Balancing Act Page 3

  “My treat. Call it a reward for putting up with Seth.” With a wave of his hand, he turned for the elevator. “Be right back.”

  * * * *

  By Friday, she was feeling much more secure in her office space. She had finished setting up workable systems and getting things organized when her personal line rang late in the day.

  “Good afternoon. Tessa Edwards here.”

  “Tessa. I’m glad I caught you.” It was her attorney. “The judge moved the custody hearing up. I at least got them to give me a time Monday afternoon. Can you make that?”

  Tessa’s hand trembled. She had to catch her breath before she responded, “Yes. I’ll be there. What time?”

  “One PM.”

  Seth had rescheduled his supplier for that time and she knew he would want her in on the meeting, but this was more important. She would just have to convince Seth of that. After all, she didn’t have much choice, and she was not going to be the one making waves about the timing of the court date.

  She arrived extra early Monday morning. Even so, he was already in the office. Sometimes Tessa wondered if he lived there. She knew he kept extra dress shirts and ties in his coat closet. She’d seen that one day over lunch when the dry cleaner showed up with laundered shirts to put there. She brought him a cup of coffee, but instead of leaving after setting it down like she did other mornings, Tessa stood in front of his desk.

  Seth was working at his computer. He had a habit of hyper-concentrating like Zach. A bomb could go off around her brother when he was absorbed in something. Seth appeared to be no different. He grabbed the coffee, his mind still elsewhere, and that’s when he noticed her.

  “What?” he barked. She’d already begun to realize some of his tone was sheer reaction to having his concentration broken.

  Tessa kept tight control over her nervousness. She had yet to ask him for anything.

  “I need to leave at lunchtime today.”

  Seth regarded her out of hooded eyes. “You’re free to do as you please with your lunch hour.”

  Tessa shifted. “I’m sorry. I expressed myself badly. I mean I will need to leave for the day.”

  “You know I’ve got that one o’clock that I canceled last week, and I need you to take notes. It will have to wait.” A note of impatience threaded through his voice.

  Tessa felt like a child being raked over the coals, but outside she was as cool and composed as ever.

  “It’s a personal matter, sir. It came up without much warning. I have to go to court. It’s a custody hearing for my little brother.”

  Seth leaned back in his chair and crossed one long, elegant leg over the other as he regarded her. “You currently have custody?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who wants him?”

  Tessa raised one eyebrow at him, but somehow she knew she shouldn’t be surprised he asked such a personal question. If he wanted information, he wouldn’t let the fact he might be prying get in the way.

  “Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Edwin,” she said. “Kathleen is my mother’s older sister.”

  “What happened to your parents?”

  Tessa avoided his gaze and looked out the window. “They were killed in a car accident a little over a year ago. I have custody, but no access until I’m twenty-five to the trust fund my stepfather left for Zach. You see, they didn’t expect it to be a problem.”

  “But it is one.” His voice lost its inquisitorial tone and revealed only concern. The sudden change took her off-guard.

  She nodded.

  “Sit down, Tessa.”

  She sat. Seth being nice threatened to dissolve her composure with far greater ease than his usual taciturn manner ever could have.

  “Is it money?” he asked “Do you not have enough?”

  Tessa shook her head. “I make more than enough to support Zach and me. I even make enough now I can send Zach to a school where he can get help with his learning disability.”

  “Then what’s the issue?”

  Tessa hesitated. She was still reluctant to air the family laundry. She started to tell him it was none of his business, but Seth being understanding was a lot harder to withstand. In fact, he was impossible to withstand.

  “It’s Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Edwin. They don’t want Zach. They want access to his trust fund, which they would have if they had custody right now. I can only access it when I reach the age of twenty-five–or by getting married. Since my getting married isn’t a factor, they’ve been working to prove I can’t take care of Zach, trying to split us up before I come of age.”

  Her voice broke at the end of the last sentence, the stress getting the best of her. She bit her bottom lip to stop it from trembling. As Seth continued to regard her, Tessa curled her fingers into fists.

