Page 74 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

I took a step away to give her space and, grinning, stuck my hands in my pockets. This was going even better than I’d planned.

When the door opened and closed softly, I glanced at the newcomer. A blond guy, about my height and good-looking in a Jude Law kind of way, sauntered into the room. His gaze traveled over me but fixed on Tessa’s red hair. He tilted his head. “Tess?”

She froze like a sparrow listening to the scream of a hawk. Slowly, she turned to face him. “Harry.” Her voice was flat. “What are you doing here?”

Thiswas Harry? I scrutinized him from the gray hair at his temples to the lines around his eyes. I cursed the signs of aging that only made him look more distinguished. His clothes were that effortless kind of casual that communicated wealth and confidence.

“This is my favorite spa. I live down the road in Santa Cruz, but I’m sure you knew that.” He stepped forward. “What are you doing here, love?”

It sounded like a question he knew the answer to.

“I’m here with my…with my boyfriend.” Her voice wavered. “What are the odds?” Gently, she nudged me out of the way and took a step toward him.

I hadn’t realized I’d stepped in front of her. I wished I could do it again when he grasped her elbows and kissed her on both cheeks.

“Boyfriend?” He scanned me more closely. “I suppose heisa boy.” He stuck out his hand. “Harry Boseman.”

I gripped it as hard as I could. “Oliver Bond.Dr.Oliver Bond.”

His handshake was just as brutal. “A doctor? Well, well, well. I didn’t realize they were passing out advanced degrees in kindergarten these days.”

I took a deep breath to say…I didn’t know what. I hated to disturb the peace of the spa, but this dickwad was pissing me off.

Releasing my hand, he said, “We should catch up after your treatments. The restaurant is lovely. They serve the most refreshing cucumber martini.”

“I don’t think so,” Tessa said. “I’m here with Oliver, and three’s a crowd.”

Something big and bright expanded in my chest. It must have spread onto my face because Harry scowled at me. A second later, his expression turned bland.

He gave Tessa another two-cheek kiss, but this time, he lingered at her ear. Just loud enough for me to hear, he murmured, “Call me, love. We’ll catch up.”

“Goodbye, Harry,” she said firmly. Then, turning back to the receptionist, she said, “Do you have anything for couples?”

I stood up straighter. My weeks of planning had paid off. She loved it. And given enough time, she might love me too. Not bothering to give Harry the victorious smirk he deserved, I took in a lungful of the sage-scented air and rested my hand on her back as the receptionist resumed her review of the spa menu with Tessa.

During the couples’ massage she chose, she instructed the masseuse how and where to touch her. Once she sighed in pleasure, I relaxed too and melted into the table they’d set up in our room. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, Tessa touched the back of my hand.

“Hey,” she whispered.

I opened my eyes to find her sitting on her table, a towel wrapped around her. I felt the corners of my mouth curve up. She was so beautiful with her hair piled up on top of her head, secured with a clip. Russet tendrils escaped at her temples, and a few silver threads glittered in the candlelight. Her freckled skin shone in the dim light.

“Hey,” I murmured. “You okay?”

“I’m great. I feel so lazy.”

“Lazy is good. You deserve it.” I hated to bring it up, but his presence crowded into our private room. “Earlier…meeting Harry. Are you okay?”

A line formed between her eyebrows. “It was unexpected. But it’s fine. I run into him from time to time. Silicon Valley is small. Something I’m reminded of every time I run into one of my many former employees who still hates me for what happened.”

I regretted mentioning that douchebag and stirring up memories that made her smooth forehead wrinkle. My stomach tensed. If things went badly with the ovarian cancer test and we had to sell Discovery to Greenwich, she might despise me too.

Should I tell her about the possibility of a sale? I’d want to know. I craved information to soothe my worries. But Tessa was different. She rolled with new challenges. Besides, the clinical trials were going great. We wouldn’t have to sell. It wasn’t worth stressing her out. Not when she was this relaxed.

“Good,” I said. “Now, what can I do to help you feel even lazier?”

She traced a finger up her forearm. “I’m going to shower off the massage oil.”

I propped myself up on my elbow, careful not to move too suddenly since I was hard under my towel. “Okay. I can call the front desk and have them take away the tables.”

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