Chapter Fourteen

Two weeks later, Tess retrieved her caramel latte from the counter and joined Cece at the tiny table she’d claimed in the back of the coffee shop. She took a sip of the thick foam on her way and stifled a groan. She didn’t splurge on fancy coffees very often, but when she did…well, orgasmic wasn’t quite the right word, but it was close.

Cece had left work to meet Tess for a mid-morning coffee break, and as always, she looked like the all-powerful financial magnate she was. Her blond hair was in a perfect French twist, not a strand out of place, and she wore a tailored black skirt that fell to just above her knees and matching blazer. She screamed elegance and professionalism, ready at a moment to take on any man who might suggest—even obliquely—that she was only in her position because she was her father’s daughter.

In the way of scrupulously thin women, Cece’s coffee was black and she had purchased a scone, but only nibbled at the corner of it. As Tess sat, she pushed it toward her, indicating that she should help herself. And Tess wondered, as she always did, if Cece had ever had any intention of eating it herself, or if it had been for Tess all along.

Case in point: the scone was blueberry, which Tess loved, but Cece rarely ate, because she didn’t like to risk getting blueberry seeds between her teeth while she was at work.

“So, what’s the event tonight?” She handed over a white box tied with a silver bow. “A cocktail party or something?”

Tess frowned. “What did you do?”

“Just take it and shut up. I got a couple of samples from Katya.”

Tess pulled open the bow and opened the box. There were three dresses inside. One was black, with silver sequins on the bodice and a long chiffon skirt. The second was a flame-colored halter-style, with a low V-neck. The third was the familiar green dress that she’d worn to the Aspen the night she and Mason had first been together. It was just as beautiful as she remembered.

“Cece, I can’t take this.”

Her friend’s gentle expression turned murderous. “I wasn’t sure which would be best, and Katya wanted to share a couple of her designs with you. You’re going to tell everyone who asks all about her boutique and new evening line, and you’ll be doing her a huge favor. So shut up.”

Tess wasn’t sure how much to believe Cece—her friend was not above lying—but Katya was a young designer that Cece was helping fund, so it could very well be true. “Fine, but please tell Katya thank you for me. I’m not actually sure how formal the event is tonight. It’s some kind of charity thing for the symphony.”

Cece looked up, her cup frozen halfway to her mouth. “The symphony gala?”

“I…guess? Maybe?”

With a slow exhale, Cece set down her coffee. “I see. Wear the long black one. And get your hair done. I’ll set you up with my stylist. I’ll send you some jewelry, too.”

Tess’s heart skipped a beat. “Jewelry? I guess it’s kind of a big deal?”

“You’ll be fine. Just be prepared for lots of pictures and lots of rich guys in tuxedos.”

“Great.” Tess broke off another piece of scone with a scowl. “Mason said I might want to wear something fancy, but I wasn’t sure what exactly that meant. I was thinking I might just wear that black dress I found at the consignment store.”

“You know my closet is your closet.”

“But sadly, your body isn’t my body. Luckily, for some reason you seem to find reasons to acquire dresses are that at least two sizes too big for you. I appreciate that.”

Cece inclined her head slightly, the only indication she’d ever give of her generosity. “So is there something you aren’t telling me about Mason? Going to a gala together sounds like a big step for you two. Does this mean you’re finally going to admit that you’re dating?”

“We’re not dating.” Tess tucked the bag under her chair and returned her attention to her latte.

“Right. You walk your dogs together. You buy groceries together. You stayed in last weekend and binge-watched The Office together. He’s taking you to a formal event where you’ll be walking around arm and arm in front of hundreds of people. And you’re not dating?”

Tess squirmed slightly in her seat. “We were really clear on this. It’s not a dating thing. We’re just hanging out.”

“And having a lot of sex.”

“Right.”

“And cuddling afterward.”

“Right.”

“And you sleep at his apartment.”

“Sometimes,” Tess broke in defensively. “Sometimes I go home.”

Except, for the past week, she hadn’t, even though waking up with him was equal parts delicious fantasy and impending doom. How could it not be? She was painfully aware every morning that she opened her eyes in his apartment was increasingly likely to be her last. A guy didn’t go from a four-date rule to living with someone overnight, and her self-protective instincts were way too strong to allow her to let down her guard. It was only a matter of time before they both realized they were on the road to nowhere.

Still, it was fun while it lasted.

“This is a public event. Hard to explain that away.”

“I don’t think it’s a big deal. He just wanted someone to go with him. It’s not like a real date.” Tess pictured Mason’s casual comment two nights ago, while they were walking the dogs at Rincon Park. Hey, I have this charity thing to go to on Thursday. Any chance you can come with me? There’s a dinner and then the symphony is playing and I need someone to pinch me if I start to fall asleep.

She’d wanted to ask why he didn’t take a real date, but she couldn’t make herself form the words.

Because she didn’t want to hear the answer.

Cece eyed her over the top of her cup. “Seriously, only a crazy person would say this isn’t a date. Let me ask this—is he dating other people?”

“He could be.” She raised her chin. “I never told him not to.”

“But he isn’t.”

“He could be,” Tess repeated firmly. “This definitely isn’t an exclusive thing. He’s free to date anyone he wants.”

Of course, it would kill her if he did. But that was stupid, because he wasn’t into relationships. Hadn’t he told her that himself, in no uncertain terms?

“Has it occurred to you that maybe things have changed? Maybe Mr. Four-Date Rule is ready to settle down.”