  “May I go?”

  “To the hearing or away from me?” His voice was gravelly.

  Tessa darted a glance at him, catching a soft expression on his face that was unexpected. Her nervousness left as fast as it had come. She smiled. “Both.”

  Seth studied her. “Reschedule the supplier again. I’ll go with you.”

  “There’s no need,” she began, but he ignored her.

  “What time do we leave?”

  Tessa sighed in resignation. “Noon.”

  When Seth emerged from his office with his suit jacket on right before noon, Tessa was waiting on him. She followed him without thinking right to the elevator. As the doors opened and he entered, she darted a glance at the stairwell door.

  “Well?” he prompted. “Let’s go.”

  Tessa stepped in and over to the far side, away from Seth’s looming form. As the doors slid shut, her breathing tightened. This was a mistake. All she could do was stare at the doors as they hissed together. Although she knew it wasn’t logical, her heart beat faster in fear the doors wouldn’t open again. The elevator lurched into its descent, and Tessa fought back the roaring in her ears.

  “Tessa? Are you all right?”

  She clutched the polished wooden wall rail and nodded without looking at him. No way was she going to admit to this man she was petrified of any tight spaces. Mercifully the elevator was an express that went straight from Seth’s floor to the lobby below.

  Seth took her elbow without a word and led her out to his black SUV. He helped her into the passenger seat before going around to the driver’s side. Tessa’s breathing eased and her heart quit racing.

  * * * *

  “Why did you get on the damn elevator if you’re claustrophobic?” Seth snapped as he keyed the ignition. Did he really intimidate everyone to the point they would fail to mention a fear on the level of a phobia? “All you had to do was say something. We could have taken the stairs.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tessa said. “I didn’t think. It won’t happen again, Mr. Barrett.”

  Seth raked one hand through his hair and pressed his lips together, biting back the need to tell her to stop being so damn polite. He’d seen her eyes flash a couple of times when he’d baited her, so he knew there was a temper tamped down in there somewhere beneath her ice queen exterior. He scowled at her. “Where are we going?”

  “Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Alexandria.”

  “I know it. What about your brother? Do we need to pick him up from somewhere?”

  “My attorney’s bringing him,” she replied, already distracted, it would seem, by what lay ahead.

  When they arrived at the courthouse, Seth steered Tessa away from the elevators and up the stairs. She had looked ready to pass out, and she didn’t need to go through that again right before going into court. He glanced at her as she climbed the steps. His office was on the ninth floor of a ten-story building. Did she tackle nine flights every day? It would account for her shapely legs and derriere, some of the first things he’d noticed about her aside from that hair. It burned with highlights so fiery he wondered sometimes if he would singe his fingers if he touched a lock.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, a slen
der redheaded boy stared in their direction. Seth would have known the little boy was Tessa’s brother even if he hadn’t come sprinting down the hall toward her.

  “Tessa!”

  While the lawyer stood near the elevator doors, her brother knew her well enough–his eyes had been on the stairwell. The boy slowed down as he reached Tessa and threw his arms around her. She bent her head and pecked him on the cheek. Both had the same amazing red hair, but where Tessa’s skin was a creamy light tan, the boy had hundreds of freckles.

  “Hey, Zach! Have you been good for Mr. Stanley?”

  “Yes.”

  Seth was taken aback again when Tessa smiled at her little brother. It lighted her expression with such beauty it was startling. Gone was the seriousness he was accustomed to. In its place her face softened and her eyes shone with warmth and love. She could make a man melt if she looked at one that way, he thought, an odd tightness in his chest.

  The attorney motioned to them from the other end of the hall.

  “Tessa,” Seth prompted. “I think your case is being called.”

  As she looked down the hall, the cool mask she so often wore slipped back into place. Even though she appeared calm, he felt the tension in her as he cupped her elbow so they could hurry toward the courtroom.

