Tessa's Treasures Read Online Free

vast improvement over the ripped and faded linoleum. A huge bay window with a padded bench underneath filled a wall that used to hold a small single window with blinds drawn tight. Her spirits lifted as soon as she stepped across the threshold. What a great place to cook a meal!
    Unlike most bachelors, Lucas' refrigerator had food in it. She smiled. On second glance, the beer, iced tea, leftover pizza, eggs, steak, and hamburger patties in no way compared to her small fridge at home stocked with yogurt, tofu and salad fixings.
    She rummaged around the cabinets till she found two tall glasses and poured the tea. As she placed them on the table, Lucas entered, carrying the three boxes, his muscles bulging with the strain. He lined them up on the table, and sucked down a large gulp of the tea. “Thanks.”
    Tessa slid dark-framed reading glasses out of her pocket and bent over the boxes. Some items such as the china pieces and small crystals would sell very quickly, the old books she wasn’t too sure about.
    “Take your time.” His voice, close to her ear, broke with huskiness. He pulled back when she jumped, then shifted a bit. Moving away from her, he straddled a chair, and placed the empty tea glass on the table. “What made you go into the antique business?”
    She took a deep breath to calm herself. “It seemed to suit my personality. I love history, and all things old.” She turned toward him and took a sip of tea. “I was a history major in college.” When he nodded, she continued. “After I returned from California, I needed to earn a living, so I began working in the shop.”
    He flashed a smile and her stomach fluttered. “Was the owner’s name Tessa, too? Like in Tessa’s Treasures ?”
    “No. His name was Warren Mallory and he called the store This Old Stuff .” She winced. “Can you imagine?”
    “I must admit, I like Tessa’s Treasures much better.”
    She pulled a doll from a box. Standing about eighteen inches tall, it had a painted face from which glassy black eyes gazed at her like a shark. The hair, also black, could have been human or synthetic. The old and faded dress was most likely hand-made. “What’s this?”
    Lucas stood and took it out of her hand. “It appears to be made out of bone.”
    Tessa took a step back. “Bone?”
    “Actually, it Scrimshaw.” At her quizzical look, he continued. “Scrimshaw is the long-standing art of carving objects from bone, mostly whalebone. Scrimshaw started on whaling ships around the mid 1700’s, when whalers did it to pass the time. I’m surprised you aren’t familiar with it.”
    She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “No, I’m not.” As he held it up to the light and turned it, another shiver danced over her flesh. The eyes appeared to look straight at her, no matter which angle Lucas turned it.
    He seemed to pick up on her reluctance. “You don’t have to take it.”
    She laughed, but the uneasy feeling settled firmly in her stomach. “No. I’ll take it. It’s different. I may find a buyer who actually likes it.”
    “Stack the things you want on the counter,” he said. “I’ll find another box to put them in. These are kind of dusty from the attic.”
    Tessa packed the doll, an old journal, various pieces of china, some crystal, several bookends, a beautifully painted lighthouse, and a small statue of a woman holding a child to her breast, into the box Lucas gave her.
    He lifted the box and started toward the door. “Just so we’re clear. I don’t want anything for these. I just wanted to get rid of stuff.”
    Tessa put her glasses back in her pocket, leaving her unfinished tea sitting on the counter. Lucas carried the items to her car. Once the box was securely placed in the back seat, Lucas turned and rested his hands on her shoulders.
    “That’s not right,” she said. “If I get money for these things, you’re entitled to your share.”
    Her skin was on fire where his hands rested and his warm thumbs rubbed