Truly, Madly, Deeply: Valentine Mystery Book 6

"Fabulous! I loved everything about this story and can't wait for the next one!" ~ Amazon Reviewer

 

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Excerpt 

Tess watched out the oval window as the plane drew closer to the cold, choppy waters of the San Francisco Bay. Normally, this phase of the flight had her feeling nauseous. Not because she was afraid to fly or that the landing at SFO always drew them so close to the bay she could almost reach out and touch the water. No, her unease was because she was coming home. From the time she was sixteen and headed off to boarding school in Jefferson Tavern, Virginia, until she was twenty-five, a law school grad and engaged to the son from a prominent DC family, she would take at least one trip home a year, and it was always the worst part of her year. Her parents barely tolerated her, and she suspected the visits were as unpleasant for them as they were for her. She went home because of family obligation, and her parents took her in because of duty.

But today was different. Today she was coming to the city of her birth for the first time in nearly five years with no plans to see her family. That alone made this trip less stressful. It was made even better by the man sitting next to her.

She turned, glancing at her husband, Jack Valentine, sound asleep in the seat next to her. His jet-black hair brushed back, his dark lashes lying peacefully on his cheeks as he slept. She wanted to touch him, but didn’t dare. If he woke at this stage of the flight, he might have a full- blown panic attack.

Because he didn’t like to fly, she told him he didn’t need to come with her. She could take care of her business in San Francisco without him. But he insisted on coming, packing the prescription of antianxiety meds, or what he called “fly pills,” that he’d obtained when they flew to France for their honeymoon, and traveling only a few days after Christmas to make a quick trip west.

She returned her gaze out the window viewing the Berkley hills across the bay.

“Holy—”

Tess whipped her head around to meet Jack’s wide, panicky eyes. She reached over and shut the shade of the window. “It’s okay. We’re landing.”

“In the water?”

“No. No.” She took his face in both her hands and tried to make eye contact with him. “We’re just flying over the bay. But there’s land.”

His eyes darted toward the closed shade.

“Jack. Look at me. We’re fine. Really.”

His crazed gaze returned to her, but she didn’t get the sense that he really saw her.

“Look at me.”

His eyes cleared, focused on her.

“We’re fine.”

“Open the window.”

“No.” She leaned closer to him. “We’re fine. And if we weren’t, wouldn’t you want the last thing you saw to be the woman who loves you so much?”

It took him a moment to process her words, then he dropped his forehead against hers. “I’ve ruined my image, haven’t I?”

“Nah. You have to have something wrong with you—otherwise you’d be perfect, and who can live with that?”

He managed a smile. The wheels bumped on the ground, causing him to jump, his eyes widening in fear again.

“See? Land. We’ve made it.” She patted his cheek.

The tension in Jack reduced at the same rate the plane slowed. By the time they were taxying to the gate, he was his old self.

“You know, you really didn’t need to come.”

He took her hand, kissed her knuckles. “I want to see where you grew up. I hear it’s a great city.”

“It is. And we’ll have plenty of time to tour it. There are only three things I absolutely need to do while we’re here. You can decide the rest of our itinerary.”

“What three things?”

“First, I have to sign the papers to officially take control of my trust.” This was the whole reason for their trip. “Second, I have to visit Ghirardelli and buy some Scharffen Berger.”

“That’s a lot of chocolate.”

“I know.” She waggled her brows.

“What’s the third thing?”

“I have to eat as much San Francisco sourdough bread as I possibly can.”

He smirked. “The chocolate I get, but bread?”

She pulled her brows together, hoping to look offended. “Not just any bread. San Francisco sourdough. There’s nothing like it in the world.”

“I’ve had sourdough.”

“Not here, you haven’t. There’s something about the air. Trust me.”

His expression was dubious.

“You’ve been with other women, right?”

His eyes widened in a “are we really going to talk about my past women?” expression.

“Well, all those women are bread. Me, I’m San Francisco sourdough.”

