The timing couldn’t have been better because just as Jessie was coming inside, Téa was walking through the front door. She’d come back from where ever she’d gone and hung a garment back in the hall closet. Then she walked over toward the kitchen with a small brown bag and two hot steaming cups of tea.
Téa was all sugar and saccharine. Jessie knew she was up to something. “Good morning! I picked up breakfast. I know how you are before you eat something, so I got your favorite tea and a gluten free banana nut muffin.”
Jessie eagerly reached out for the goodies. She would deal with the shenanigans sure to come later, but right now she was starving. She sipped the cup full of happiness and closed her eyes while savoring the flavor “Mmmm…this is so good, and it’s exactly what I needed. Everybody needs a Téa in their lives.”
Téa thought she had Jessie exactly where she wanted her. She was relaxed from working out and having one of her favorite drinks. Hopefully, this would put her in an accommodating mood.
“Just remember you said that later. Do you remember that guy that I met at the bar yesterday?”
Jessie nodded.
“Well, his name is Michael Wright. He’s throwing a birthday party for his brother tonight and invited me. We should go.”
Jessie would have much rather stayed in and watched a movie—or plucked her eyes out—than go to a party. But she could tell by the gleam in Téa’s eyes that she was determined.
“Téa, I’d rather just stay in and watch a movie. I’m not really up for partying. And, even if I wanted to go tonight, I didn’t bring anything to wear.”
“I figured you say something like that. I’m not going to let you sit home and flounder around this weekend. We did that yesterday. Yesterday is over.”
Téa reached into the hall closet and pulled out the garment bag. “I anticipated all of your excuses of why you wouldn’t be able to go out tonight. So, while I was out shopping this morning, I found this dress.”
She unzipped the garment bag and pulled out a sexy, black, single-strapped minidress. “This would be killer on you. It will show off those toned arms and long legs. You’ve been practicing yoga for years, but the only time you show off all your hard work is when you’re undercover. If I had a body like yours, you would never see me wearing clothes.”
“Téa…you hardly wear clothes now! This dress is gorgeous, but I think it’s more your style than mine.”
“Maybe...but it’ll still look great on you, and you don’t have a choice.”
Téa spoke to herself as if Jessie had already agreed to go. “I have some red bottoms that would match this dress perfectly.”
Téa continued to hold the dress up to Jessie who inwardly groaned. She knew as soon as this conversation started that she was going to a party tonight. Téa continued to hold up and admire the dress against Jessie. “We just have to do something with all that wild hair.”
Jessie rolled her eyes, “What’s wrong with my hair?”
“It’s a mess. Don’t get me wrong you have beautiful hair, but those long, thick tresses are a mess.” Téa was looking at Jessie’s hair as if planning her next masterpiece. “I mean you could do some highlights or even lowlights to add some flavor to all that chocolate. People spend all kinds of money to buy the kind of hair you’ve been keeping in that big old braid or hidden under a hat of some kind. I hope I can get Candy to come over on short notice and make some sense of it. I am not taking no for an answer Jessie.”
Jessie hated when Téa was like this. There was no reasoning with her. “I like my hair just the way it is thank you very much.”
“Ok. I’ll compromise with you. Let Candy at least straighten out all those curls. That’s my best offer. Otherwise, I’ll have her give you the Téa Carlisle makeover.”
“No no…I’m good with just straightening out the curls.”
Téa raised a perfectly shaped brow. “Good. That’s what I thought. But understand this Jessie…even the super models on the cover of Vogue can’t mess with a Téa Carlisle makeover.”
“Confident much?”
“Always.”
Jessie rolled her eyes, “What time are we leaving?”
*****
Jessie and Téa drove for about an hour and a half before they finally reached Naples, Florida. That was the address Michael had given Tea. They pulled up to the gate at around 10:30 p.m. and gave their names to the security guard on duty. Téa had no idea when chatting with Michael earlier that he was—or appeared to be—a very wealthy man. He didn’t live in a little house in the suburbs as she’d suspected, instead he lived in a very wealthy gated community.
They passed through the gates. It took several minutes to get from the security gate to the address he’d given on his card; however, on the way to the address they passed several other estates. The homes looked like something from a rich and famous magazine.
Cars were parked everywhere. Jessie noticed the valet ahead and suggestively pointed Téa in that direction. As they got out of her rental car, Téa smiled sexily at the valet and handed him her keys.
She purred at him before flashing that high-voltage smile, “Make sure you take good care of her.”
The valet smiled back nervously. Téa had that effect on men. She was sexy and she owned it.
The party was in full swing by the time they had made it inside. The music was blaring and there were people wall-to-wall laughing and dancing.
Two hulking men came out of nowhere and stood on each side of them. Immediately, Jessie was on guard. Over the loud music one of the men bent down and spoke into Téa’s ear.
“Are you Téa Carlisle?”
“…And you are?”
“I’m Michael Wright’s personal assistant. He asked that I escort
