Free Always Friday by Jan Hudson Page B

Once I got off the treadmill and had some time to take a look at
my life, I discovered I hated the city and my job. Funny, I never thought of it
as a career, only a job. I found that I hadn’t really laughed or enjoyed myself
in years. Money and investments had become the prime focus of my world. I was
extremely dedicated.” Tess made a dramatic gesture, then laughed at herself.
    She looked down and patted a broken shell into the sand with
the tip of her shoe. “But while I was here and had time to take stock of
things, something in me rebelled against living my life according to what I
thought I should do. When time came for me to go back, I couldn’t do it. And
there was really no reason to. I love this island, the people, the slower pace
and freedom I have here. I’d made enough money so that, properly invested, I
would have enough to last me the rest of my life. So, instead of catching a
plane back to New York, I called and resigned. I’ve never regretted it, and I’ve
never been happier. Now I do what I want to do.”
    Dan looked out over the Gulf and was quiet for a moment. The
breeze scattered the rising moon’s reflection across the dark water. Only the
roar of waves splashing against the jetties and tumbling over one another as
they rolled into shore broke the silence. His hand gripped hers tightly, and Tess
could feel his inner turmoil as she watched him. After what seemed like
forever, but was only a few minutes, he turned to her.
    Lifting her chin with the crook of his finger, he smiled and
said, “I’m very glad you made the decision to stay in Galveston. If you were
still in New York, I might never have met you.”
    He leaned forward and slanted his lips over hers in the
gentlest of kisses. Nuzzling his cheek against the tip of her nose, Dan said, “Your
nose is cold. We should go.”
    “Not yet,” Tess said in a throaty whisper. Her arms went
around his waist and she lifted her mouth to him once more.
    “Lord, Tess, I ache for you.” He gathered her close and,
with a low groan deep in his throat, covered her lips with his.
    She clung to him as his tongue explored the warm secrets of
mouth and his strong hands kneaded the curves of her back. One arm slipped down
to scoop her pelvis closer against him, and Tess whimpered. Waves of warmth,
more powerful than the ocean’s, dashed over her and drove away the chill of
wind and water.
    Time and place were swept away in the ebb and flow of
delicious sensation. Fingers clutched and stroked; bodies pressed and arched;
lips and tongues tasted and murmured their pleasure.
    “Tess?” Dan said as he nipped and nuzzled along the soft
curve of her neck.
    Her knees were like limp rubber bands and she could barely
manage a breathless “Yes?”
    “I think my feet are wet.”
    Tess looked down at the tide lapping against their ankles
and her shoulders began to shake.

Chapter 5
     
    Dressed in electric blue silk harem pants and flowing tunic
top, Tess stood in front of the painting and sipped from her champagne glass.
Her earrings, long falls of gold-dipped shells mixed with fiery blue beads and
hammered gold disks, matched the elaborate necklace that hung to her waist and
tinkled like wind chimes each time she moved. Across her forehead she wore a
headband of blue silk braided with the same beads that accented her jewelry and
on her feet she wore strapped sandals.
    She’d fussed endlessly with her clothes and hair and makeup,
wanting to look just right for the formal opening of Sea Song—and for Dan, she
admitted frankly. Strangely enough, she’d been nervous when she walked down the
stairs to meet him earlier. Her efforts had been rewarded when Dan, looking like
a million dollars in his dark suit and the new pink shirt and mauve paisley tie
she’d insisted he buy, had raised one eyebrow and whistled.
    She’d looked him up and down and whistled back.
    He moved to her side now. “Somebody’s already bought the
cavorting nymphs I see,” she said, pointing