Tess chewed on her lower lip, tasting blood and her own jealousy. A most unenviable emotion.
“I guess Stefan invited her.” Tess said.
“You’re right of course, but you’d think she would have enough tact not to come.” Elena said. She turned to face her, dark brown eyes snapping with indignation.
“Everyone knows you’re Dash’s new girlfriend.” She said.
“Do they? Maybe she’s out of the loop.” Tess replied. She was watching Olivia’s progress toward their host and Dash with a sinking feeling in her heart.
Stefan greeted Olivia with a kiss on each cheek. Dash started to do the same, but the model turned her head and caught his lips.
The kiss didn’t last long and Dash pulled back with a laugh and said something Tess could not hear from her position on the other side of the pool. The greeting was a throwaway gesture, nothing all that intimate for a guy, but after being treated like the untouchable woman for days, it was way too much for Tess.
She jumped up. “I’m going into the house. The sun’s too bright right now.”She said.
Elena followed her. “Don’t worry about it, Tess,” she said as she rushed after her. “It was just a little kiss. Believe me, if Dash had wanted her, he would have kept on kissing her.” Apparently realizing that that was not the most tactful thing to say, Elena shut up.
Tess ignored her and increased her pace to warp speed. He didn’t kiss her at all.
One of Elena’s friends grabbed the younger girl and dragged her off. Much to Tess’s relief. She liked Dash’s little sister, but she was afraid she was about to cry and she didn’t want an audience. She was searching for a bathroom when a male voice halted her.
She didn’t quite catch what he said and she turned.
“I’m sorry, were you talking to me?” she asked.
He smiled. “Ah, you are Dash’s girlfriend.”
“Excuse me?” she said. He made it sound like she was an alien being.
“Dash has brought you home to meet his Mom.”
The man speaking was about her age and very handsome. There was no other way to describe him. Curly brown hair fell in boyish appeal over his forehead, but his body was anything but boyishly proportioned. Perfectly bronzed, he had sculpted muscles and the classic beauty of a Greek statue. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Dash, but he was still taller than Tess and he was smiling at her.
Tess managed a small smile in return.
“Elena said everyone knew, but I thought she was exaggerating.” She said.
The man shrugged. “Gossip like that spreads fast. I am Dean Codge, Stefan’s cousin, and you are Tess, Dash’s girlfriend.”
He took her hand and brought it to his lips. The kiss lingered just one second longer than strict courtesy allowed. Letting her hand lower, but not releasing it, he looked her over from head to foot in a manner that made her blush.
“You are beautiful!” he said. And he kissed his fingertips in a gesture of obvious approval.
Beautiful. At least someone thought she was more than a stick of furniture. She smiled again, blushing more intensely with shyness and pleasure.
“Thank you.” She said.
“Ah this shy little smile, this blush, it is most charming. Combined with your loveliness, it is easy to see what has my friend so enthralled.”
“Is he your friend?” she asked, not remembering any mention of a Dean Codge. But then she hardly could have met all of Dash’s friends in a few short days.
Dean’s lips curved in the smile of an angel. “Of course.” He said.
Nevertheless, she tugged at her hand. He let go with a comical look of regret and she found herself grinning at him.
“You are inside the house for a reason?” he asked. “Perhaps you wish to protect such beautiful skin from the harsh rays of the sun?”
“Something like that.” She wasn’t about to admit to a perfect stranger that the sight of Dash with his old girlfriend had sent her running.
“Then come, I will get you a drink and keep you company in the sala. You are a guest of my family. You must be entertained.” He said.
No longer feeling on the verge of tears, she more than willingly followed the attractive man who wanted her company, not that of some other woman. Her conscience tried to tell her that Dash had been with Stefan when Olivia had approached him, but she dismissed it. She was in no mood to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Once in the sala, Dean went to the minibar against one wall. “I will get you a drink now.” He said.
She was expecting something innocuous like lemonade, but he opened a bottle of champagne from the small fridge behind the minibar.
“We’ll toast my friend’s capture by the beautiful Tess.” He said.
“He’s not exactly caught.” Tess said. But she took the glass of champagne he offered and sipped obediently.
Dean mocked her words with his eyes. “You were measured for a wedding gown.”
She choked on her champagne. When she could breathe normally, she said, “You’re right. Gossip does spread fast.”
He shrugged.
“Just for the record,” she said, feeling more militant by the mouthful of champagne, “Dash and I are not engaged.”
“Ah, so there is still hope for me,” Dean said with exaggerated delight, making her giggle. “Do you wish to listen to music, perhaps watch some television?”
“Maybe some music, but you don’t have to stay here and entertain me. I’m very adept at keeping my own company.” She said.
He looked scandalized by the very thought. “I am a gentleman. I would never leave a lady to her own devices in the home of my family.”
He really was an outrageous flirt. “I don’t suppose you play gin rummy?” She asked. She had a sudden hankering for the game she played at lunch every day with her friend and co-worker, Edward.
“I am better at poker than gin rummy,” Dean said with a wink.
“You know how to play the game?” she asked, not responding to his remark about poker.