No More Wasted Time (13 page)

Lisa’s eyes narrowed into a squint, as if contemplating
Tess’ situation. “So, have you dated anyone else since you lost your husband?”

“No.” Tess shook her head.

“Are you telling me that you haven’t been with another man
in twenty-five years until you met Tommy?” Lisa asked candidly.

It was beginning to feel like twenty questions. Tess figured
Lisa wondered what Tom was getting himself into. “Nope.”

“Wow.” Lisa filled their wine glasses. She raised her glass
to Tess. “I hope they give Tommy a chance. He’s a great guy. And he
obviously
cares about you.”

Unable to utter one word, Tess’ gaze drifted to the counter.
She didn’t want assume anything from Lisa’s opinion,
cares about you
. No
doubt she looked pathetically confused as she took a long sip of her wine and
then another. She eventually raised her eyes, only to see Lisa staring at her
with a wide smile. It suddenly became very apparent to Tess that their vacation
was completely outside the norm for Tom.

“Let’s go in the other room.” Lisa draped her arm around
Tess, leading her out of the kitchen.

The four of them hung out in the living room for hours
talking about work and what roles they were looking at. Tess and Lisa chatted
about her restoration project. Tom and Benny were discussing agents and
publicists. Tom sounded unhappy with his. Tess curled up next to Tom, almost
falling asleep on the couch, so they said good night.

Tom held her hand as they walked outside to a private
cottage at the back of a beautiful hidden garden. The guesthouse came complete
with a gorgeous rock fireplace tucked in the corner and a wrought iron
headboard with grapevine scrolls running through it.

They undressed and climbed into bed. “Did you have a nice
time tonight? I knew you’d like Lisa.”

“I had a great time and I do like her. She’s very outspoken.
You and Benny seem like brothers. Lisa called her boy Tommy. Is he named after
you?”

Tom smiled proudly. “He is named after me. I love their
kids. Benny’s closer to me than my brother is. We met on set about sixteen
years ago and we’ve been friends ever since. I’m sorry about your girls. I
don’t want this to be a problem for them, or for you.”

“
My kids
will be fine. I think my biggest problem is
me
.
I feel so damned guilty sometimes.” Relief flooded over her as she said the
words out loud.

“I can tell when you’re feeling bad,” he said despondently,
delicately tracing the curve of her face with his fingers. “I see it in your
eyes, Tess.”

“Tom, please don’t be upset if I’m struggling with this,
with us. It doesn’t have anything to do with my feelings toward you.” Tess
smiled, biting her lip. “I’m enjoying myself with you.”

“I’m enjoying myself too, but I don’t want you to feel
guilty when you’re with me. You try to hide it with your smile. As a
matter-of-fact, you’re doing right now.” He touched his hand to her heart as
they laid on their sides, staring at each other. “I can feel your sadness.”

“Sorry. I’m not very good at hiding my emotions,” she
admitted.

“For the record, I’m not very good at sharing my emotions.
Although, I seem to have no problem being open and honest with you. Our
discussions over the last two weeks are probably the deepest conversations I’ve
had in I don’t know how long. Maybe ever. All I’m saying is that I want you to
be happy with me.”

“I am happy.” Tess blushed, pausing as she played with his
fingers. “It’s more as if I never expected to date again. I thought I had my
good luck. I never expected to find anyone who even turned my head. After being
married for so many years, sometimes it feels like I’m being unfaithful. Like
I’m cheating on Richard. Believe me, I don’t want to feel that way, but I can’t
help it.”

Tom wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest.
“Richard was a lucky man.”

She nuzzled his neck, taking in the scent of his cologne.
“Thank you for understanding.” 

Tess’ eyes were getting heavy, but she wanted to ask him
about the girlfriend comment. She sat up and turned on the light, wanting to
see his eyes. Her arms folded across her chest, waiting for an answer to a
question she hadn’t even asked yet.

“What?” Tom said innocently, struggling not to smile.

“You know what I want to know. Don’t act all coy with me.
You know exactly what I’m thinking.” She couldn’t hide the playfulness that
filled her heart.

“What?” he repeated, sitting up beside her.

“Your poor friends, I thought I was going to have to pick
their mouths up off the floor myself. They probably think you’ve gone mad from
extreme heat in Bora Bora.”

