“Darlene fixed a room up for you. Downstairs. I’m staying upstairs in that guest room. I hope that’s okay?”
“Would it matter if it wasn’t?” she asked, still slightly pissed that he had so much control over her.
“You can sleep in the upstairs guest room if you want. It doesn’t matter to me. A bed is a bed. I thought it might make it easier on you. Sleeping downstairs.”
Of course. Sam was thoughtful, though she hated admitting that just now. “No, it’s fine. Which room? There were six bedrooms in this house. Total waste of space.” She and Joel had planned on a family, and maybe there would have been that son had he lived. Or two.
“The room where all the books were.”
“Ah, my den. Sam, please tell me you didn’t toss my books?”
He stood up and took her hands in his. “Actually, I think you’ll be pleased when you see what Darlene arranged. Follow me.”
She felt odd being led around in her own home. Sam went down the long hall that led to three other guest rooms. “In here,” he said, opening the door and turning on the lights.
Tessa entered the room. “Sam! This is . . . a library!” She saw so many of her familiar titles, some of her college textbooks she had hung on to. Floor-to-ceiling shelves held all the books she had collected throughout the years. “Thank you, Sam. This is perfect.”
The furnishings were plush and inviting. A fireplace had been added and two armchairs now flanked the window—all the creature comforts a die-hard book lover could want.
“I’ll tell Darlene you approve. Now, you might want to sleep in one of the other guest rooms. They have been redecorated with all the latest gadgets and gizmos in mind. I’m going upstairs now. I’m exhausted. Night, Tess.” He smiled and left her in her new library.
“Good night, Sam.”
He waved.
She decided she would sleep in here, surrounded by her books, which held mostly happy memories. It would be the first time that she had slept in this house since she had been arrested for the murder of her husband and twin daughters.
Chapter 11
Tessa realized she had forgotten to ask Sam about pajamas and toiletries. Before he went to sleep, she hurried upstairs to the guest room where they’d looked at the watch earlier. She knocked lightly on the door.
“Come in,” Sam called out.
Hesitant in case he wasn’t dressed, she called out. “Sam, I hate to be a pest, but I need something to sleep in and a toothbrush—”
The door swung open before she could finish her sentence.
“I totally forgot. In one of the guest rooms, I’m unsure which one, but it should be fully stocked with all the things you’ll need in the chest of drawers.”
“Darlene’s magic?”
Sam raked his hand through his hair. Tessa thought he looked incredibly handsome just then. She took a deep breath.
“Actually, it was me. I thought . . . Never mind what I thought. You should have everything you need in one of the guest rooms and bathrooms. And Darlene did take care of all those bubbles and lotions.” He smiled at her, and for the first time in years, she felt glad to be a woman.
Breathless, she nodded. “I appreciate this. Thanks, Sam. Night.” She hurried back to the first floor before she did something stupid, but she did hear him laughing on her way downstairs.
She grinned.
She found everything she needed in the room across the hall from the library. The furnishings were warm wood, and the draperies and comforter were done in soft shades of creams and beige, nothing like the dark green and navy colors she had used all those years ago. Tessa found a pair of pink-silk pajamas in the top drawer along with several pair of pastel-colored bikini underwear. She blushed when she thought of Sam’s hands touching something so personal. Joel never purchased anything as intimate for her. Flowers and chocolates, which she had adored, but never a set of pajamas and pretty panties. All very feminine. And then it dawned on her. Sam had purchased these things not because he had hoped for any possible future intimacy between them but because he knew she would appreciate fine clothes after her years of wearing an orange jumpsuit. He was thoughtful and kind. Feeling foolish, she was going to indulge herself tonight by soaking in the Jacuzzi tub she had seen when she sneaked a look into the bathroom.
Before, this guest bath had only boasted a shower, a sink, and a toilet. The old had been replaced with newer, modern, much more luxurious fixtures. All done in the same warm shades of beige as the bedroom.
The vanity was lined with shampoos, body washes, razors, everything she would need. She turned the taps on in the Jacuzzi, setting the water temperature as high as she could stand, then added a gardenia-scented bath bomb to the water. Darlene had thought of everything. Someday, she promised herself, she would thank her.
She peeled off her slacks, careful of the ankle monitor before she realized it probably wasn’t waterproof. She had to hang her foot over the side, and tomorrow she had to check to see if she could shower with it on. For now, Tessa wasn’t going to let a little thing like an ankle monitor prevent her from soaking in this giant tub. She had fantasized about hot baths for years. Prison meant three-minute showers with lukewarm water. For as long as she could, she would enjoy these luxuries.
While lowering herself into the hot, steamy, gardenia-scented water, tears filled her eyes. It had been so very long since she had actually enjoyed anything so simple as a hot bath. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander.
Her first thoughts were of Sam, and the enormous responsibility he had undertaken when involving himself in her case.
Sam was more than
