“That bitch missed her flight!” Tessa growled and tossed the phone on the couch. “I can’t believe it!”
“From what you’ve told me about your sister, I can’t believe that you can’t believe that,” Seth said from the chair beside her. He reached out and squeezed her arm. “Stop panicking. You should be freaking out right now! We just made it into the finale!” He squealed out his last word, and Tessa felt that giddy emotion quicken in her stomach.
Yes! They’d done that. They’d won top points once again. Her team was one of only two teams still standing.
Holy hell but she was inches away from having her life spin out from under her feet. Only one more client. Only one more week of planning. Only one more to conquer. Just one more.
And then she could be swept into a frenzy of weddings. Would be. She was going to win this thing or leave a trail of blood and tears all the way back to Arizona or lock herself in one of the resort bathrooms and refuse to leave the premises. Either way, she wouldn’t go down quietly.
That close. Oh my God. She was that close to being the shit in the wedding industry, in the resort that dominated the most prestigious wedding locations.
“I’m sorry.” Tessa made what she hoped was a genuine pouty face when the need to grind her teeth in irritation was so strong.
Monty was going to try her nerves, and this was the one time she didn’t need any added stress.
“But she knows how important tonight is and I’m so, so sick of her self-centered ass,” Tessa growled.
She actually didn’t know just how sick she was of Monty’s self-absorbed ways until this exact moment. Was it too much to ask that she put her sluts aside for a single fucking week? Was it too much to ask to have her undivided attention for just a fraction of a minute? Just one weekend. That’s all she needed. That was all of Monty’s time she’d asked for.
Yes. Obviously, trying to depend on Monty was too much to ask. Michelle had warned her this would happen when Tessa announced that Monty was coming for moral support during the finale. An offer Michelle had refused as soon as she heard that Monty had accepted.
She couldn’t even depend on Monty for the most important challenge in her life. And Tessa was damn tired of always being the mothering adult and trying to keep her in line. Damn tired of it.
“Why don’t we go spend the day up at the lodge? We can get ahead of ourselves for next week,” Seth said.
Tessa faked a smile. This awesome guy had opted out of going into town today with the rest of the overly excited crew members. Instead, he decided to stay behind to hang out with Tessa. To help her get the lodge ready and wait for Monty. The Monty who had missed her flight. The Monty who promised, no matter what, she would be on time to spend the day with Tessa, to help her stay calm and celebrate tonight with her.
And now Seth was stuck with Tessa who was in a foul mood and ready to call the Peoria radio station and have them make a public announcement that her sister had cooties.
Poor Seth. He was such a sweetheart. All of them were, actually. She’d been extremely blessed to have gained a crew that was on board no matter what crazy decision Tessa had made. No matter what ridiculous thing she changed. No matter how many times she repeated that process. They’d never questioned her antics and had seemed happy and eager to go with the flow, soaking up everything as a learning experience, and jumping to pull their own weight.
She could only hope, win or lose, that she’d taught them something about giving everything they had to reach the next goal in life. To never give up. To never give in.
For most of them, those who weren’t content in their current positions, she prayed she’d showed them that she wasn’t afraid to not only think outside the box, but to create and build a larger, better, fancier box around that one. It would make her heart happy to know she’d given them the courage to keep pushing ahead until they reached their personal goals.
She knew bigger and better opportunities awaited them. Their team had been noticed. Their names were now out there. Each of them. Who they were, what they did, and where they came from. It was just a matter of time before they each took their leaps, and nothing made her happier than to think she’d help make a difference in the lives.
“I think you should stop worrying about the lodge and take your ass down this mountain to hang out with the rest of our crew.” Tessa arched a brow at him. “I’m just gonna be a Debbie Downer until Monty shows her face. If she does. And when—if—she does, you might not want to be a witness to the crimes I have in mind.”
“She will make it. Just wait and see. And hanging with a Debbie Downer is way better than Slut Sally, Hoe Hunter, or Do Them All Danny.” Seth cocked his head and pursed his lips. “Do you know how hard it is to stop three drunk sex addicts from diving headfirst into an STD? It’s not pretty.”