He grinned. “That’s some bread.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling you.”

“I can’t wait to try it.” He smiled, his sexy dimple at full salute and his brilliant blue-green eyes twinkling at her. He was gorgeous and all hers. And because he was, she leaned forward and kissed him.

“What’s that for?”

She shrugged. “You’re my sourdough too.”

 

 

Like most international airports, SFO was crowded and busy, but Jack and Tess wove their way through the terminal to baggage claim.

“Tess! Tess!”

She looked over her shoulder, wondering who in the world could be calling her. No one, except the lawyer overseeing her trust, Simon Erickson, knew she was coming.

“Simon?”

“I made it in time.” The older, roly poly man, with shiny, rosy cherub cheeks, rushed up and gave her a hug.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve got a car and can take you to your hotel.”

Tess didn’t understand why he was there, since their appointment wasn’t until the following day. “Why?”

He furrowed his brow in what looked like a wince. “Your father knows you’re coming.”

Tess groaned. “Why’d you tell him?”

“Not me. My secretary. I’m sorry, but you know your father; he’s sneaky about stuff like this.”

Tess shook her head.

“What’s the problem?” Jack rubbed a hand down her back.

Realizing she hadn’t made introductions, Tess said, “Simon, this is my husband, Jack Valentine. Jack, this is Simon Erickson. He’s been managing my trust since he took over the law practice from his father.”

“My father was her grandfather’s lawyer.”

“Nice to meet you.” Jack shook Simon’s hand. “But I still don’t understand the problem.”

“My dad is trying to stop me from taking the trust.”

“So? Whether he finds you or not shouldn’t matter,” Jack said.

“Yes, in theory. But it will be easier to get this done without him lurking over my shoulder.” Tess turned her attention to Simon. “He hasn’t tried any legal maneuvering, has he?”

Simon shook his head. “Not since the last time.”

“Last time?”

Tess looked up at Jack. “This has been a lifelong issue. Ever since all the money that was supposed to go to my mother, and therefore my father, was set in a trust for me. I’ve told you this before. My grandfather didn’t like my father.”

“It’s true.” Simon bobbed his head. “So the appointment we have is still on my books for tomorrow, but I brought all the paperwork with me, and if you’re not too tired, we can go to the hotel and take care of it now. Get it done, I say, and not give your father any chance to muck it up.”

Tess shrugged. “I guess that’ll be alright.”

Jack grabbed their suitcases from the carousel. “It’s what we’re here for.”

 

 

The sun shined over the city on the crisp, cool December afternoon as Jack and Tess rode with Simon from the airport into the heart of San Francisco.

“I booked a suite overlooking the bay,” Tess told Jack as the car pulled into the garage of the hotel.

“Sounds lovely.”

“You should know…” Simon shifted in his seat and Tess knew his next statement wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Your parents have invited you to dinner. They sent word through me once they knew you were coming.”

Tess’ nerves crackled with agitation. As if he knew, Jack took her hand and squeezed.

“Do they know I plan to sign the papers with you now?” Tess pulled Jack’s hand into her lap.

Simon shook his head. “They still think the appointment is tomorrow.”

“That means we can opt not to go, right?” Jack looked to Tess for confirmation.

“Or, you can go and tell them it’s done. Won’t your father be surprised?” Simon chuckled gleefully.

Tess thought Simon was getting a little too much enjoyment over pulling one over on her parents. Still, he probably earned it. She was sure her parents’ attempts to get to her money had made him earn all his fees.

“Let’s deal with one thing at a time, starting with the papers,” Tess said.

Ten minutes later they were entering the suite overlooking the San Francisco Bay, and an hour later, Simon walked out, having successfully transferred the trust to her care.

She’d just let out a sigh of relief when the phone in their room rang.

Tess’ eyes closed, certain she knew who was on the other end of that call.

