Free Adored by Carolyn Faulkner Page A

very popular and sold out every year.  Unfortunately, the extra business demands put a bit of a crimp in their style, but Sean was completely understanding and often came by just to sit with her in the shop after-hours while she did her magic with evergreen boughs, ribbons and candles.
     
    Sean began to keep a weather-eye on her health.  She attacked life flat-out, and he wasn’t about to let her neglect herself because of it.  He encouraged her to hire a couple of new parttime people – one to handle deliveries and one to help Pam.  Tessa thought that was a phenomenal idea, although she knew it was going to cut into her profits.  She found that she could now concentrate more on the creative end of things, while her employees handled the front end as well as making all the deliveries.
     
    It turned out to be her best Christmas ever, business-wise, despite the financial bite of two more employees.  She had thought that it might be the best otherwise, too; Tessa had a bit of a hunch that perhaps Sean might propose on Christmas or Christmas Eve, but it didn’t happen.  They exchanged thoughtful gifts, Tessa giving him a new set of tools she knew he wanted for around the house.  Her gift from him came in several parts.  He gave her a new set of panties and bra in a beautiful peacock blue with lots of peek-a-boo lace, as well as a gift certificate for a new paint job for her car, as well as a mysterious envelope.
     
    “What is this?” she asked when he handed it to her on Christmas morning.
     
    “Open it and see.”
     
    It was a copy of the reservations he’d made for them at Foxwoods.  He had made the reservations for three days – the day before, of, and after Valentine’s Day.
     
    Tessa’s face fell immediately.  “I can’t.”
     
    Sean’s eyebrow rose.  “What do you mean you can’t?”  He wondered if she was just being stubborn, not wanting him to pay for things, something he was trying to discourage.  But she had tears in her eyes when she looked up at him, and it made his gut twist to see it.
     
    “Valentine’s is our biggest holiday.  I won’t be able to do anything for a couple of weeks beforehand, at the least.”
     
    “No problem,” he said.  “I’ll cancel these and reschedule.  We’ll leave the day after.  You’ll need a break by then, anyway.”
     
     
    He was as good as his word, rearranging everything around her work schedule, supporting her through one of the busiest times of the year for her, holding her hand and keeping a watchful eye on her the entire time, until, finally, it was closing time on February 14.
     
    Tess had been so busy she hadn’t noticed that she hadn’t seen him at all that day.  She was opening early and closing late this last week, to cram in as much business as she could.  She’d kissed him goodbye this morning and hadn’t been able to think of him once all day long.
     
    As she closed the door behind her last customer, she saw him walking towards her.  He looked like everything she wasn’t at that moment – freshly showered, shaved and dressed in a gorgeous three piece-suit, carrying an enormous box of very expensive chocolates – she could tell just by the box.
     
    “Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” he said as he gave her the box.  He picked her up and twirled her around, oblivious to her protestations that she was too bedraggled and tired and sweaty to be touched.  He tsked at her like he sometimes did while he was punishing her.  “Of course you’re not.”  Sean dropped a loudly smacking kiss on her cheek.  “Ready to go?”
     
    “No, I still have to -”
     
    “No you don’t,” Pam interrupted from behind her, startling Tess.  “I’ll finish closing up.  You go have fun with Sean.  Go on,” she shooed.  “You deserve some time off.  I’ll handle the shop for a couple of days.  You just have a good time.”
     
    With the two of them conspiring against her, Tessa gave in, thoroughly enjoying