Page 97 of Night and Day

I dropped my laptop bag on the table.

“You’re home.” Tessa appeared, smiling.

Several things hit me at once. She looked beautiful. She was wearing a casual navy dress with a floral print. It had a V-neck, was nipped in at the waist, with long gauzy sleeves, and a swishy skirt to her knees. Her feet were bare, and I could see newly painted toenails in bright red. Her dark hair was in one of those messy buns women must know make a man want to yank it out.

Mostly, I realized how much I liked this. Coming home to her at the end of the workday. Having someone waiting for me.

She wound her arms around me, and I hauled her close and kissed her.

“How did everything go?” she asked.

“The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered.”

She smiled. “Congratulations, Mr. Langston.”

“Thanks.” I didn’t quite feel the burst of happiness and satisfaction that I’d anticipated, but I was happy.

“Watch out, Maldives,” she said. “There’s a hot new hotel on the horizon. We should celebrate. Go and change into something more comfortable.”

I arched a brow.

“That wasn’t code for anything, Langston. Change. We’re eating in tonight. It’s all arranged, but I need to get us a bottle of celebratory champagne.” She headed over to the well-stocked bar as I pulled my tie off.

I saw her nab a bottle of Dom Perignon and two champagne flutes. “I’ll meet you on the roof.” She darted off toward the stairs.

The penthouse had a private rooftop terrace. I guessed we were eating in the open air. In the bedroom, I changed into a pair of black lounge pants and a dark green Henley. I saw Tessa’s clothes hanging in the closet beside mine and one of her cardigans tossed over the back of a chair. In the bathroom, there were pots and bottles and makeup littered across the vanity.

In the past, I’d never wanted anyone, especially a woman, in my space. But now…

I shook my head and made my way up to the roof.

When I stepped outside, I stilled.

The sun was setting, lighting the mountains to the west in brilliant orange and pink. A fire was crackling in the fire pit. Next to it was a large, comfy outdoor chair. Not far from that, a table for two was set up and loaded with plates, candles flickering in the center of it. Tessa stood beside it and waved a hand.

“Dinner is served.”

“You organized all this?”

“It wasn’t hard.” She sat. “The staff here are excellent. And they sprang into action. Very efficient and clearly experienced.”

I moved over to her and tipped her head back. This kiss was long and slow.

When I was done with her, I liked that her eyes were glazed.

“Dinner will get cold,” she said, her voice breathy.

I sat across from her, liking the way the candlelight danced across her features. “Give me the champagne.”

She pulled the bottle from the ice bucket. I popped the cork and poured the golden liquid into two glasses.

She lifted hers and sipped, glancing over to watch the last of the sunset. “I love Windward. I’m a small-town girl at heart, but I can sure appreciate how the other half live.” She held up her glass and I clinked mine against it.

I knew she’d never leave Windward. She was rooted there, with people who loved her. It held sad memories for her, but it also held love and happiness. I’d never felt connected to any place before, so it wasn’t a feeling I understood, but I still felt a little envious.

She made my glitzy life seem…a little empty.

“Congratulations on your new acquisition, Ro. I know how hard you worked for it.”