Tessa didn’t catch everything, but she was part of the conversation.
Every set of female eyes at the table was looking at her expectantly, curiously. Although she knew they were interested and teasing, Mara’s question put her in a difficult situation.
She opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it, not knowing what to say.
Happily, she was saved when Homer got up from his place beside her on the floor and put his muzzle on her purse and laid a paw on her thigh. It was obviously a sign that her phone was buzzing.
“Excuse me a moment,” she told Mara with a nervous smile as she patted Homer and then reached into her purse to pull out her phone.
She’d been waiting for Micah to text and tell her he’d arrived at his penthouse in New York. As expected, the message was from him.
Micah: I’m home. Are you talking about us guys yet?
She smiled, hating to admit he was right. The group of women did talk a lot about the men in their lives, but it wasn’t their only topic of conversation. It was obvious that they were all madly in love with their guys, so the conversation about them came up naturally.
She answered.
Tessa: Do all men think all we talk about is them?
Micah: Pretty much.
Tessa snorted quietly, wanting to burst his bubble, but she needed to ask him a question.
Tessa: They’re curious about my relationship with you. Mara just asked if I was banging you.
Micah: Hang on a minute.
She waited, wondering what he was doing. Maybe he hadn’t actually reached his penthouse yet and was busy with other things.
Tessa startled when Mara reached out and tapped her arm. She looked up and saw that Mara was laughing, her face flushed with merriment as she turned her phone toward her.
“Read it,” Mara requested.
Leaning over the table, Tessa could see that Micah had taken the moment he’d asked for to text Mara.
Micah: Tessa isn’t banging me. I’m banging her . . . every chance I get. Now leave the poor woman alone and let her eat. She’s going to need her energy when I get back to Amesport.
Tessa was still gaping at the message on Mara’s phone when hers buzzed again.
Micah: Took care of it.
She typed a message back quickly.
Tessa: I can’t believe you just did that.
Micah: Why? It’s true.
Tessa: But now all of your family will know.
Micah: They know anyway. I just made it official. If you don’t want to say any more, then don’t.
Tessa: I wasn’t sure what to say.
Micah: Say anything you want. We Sinclairs tend to be blunt.
Tessa: You don’t care that they know?
Micah: Nope. I plan to be banging you for a very long time. Maybe I’ll even let you bang me.
Tessa: I doubt it. You’re too bossy.
Micah: When I get back, I’ll try to let you be the boss. Okay, not much, but I’ll try it once.
Tessa snickered, thinking about Micah’s dominant tendencies and the probability of him letting her take control.
Tessa: Promise?
She wasn’t surprised when there was a long hesitation before he answered.
Micah: I promise to try. Right now I’d do just about anything to have you naked. I miss you already.
Tessa’s heart skittered and she fumbled as she typed back.
Tessa: I miss you, too. I think Homer does, too.
Before they’d left the guesthouse, the canine had come trotting into the living room with one of Micah’s running shoes and dropped it at her feet, giving her a questioning look. He seemed to be asking for Micah, and the action had made her both laugh and sympathize with the dog.
Micah: Have fun and text me when you get home safe.
His fear for her safety warmed her heart.
Tessa: I hope you have a good trip.
Micah: I’ll know tomorrow when I can get back.
Tessa: OK
She stuffed the phone back into her purse with a happy smile. When she looked up, she realized all of the women were watching her.
Mara turned the phone her direction again. “Spill the details,” Jared’s wife insisted.
Emily was sitting next to her and tapped. “We want to know. Is it serious? I didn’t think Micah would ever settle down.”
Then Sarah tapped. “How did you two even meet?”
Kristin tapped. “Why did he buy all that property outside of town? Is he staying?”
Tessa answered all their questions one by one, telling the women that her relationship with Micah wasn’t serious, and she shared the story of how she’d originally walked into the bathroom by accident and saw him naked. She laughed and said it was lust at first sight. Then she told Kristin she wasn’t entirely sure about the property, which was true. She explained that Micah didn’t intend to build the property up, and that he was just building a few vacation homes for himself and his brothers.
She’d known all of the women since they were kids except Sarah—most of them were around the same age—so it was no secret to everyone except Dante’s wife that Tessa had once been a figure skater, and Tessa watched as Kristin quickly and briefly explained the situation to Sarah as she told the rest of the women about why she and Micah had spent so much time together. Everyone was incredibly supportive when she told them that Micah was helping her prepare for an Olympic skating reunion.
“That’s fantastic! Why didn’t you tell me?” Mara asked, her fist pumping the air in excitement. “I want to go.”
Emily nodded enthusiastically. “Me, too.”
“And me,” Kristin joined in.
“We can catch a ride with Mara and Jared,” Sarah added after she tapped Tessa on the arm to let her know she wanted to join the group.