Restless in Texas: A Champagne & Truffles Series

By Benchi F. Hudson

When she first saw Jake singing in his lounge, Tess was a divorced, single mother of a five-year-old daughter. Jake was a lonely widower and wealthy entrepreneur with a college freshman son. Their chemistry was instantaneous, and so strong that neither could ignore the attraction.

Now married after a six-month whirlwind romance and a fabulous honeymoon in France, Tess and Jake are ready to begin their life together in Houston, Texas. As they immerse themselves in their interracial marriage, Tess struggles to put her traumatic past behind her so she can move forward with her life. Meanwhile, Jake’s desire to control everything, including Tess, drives him to investigate her past to learn more about her trauma. But before he can realize complete satisfaction and happiness in his life with Tess, Jake must first overcome the guilt associated with his own former experiences. Will Jake and Tess ever find their happily-ever-after or will both remain tormented by their pasts?

Restless in Texas is the tale of a newlywed couple who must reconcile their past experiences and trauma before they can ever realize true happiness together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jun 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665745437

Benchi F. Hudson

Benchi F. Hudson is a South Carolina native and retired prison warden who also worked as an executive director of a nonprofit. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and concentrated her graduate studies in human relations. When she is not writing novels and short stories, Benchi loves to read and travel with her husband. This is the second book in her Champagne and Truffles series.

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Copyright © 2023 Benchi F. Hudson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover design by Winnivations Creations

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4544-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4542-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4543-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023910959

Archway Publishing rev. date: 06/23/2023

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

To

Gladys Bell

Diane Hamilton

Bernice Nesmith

and

Lurlene Scott

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

New friends and old,

One is silver, the other gold.

Gold

Margie Gamble

Natalie Johnson

Patricia Atkinson

Linda Wilson

Carma Rollerson

Adrienne Smalls

Silver

Gretchen Rivers

Charlesetta Murray

Paulette Felder

Lillie’s of Charleston

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1

T he weather was unusually bright and sunny for late winter

in Switzerland. Rays of sunlight offered a welcome out as they gleamed in the chateau’s kitchen. The housekeeper quietly entered the bedroom where the honeymooners from the United States were still asleep, and as requested by Mr. Tyler the previous night, she used the remote to open the drapes. She quickly slipped out of the room, knowing that Mr. Tyler would get up now that daylight had entered. The sun beamed directly on the bed where Jake Tyler and his new bride, Tess Golden Tyler, were sleeping, awakening Jake as the darkness gave way to daylight. With his arms still around his sleeping bride, he kissed her neck and cheeks and aroused her from sleep.

Bonjour, Madame Tyler. Avez-vous bein dormi?

An arousing Tess stretched and rested her hand on his head, rubbing the curls on the nape of his neck. Oui, Monsieur Tyler. Je dors très bein. As tu?

Every night I sleep next to you, Tess, I sleep well.

Are you going to feel this way when we get home, babe?

Baby, I will feel this way for the rest of our lives, he said as he lightly patted her on her derriere.

She rolled over, looked at the clock, and said, If we’re going to see Nicolette at her shop, we need to get up, get dressed, and get going. I don’t want to leave Switzerland without my chocolates, and she is holding a special bottle of champagne for me.

Jake got up, stood at the side of the bed, and said, Let’s shower together quickly. We’ll get an early start and tour La Chaux-de-Fonds after we visit with Nicolette. We return to Texas tomorrow, baby. The honeymoon trip will end, but the honeymoon will last the rest of our lives.

That’d better be a promise, Mr. Tyler, and I’m going to hold you to it.

He leaned over, kissed her, sat on the side of the bed, and said, It is, baby. It’s a promise.

Tess said, I’m going to hate leaving this château, this castle. I feel like a real princess here.

That’s because you are my princess, and wherever we live, I will make you feel like royalty. He gently kissed her lips again and said, Now, let’s get ready to see your friend.

She leaped out of bed and followed him into the shower. She didn’t want him to know that she had been awake earlier because she’d had the dream again. She had recurring dreams of being traumatized on the night her late ex-husband left her and the night she saw a stranger in her bedroom. However, the dreams were real. Why now? she thought. I can’t believe this is happening on my honeymoon. Why isn’t this behind me in the past, where it should be?

Having spent two weeks in France on their honeymoon, Switzerland was the last visit before Jake and Tess would return to the States. She met him when he was the singer at a lounge he owned in Houston. Tess was captivated by his smooth voice, his deep blue eyes, and his gentle touch when he later held her in his arms. They fell in love and were married six months later on Valentine’s Day in Riverton, South Carolina, her hometown. When they met, she was a divorcée with a five-year-old daughter, Alli. Her ex-husband, Mike Morgan, died three months before she and Jake were married.

When Tess came into his life, Jake was a widower with an eighteen-year-old son, Deuce, enrolled in college. Jake was a wealthy businessman and a senior partner in Tyler Oil. He was also a musician with three albums recorded that made the top ten on the country and pop music charts. He owned several businesses and properties in several cities in Texas.