“Danny? Quiet, OCD, Danny?”
“Girl, please. He’d get a knothole pregnant if there wasn’t someone sane, meaning me, and not drunk, also me, around to stop him.” Seth lifted his arm above his head and pointed at himself in a perfect Blake Shelton move. “Me. Sane one. Only sober one during every celebration thanks to his need to reproduce with things dead or alive.”
Tessa giggled. “I’ll never be able to look at him the same again. Sweet Danny, a sex fiend. Hilarious.”
“Sally is far worse, as if that doesn’t come as a surprise.” He wagged his finger. “I can’t believe you didn’t know she screwed Terry from Cynthia’s team. When their team got sent home, she started sleeping with Carl from Donald’s team. Who knows who she’ll turn to now that his team is out.”
“No. No way. Terry was married and Carl was gay. Wasn’t he?”
Seth gave a firm nod. “Apparently, Sally has that magic touch.” He pressed his index finger against his lips.
The phone rang and Tessa snatched it off the cushion and glanced at the screen before accepting the call. “You better be boarding that flight or so help me God I will announce to every female, in every club, in every city and town, in the whole state of Arizona that you have serious venereal diseases. Incurable, blistery, warty, smelly, gooey diseases.”
“Do you kiss our daddy with that mouth?” Monty asked.
Commotion and stomping rang through the phone. Incoherent announcements blared through a speaker system.
“I’m not kidding, Monty! I’m pissed and excited and worried and you’re not here!”
“Calm down, Tess. I’m boarding the plane as we speak. I swear.”
“Then why the fuck are you running?” Tessa shoved off the couch, the anger overtaking her emotions. “I can hear you stomping, dumbass!”
Was it horrible that she wanted her sister here? Needed her here for the last charge of this race. She needed Monty’s no-nonsense attitude. The one that always calmed Tessa when she was upset or over-emotional. She needed Monty to calm her fears and anxiety.
Dammit. Why couldn’t Monty just do one simple thing right? Why did she have to let her down this time, of all times?
“Breathe, Tess. Just breathe. I’ll be there in three hours.”
Monty disconnected the call and Tessa fell back on the couch with a growl.
“I can totally see her running through the airport, half naked, one shoe on, hair completely amok, lipstick stains on her neck, and bitches will still stop her just to get her number. And she’ll flirt long and hard before she finally gives out those digits because that’s how my little fuck everyone sister performs. And then she’ll miss her fucking flight while I sit here and brew and then give me some cockamamie excuse about how it wasn’t her fault.”
“No, ma’am. We’re not doing this, this pouting thing another second. You’re not allowed to sit here and stew when we’re this close to being crowned winners.” Seth pushed out of the chair. “So get your ass up from there and let’s go put that anger to good use because in case you haven’t noticed, I kind of like crowns.” He struck a queen-worthy pose, then tugged her off the couch.
Four hours and a cleanly stocked lodge later, Tessa stepped onto the porch of their cabin to find Monty perched on the swing, arm dangling over the back, foot propped up on the arm, eating a banana. With, apparently, not a damn care in the world.
The anger she’d attempted to erase while she cleaned her favorite place, that amazing lodge with its spacious rooms and incredible views, drained as soon as Monty flashed her that perfect smile and rose from the swing.
Tessa couldn’t help herself. Relief flooded. She raced across the porch and flung her arms around Monty’s neck.
Her worries and fears melted away as Monty lifted her off her feet in a bear hug and spun her around. Monty’s hugs always had a way of taking away the anxiety.
“There, there, big sister. I’m here to make it all better.”
And she would. She had that special something that made Tessa forget what she was upset about. Had that smooth demeanor that made her not care about the bad anymore. Monty was the one who let her know everything was going to be okay, even if it wasn’t.
Monty sat her back on her feet and Tessa slapped her arm. “Ouch. What the…”
Tessa playfully smacked her again. “You’re an asshole, Monty! Couldn’t you, for one single fucking night, keep your dick in your pants?”