  One glance at the couple who must be Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Edwin showed Seth all he needed to know. He’d seen plenty of their kind over the years. They peppered the clubs and restaurants he’d frequented since he was a child. Kathleen and Edwin Price dripped designer clothes and expensive jewelry. If his suspicions were correct, they regarded Zach as a way to finance their lifestyle.

  His gaze shifted to Tessa. Her long hair was slicked back into a French twist. The dark navy suit she wore was stylish but conservative. He knew from looking at her when she’d stood before his desk that morning, the only jewelry she wore were pearl studs and a thin gold chain.

  Seth listened, along with the judge, to both sides. So far the attorneys had done all the talking. At last the judge turned to Tessa.

  “This petition was brought while you were employed as a counselor and social worker for a juvenile services facility. I understand from documents filed by your attorney you have new employment. Would you please describe your job for the court?”

  Tessa nodded and stood up. “I am executive assistant to Mr. Seth Barlow-Barrett, COO of Barrett Newspapers.”

  The judge looked up, spotted Seth and gave an imperceptible nod. Seth’s face was impassive. They had attended the same military school years before and met a few times since then at one social event or another.

  “How long have you held that position?”

  Tessa’s chin rose. “Two weeks, your honor.”

  “Not a very long employment history,” her aunt and uncle’s attorney interjected.

  Tessa turned and looked the man up and down. “It is if you work for Seth Barrett. His last three assistants left within the first week.”

  The judge coughed to cover his laughter and put a hand over his mouth. “Mr. Barrett,” he said at last, “is what Ms. Edwards says true?”

  Seth arched one thick blond brow at Tessa’s back and drawled, “Yes, your honor. What Ms. Edwards says is indeed true, both about her employment and the length of employment of my previous assistants. I might also add she has proven herself to be a very valuable employee. She shows remarkable responsibility and maturity for her age.”

  The judge nodded and turned his attention to Zach. He rose from his seat and said, “Why don’t you join me in chambers for a few minutes so we can talk man-to-man?”

  Zach stepped forward and followed the judge into his office off the courtroom. Tessa turned to look at Seth where he lounged in the row right behind her. While her facial features remained serene, her eyes were a little wider than normal. It was enough to betray her anxiety.

  “You’ll be fine,” Seth reassured her. “Trust me on this one.”

  In a couple minutes, Zach and the judge returned to the courtroom. The boy had a sucker stuck in his cheek and a smile that seemed to go from ear to ear.

  “I see no reason to separate this young man from his sister,” the judge said, staring at Tessa before turning his attention to her aunt and uncle. “She’s shown over the past year she’s putting the needs of her brother first and providing a nurturing home environment. Petition to grant custody to Kathleen and Edwin Price is denied.”

  Tessa laughed and hugged her brother to her. As she closed her eyes next to the boy’s thick red hair, Seth saw one small tear trickle from the corner of her left eye. He swallowed. He understood how close the bond between brother and sister could be. He had often filled the role of protector for Anna. The sad part, he thought, was it was very often against their parents.

  He caught Kathleen and Edwin Price glaring at Tessa and him. Seth arched a brow and stared at them. In a few seconds, they hurried from the courtroom.

  “Why don’t I take you both out to a late lunch to celebrate?”

  Zach nodded with enthusiasm, but Tessa shook her head. “You don’t need to do that, Mr. Barrett.”

  “One thing you need to realize about me, Tessa, is I do nothing I don’t want to do.” A startled blue gaze flicked his way. He had shaken her composure. He smiled.

  Chapter 3

  Tessa watched Seth in amazement as he engaged Zach in conversation. She was seeing a side to the man she’d never seen before. Seth seldom smiled, but Zach still responded to the way her boss treated him. He listened to the boy as if what Zach told him about the Avatar game was the most interesting thing he had heard all day. Tessa half expected Seth to take them to some stuffy, expensive restaurant, so when they pulled into a popular burger joint, she interrupted.

