“Or what?” she challenged defiantly. “You wouldn’t dare try anything in front of all these people, either – including your wife.”

Jason’s handsome face contorted into an ugly, snarling mask. “You little bitch. It’s all your fault that I’m stuck down in fucking Scotts Valley. Do you know that I have well over an hour’s drive each way every day? And for someone of my ranking within the company, it’s a bloody insult to be a lowly hotel manager. You’ll pay for all of that one of these days, Tessa, and pay dearly.”

She jerked her arm away. “Go to hell. And leave me alone. I’m not interested in you, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself, being a married man.”

“You’re damned lucky there’s so many people here tonight,” hissed Jason. “Otherwise I’d be teaching you that lesson you need to learn so badly.”

“It sounds like you’re the one who hasn’t learned his lesson, Jason. Perhaps Mr. Gregson ought to ship you to another continent next time.”

Tessa whirled around at the sound of the familiar – and very, very welcome – voice of Andrew. He was standing behind her chair and glaring icily down at Jason.

Jason grimaced. “I was wondering when Tessa’s guard dog would show up. Your boss send you over here to do his dirty work for him again?”

Andrew’s mouth tightened grimly as he and Jason continued to glare at each other. “That’s none of your business, Jason. And neither is Tessa. In fact, she’s promised me a dance that I’ve come to collect on. Oh, and I believe Mrs. Baldwin is looking for you so you’d best run along back to your own table. Tessa – if I may?”

Tessa surged to her feet and gratefully placed her hand on Andrew’s proffered arm. Without a backwards glance, she allowed him to guide her onto the dance floor. A slow song was playing as Andrew held her lightly at a casual distance from him.

“Thank you,” she told him in a meek voice. “I – he was saying -”

“I can imagine what he was saying, Tessa,” stated Andrew rather matter-of-factly. “You’re not the first female employee he’s harassed, after all. Jason Baldwin is a menace and no one was happier than I was when Mr. Gregson kicked him out of headquarters.”

Tessa attempted to lighten the mood by joking, “Maybe we should have had a farewell party for him – without his being in attendance, of course.”

Andrew never laughed, and really didn’t smile, either, but she was certain she saw the corner of his mouth tilt up slightly. “That’s the general idea, yes. Your husband wasn’t able to attend this evening?”

Tessa was a bit taken aback by this abrupt change of topic, and hesitated before replying. She figured that since she had told her co-workers the truth about her marriage that she owed Andrew the same consideration. “Peter and I – aren’t together any longer, Andrew. Our divorce will be final in a few weeks.”

She didn’t think she’d ever seen Andrew shocked – or speechless – but apparently her news had had that precise effect. It took him a little while before he told her in an oddly gentle voice, “I’m so sorry, Tessa. When did this happen?”

“September. I – I haven’t said anything until very recently. The only ones in the office who know are the rest of the team. I just –” her voice lapsed off weakly.

“You just don’t believe in broadcasting all the details of your personal life around the office,” finished Andrew in his usual brisk manner. “And I’ve always appreciated that, Tessa. But you should have told us sooner. I’m sure you could have used the moral support.”

She gave him a small smile. “I suppose I’ve just grown used to depending on myself. Well, and Peter, of course, but now it’s just me.”

Andrew frowned. “We’ve never really discussed this sort of thing, but where’s your family? Aren’t they around to help you through this?”

Tessa shook her head. “There’s no one. My mother died when I was still a teenager. Peter was all I had and now he’s left, too.”

Andrew looked dumbfounded and stumbled a bit, stepping on her toe. “Sorry,” he murmured as she uttered a low yelp of pain. “I’m not a very good dancer, I’m afraid. Thank God this is a slow number.”

“It’s okay,” she assured him. “You can step on my toes for the rest of the evening if it means I don’t have to see Jason again.”

“Yes, well, not to worry. I think he’s got the message loud and clear. Mr. Gregson was adamant that I get you away from him, and assured me he’d make certain Jason stays away after that.”

Now it was Tessa’s turn to be startled. “Mr. Gregson sent you after me? Has – is that why you’ve always seemed to be nearby whenever Jason was bothering me?”

Andrew shrugged. “Mr. Gregson didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Sarah to occur with any more employees. So, yes, I was asked to keep a discreet eye on him. As for this evening – well, Mrs. Baldwin is in attendance, as are Mr. Gregson’s parents. He wanted to make sure there wasn’t any sort of potentially ugly scene.”

“Oh. Of course.”

Tessa tried to mask the disappointment she felt at this revelation. Somehow, she’d assumed that Ian had sent Andrew to rescue her because he was worried about her personally. But of course it made all the sense in the world that his real concern was for his family, and to make sure they weren’t embarrassed or upset with Jason’s very blatant flirting.

The song ended at that moment and Tessa took a step backwards as Andrew released her. “Thank you for the dance, Andrew. I hope your girlfriend doesn’t mind.”

He made a dismissive motion with his hand as he escorted her back to the table. “Not to worry. Even if Isobel was here tonight, she wouldn’t care. But she despises these sort of events so I’m usually here alone.”

“She’s an artist, isn’t she?” Tessa had only met Andrew’s long-time girlfriend once, when she’d run into the couple at a coffee shop near the office. She had been startled to meet the pierced and tattooed Isobel with her purple-streaked hair and funky clothes, never in her wildest imagination having pictured the straight-laced Andrew with someone like her.

“Yes, she’s a sculptor. And when the inspiration hits, she can work for hours and hours at a time. When I left tonight she’d been at it since noon, and will probably keep on working until three or four in the morning.” He shook his head in mild disgust.