Monty cupped her crotch with one hand. “What does my dick have to do with anything?”
“You missed your flight, asswipe. The other group leader has his entire family on deck.” Tessa poked her finger into Monty’s chest, trying her best to keep the smile from forming. “Yet my very own sister is the slack ass.”
Seth stepped around Tessa and shoved his hand out. “I’m Seth. One of her crew members. Her favorite crew member, I feel obliged to include.”
Monty tossed the last bite of banana over the railing and hugged him instead. “Poor, poor Seth. I’ve heard tons of great things about you. And I’ve sent up several prayers for your survival while working for this one.” She released him and patted his arm. “I see my pleas worked. You’re welcome.”
“I’m gonna keep my response to myself as I’m sure you understand.” He gave a bright smile and tossed a cautious glance at Tessa. “But I’ve heard tons about you as well. Tessa absolutely hates to adore you.” He playfully backed out of swinging range. “Don’t smack me! I’m not as solid as your sister.”
Tessa smirked. “Monty is the only one I abuse. She always deserves it.”
Monty snaked her arm around Tessa’s neck and drew her close. “You love me and you know it. So let’s go inside before we freeze our lady parts off.”
“And so you can get a damn shower. We have to be down at the resort in less than two hours for interviews.”
“My sister. A celebrity.” She gave Tessa another squeeze. “I can’t wait to photobomb your moment. And then meet your hot new girlfriend.”
Seth opened the front door and they all moved inside.
“She is not my girlfriend,” Tessa said.
Monty casually looked toward Seth as if looking for confirmation.
Seth held up his hands defensively. “I’m out of this argument.” He took several steps away and adamantly nodded his head at Monty.
“I saw that!” Tessa said.
Seth scooted around the back of the couch with a wicked smile, then disappeared into his room.
“So when do I get to meet this not your hot new girlfriend?” Monty shucked out of her coat and hung it by the door.
“My friend with benefits, who has kept me from losing my mind through this whole ordeal, will be at the party along with my boss, Wendy.”
“Ah. The boss. I like badass female bosses. I want to meet the boss.”
Tessa cocked her hands on her hips. “I suggest you draw that thought right back into the deepest part of your dirty mind. If you so much as wink at her, I will shove you off this mountain.” She gave her best “try me” glare.
“Oh, sweet, sweet Tess. Have a little more faith in your perfect little sister. A few minutes alone with her, working a little tongue action, and that new job will be all yours.”
“Monty!”
Monty laughed and hugged Tessa. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding. Where has your sense of humor gone?”
“Go get in the damn shower before I show you where it went.” She pushed away from Monty and pointed toward her bedroom door. “Step on it.”
Monty grabbed the handle of her suitcase and started for the bedroom. “I’m your biggest fan, you know? And I’m so proud of you.”
Tessa was too choked up to respond. God, she loved her butthead, self-centered little sister.
All fucked up parts of her included.
* * *
Marci couldn’t stop watching the doorway. Even with the crowd, her focus remained on that door. On every face walking through it.
A few photographers from the surrounding radio and news stations roamed the room, stopping periodically to snap a photo of the two remaining crews, ask a few questions, and then jot notes down in their notebooks.
Even with all of the commotion, the loud chatter, and periodic interruption, her attention remained on that opening, knowing any second Tessa was going to walk through it. No doubt with her beloved little sister, Monty, who appeared to be the mature black sheep of the family. If there was such a thing.
Marci was nervous. Something she rarely ever was. Though she shouldn’t be. Tessa wasn’t her girlfriend. Or even a great friend. It wasn’t like she was meeting Tessa’s parents. But for some reason, she knew Monty’s approval meant everything to Tessa.
That made this introduction far more important than a parent meet and greet.
Again, it shouldn’t matter. She and Tessa would be going their separate ways very soon. Marci could feel it. Tessa might not have said those words out loud, but the words were there hiding beneath the surface nonetheless.
Soon, she was going to hear them and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She liked Tessa. That was impossible considering the hell she’d been through this past year. That was impossible because she’d built the damn brick wall to avoid such things from happening. She’d made it sturdy and impossible to penetrate.
