Chapter 22 — The Kiss
“You’re not playing fair,” Tess said, her bottom lip trembling. Richard’s hands woven in her hair, his tender lips traveling down her neck to her bosom, leaving her breathless. He’d said he’d just wanted to come in for a nightcap. But as soon as the door shut, he had taken her into his arms, and his warm, firm lips had crushed hers. Unable to resist, she had returned his kiss with fervor and complete abandonment.
“You’re not playing fair,” he said, repeating her words and releasing her. “You’re hot and fiery, just like I knew you would be. I had to know.”
She shut her eyes and waited for her breathing to return to normal, wondering what he meant. He took her hand and led her to a chair, then knelt and put his head in her lap. “I had a feeling you would match my passion and you do,” he murmured.
She caressed his tawny brown hair, loving that it had a slight curl to it.
“I knew from the first moment I laid eyes on you were my match. I can’t let you go, Tess. I can’t.”
“You’re married,” Tess said in a choked voice. “And I cannot be your mistress. I would hate myself. I don’t know where this can go. Besides, there’s Sawyer to think about; he’s done so much for me. I would feel guilty ending it.”
Richard rose and went to the table and poured two glasses of champagne. He handed her one and asked, “Why would you feel guilty? Sawyer is an accused murderer, and he didn’t tell you. Besides, Daniel says Sawyer has issues with commitment.”
“What kind of issues?” Tess asked, frowning.
“Daniel said that Sawyer confessed to him that marriage frightens him. He told Daniel that he’ll never marry. It’s like Stephanie said at your dinner party—Sawyer is not the marrying kind.”
Tess took a sip of the champagne, but it left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she set the glass down. A shroud of sadness came over her. Sawyer was a good man. She couldn’t believe he was capable of killing anyone. Sawyer would have to tell her himself if she were to believe it. What had just happened? She knew better than to get involved with a married man. Her mother and Aunt Nettie would be shocked.
“What’s wrong?” Richard asked.
“I’m compromising my values,” Tess sobbed. “I don’t want my life to become a lie by having an affair with a married man. I’m a schoolteacher. My mother scrimped so I could have a good education. I’m not going to throw it away on an illicit love affair.”
He tried to take her in his arms, but she broke away and threw herself on the bed, burying her face in the pillow. She felt Richard pull her into his arms and heard him tell her he was sorry over and over, soothing her, his voice tender.
When she stopped crying, he wiped away the tears. “Don’t let guilt deny us happiness,” he said in a gentle voice. “You’re a good woman, Tess. We just have to get through the tough times before life can get better. I want to take care of you and love you. Let me.”
Tess wanted to believe Richard. He was saying all of the right things, but she wasn’t used to letting anyone take care of her. She’d always taken care of others. She let Richard help her off with her dress and into her long cotton nightgown. She got under the covers and watched Richard undress. He climbed in the bed and turned off the lights. He took her in his arms and murmured, “I can’t let you go, Tess. It won’t be easy, but we’ll get through this.”
It felt a little easier when Tess allowed herself to be loved. A wall had gone down, but she still had concerns. “What’s going to happen when we get home? Tess asked as she snuggled close feeling more loved than she had ever felt in her life.
“What’s going to happen is that I’m going to be the first Cooper in the family to divorce,” he said. “And you’re going to break up with Sawyer.” He kissed her gently. “We should go to sleep; we’ll be leaving in the morning.”
But Tess didn’t hear. She was already sleeping.