The band played a rousing tune, and Tessa's eyes jumped back and forth between Gloria and Ted flirting and Josiah playing the fiddle with a grin. It was evident that he was in his element, as were Gloria and Ted.

Josiah didn't give any indication that he saw Tessa sitting front and center, and when the band announced a break, he left the stage without acknowledging her at all.

Once the noise had settled, conversation became possible, and Tessa wanted answers. Ted and Gloria's obvious public display told Tessa that they weren't attempting to hide their relationship, so Tessa wasn't going to be shy in asking her questions.

"How long has this been going on?" Tessa asked, looking from one to the other. Gloria at least had the grace to blush.

"A few years," she admitted.

Tessa let that sink in, realizing that all the talk about her marrying Ted had coincided with their relationship.

"Then why was the possibility of marriage between Ted and me ever a possibility?" Tessa shook her head.

"That's what your father wants," Ted said with a condescending tone.

Tessa looked at Gloria, but what she was thinking was hidden.

"Why can't you two get married?" Tessa asked, still not understanding.

"Because, Tessa, Father wants it to be you. You'll never be involved with the hotels, so there will never be any conflict. If I were to marry Ted, then there's a chance that he could try to overrule a decision I made." Gloria was doing her best to remain patient.

That meant that no matter what Tessa did, she would never be invited into the family business, at least not while her father was alive. It was a fast and sudden hurt that tightened her heart.

"And you two? If I had caved, and Ted and I had married?" Tessa tried not to shudder as she thought about Ted leaving Gloria's bed for hers.

Gloria shrugged but didn't say anything.

"You both would have continued with your relationship while Ted was married to me?" Tessa felt herself pale as she looked from Gloria to Ted for confirmation. She couldn't hear that affirmative from her sister's lips.

"Yes," Ted admitted, and Tessa wrapped her arm around her middle as her stomach began to hurt. That their plan was to do that to her, without regard for her feelings, left her floored.

"Does Father know?" Tessa asked, her voice difficult to hear over the piped-in music, but Gloria heard her and nodded.

Tessa focused on her breathing as she realized she had always just been a pawn to move around the board, and she and her happiness mattered very little.

"Why are you here?" Tessa closed her eyes.

"We want you to stay," Gloria said. "Ted thought that if we came and you saw us, you would understand the situation and be less likely to return home."

"Then you could convince Father to let you marry." Tessa nodded as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at them both. "So, your last trip down wasn't to convince me to come home?"

"Technically, yes Father sent me to get the lay of the land, but we were also worried about you."

Tessa couldn't help the guttural laugh that escaped her at the thought of them worried about her. They weren't worried about her or her feelings now.

No wonder Gloria had made such a big deal about Josiah. She had wanted to sell him to Tessa and also put her off the idea of herself and Ted marrying. Taking advantage of Tessa's suggestion that Gloria should marry Ted instead when Gloria had last visited.

Unable to take it anymore, Tessa jumped up from the table and hurried to the bathroom. She was going to be sick.

After about fifteen minutes, her stomach empty, Tessa returned to the table to see Josiah sitting in Ted and Gloria's place. Taking a deep breath, Tessa approached the table and sat next to him.

She was numb. "Where did Gloria and Ted go?" Tessa asked, reaching for her drink and taking a sip. For some reason, she felt ashamed and couldn't look at Josiah.  She cleared her throat as tears threatened.

"They said they needed to go and asked if I would mind giving you a ride home," Josiah explained as Annie approached the table.

"Hey, Joey! You were on top tonight." She dropped off the check and began to clear the table. Great, they had left her with the bill. Talk about adding insult to injury, but then Ted had always been cheap. Tessa reached for her wallet with a shaking hand, and Josiah grabbed the bill, passing it back to Annie.

"Add this to my tab," Josiah insisted.

"Sure, Joey," she smiled, looking at Tessa, noticing something wasn't right. "Are you alright, Tessa?"

Tessa nodded and forced a smile.

"I think what she needs is a dance, before I take her home. Shake off some of the cobwebs." Josiah stood. "Would you put this with my fiddle?" Josiah handed her Tessa's purse. "We're done with the table."

Josiah stood and reached for Tessa's hand. Tessa was too numb to object as Josiah led her onto the dance floor, but as soon as he took her into his arms, she melted. It was an old, slow song, 'Sleepwalk', and he pulled her close as she danced her around the floor without saying a word. Tessa rested her head on his chest and focused on his hands, which held her close. She let herself pretend for just a moment that she was cherished. Then, when she couldn't take it anymore, she stepped back and discreetly wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Thanks, I'm ready to leave now. Are you sure it's alright? You don't have to play anymore?"