Or so she thought.
But the fact remained the same. She liked Tessa. Too much. And she dreaded the day that Tessa finally gathered her courage and told her their time had come to a close.
“You haven’t cussed anyone out yet. I’m impressed.” Wendy handed her a Corona.
“Yet. The night is still young.” Marci’s gaze swung toward the door again.
“She’s outside with the reporters doing interviews.”
“Who?”
“Oh please.” Wendy rolled her eyes. “Don’t even pretend you haven’t been eyeballing that damn door for the past thirty minutes.” She lifted her wrist to inspect bare skin. “Oh, wait. Appears I lost track of time. For the past hour.”
Marci considered arguing with her, then thought better. That was exactly what she’d been doing. Waiting with bated breath.
“Just anxious to meet this sister of hers. She’s gone on and on about her.”
“Uh-huh.” Wendy turned up her bottle and eyed Marci. “I’m sure that’s the only reason.”
Marci ignored her insinuation and forced her attention away from the door. One more week and this contest would come to a close. No more stolen moments with Tessa. No more secret adventures under the waterfalls. No more watching her from afar as she explored the great outdoors. No more.
Exactly the way it should be. Marci could go back to where she left off weeks ago. Back to her office with nothing more than the voices on the other end of the line to bother her. Hiding from the world and taking home the women whose names she had no desire to know.
Damn, she couldn’t wait.
Tessa stepped inside the conference room and spotted Marci immediately. Across the room with Wendy. Looking tall and sexy.
Her heart fluttered with the thought. She hated that flutter. More than anything, she hated that fucking flutter. It meant she’d crossed a line. It meant she’d played too long. Stayed too long. Waited too long.
Waited too long for herself or for Marci, she wasn’t sure. Dammit. She’d simply waited too long.
Marci wasn’t the one she’d been looking for. She was broken and still hadn’t put herself back together. She was scorned and untrusting. She was everything Tessa didn’t want in her life.
Yet she couldn’t still her quickening heart and made a promise to have that long overdue talk with Marci very, very soon.
Monty took two wine glasses off the table and joined Tessa. She held one out. “Here. Take a drink. Then another. You’re wound too tight. This is supposed to be a celebration. Act like it.”
Tessa took the drink and looked up at Monty. “One more week. My new life could begin in a single week.”
Monty tapped their glasses together. “Oh you will, awesome sister. You most certainly will.” She glanced around the room. “Now, show her to me.”
Tessa turned back to Marci, excited to finally introduce Monty to the person she’d talked so much about, to put a face to all the stories she’d told Monty during their phone conversations over the past few weeks.
“There.” She nodded toward Marci.
Marci’s gaze turned on her, and Tessa’s gut tightened as those sexy brown eyes locked on her.
Tessa smiled and waved, knowing it was middle school stupidity. Dammit, she wasn’t crushing out. But damn if she wasn’t.
Trouble. She was in so much trouble.
Marci raised her hand, and then the smile melted off her face and a mask of rage transformed her expression.
“Oh shit,” Monty whispered.
Tessa turned to look at her. She wore an expression Tessa had never seen on her tough and always unfazed little sister.
Paralyzed fear. Monty looked terrified.
“What is it?” Tessa grabbed her hand.
Monty never averted her sights from across the room. “Tess, I’m so sorry. This is going to be disastrous.”
Tessa turned back to Marci.
Those hate-filled eyes bored into her.
Tessa had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as Marci bent down to say something to Wendy, who promptly turned toward Tessa and Monty.
What the hell was going on? And why did she feel like a weight had just been dropped on her?
“For your sake, I have to get out of here.” Monty slammed her glass down and escaped back through the door.
Tessa stood frozen, unsure what direction to turn. Run after Monty? Stay for her personal celebration? Walk away from Marci’s angry expression?
What the fuck was going on, and why was something deep down telling her she already knew?
But no matter what, she would always follow her sister. Always.
Tessa set her glass down and ran after Monty.