“Do you mind if I introduce you as my girlfriend?” he asked
with a sexy grin as he unfolded her arms, holding her hands in his.

“No, I rather like it. I don’t think they were ready for
it.”

“Tess, I feel like you’re my girlfriend, and you’re right,
I’m sure they were never expecting you.”

“Tom, can I ask you something?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever dated anyone with kids?”

“No, I haven’t.”

She hesitated, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer to
her next question. “Do you date women my age?”

“Honestly, I haven’t in a long time, but I don’t want it to
hurt your feelings. Your age doesn’t matter to me. Look at you. You look
fantastic. I find you incredibly sexy, not to mention witty, sarcastic, smart,
athletic and adventurous, but as we learned tonight there’s obviously a lot I
don’t know about you.” Tom gazed into her eyes. “You're younger than me, Tess.
I’m forty-nine.”

“I don’t mind being forty-four. I’m feeling exceptionally
good about myself at the moment. Besides, I’m much better now than I was in my
twenties or my thirties.” They snuggled in each other’s arms, drifting off to
sleep.

Tom was up early and out of the guesthouse. When Tess woke
up she headed over to the villa and could hear music playing down a long stone
corridor. As soon as she got close enough, the thumping music sounded familiar.
Lisa and Benny’s kids were playing Rock Band. Tess loved to play with her kids
and their friends. It dawned on her, they hadn’t played in over a year.
When
I get home, things are going to change
.

Tess peeked into the room. Tom, Tommy, and Kim each had
their stage roles down. Tom jammed out on the guitar, Tommy sounded good on the
drums and Kim stood on the sofa singing, swinging her long black wig around.
Tom wore a pink headband, which she assumed Kim put on him because she was
dressed in a rock-and-roller costume. Probably something she wore on Halloween.
It was comical and a side of Tom she didn’t know existed.

Tess caught Tom’s eye as she stood in the doorway. Without
missing a stroke on his guitar, he motioned her inside, introducing her to
Tommy and Kim. Tommy resembled Benny with blonde hair and blue eyes, but Kim
sported Lisa’s long blond hair and freckles on her nose and cheeks. Tom held
Kim’s hand as she jumped down off the sofa. Tess smiled at the little girl when
she beamed up at Tess batting her long dark lashes.

“Come rock out with us.” Tom snickered as if it were a
challenge, assuming she wouldn’t play along.

“I’m usually the vocals at my house. Only because I can’t
play the drums or the guitar,” she admitted.

Kim handed Tess the controller and she picked her favorite
classic rock song. The little girl jumped up on the couch next to Tess to share
the microphone. They sang together and Tess showed Kim how to beat the
tambourine by tapping the microphone. Tess' heart melted when Kim climbed up on
her hip so they could dance while they sang.

They were rocking out to their third song when she noticed
Benny and Lisa standing at the doorway. Both looked completely stunned and very
amused. The song ended and Benny and Lisa clapped loudly, mainly for Kim’s
benefit. Tom teased Tess about her lovely vocals, calling her ‘superstar’ and
Tess applauded his mad guitar skills. Tommy took a bow while Kim jumped on the
sofa.

Tess grinned, shaking her head at Tom. “I can’t believe you
don’t have kids.”

From the corner of her eye, Tess saw Benny and Lisa each
glance at Tom for one split second and then carry on clapping.

Tess wasn’t sure what it meant, but there was definitely an
unsaid glance shared between them. She acted as if she didn’t see anything, but
curiosity saturated her thoughts.
Maybe he does have a child. I never asked
if he had children. I just assumed he didn’t have kids
.

After finishing their last song, Tess gave Kim a piggyback
ride to the end of the hallway. The little girl squeezed her around her legs
before bolting down the hall.

Tom and Tess sat in the kitchen with Benny and Lisa. “Do you
have plans today, Tommy?” Benny asked.

“I might take Tess shopping.” He looked her over nicely.
“She came prepared for Bora Bora not Italy.”

“I thought the same thing when I was getting dressed this
morning. I didn’t even pack any jeans, only shorts, tank tops and flip flops.”

“Shopping? I’ll take you shopping. I love this great little
boutique I found about thirty minutes from here. You’ll love it!” Lisa offered.