  “Mr. Barrett, you don’t have to eat here because Zach’s with us.”

  Seth turned his piercing gaze on her. “I’m not. I always please myself. I like burgers, and I would kill for a chocolate shake right about now.”

  “Let’s eat outside at the picnic tables,” Zach piped up from the back seat.

  “You’re the boss today,” Seth replied. As they got out of the car, he took off his suit coat and folded it across the back of his seat.

  It was hot out. Tessa unbuttoned her jacket. She hadn’t intended taking it off, but perspiration was already beading on her forehead, so she slid it off to reveal an ice blue sleeveless silk top that plunged in a deep V in front and back. She caught Seth staring at her full breasts where the silk pulled across them. Heat spread over her cheeks. It was the only time she felt he’d seen her as a woman, and it made her even warmer than she already was. He didn’t look at her like that again, and Tessa was able to relax. By the end of the meal, she and Zach were both laughing, and even her taciturn boss grinned.

  He took them home. Tessa seldom drove her car, taking the train because it was easier and more economical. She leased an apartment, part of an older converted house. It gave Zach a small yard for play. The home was in a working-class neighborhood where neighbors were still careful to maintain what they owned. It was a far cry from the area where they’d lived before her parents’ car crash, but it worked well for her to get to and from her job. She was sure it wasn’t anywhere near what Seth was accustomed to, but she could afford it, and it was safe.

  “Would you like to come in?” Tessa invited, keeping her tone polite.

  “No. I still have some work to finish at home tonight.”

  He put the SUV in park and came around to help her down. As he took her hand, Tessa met his eyes. “Thank you so much for today. It meant a lot to Zach, and,” she murmured, “it meant a lot to me.”

  Seth still held her hand, his hooded gaze a little searching. His mouth quirked. “Don’t expect it every day.”

  Tessa nodded. “Thanks again, sir.”

  “Seth,” he corrected. “My name’s Seth.”

  Tessa’s heart kicked up a notch. “Seth.”

  She stared after the SUV as it disappeared down the street. Call hi
m Seth? No way. He was Mr. Barrett, and it was going to stay that way, even if his glance sometimes made her stomach flutter. Nevertheless, she took extra care with her appearance the next morning as she got ready for work. She settled on a salmon-colored linen dress with a bolero jacket to cover the spaghetti straps. It was one of those outfits that could go from day to evening. Not that she ever had occasion for that to happen. Living with a ten-year-old had ended her dating life, and she’d never had much of one to begin with.

  Tessa felt reassured when she opened the heavy doors into Seth’s office to take coffee to him, and he was back to grunting monosyllabic directions at her. He hardly spared a glance at her when she entered. While she was relieved, some small part of her felt disappointed he hadn’t noticed her. It was better like this. Yesterday had been an afternoon out of time, in which she and Seth had met on equal footing and he’d been human. Heaven knew that was unlikely to occur again.

  He worked her like a treadmill right up to lunchtime, then asked, “Can you go with me to a dinner tonight?”

  Tessa stopped on her way out of his office. “Pardon me?”

  Seth scowled. “Would you go with me to a dinner tonight, Tessa?”

  “Zach…”

  The latest unfortunate pencil snapped in his fingers. Seth sighed. “I know. I shouldn’t have asked. My mother is involved with Habitat for Humanity. They’re holding a charity dinner tonight I agreed to go to last minute.”

  Tessa paused. She had worked on several Habitat projects while she was an undergraduate, some as far away as South America. “I…I can get my neighbor to watch Zach. She won’t mind.”

  Seth looked up from the papers on his desk he’d been frowning at and smiled. Tessa’s breath caught in her throat. It transformed his face. He was beautiful. It wasn’t something she would say about a man as a rule, but it applied to Seth. When he smiled, he metamorphosed from a jungle cat into an angel.

  “Thank you, Tessa.”

  When she returned from lunch, he was back to the lion with a thorn in his foot. At four, he sat back and stretched.

  “Do you need to change?”