25. Tessa

I think I’m falling in love with you.

I was still reverberating, physically and emotionally, from my fiery-hot encounter with Adam in his office. Until Adam, I honestly wouldn’t have believed that I could experience such sexual moments tangled within a sense of intimacy and tenderness. He stripped me bare and cracked my heart wide open.

I’d been so shocked by his words that I simply stared at him with my mouth falling open.

As if he could see through the fear and anxiety banging like loud drums in my mind and heart, he lifted his knuckles and nudged my chin up. “You don’t have to say anything. I know all you wanted was a kiss.”

Tears had stung my eyes, not from sadness, but from almost a pure sense of emotion that he could understand how complicated this was for me.

Even then, I’d scrambled for the courage to give him the honesty he had given me.

“I know that’s all I wanted to start with, but it’s a lot more than that now,” I’d finally said.

An elbow nudged me in the side. It felt like a needle scratching on a record in my thoughts. Glancing sideways, I found Rosie looking at me expectantly.

“What?”

Rosie waggled her brows. “You’re kind of zoning out.” She leaned closer, whispering, “And you’re staring at Adam. He’s staring back, if you’re wondering.”

I was relieved by the murmur of voices around us, glasses clinking, and the general commotion as my cheeks heated. “Ohhhh. Am I that obvious?”

“To me,” she said dryly.

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

“And heads-up. Over at your ten o’clock. Rich is with someone.”

The urge to look in Rich’s direction was strong. But I held firm, looking straight ahead. “Um, Rich is here?”

Although locals’ night at Fireweed Winery was for anyone, this had felt like my territory. McKenna was my friend, and this was her family’s restaurant. Ever since they had moved the corporation’s headquarters back to town, the family came out in force for locals’ nights. I often accompanied McKenna and our other friends.

Rich used to mock the Cannon family. He would never admit it, but he was so very clearly envious. He also made snide remarks about their “fucked-up” history. Before I’d learned how important it was for me not to let him know what I was thinking or feeling, I’d screwed up.

In the heat of an argument, when he was telling me it was stupid to care about my friendship with McKenna, I’d blurted out that he was just jealous of the family and that at least their family wasn’t as fucked up as his was.

That was one of the times he had hit me. I’d gotten a hard slap on the face and a punch in my gut. It had knocked the breath out of me, and the pain had been intense. Bruising spread along my rib cage in the following days. That had been the last time that I ever let myself blurt anything out. As Rich said another time in the future, I had to learn my lesson.

I didn’t look in his direction, but I couldn’t help but wonder why he was here. He didn’t usually come out to these events. Almost never.

“They’re clearly together, if you’re wondering. This is good, right?” Rosie prompted at my shoulder.

I looked at her and shook my head, feeling a little sick inside. “Maybe it’s good for me, but I know what that means for her.”

A panicky feeling spiraled through me, swamping me with mixed emotions. Maybe if Rich got serious with someone else, he would leave me alone because he would have someone else to treat like shit. I felt so absolutely horrible for thinking that. I took a slow breath, trying to ignore the churning sick feeling inside.

Fiona appeared, sliding her hand through my elbow and squeezing. Within a minute, my friends encircled me. I knew why they were doing this. Although I had never gone into detail about everything that went down with Rich because it was too embarrassing, and I was so deeply ashamed, they all knew he had been abusive to me, and they were so protective. I loved them for it. Rosie stayed on one side, Fiona on the other, and Haven and Quinn appeared across from me.

I felt safe with my friends. They couldn’t completely distract me from Rich. His presence was like a black cloud in my psyche if he was nearby. I didn’t know if I would ever get to a point where he could be neutral for me.

Fiona leaned over at one point. “They’re leaving.”

“Thank you,” I whispered under my breath.

Fiona was newer to Fireweed Harbor, but she’d quickly become a good friend. She was quiet, strong, and deeply loyal. A few minutes later, Fiona squeezed my elbow. “He’s out the door.”

Wyatt and Griffin, the other set of Cannon twins, joined us. I was briefly distracted when I noticed Wyatt’s eyes lingering on Rosie. He was seriously checking her out. I surreptitiously slid my gaze toward Rosie to see her cheeks were pink. She stole a look at him before staring down at the glass in her hand. The moment passed after Wyatt looked away when Griffin said something to him.

I was still unsettled by Rich showing up here and excused myself to go to the restroom. I needed a minute to gather myself. I threaded my way through the crowd, dipping into the back hallway. This was the area for the private offices, but I had permission to be back here. I’d actually worked at the restaurant when I was in high school. These days, when Haven and McKenna hosted events here, I sometimes helped with various miscellaneous tasks.

I’d turned into the break room just as I heard the hallway door open behind me. My nerves were on high alert. Whenever Rich was around, my nervous system took a while to calm down when he left. I was jumpy and edgy, and my fingertips tingled.

The quick footsteps caused anxiety to rise swiftly inside. Just when I glanced around to find somewhere to hide, I heard, “Tessa.”

Adam’s voice rang like a bell inside me. Although my nerves were stripped raw, I instantly felt soothed. I turned to see him standing in the doorway. Whatever he saw in my eyes, he moved quickly toward me, stopping immediately in front of me. “Are you okay?”

It felt as if my emotions were against my skin, and I couldn’t contain them. Despite the shock and almost bewilderment at what was happening with Adam, I felt completely safe with him. I opened my mouth to tell him I was fine, but instead, a sob slipped out.

He murmured something before folding me in his arms. I cried with my face buried in his chest. I didn’t feel like I had to explain anything. He simply held me. His embrace was strong and sure. The emotional storm passed, abating as quickly as it had rushed in. I took a shaky breath and finally lifted my head.

Adam smoothed my hair away from my face with one hand. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

I had no idea how he knew, but he knew I needed a minute. “I’ll wait here.” He held the bathroom door open for me. A moment later, I stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection. My mascara was smeared on my cheeks, my nose was running, and my eyes were puffy.

I quickly splashed water on my face and wiped the mascara off my cheeks. I ran hot water over my hands to warm me and get rid of the cold, tingly feeling. On the heels of another deep breath, I dried my hands and stepped out of the bathroom.

Adam was leaning against the wall beside the door.

“Thank you,” I said.

His eyes held mine. “I’m here whenever you need me.”

He walked me out to my car where it was parked across the street behind Fireweed headquarters. Once I was in the car and buckled in, he rested his hand on the inside edge of my door. “When can I see you again?”