No More Wasted Time (29 page)

“Starting now, you need to get used to it. I know you’re not
taking advantage of me. I want to give you things and I just want you to enjoy
them. Do you remember when you told me your theory? Give some, save a lot and
have fun with the rest, you can’t take it with you.”

“Yes, that is my theory.”

“I happen to agree with you. Tess, I’ve saved a lot, for a
long time. You need to get over those feelings and simply say ‘thanks’ or ‘great’
or ‘that sounds perfect’. It would make me happy.”

“Thanks, great, that sounds perfect.”

“Now let me start spoiling you. Pick one. Greece or the
cabin?”

“Can we stay here until Thanksgiving, then go to Greece?”

“We can fly there, eat dinner and come back if you want. We
can do whatever your little heart desires.”

Tess glowed. “Well, I don’t know about dinner, but there’s
this great little Inn I’d like to go back to.”

“Let’s do it and be home in time for Christmas.”

A few hours later, Tom and Tess pulled into the first shop
in the quaint mountain town near their cabin. Equipped with pictures and a tape
measure, they set out to furnish their home.

Tess asked, “So what’s our budget?”

“We don’t have a budget. Let’s just get what we want.” Tom
shrugged nonchalantly.

“I’m better with a budget. It’s a big cabin,” she sputtered.

He whispered a number in her ear with way too many zeroes at
the end of it. “Whatever it takes, Tess. It doesn’t matter.”

Her mouth hung open and her eyes blinked in astonishment. “Are
you serious?”

“Yep! Dead serious. I told you, I’ve saved all my life and
I’m very good with my finances. Wipe that look off your face and let’s go
shopping.”

The cabin was coming together nicely. They decorated each
room with elegant, rustic furnishings and ordered the dining table and leather couches.
Several other pieces that would be waiting for them when they returned from
Greece. Tess wanted to repaint one of the bedrooms. If Benny and Lisa came to
stay over Christmas, it would be their room, and the lovely hunter green walls
needed to go.

Tom had wanted to hire someone to come and paint, but she
assured him it would be more enjoyable to do it themselves. Tess quietly
slipped out of bed, prepped the room with plastic and taped off the trim. She
rocked out to the music playing on her Ipod, soon sensing Tom’s lingering eyes.
Game on! I knew he’d help me paint
. After several minutes she said,
“Good morning, Tom.”

Holding out his hand for a paintbrush, he scanned the length
of her body. Tess wore nothing but her unbuttoned flannel shirt, revealing her
bare breasts. She had a roller in her hand, but he pushed it off to one side
and wrapped his arm around her waist to kiss her.

“Is this how you always paint?” He slowly examined her body.

“Nope!” She grinned.

“We’re not going to get much painting done!” he chuckled,
flicking her nipple with his tongue.

“Really? I thought we’d get it done faster.” Tess pulled her
shirt to the side to expose her other nipple, not wanting it to miss out.

Halfway through painting the second wall, Tom was
distracted, watching her dance and sing to the music. He stood behind her and
said in her ear, “Tess, you’ve got paint all over your back.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “I do?”

Tom pinned her back to the wall, kissing her passionately as
he eagerly fondled her body. “You do now.”

Before Tess could get one word out of her mouth, he had her
shirt off, covering her bare back with wet paint.

“Wait, let’s finish painting first,” she said under his
lips.

“I don’t think so.” He drew her thigh up around his hip,
pulling his face back to look at hers. “You don’t really want me to stop, do
you?”

She giggled. “No, I don’t.”

He made love to her right there up against the wall. Paint
covered his hands as well as her back and butt, changing the tips of her hair
to creamy white. They both burst out laughing as they tiptoed into the shower.

“Are you sure this isn’t how you paint all the time?” he
teased her curiously.

“No, this is definitely a first!”

“I love firsts with you, Tess.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Tess and Tom had spent October and November settling into
the cabin and their new relationship. Thanksgiving was a week away, and Tom was
expected in Malibu. He and every other A-list actor were invited to attend the fiftieth
birthday party of Hollywood’s top movie director.

Upon arriving in Malibu, Tess suddenly realized she was home
and smiled from ear-to-ear.

“What?” Tom asked.

