8. Adam

That evening, I found myself turning on the TV to watch the weather report. More specifically, to watch Tessa.

My lips curled at the corners the moment they announced, “And here is Fireweed Harbor’s very own Tessa Hensen with our evening weather report.”

Tessa smiled at the camera and began reporting the weather. I didn’t pay much attention to the details, but she was perfect. Toward the end, there was an educational segment that had started since she had begun doing this forecast. Tonight, I learned the difference between two types of clouds.

After they shifted away from the weather, the next segment discussed this summer’s fishing season. My thoughts zoomed right back to this afternoon.

I wanted, to the point of cold fury, to do something about Tessa’s ex. But I knew there was nothing I could do beyond trying to be there for her. Today, I’d resisted the urge to walk back into the attorney’s offices to talk to Colin Blackthorn. He was a friend of sorts. I also wanted to talk to Quinn about it.

But I knew Tessa wouldn’t likely appreciate me doing that. I imagined she was accustomed to having so many details of her life orchestrated by her ex. I was accustomed to managing things and solving problems. Yet I also knew well how to stay out of the way. In my own family, Kenan and I had played the peacekeepers for the most part. We adopted that role differently.

Restless, I entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, only to discover what I already knew. It was almost empty.

I lifted my phone and called in a take-out order from Fireweed Winery. I tossed my phone back on the counter and glanced around. Kenan and my other brothers helped me build this place.

My house was bigger than I needed, but I was too practical not to consider resale value even though I didn’t intend to move. The house was just beyond the main downtown area of Fireweed Harbor along one of the bluffs that overlooked the harbor. The kitchen was to the back, beyond the open area living room. With it being summer, the sun was just setting even though it was already late evening.

The light-colored hardwood floors gleamed under the late evening sun as it slid down toward the mountain range. The flooring shifted to tile in the kitchen area with a bathroom and laundry area at the back. Stairs led up to a loft, where I had an office. That area also had a view with the desk built into the railing along the upper floor. The main bedroom was on one side upstairs, and a short hallway with two more bedrooms was on the other side.

I began to pace with restless energy buzzing through me. I could always work, I told myself. I had the desk upstairs and did work there, but I worked as much downstairs on my laptop on the sectional in the living room area or on the island in the kitchen.

Just as I was about to jog out to my car to pull my laptop out of its bag, my phone vibrated on the counter. I spun it around, and my heart started kicking hard against my ribs as soon as I saw the text.

Tessa:Can I see you tonight?

I didn’t even hesitate. I lifted the phone, tapping the screen to slide open her text and reply.

Me:Absolutely. Should I pick you up?

Tessa:Please.

I jogged out to my car seconds later, calling the restaurant to change my order to a pick-up. I called Tessa a moment later. “I already ordered takeout. Do you want anything?”

“Uh, sure,” she said, sounding a little surprised.

“What would you like?”

“Um, what did you get?”

“The chicken curry special.”

“I’ll take the same. I love that one.”

“You got it.”

“I’ll get you first, and then we’ll go pick up the food together.”

When Tessa hesitated, I shifted gears. “Or I’ll get the food and come get you.”

“That would be great,” she said quickly.

“See you in a few.”

I called the restaurant to add to my order. I waited impatiently when I got to the restaurant.

Tessa had texted me her address, which, uncharacteristically for me, I hadn’t even thought to ask for. I didn’t know where she lived because, well, I hadn’t paid much attention to Tessa until a week ago. And now, she was practically all I thought about.

Anticipation sizzled through me like little streaks of lightning across the sky before a storm. Tessa had specifically instructed me to come around the back with a follow-up text.

I suspected I knew why but didn’t want to contemplate it tonight. Her house was a small A-frame-style home. I recognized it as one rented through our family’s property management company. I suspected her ex had fought to keep whatever house they had shared in the divorce.

She was opening the back door before I even got out of my SUV. I watched as she turned and checked to make sure the door was locked behind her.

“Your lights are on,” I commented as she jogged down the stairs.

She didn’t even look back over her shoulder. “I know.”

When she stopped in front of me, I wanted to kiss her. A light, giddy sense was inside me as if a warm breeze gusted through my heart.