Jack kissed her cheek. “I’ll get it.” He picked up the phone. “Hello.” His eyes flicked towards her. “She’s unavailable. Can I take a message?” A few moments later, he thanked the caller and hung up. “It was a woman named Constance calling to say your parents were expecting you at six tonight for dinner.” He frowned. “She didn’t even ask.”

Tess laughed. “No. They don’t ask. They expect.”

Jack went to her and rubbed her shoulders as they stood at the window with a view of the Bay Bridge and Yerba Buena Island. “Do we have to go?”

She leaned against him, felt his warmth and strength as his expert fingers kneaded the tension in her shoulders.

“This will probably be the last time. They don’t know I’ve already signed the papers. Once they do, they won’t want to see me again.” There was some relief in that idea, and at the same time, she couldn’t stop the pain at having parents who didn’t love her.

“Simon could be right. Might be fun to inform them in person.”

“I don’t know about that.” She turned toward Jack and looked up into his brilliant blue-green eyes. “But how would you like to see where I grew up until I escaped to boarding school?”

He smiled. “Can I see your bedroom?”

She nodded. “You won’t be impressed though. It’s pretty plain.”

“No half-clothed celebrity men posters on the wall?”

She snorted. “No.”

As if he knew she was feeling edgy about seeing her parents again, he kissed her, tenderly, yet with promise. “So how does it feel to be one of the richest women in the world?”

The truth was it was nerve-wracking because she didn’t feel she had her parents off her back. Simon needed to file the papers in court, and until then, it wasn’t truly done.

“Is that why you married me? For my money?”

He flashed her a grin. “Ah, honey, you know I married you for the lingerie. In fact.” His finger trailed down her neck and hooked into the front of her shirt. He leaned forward to take a peek. “What are you wearing today?”

She stepped back. “We don’t have time for that if we’re going to be on time to my parents’ house.”

His lips dropped down in an exaggerated sad face.

Then she frowned and stepped to him, looping her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “You…us…we’re much more important than them. I didn’t mean to choose them…”

Jack touched his finger to her lips, effectively stopping her words. “I understand and I don’t see it as choosing them over me if we don’t make love right this minute.”

She gave him a wan smile.

“Besides, the sooner we go to this dinner, the sooner we can be back, right?”

“Yes. In fact, they might kick us out the minute I tell them I already signed the papers.”

“Well, then.” His hands rubbed her back, pulling her tighter to him with each caress. He leaned down, pressing a kiss on her neck before whispering, “When we get back, we’ll have the whole night. I think we should start in that tub with the view of the bay, then maybe the shower, ending in the bed.”

She shivered as his erotic promises shimmered over her skin. “We’re here a few nights. You’re not saving something for tomorrow.”

He lightly nipped her ear. “There’s still the table and couch.”

She tightened her arms around him. “And the window.”

He lifted his head to stare down on her. “The window?”

“Look at it. A big, floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the bay.” She waggled her brows.

He groaned. “We better get to that dinner.”

She pressed the palms of her hands to his cheeks and pulled him to her. “I love you.” She kissed him, hoping he knew just how much she loved him. How he meant everything to her.

“I love you. Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Is that even possible?”

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t think so, but my father has been counting on getting this money ever since my grandfather created the trust.” She thought signing the papers would put an end to the lifelong conflict with her parents, but the agitation grating on her told her she’d been wrong.

“There’s nothing he can do now. We’ll have dinner, let them know it’s a done deal, and then it will be just you and me.”

She nodded, even though unease grew inside her.

He used the crook of his finger to tilt her head up to him. “You’re smart and kind and gentle, and I love you so damn much it makes my chest hurt.”

She closed her eyes, letting his words wrap around and comfort her. He always knew what to say and when to say it.

“Don’t let them get to you, Tess. You are a tremendous woman and there’s something seriously wrong with them as people that they don’t see that.”

She smiled. “You’re biased.”

“That doesn’t make me wrong.” He kissed her again and she sank into it, drinking in his love and strength. Something in her gut told her she’d need it.