“It just dawned on me, I live here with you! Can I go unpack
and hang my stuff in the closet?”

“Yes, you can, but I have to warn you, I have a bit of OCD
with my closet. Well, I guess it’s our closet now. This could be difficult for
me.” He said it jokingly, but she knew he was serious. His closet was as big as
a bedroom and everything in it hung perfectly organized, color coded and
sorted.

“I’m not that…particular. If it makes you feel better, I can
take a different closet or I can even let you organize my clothes for a while.”

They both laughed. “I know it’s ridiculous, but it might
help me adjust.”

She poured them each a glass of wine while Tom made room for
her clothes and helped put her things away. She didn’t mind. Whatever made it
easier.

“Are you going to be the same way with the bathroom? Or can
I put my own things away in there?” she teased.

He smirked with embarrassment. “No, you can do whatever you
want in there, smartass.”

Tom went to pour another glass of wine. When he returned,
her clothes lay scattered on the closet floor and Tess was wearing his tie.
Only his tie.

“That happens to be my favorite tie.” His eyes slowly
drifted up her body.

“Hmm, it’s my favorite, too. I’m hoping you might find a new
appreciation for it.”

“Oh, I think I can.” He set the wine on the bathroom
counter, took her hand, and headed for the bedroom.

“I had something different in mind.” Tess sauntered back
into the closet.

“I don’t think so.” He stopping at the closet door.

She sat down, flipping one leg over a bench in the center of
the closet. “Oh, I know so.”

“Tess.”

“Tom, if you want me, you’ll have to come in here to have
me.” She leaned back on the palms of her hands, exposing every inch of her
body.

He gave her the crooked grin she loved and strolled over to
sit on the bench. She took his shirt off and tossed it on the closet floor.

“That doesn’t bother me, Tess.”

She took off his jeans and threw them on the floor, too.

“Okay, I lied. It bothers me.”

They straddled the bench, facing each other. “Am I going to
need to do this every day so I don’t have to keep your closet perfect?”

He swallowed hard. “I promise I won’t be upset if you don’t
keep your side perfect.”

“I promise I will try to be neat in our closet.” She climbed
onto his lap.

“Can we go in the bedroom now?”

“Nope. Right here. Right now.” She made love to him right
there on the bench.

As they headed for bed, Tom confessed, “Tess, I love the way
you get your point across.”

His tie still hung around her neck. She smiled as her eyes
closed. “My side won’t be quite as perfect as yours, but I’m definitely willing
to compromise.”

Tom took Tess shopping to get a dress for the party. People
recognized him everywhere they went, and paparazzi followed him relentlessly.
At times, she felt similar to a fish in a fishbowl. In Colorado, people were
much more laid back, and nobody seemed to care who he was, but in the land of
the lifestyles of the rich and famous, everyone was watching.

That night, limos lined the drive as they pulled up to the
house. Tess chuckled nervously, turning to glare at Tom.

“What?” he asked innocently.

“This is
not
a house. This is a
mansion
. It
looks more like a resort, or a spendy re-hab facility.”

“Judging by the guest list, you probably nailed it on the
head with re-hab facility.” They both laughed. “Trust me, Tess, you’re going to
have a great time.”

She shot him a humorous glance of disbelief.

Entering the ostentatious foyer, many faces looked familiar
as her eyes scanned over the crowd of several hundred people. Guests dressed in
everything from cocktail dresses to birthday suits. Tess exuded modern elegance
in a slinky, one-shouldered black dress, and Tom looked outrageously sexy in
jeans and a charcoal grey V-neck sweater. She wondered how long she’d be able
to keep her hands off him. She grinned to herself.
We are definitely having
great limo sex on the ride home.

People loved Tom. Women followed him everywhere. For that
matter, so did men. They all needed to touch him when they spoke, placing their
hand on his arm or shoulder. Some turned red merely saying hello. Tess became
acutely aware of people watching their every move. Tom loved introducing her as
his girlfriend and Tess smiled proudly, standing by his side.

Weaving their way through the sea of partygoers, he led her
through the house to the backyard. Tess mingled outside while Tom went to the
bar to get drinks. The merrymaking obviously started much earlier because a
number of guests were very intoxicated. Several men introduced themselves, but
as soon as ‘Tom Clemmins’ girlfriend’ slipped her lips, they miraculously
disappeared quickly.

