Page 13 of Tempting Tessa

“Thank you so much, Caroline,” I tell her while holding back tears and wrap her into a huge hug.

The shock of the large room full of people here to celebrate me starts to wear off as I make my way around the room to say hello to everyone. I finally make my way around and find a seat. I’m sure Caroline had a hand in it, as the only seat open is the one between her and Jake. I had only said hello to him as I made my way around the room before, so it will be nice to talk to him while we enjoy dinner.

“Happy birthday,” Jake says as he leans toward me.

“Thank you, I didn’t expect all of this.” I wave my hand around.

“Did you enjoy your day of pampering? You look beautiful tonight.”

“It was amazing. I decided that I need to remodel my master bathroom shower to make it like the one they had. It had a ton of shower heads that were amazing. I could have spent all day under the water,” I tell him and can feel myself start to blush.

“Tell me more about this perfect shower,” he says to me in a deep sexy voice while bouncing his eyebrows up and down.

This gets my hormones to ramp up to overdrive. I rub my thighs together to try and relieve some of the pressure I suddenly am feeling. If he keeps up talking to me like that I don’t think I’ll make it through dinner without dragging him into the bathroom or a dark corner to attack him. I’m sure Jake notices my discomfort and how much I’m blushing. I just hope no one else notices how much he is affecting me rightnow.

The rest of the dinner goes great. I have lots of wonderful conversations with everyone that has come. They bring out a huge cake that Caroline ordered and we all enjoy dessert. It’s now time to move on to our next stop for the evening and it sounds like there will be a much smaller group of us moving on from the restaurant to a large country bar downtown that has line dancing and a karaoke room. Before kids, it was one of our favorite bars to go to in downtown Nashville.

Since we arrived at the restaurant in the limo from the spa, I figure we will just pile in Luke or Jake’s trucks. Little did I know, everyone that is going on to the bar got rides from our parents or took a cab to the restaurant. Luke and Caroline hired another limo to transport all of us so that everyone can get home safely and still enjoy themselves tonight. She really did think of everything to make tonight perfect.

We arrive downtown and the bar is packed! Not surprising for a Saturday night. With CMA fest going on down here next week, there are a ton of people already in town for all those events. Maybe we will luck out later with a surprise free concert. Artists are known to just pop in and play a few songs around this time of year.

We finally make our way into the bar and Luke and Jake offer to go up and get us all a round of drinks. They come back and Jake hands me my drink and leans in and kisses my cheek and whispers in my ear, “Make sure you save me a dance sometime tonight, sweetheart.”

I instantly blush, and just nod my head yes. I can’t think of anyone else besides my girlfriends that I would want to dance with tonight, so you can bet I will be taking him up on that offer once I get a little more alcohol in me and loosen up. Caroline reaches over and grabs my hand and starts pulling me out to the dance floor. I quickly deposit my drink on the table that we are standing around and follow her out.

Vacationby Thomas Rhett comes on and we start shaking our asses dancing to the song. Hit after hit continues for the next half hour or so. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun. I’m in serious need of a drink, so whenCruiseby Florida Georgia Line ends, I tug on Caroline’s arm to pull her back to the table so I can get something to drink. I need water along with another vodka and cranberry, so I head for the bar. Jake snags my arm as I walk by the table. “Where do you think you are going?”

“I need a new drink and some water,” I tell him as I point toward the bar. He pulls me closer to him, as it’s very loud and hard to hear each other.

“I’ll get it for you. You, birthday girl, are not buying yourself anything tonight. What does the birthday girl want to drink?” he asks, directly into my ear so I can hear him. His breath on my neck causes a shiver to work its way down my back and goose bumps to break out on my skin.

“I’ll take a vodka cranberry and a bottle of water, please,” I tell him as I lean in more so he can hear my reply.

“Coming right up,” he says as he places a kiss on my temple and then releases me to walk over to get the bartender’s attention.

He returns with my drinks and I finish off the water in just a few gulps. I didn’t realize how thirsty I had gotten with all that dancing. We are all just enjoying our drinks and listening to the music when the DJ interrupts the music to announce they have a special guest in the house tonight who is about to take the stage for a few-song set. Caroline and I turn to each other all giddy! Looks like our wish came true tonight! Now I just hope it’s someone I love!

About 5 minutes later the lights go down and out walks Brett Eldredge onto the stage! I love his music! I grab both Jake and Caroline’s arms and pull them out to the dance floor. I will be enjoying the live music front and center. Jake grabs me by the hips and I lean into him. I could get used to his touch very easily. The opening cords toLose My Mindcome over the speakers and the crowd goes wild. We’re all dancing and singing along just enjoying ourselves. He continues through a few more of his hits when he says that his time is almost up, but he wants to play one more before he goes. As soon as I hear the notes I know it’s my favorite song of his,Wanna Be That Song.I couldn’t have picked a better song to slow dance with Jake to.

Jakes spins me around and wraps his arms around me, settling his hands along my lower back. I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his chest. Even with heels on I fit under his chin perfectly. It feels so perfect to be in his arms, pressed up against his body. We sway slow to the song and I could get lost in the feeling. I wish the song didn’t have to end.

As the song ends, Jake leans back as he slides one of his hands up to cup my face. The look of desire on his face is intoxicating to look at. He slowly lowers his lips to mine and gives me the gentlest kiss I’ve ever experienced. It’s magical. He pulls back far enough to press his forehead to mine and just looks at me. The silent conversation taking place between our eyes is static filled.

“You are an amazing woman, Tessa. What am I going to do with you?”

“You aren’t so bad yourself,” I respond back to him as I press a light kiss to his lips.

Our moment is interrupted when the lights come back on and the DJ announces they have another special guest that will be on the stage in about 45 minutes. Our group heads back toward our table to get another drink. I’m not sure if I will be able to make it another 45 minutes as it’s almost midnight.

“Hey, guys, I don’t think I can make it much longer. Is everyone else ready to head out?”

“We’re ready to go if you guys are,” Caroline says.

The rest of the group that came with us has disbursed, so it’s down to just the 4 of us left.

“I’m ready if you guys are,” Jake adds, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side.

“Thank you all again for such a wonderful birthday. I’ve had such an amazing day,” I tell them as we head out to the waiting limo.

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