Crashing Into Tess by Lilly Christine Read Free Book Online

quite a guy, Jake,” Alice cackled.
“Hey, it was okay until Cassie tried to weasel lunch out
of her. That was a bit much,” he laughed, feeling guilty
about what he’d been doing with Tess when his daughter
showed up.
“So, what’s she like?” Alice drawled. “She seemed real
sweet on the phone, very smart and together. Is she cute?”
“She’s a pleasant enough person,” Jake answered in the
most neutral voice he could manage. If I say anything
more, Alice will see right through me .
Cassie had spoken of nothing but from Tess from the
time she climbed into his truck, and he couldn’t stop
thinking of her either, all saucy and upbeat, with her teasing
lips and eyes. The thought of the silky skin on her waist
and back made him hard all over again.
“I feel a little guilty for asking you to stick around last
night,” Alice was confessing. “If you’d left earlier, you’d
have missed Tess and Officer Ron and his breathalyzer
test.”
“How do you know about the breathalyzer test?”
“Sergeant Fuller called, wanting to know what you
drank last night. I told him ginger ale and water and you
left stone sober, don’t worry. Geez, that Ron Karachek’s got
it in for you! Be careful, Jake.” He said nothing. Alice took
a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll fill Beatrice and Doc in on Tess’s
situation, call her later to check in, and have Lotts put
feelers out at the bar for a truck?”
“That would be great, Alice. Four-wheel drive,
probably new-ish, I’d say, real clean. Look, this is my
weekend with Cass, so I’m off duty as far as Tess is
concerned. Can you look out for her?”
“Like one of my own. I’ll see you during the week,
okay?”
“Sure. Bye, Alice.”
*****
    That afternoon, the mattress guys delivered a brand new,
top-of-the-line, queen sized CertaRest, compliments of
Tess’s mom and dad. She put her new tea kettle on to boil
and dug through her bags. Pulling out lavender and white
polka dot flannel sheets, she made up the bed, topping it
with the patchwork quilt her grandmother had made for her
college graduation.
    She set out towels and soap and shampoo in the
bathroom, found slippers and hung her robe, made herself a
cup of chamomile tea, and stood back to admire her new
room. Quarter sawn honey-gold oak gleamed in the late day
sun, the carved designs around the knobs etched in shadow.
    The antique chest and dresser were her first ever
furniture purchase, and she could still see Jake’s broad
flannel-clad shoulders, setting them in place.
    Better make the apartment comfy now, before the snow
flies. Sounds like I’ll be spending plenty of time here this
winter. She added “head board” and “bed frame ” to her
furniture list, then, “nightstands, lamps, dining set, sofa,
coffee table, Jake.”
    He better show up again. Not much goes on here, and
I’m too young to start collecting cats. Plus, he’s really nice
to kiss.
    Tess put her teacup in the sink, grabbed dog treats and
a tennis ball, stuck her cell in her pocket, and snapped the
leash on Rhiannon. She explored town from the sidewalk,
walking the stiffness out of her hip, inhaling crisp autumn
air.
    She thought about Cassie, then Jake, kissing her. Stop
that!
The sky, an incredible, piercing blue, was punctuated by
jagged, white-capped mountain peaks. Below the
mountains, rolling foothills were doused with yellow and
orange foliage, splashes of russet and brilliant red amongst
tall stands of evergreen.
Cattle and horses and sheep and pigs must be grazing
in the fields up there, on the ranches I’ll visit soon for
work. Smiling with anticipation, she arrived on Main
Street.
Town Hall was on the circle, a grand old brick structure
with a domed tower, next to the court house. Turning left,
she walked past the library to the park. Kids shrieked on the
playground, laughing and running, their mothers nearby.
Crossing the soccer fields, Tess let Rhiannon off her
lead. She tossed a ball, which the dog grabbed