Page 36 of Love Is…?

Tessa knew her eyes were sparkling, just like Jayde’s, and a warm feeling whispered in her stomach.

Then Jayde decided to move back, which was probably a wise idea since banter like that contained too much potential for…Tessa refused to allow her brain to imagine any of the potentials.

“I bet heaps of women ticked your name,” she said, and Jayde quirked her lips.

“I’m not so sure about that. I noticed quite a few counting the chairs until they got to you.”

Tessa laughed. “Oh, they did not. Besides, most of the participants joined tonight to find their happy ever after, and because I’m supposed tonotbe looking for that, it kind of defeated the purpose. They were all as much kittens, puppies, and ponies about love as I am. If I’m going to be any good at this, I’ll need to scuff my edges.”

Jayde studied her for a moment.

“Don’t ever scuff your edges, Tessa Connor,” she said, quietly.

That warm feeling swelled and travelled through Tessa’s veins.

“I’ll try not to. Sounded painful anyway.”

Jayde smiled, then reached across and ran her finger over Tessa’s ear cuff. “Where did you get this? It’s beautiful.” Her eyes, already so dark, had shifted to almost black.

It was confusing. Either Jayde was demonstrating flirting 101 or she was actually interested in Tessa which was silly because Tessa was on the HEA highway, and not about to stop for anything, even if the scenery was very distracting.

“It was a Christmas present two years ago from the family I worked with in Canada.”

Suddenly, their phones buzzed simultaneously. Tessa plucked hers off the coffee table where she’d placed it earlier, and Jayde slid hers from her back pocket.

Dating matches already? Tessa stared at the words from the organiser who congratulated Tessa on her match, advised safety and responsibility with her match, then gave good wishes on her relationship journey. Then a single phone number with a name attached floated on her screen. It was, of course, a name and phone number already in her contacts.

“Wow. They don’t muck around, do they?” she said, staring at the impassive expression on Jayde’s face.

Sliding her phone away, Jayde lifted an eyebrow. “Speed dating. Speedy results.” Then she lifted the other eyebrow as well. “How’d you go?”

“Oh, well, you know, about as well as I expected,” Tessa answered vaguely. “You?”

“Same.”

They both nodded, then Tessa glanced at her phone simply for something to do. Clearly, they weren’t going to talk about thefact that they’d matched with each other. Cool. Great. Fine. No discussion at all.

“I should go,” she said, reluctantly.

“Oh, okay. Sure.” Jayde stood and ushered Tessa to the door. They faced each other and Tessa let her gaze roam. Jayde looked so smart and cool in her waistcoat and suspenders. So sexy with that wild, amazing hair that just begged for fingers to be run through it. Tessa’s fingers.

“Do you mind if I do something?”

Jayde’s eyes grew round, and Tessa realised that her question could have multiple interpretations. She rushed on.

“I love your hair. It’s so fine and windblown and can I feel it?”

Jayde’s eyes, having returned to their original shape, regarded Tessa for a moment.

“Of course,” she whispered, and helpfully took a step forward into Tessa’s space.

Tessa’s breath caught, then she lifted her hand, splayed her fingers and ran them through Jayde’s hair, behind her ear, and down to the end of the strands at her shoulder.

She looked up to find Jayde’s lips had parted, her eyes darkened, then she gently removed her hand, and shifted her car keys from one to the other. “Thank you,” Tessa said, not needing to speak loudly because Jayde was right there. Right. There. “I had a great time tonight.”

“Me, too.” Lips curled slightly, Jayde tilted her head. “Can I do something in return?”

Tessa’s mind went bonkers with possibilities.

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