night?” he asked
, starting the car.

“Sort of.”
I shrugged, and that was kind of the truth, but I knew what he was hinting at.

He wanted to know if I’d ended my year long dry spell. God, I couldn’t believe it had been that long since I had
been laid; but as I always say, I don’t have the time anymore. This past year had been really hard on me, and not being able to talk about it had made it worse. Don’t get me wrong, Tyler was there, but I hated burdening him with my emotional crap. He had been dealing with it since I was a kid, and I felt he needed a break. But then again, I didn’t have anyone else I trusted enough to talk to, but him.

My sister Cassidy had moved away a year ago, and I was glad for it. I didn’t want her stuck here in this town forever
, like I would be. I made sure she was on the very road she wanted to pursue in life. Having the connections that I did, she was firmly planted in the modeling world. But, she was only twenty, and also still in school studying fashion. She wanted to ultimately be a fashion designer. I called her about five times a day, and if she didn’t answer she knew I’d come looking. So far, everything had been good.

“Sort of?”
Tyler asked pulling my attention back to now. “What does that mean?”

“I made love to her.” I muttered, and he glanced over to me surprised.

“You used the word love in a sentence for a female that wasn’t your mom or sister.” He replied raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t say I
loved
her. Calm down.” I chuckled, and we fell silent.

“Do you want to tell me what happened last night?”
he asked, breaking the silence.

Tyler’s tone had gone somber, so I knew he didn’t mean with Tessa.
He wanted to know about the bruises on my face. I couldn’t lie to Tyler because he had an inkling of what had already happened. It wasn’t like it was the first time.

“If I said no, would you leave it at that?” I asked.

“Not by a long shot.” He said, looking over at me.

“Tyler—”

“It was her wasn’t it?” he asked, and I knew exactly who he meant, so I sighed deeply.

“Damn it, Landon! I told you this was a bad idea.” He scolded as I looked out of my window. We were approaching the restaurant where my car was parked, and I was thankful. I didn’t feel like having this same damn conversation again.

“Things have been good.” I protested.

“Bull—Landon, you’re being delusional. You think I haven’t noticed how bottled up you’ve become over this year? I mean you were bad before, but now you’re just
so—” he sighed, and stopped as he parked in the lot, but I looked over at him angrily.

“I’m
just so what?! Fucked up that I can’t see straight?!” I huffed.

“Landon, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s ok, you don’t have to bite your tongue now.” I said, spotting Tessa by my car, and I was damn sure glad to see her.

“I thought you understood me, but apparently you don’t.” I said getting out of the car as I heard him call my name. Ignoring him, I stalked through the parking lot, and was glad to see my car intact. The look on my face must’ve been pure rage and hurt because Tessa frowned.

“Is everything alright?” she asked, as I got closer.

“Fine, you need a lift?” I asked, unlocking my car and getting into it.

“Sure.” She said hopping into the passenger seat and strapping on her seatbelt, as I started my car and tore out of there angrily.

Eight

I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles were white. I was so angry that I had no idea where I was going. I’m sure Tessa was staring over at me scarce because the ride had remained silent. Scaring her was the last thing I needed, after last night.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I finally heard her soft voice ask.

“I don’t know.” I huffed.

“My ears are here to listen
, if you want to.” She offered.

“What were you doing at the restaurant?” I asked, genuinely.

“I figured you’d have to come get your car sooner rather than later, so I asked Gwen to drop me off. At least I had hoped you would.” She smiled, as I looked over to her.

Her smile was infectious, and it made me smile in return. I turned to l
ook back at the road as I felt an unnerving heat in my stomach. What the hell was that? Butterflies?? No freaking way. I was Landon freaking Brooks, there was no way a female was making me heat with anxiety and desire, just by smiling at me.

“Lucky for you, my meeting got cut short.” I replied
, still smiling.

“
Yeah, lucky for me.” She whispered.

“
Tessa, did I—do something stupid last night?” I blurted out.

“Stupid?” she asked, a bit frazzled. “Like what?”

“Anything,” I pushed.

“You ruined the date I set you up on.” She whispered, as if she were disappointed about something.

“I mean, I remember us making love.” I said looking over to her, to ensure that I knew what I was doing in that area. I didn’t want her to think it was a mistake on my part, and I damn sure didn’t want her to think I hadn’t remembered it. What happened between us had undoubtedly stuck with me when nothing else had.

“We only had
sex
.” She emphasized the word sex. I must’ve have really done something to screw things up between us.

“Whatever I did, I’m sorry.” I replied. “I like you, Tessa.”

She fell silent as I parked my car. God, I knew I was freaking her out, and I couldn’t blame her. I felt the same, but not for the reason she did, I was sure. Tessa looked like a nice, sweet girl, who was monogamous. Whereas I, I was a serial dater, or bedder—if that was even a thing. I didn’t want her to think that she was just a one night stand.

“You don’t have to say those things, Landon.” She insisted.

“That’s the thing.” I said, leaning over to her. “I know I don’t, but I want to.”

Tessa sucked in a hard breath, as our eyes locked. I knew she had to feel something for me. There was no way she didn’t. She didn’t
seem like the type to just hop into bed with anyone for nothing. Hell, I was the one who had been wasted, and I still remembered the ordeal. That was saying something.

“Landon, last night was a mistake.” She said pulling away, but her breathing was labored, so I didn’t believe a word she said. If she thought it was something I needed to hear, just to make me feel good, she was wrong. I truly felt something for Tessa Winters, and it was scary.

All I could think about was taking her tiny body, and claiming it as mines—sober this time, so I could enjoy every minute a million times better. I craved her kiss and caress. She had unwittingly ignited a fire in me, and no, not just last night. The first night we met, she had stuck with me. I had wondered what it would be like to be with her over and over again. Then the first kiss we shared had sealed my fate. Sure, it had started out as a joke, but the taste of her had me hooked.

I didn’t want to admit it before now, but Tessa had set me ablaze. But, sitting here now, listening to her, I was hurt by her words. I hadn’t felt this
kind of ache in ages. I hadn’t felt it since my only real relationship ended. I knew Tessa was a heartbreaker, and I wasn’t about to lose her just yet.