"No, it's fine," Josiah assured her as he watched her closely.

They stopped by the bar and grabbed their stuff, then he led her to his truck. After they were settled, Tessa reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. She had a single message from her sister. It told her that she and Ted were headed back home, that it had been a mistake to come, and she was sorry if she had hurt her.

Tessa felt the tears start again and kept her eyes trained out the window so Josiah wouldn't see her cry. Eventually, she closed her eyes and rested her head back, and when the truck stopped, they were outside Josiah's place. She turned to look at him, a question on her face.

He reached across the cab of the truck and wiped a tear gently from her cheek.

"Come on, let's go figure it out, OK?" He gave her a tender smile.

Tessa nodded and undid her seat belt, then followed him up to his apartment, where she sank onto the couch and curled up into a ball.

Josiah covered her with a blanket and asked her if she needed anything.

"No, thank you," she shook her head, as he sat next to her and they stared at each other for a few moments. "You play well," Tessa said for something to say.

He smiled. "Thank you. Levi insisted I needed an outlet for all my anger when I was young, so he signed me up for sports, made me pick an instrument, and taught me how to ride a horse."

"I can't imagine you full of anger." Tessa shook her head as she tried to imagine it.

"Levi became my father when I was ten. My childhood up until that point was...violent." Josiah propped one of his arms on the back of the couch as he turned to face her.

Tessa stopped mid-sniff. "Really?" Violent didn't sound good at all, and she did her best not to picture a little Josiah in pain.

Josiah gave her a sad smile and nodded. "So, what was tonight all about?"

He was done talking about himself, but he had shared more than he ever had, and Tessa took it as a win.

Tessa shook her head. "My entire life has been a lie and would have continued to be a lie if I had stayed. I realized tonight that my happiness never really mattered. My sister admitted to having a relationship with Ted for a few years now."

"Ted, the man your father wanted you to marry?"

Tessa looked at her hands in her lap as it all hit her again, nodding.

"Ouch, you didn't know?" His voice was soft.

"No, but my father knew and didn't care. Ted admitted that if we had married, they had planned to keep up the relationship." Tessa shook her head. "My father never planned to bring me into the business; that's why he wanted me to marry Ted instead of Gloria. He didn't want there to be conflict."

Tessa felt the tears build again. It was always about conflict, only now a relationship with Josiah would cause the conflict not deflect it. "I was just a pawn, my entire life. I think back and remember how loving Gloria could be toward me at times, and how she must have hated me."

"No, I don't think she hates you. She may not have looked it, but Gloria was just as upset this evening as you were. Ted, on the other hand," Josiah shook his head, "I think your sister could do much better, and you had a narrow escape."

"Either way, I can't go home now. That bridge has burned. My plans to impress my father into offering me a place in the company one day was all a fanciful dream." Tessa felt the tears start. "Now, I don't even have the choice of giving up this job so I can be with you. I need it to survive."

Josiah blinked, surprised by her words. "You were serious about that?"

Tessa paused, blushing. "Were you serious about your attraction to me?"

He shifted in his seat as the vibe in the room suddenly changed. "Yes."

"Why can't we? I mean, what would change?" Tessa threw off the throw and stood up. Standing across from him with her arms crossed. Ready to challenge anything he threw her way. It was about time she had a win, and Josiah would be a big win.

"Tessa." He shook his head wearily.

"No, honestly. The attraction is already driving a wedge between us. Why not have the affair?" Tessa started to pace. The more she thought about it, the more sense it made. "It doesn't have to be a relationship. Just a night. Just let me feel what it's like to be wanted." Her voice broke, and Josiah stood walking toward her, pulling her close.

"Do you have to get home to your sister?"

Tessa's hopes soared as she shook her head. "No, they left."

"I'll tell you what, Tessa. You'll stay here tonight because I don't think you should be alone, and we'll discuss it further tomorrow. Alright?" He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "Either way, you're not in the proper headspace to make any serious decisions."

Tessa felt disappointed but understood, realizing he was probably right. He took her hand and led her upstairs, then gave her an oversized t-shirt of his to wear.

"Go ahead and get ready for bed. I promised Levi I would do one last check on everything in the barn when I got home, so I'll do that now." He reached for the remote control and turned on the television. "I'll join you in a bit."

Tessa nodded and watched him head back down the stairs.

Considering how the night had started, she wasn't totally disappointed in where it might lead, and it was easier to look forward than back.