I shackled the urge. I noticed her glancing around as if she were worried someone was watching.

Once we were in the SUV and I was driving, I slid my gaze to hers. “How are you?”

“Better than when you saw me this afternoon.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, and I remembered the feel of her trembling in my arms. “I mean, the bar is low.” Her tone was dry, and the laugh that rustled in her throat contained a bitter tinge.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean falling apart after meeting with my lawyer and having a breakdown in public. That’s all. Can we not talk about that? I shouldn’t have even said anything.”

The stop sign ahead was convenient. Once I came to a full stop, I turned to look at her. “You can say whatever you want. If you want to talk about it, you can. If you don’t want to talk about it, you can also do that. I was just asking how you were.”

She held my gaze and took a quick breath. “My life is kind of a hot mess. I’m not so sure you want to deal with it.”

“It’s no messier than anyone else’s, Tessa. I don’t say that to belittle how you’re doing. It’s just everybody’s life is a little bit messy. I want to deal with you and whatever comes with you,” I said, my tone clear and definitive.

“Okay.” Her voice was just above a whisper. Yet again, the urge to kiss her was almost overwhelming.

A horn honked behind us, and I yanked my eyes away from hers and began driving again. A few minutes later, I turned into my driveway.

“This is so pretty!” Tessa exclaimed.

“I can’t take credit for the landscape since that’s nature’s doing, but I designed and built the house myself with help from my brothers, of course.”

“Must be nice,” she said as I tapped the remote to open my garage.

“What’s nice?”

“Having that many siblings. You always have someone to turn to.”

Until these recent events, I’d never wondered if Tessa had siblings. I knew she’d grown up in Fireweed Harbor, but that was it.

Before pondering that further, I answered, “Sometimes I wish it was just me in the world, speaking of messy. Then there are other times I can’t imagine life without my siblings. They tend to be…” I contemplated my choice of words. “Over-involved.”

Tessa snorted as I put my SUV in park and tapped to close the garage door behind us.

“There’s a lot of love there,” she offered.

I glanced over at her as I reached between the seats for the bag of takeout in the back seat. Her scent drifted to me. She smelled fresh, almost like a spring breeze.

Once again, I resisted the urge to kiss her. It was an almost constant need, an insistent knock on the door of my body.

As we climbed out together, I finally assuaged my curiosity. “You know, I don’t even know if you have siblings.”

“What do you know about me?” She stopped beside me as I tapped in the code on my door before walking into my kitchen.

“I know you’re my sister’s friend, and you were just young enough when we were growing up that I didn’t pay a lot of attention to you. And, of course, you probably know this from McKenna, but things are a little messy in our family.”

My measured statement belied the roiling anxiety and dread that had colored most of my childhood after our father passed away unexpectedly.

“I do know that from McKenna. It’s just me and my parents. I love my parents, and they’re still together. I’m close to my uncle David.”

“Ah, yes. I knew David was your uncle.” David had been the chef for our restaurant for many years until recently shifting to admin duties only.

We were in my kitchen now, and I set the takeout on the counter. Tessa had stopped beside me and was looking around. “It’s beautiful inside too.” Her gaze completed its arc about the space before reaching mine again.

“Thank you.” I paused as a sense of uncertainty started to unspool inside. I wasn’t used to feeling this way. I kept things so, well, so impersonal.

She idly rubbed her fingers along the hem of her shirt. The urge to tug her into my arms and hold her close was almost overpowering.

I usually thought everything through—numbers, details, and so on. I wasn’t thinking when I stepped closer and reached for her hand. I was gratified when she instantly curled her fingers into mine.

“Are you nervous?” I asked.

She started to say something and paused before shaking her head, as if to herself. “Yes.” She took a quick breath. “It’s not you. It’s the situation.”

“What would help you feel better?”

She stared up at me, pink staining her cheeks.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

“All you had to do was ask.”

I moved a little closer. I lifted a hand to palm her cheek and slipped my other arm around her waist. I looked into her eyes for a long moment, giving her time.

“Are you sure?” I whispered over her lips.