Rise - Part Two (Rise #2)(10)

I stifle the uncontrollable urge to giggle as I read his message. It's rife with spelling errors but the gist of it is clear. He's worried and he needs to hear from me before he can sleep.

I dial his number and hear the instant relief in his voice when he answers.

"Tess, sweetheart, what's going on?"

I pull in a heavy sigh before I speak in a veiled whisper. "Everything is fine, dad. I've just had a busy day."

"A busy day?" I can sense the skepticism in his tone. "What's his name?"

I smile at the inference that my time is being stolen away by a man. My father has a sixth sense when it comes to me. He knows when I'm holding anything back. "His name is Gabriel Foster. I told you about him. He's the reason I'm coming to see you."

"I read about him. He's a big deal."

He's the biggest deal in terms of my career right now. If I can keep my dad focused on that part of my life, it will buy me more time to think about how to bring up Landon and his family. "He likes my work a lot, dad. If I do a good job in Los Angeles, I think I'll be the go-to person for event planning for his company."

The line is silent which can only mean one thing. My father disagrees with what I just said and he's trying to find the right words to diplomatically correct me.

I decide to let him off the hook. "I know you think I shouldn't count my eggs before they hatch but this is different. He could have hired any event planner for this and he didn't. He hired me."

"There are a lot of people like you here, Tess."

I bite my lip realizing how callous that sounds even though I know that's far from his intention. "There are a lot of event planners in California and the fact that he didn't hire any of them, says something. He hired me."

"You're right, sweetheart," he acquiesces. "I don't know if you know this but Ansel is there. He's in New York."

I knew my father would bring it up. I half expected him to drop that bomb on me within the first twenty seconds of our phone call. I'm glad he didn't. "I saw him."

"You saw him?"

"Briefly." I glance over my shoulder towards Landon's kitchen. I need something to drink.

"How did that go?"

My dad is working hard to temper his reaction to the fact that I saw my ex-boyfriend. He's never admitted it, but I saw the disappointment that clouded his eyes when I told him that I'd ended the relationship. He had high hopes that Ansel and I would build a life together.

"It was fine," I admit. "We ran into each other on the street. I was busy, he was busy. It was fine."

"Did he upset you?"

I'm touched by the shift in his tone from blatant curiosity to compassion. "Ansel didn't upset me at all. I felt nothing when I saw him."

"Nothing?" I hear a faint chuckle woven into the word.

"It's over, dad," I begin before I stop to take a breath. "I actually met someone new. I really like him."

"You have a new boyfriend?" He doesn't try to mask his happiness. "Tell me all about him."

"He's a good man, dad." I close my eyes to try to quell the need I feel to confess everything about Landon to my father. "I'll tell you more about him when we talk again."

"As long as you like him, sweetheart, that matters most."

"Thank you, dad," I say relieved. "I'll call you tomorrow. I love you."

I end the call after he tells me he loves me too and just as I'm about to stand to head to the kitchen to get a glass of water, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I'm not startled. I don't scream. I reach for it and pull it into mine.





Chapter 9


––––––––

"I need you." His hands yank my clothing off before I have time to realize what's happening.

He'd kissed me after I leaned back to look up at him. I have no idea how long he stood behind the sofa listening to me talk to my father, but I didn't care. I'd spoken the truth to my dad about Landon. He is a good man. He's the best man I've ever met and when I felt his hand on my shoulder, I knew that we'd end up back here, in his bed.

"Landon," I whisper his name into the darkness. "I want to touch you."

The only response is a low growl and his hands gripping my waist. I can feel his erection pushing against my hip through the thin material of his sweatpants.

I reach back, wanting to circle my hand around the width. I want to touch him. I want him to know that I want and need his body as much tonight as I did the first night he made love to me. Nothing has changed beyond the fact that I feel closer to him now than I ever have before.

"I want you on your knees."

I try to turn to give him exactly what he wants. I shamelessly whimper as he stops me in place.

"On the bed, Tess. Get on your knees now."

I shake my head lightly from side-to-side as I follow his directions. He's not going to let me be the one to lead tonight.

I scream into the bed linens when I feel his hand race over my folds. I'm already wet and the promise of his touch on my core only pushes me closer to the edge I'm already teetering on. I've never been with any man who could pull so much desire from deep within me so quickly.