Two men approached Tess. She made polite conversation, but
fidgeted uncomfortably at their audacious leering. She scanned the room again,
searching for Tom, and jumped when he laid his hand on her bare shoulder,
handing her a drink. Judging by the concern in his eyes, he recognized her
uneasiness and pulled her close, kissing her cheek. Tom knew both men, and by
his greeting, didn’t care for either.

Both men snickered when Tom introduced Tess as his
girlfriend. “Tommy, when you’re done with her, give her my number.”

Tom remained unruffled. “You’re drunk. Maybe you should get
a ride home.”

She couldn’t hear their response because Tom’s arm cinched
around her waist, walking her away abruptly. “Sorry, Tess. The guy is a jerk
whether he’s drunk or not.”

They found a spot under a pergola. They were having a good
time hanging out with a comedian and his wife and several other couples. The
comedian was hysterical. Tess laughed so hard she needed to find a bathroom.
She excused herself and told Tom she’d be right back.

Exiting the restroom, the two men who’d hit on her earlier
stood in the hall, waiting for the bathroom. Tess tried to walk past, but one
guy stepped directly in front of her and stretched out his arm, placing his
hand against the wall so she couldn’t pass by.

The man towered over Tess, even in her high-heels. Cocking
his head from side-to-side disdainfully, he brazenly gawked at her boobs.
Slumping his head, nearly resting it on her bare shoulder, he mumbled
something. She could only make out the words
lucky bastard
through his
garbled speech. Tess flinched with alarm. He was too close. Close enough that
the heat from his alcohol saturated breath rustled her hair. Her lip curled in
disgust.

“The bathroom is open now.” She stood taller, raising her
hands and gesturing for him to move so she could pass by.

He continued talking shit, slurring his words. “Tommy won’t
last long. Why don’t you come home with me tonight instead? He’s probably
outside hooking up with some other chick as we speak. Tommy Clemmins
girlfriend
.
What a fucking joke!”

Annoyed and unappreciative of the way his eyes blatantly
examined her body, Tess attempted to maneuver around him. “Tom’s waiting for
me,” she seethed.

He cut her off again, blocking her exit. Tess felt cornered,
causing her heart to race as panic started to build.

He tapped the center of her chest with his pointer finger.
“Maybe you should join me?”  Roughly clasping her boob, he belligerently
pinched her nipple.

Tess winced in pain as he twisted, automatically slapping
his hand off her chest. He grabbed her by the wrist, his face inches away from
hers. Frightened by his crazed sneer, she cringed away from his lips so he
couldn’t kiss her.

Tess squirmed back and forth to loosen his grip. Through
gritted teeth she snarled, “Tom’s waiting for me. Get your fucking hand off me.
Now!” Adrenaline coursed through her veins, causing her to break out into a
sweat.

“You don’t need him. I’ll take care of you, baby.” He
squeezed her wrist, dragging her toward the bathroom. Tess thrashed about,
yanking her arm violently, trying to get free of his grip, but he was too
strong. She struggled, digging her heel into his foot, but gained no ground.

Tess could hear his friends’ voice in the background as he
laughed, making rude remarks about Tom. She moved into a position to kick her
attacker between the legs, but feared losing her footing. The bathroom door
seemed three seconds away as he forcefully drug her by the wrist, laughing with
a horrid grin on his face. Nothing she did worked and they inched closer to the
door.

Panicking, she slapped him as hard as she could across the
face with her free hand, but it didn’t even faze him. It only pissed him off
more. He slammed her back against the wall, thrusting his entire body against
hers as he growled, “Bitch!”

Tess screamed, jabbing her fingers into his face. “Let me
go! You’re fucking hurting me!”

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw a couple coming down
the hallway. They had been sitting together outside. The man’s name was Teddy.

The next thing she knew, the guy toppled to the ground,
knocked out cold. Tess heard a scuffle and fists connecting, but it happened so
fast it was all a blur. Teddy must’ve broken her assailant’s nose because blood
covered his face as he lay sprawled out on the floor. His asshole buddy stood
with his hands held high,
saying don’t hit me.