Tess' face showed a hint of disappointment, and Lisa didn’t
miss it.

“Jesus, Tess, I promise we won’t be gone all damn day. I’ll
have you back in time so you can have him for dinner,” Lisa scoffed.

“Thanks.” Normally Tess never got embarrassed, but she
blushed. She didn’t want to give up a day with Tom. Tess tried not to count how
many days until she went home and longed to be with him as much as possible.

“I’m going to hop in the shower,” Tom said.

“I’ll change.” Tess chimed, holding his hand. “Lisa, I’ll be
ready to go-”

“In about three hours.” Tom cut her off as they walked out
the door.

“Fine, but you better not be too worn out to go shopping
with me, Tess.” Lisa and Benny  laughed.

Tom and Tess strolled back to the guesthouse. As soon as the
door shut behind them, Tom pressed his body tightly to hers, pinning her
against the wall. His lips fastened around hers, stealing the breath from her
lungs. He raised her arms above her head, holding her wrists tightly with one
hand. The pleasure of it sent her pulse rocketing through her veins.

He released his grip on her wrists and fervidly tugged at
her clothing. “Were you afraid you’d miss me today?” he whispered before
bearing his mouth down over hers. 

Caught up in the heat of his hungry lips, she couldn’t answer,
but nodded yes. She gently stroked his face with her fingers and kissed him
deeply in return. Tom buried his face in her neck and she could feel him
trembling beneath her fingers. Moans climbed from her throat and he greedily
took her cries of longing into his mouth.

His dark eyes locked on hers and he grasped her upper arms,
holding her to the wall. “I
want
you,” came a possessive growl from deep
within him. His words spoken so powerful, it was as if he were trying to tell
her something.

To her own surprise, the strength of his intense desire,
flooded her with a fierce wave of arousal. She vehemently gripped the hair at
the nape of his neck. “Then
take
me.” 

Glancing at the bed, she stretched her leg to the side, her
toes searching for the bedside table for support.

“We’re not going over there,” Tom flirted in a low rumble.

Clutching her firmly by the ribcage, he bent down taking
hold of her nipple tenderly between his teeth and drawing it into the heat of
his mouth. She balanced on her tippy toes as he squeezed firmly along the
outside of her thigh, grabbing hold of her leg and drawing it up over his hip.

She fumbled blindly with the button of his jeans as his
kisses became tender, brushing over her cheek, neck and throat. “I want you,”
he whispered again, softly this time.

The gentleness of his voice made her tremble even more,
making it nearly impossible of her to get his jeans off. “I’m trying.”

One brow bent into a touch of a frown as if she didn’t
understand what he was trying to tell her. He reached down to help her with the
fastening of his jeans. He nudged his hips forward and the hard length of him
slid along the wetness of her skin, only teasing her with his ridge.

On the edge of peaking, she whimpered softly, “Please.”

He did it again and again, sliding against that one
throbbing spot. Holding back, paying no attention to her pleads for more. “Not
yet, Tess.” His deep sexy voice rumbled low in his chest.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she lifted her other
leg around his hip, sinking onto him fully. Hot kisses trailed up her neck as
he grabbed her ass. The strength of his hands and vigorous thrusts made her cry
out with pleasure, securing her hands behind his neck for support.

Tess felt a connection with him like no other. Tom handled
her tenderly, yet powerfully at the same time.
How can this be? Oh God. He
touches me just right and his mouth tastes so fucking good. I’ve never felt
like this. I didn’t think it could be so good. Kiss him, Tess. Kiss him like
you want to
.

Letting go of her fears, guilt, and the sheer desire she’d
been holding back, Tess planted her lips on his and kissed him with passion and
hunger. Plunging her tongue deeper as she played with his, she ignited a new
energy in him. The louder she moaned, the more dynamic he became, driving
deeper into her very soul. A tear spilled down her cheek as she crested her
peak again. Tom kissed her tenderly as his body convulsed and slumped heavily
against her.

He wiped the tear from her cheek. “What’s wrong, Tess? Did I
hurt you?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I’m sorry. You should’ve stopped me.”

“Stopped you? Are you kidding me! No, Tom. I’m not hurt. I
just….I don’t even have the words. It keeps happening again and again and
again.”