Brynlee said a girl named Aarabelle was coming. That she’d be here this morning and she is her top publicist.
Tessa looks up. Her chest rises and falls and the sexual bliss that filled her eyes just moments ago has morphed to a mix of horror and regret. “Is your last name Thorn?” she asks hesitantly.
“Yes. I’m Killian Thorn.”
Her hand covers her mouth. “Oh, God. Oh. Right. Okay. Yes. You are. I’m.” She swallows and puts her purse down. “Mr. Thorn. Killian, I’m Tessa Rivers. I work for Anchor Light as…a publicist…maybeformernow but, umm, yeah this is awkward.”
That’s a fucking understatement.
I can’t believe this.
I fucked my publicist.
How much more can I screw up this entire situation?
I wasn’t sure it could get worse.
In walks my next mistake.
She’s uncomfortable, and I need to make this right. “We’re both professionals.”
“We are.”
Although not even twenty minutes ago I was between her legs.
Real fucking professional.
I can’t make this worse than it is, although I’m sure if you give me five minutes, I’ll manage it. I push aside my feelings and do what I can to mitigate her look of distress. “Yes, and I’m not your boss. This is just…two strangers who spent a night together.”
Tessa straightens her back. “Yes. One night and that’s it.”
Message received. Any plans we had for another go are off the table now. I should be pleased with that, but fuck, I’m not. I wanted more with her. One night is not going to be enough, but it has to be.
How the hell did this happen? This doesn’t even make sense. When I spoke to Brynlee, she never mentioned… “Wait,” I say quickly, putting the pieces together. “Brynlee said a woman named Aarabelle was coming?”
Not a girl named Tessa.
Maybe this isn’t the same girl who is supposed to be here.
Her eyes drop her to shoes. “Yes, and she was going to be the one who came here, but as she was leaving the office in New York, she was run over.”
“Run over?”
“By a cyclist! Sorry, she’s fine, but she broke her leg and got a concussion. So, they asked me to step in. I’m sure this sounds like it’s completely nuts, but I promise it’s true. Brynlee trusts that I can help and I swear, I would’ve never, we would’ve never…if I knew who you were. God, please just kill me now. You should fire me—call Brynn and tell her you want another publicist to work on this.”
I fight the urge to move toward her, to touch her, to comfort her, but I don’t think I’m the person who can do that right now.
“I’m not going to do that, but I’m just…stunned.”
“But you should!” Tessa bursts out.
I run my fingers through my hair and sigh. “Do you want that? Truly?”
Tessa moves toward me quickly, almost as if she realizes she spoke those words aloud. “No! Please. Forget I said that. I can do this. We are both adults and we didn’t know who the other was, right? There’s no reason why we can’t put that behind us and focus on what you need for your ranch. I’m able to do my job, no matter what happened here last night.”
“And this morning.”
Her cheeks redden. “Yes, and this morning. We don’t need to talk about it.” Tessa lets out a deep sigh, straightens her back, and nods once. “I’m here to help you so that’s all that really matters, right?”