Tess pressed her fingers against her eyelids in an effort to ward off the headache that seemed to loom every time she thought about their relationship.

Or whatever you called the increasingly confusing thing that they were doing that definitely wasn’t dating.

“No one is settling down. Not him. Not me. We’re just…ah…friends with benefits.”

“Oh, right. Because friends always take friends to fancy charity events. And spend all their free time with them. And make them coffee every morning.”

“I never should have told you that,” Tess muttered.

Of course, she’d tried to maintain her distance at first. They’d found someone else to walk Wick on the days she was at the vet clinic, and she’d resumed her usual schedule at work. She went home at night and was careful not to leave any of her belongings behind. But then her Wi-Fi had gone out, and she hadn’t wanted to call the cable company to come fix it because she wasn’t entirely sure the original hookup had been legal. Mason had glowered at her and insisted she do her schoolwork at his place and bring Astro just in case she needed to stay late. Then, despite all her best intentions, she’d stayed up late working on a problem set and woken up in his bed.

First one night. Then another.

The weirdest part was that he seemed entirely pleased about the situation.

Still, they’d been careful to avoid any talk of what their relationship might have become. And that was good as far as Tess was concerned because nothing had changed. Mason had said he wasn’t interested in a relationship, and she couldn’t seem to find the backbone to push him away.

Whatever they were doing was working. And she had no intention of messing it up.

“You’re the one who kept telling me not to overthink this.” Tess focused on her coffee in an effort to avoid meeting Cece’s penetrating gaze. “You were the one who said I should just have some fun, remember? Something about sexy times?”

Cece sniffed. “As you are well aware, I am the last person to give advice about sexy times. In fact, you should feel free to share details, if you think they might be educational.”

“Tell you what.” Tess pointed a finger in her direction. “Some night when we’re drunk and you’re ready for your sexual awakening, I will share those details. But only then.”

Cece snorted with laughter, a shockingly unladylike sound that she occasionally made that always made Tess grin. “My sexual awakening will happen sometime around the next Ice Age.”

“I’ll be ready when it does. And speaking of Ice Ages, I think Mason is planning another night out with his work people this weekend. Any chance you want to come and flirt with Nate some more?”

Cece’s expression darkened. “Flirt with Nate Etherly? Are you kidding? Have you ever met anyone quite so conceited? Or quite so annoying?”

Tess grinned. “Or with quite so expansive a chest? I’m pretty sure they could have used him as a Gaston body double for Beauty and the Beast.”

“Oh, that’s perfect!” Cece snorted again. “Gaston! How did I not think of that?”

“Because you were too busy admiring his Gaston-like chest.”

“There is nothing I admire about that man.”

Aware that she was potentially walking into a minefield, Tess spoke cautiously. “You’ve got some kind of history with him, I guess?”

“We run in the same circles. Or used to.” Cece waved off the topic. “But let’s get back to you and Mason. I know you aren’t big on trusting guys, and I completely understand why, but maybe it’s worth giving it a shot. Maybe this time it’s different.”

“I would be the biggest fool in the world if I thought that. As soon as this gets too intense, he’ll be ready to move on.”

Cece’s lips compressed. “You know if he hurts you…”

“You are not going to play cowboy,” Tess finished her sentence for her. “Look, I’m not going to get hurt. I know what to expect out of this. He told me straight up that he wasn’t born with the commitment gene. So no matter how fun things are, this isn’t going to last. And that’s fine—I had a life before I met him, you know. Granted, it involved a lot less time in fancy high-rise buildings eating meals prepared by a personal chef, but I did have a life. And I’ll have a life after all this is over. I know a little something about self-preservation. I’ve seen this movie before, and I know what the ending looks like. And it isn’t a royal wedding with white horses and a golden coach.”

And maybe she wasn’t quite as confident about all that as she tried to sound, but really, what else could she do? Pretend like Mason was going to change? Ignore his warnings and let herself fall head over heels in love with him?

Cece squeezed her hand. “You’re not like me. You need people around you. I hate seeing you alone so much, working so much and living alone in that falling-down house of yours.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve got plenty of people around me. Like Gracie. And Erica. And you.”

“That’s not the same thing as having a relationship and you know it.”

“And neither of us believe in that relationship business and you know it.” Tess broke off a piece of the scone and let the sweet, buttery flavor erase the moment of bitterness. “If and when I do get serious with someone, it definitely won’t be with a man like Mason. He’s barely even an actual human being. He’s like some cartoon character superhero.” She broke off another piece of the pastry and waved it in the air as she spoke. “You can’t trust someone that gorgeous, you know? He’s way too pretty, and he’s had way too much attention his whole life. I’m pretty sure it’s rendered him constitutionally incapable of having a normal relationship.”

“Too much attention can definitely screw you up.” Cece stared down at her black coffee.

Tess jerked, suddenly filled with guilt at the thought of applying what she’d just said to her friend. “I didn’t mean…oh, shit, Cece, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply—”

Cece cut her off with a raised hand. “I’m not saying you’re wrong about Mason. I barely know the guy. I’m just saying you might not want to come to that conclusion too quickly.”

“You’re right. And honestly, this would all be a lot simpler if he truly was an asshole. But he warned me from the start not to expect anything from him. And I’d be a fool not to listen.”

“If you say so.” Cece held up her coffee cup. “Let’s have a toast. Here’s to men who know their place in our lives.”

“Mindless sex machines designed to give us pleasure?”

“Of course!”

“I can drink to that.”