Tess had some concerns about her relationship with Jake, mainly because she was African American and he was Caucasian. She was just getting over a painful divorce and was not interested in a relationship—although when she met him, she was instantly attracted to him. Once he held her in his arms, she felt such safety and contentment, a feeling that she belonged—something she had never felt in her marriage to Mike. She soon forgot about their differences and knew this man had to be in her life.

Jake had been involved with several women, beautiful and famous, but he quickly discovered that they were superficial and only wanted the lifestyle he could give them. They wanted publicity and to be seen with the wealthiest man in Houston.

Despite feeling lonely after Deuce left home, he felt resigned to being alone with his music and his businesses until he met Tess. Once he looked into her beautiful, bright, amber-colored eyes, he was mesmerized and instantly fell in love with her.

Jake believed he could have the happy and blissful marriage with Tess that he did not have with his first wife, Beth. That was a secret he kept from everyone, especially his son. He often wondered how long he would harbor the guilt for what happened in his marriage and whether he would ever stop blaming himself for her death.

After their shower and while getting dressed, Tess reflected on the past two weeks in Paris and Bordeaux, France. They toured Paris and visited her friends, Henri and Bijou de le Blancherette in Bordeaux, and their friend Jean-Claude de la Renta, who always made a point of saying he was not related to the famous fashion designer.

Tess had met Henri, Bijou, Nicolette, and Jean-Claude on a trip to Bordeaux while in college. Her college professor Milton Meyers had selected his top students to visit France. Professor Meyers had previously visited Paris and Bordeaux, where he met with business owners who agreed to let his students shadow for a week at their company. Tess was selected by Bijou to learn at Blancherette and Associates. They formed a friendship and remained friends.

Bijou and Henri fell in love with Tess and told her they would always have a job for her if she decided to move to France. They were sure that she was moving to France a few months ago, after her breakup with Jake, which left her heartbroken and ready to make a move. Jake was determined not to let that happen. After meeting her, he couldn’t imagine life without her. They mended their broken relationship during the Christmas holidays and were married almost two months later.

Tess and Jake had said their goodbyes to Bijou and Henri two days ago, and now they were ready to spend the last day of their trip seeing Switzerland and visiting Nicolette, the chocolatier. She made and sold the truffles that Tess loved so much.

Nicolette Aubert had moved to Switzerland from Bordeaux, France, two years ago when her grandfather passed, and she inherited his candy shop, Pierre’s Confectionery. She had spent summers working and training with her grandfather in his shop, and now she had perfected the skill of making candy.

The temperature was just above freezing in Switzerland, and Jake and Tess were well bundled for the weather. Once the driver reached Nicolette’s shop, they quickly entered and welcomed the warmth. Feeling the sting of the cold when Jake held the door open for Tess, Nicolette quickly turned to face the entrance and, smiling, ran to greet her friend. Nicolette! Tess said excitedly as she and Jake entered the shop. I’m so glad to see you!

Nicolette embraced Tess. Bijou told me you were in France and would be here today. It’s so good to see you, Tess; you look so good! It’s been too long. She looked over Tess’s shoulder at Jake. This handsome man must be Monsieur Tyler.

Tess quickly answered, Oui, puis-Je presenter mon Mari, Monsieur Jake Tyler. She turned to Jake. C’est mon Amie Nicolette. He told Nicolette to call him Jake. Tess and Nicolette chatted for a while, then she closed the shop for lunch and went to a nearby café with Jake and Tess.

When they finally said good-bye to Nicolette at the shop, Jake carried several boxes of chocolates, and Tess had the champagne Nicolette had promised her. Jake bought truffles not only for Tess, but also had boxes of candy for his mother and his sister-in-law, Maria, and several of the ladies at Tyler Oil and Dooley’s Dining and Entertainment, a lounge he owned in Houston with his friend Douglas Chestnut. He told Nicolette that he would be ordering the candy from her periodically, and she promised to ship the chocolates to him.

They were exhausted when they finished their tour and returned to the château. Jake wanted to tell Tess that when they returned to the States, they would go to Dallas instead of Houston. He also wanted to let her know that she would have to attend a family meeting to discuss safety matters and that she should keep quiet and listen. He didn’t think that would go well with Tess; in fact, he knew that would not go well with her.

They had a light meal alone in the dining hall of the château. He thought this would be the perfect time to tell her about Dallas, the location of Tyler Oil’s corporate offices.

In a serious tone, Jake faced Tess and said, Life as you once knew it is about to change drastically, Tess.

Yes, I know that, Jake. I’m married to you, and many things are no longer as they were. It’s you and Alli in my life now. I want you to know, babe, that I can hardly wait to explore Houston and discover all it offers. I plan to make the necessary contacts to increase business for T & T Marketing. This is the company she now owned, gifted to her by Jake. I’ll make T & T a Houston household name. Oh, I just can’t contain myself, Jake!

You will be contained, Tess.

What? she asked as her tone changed from carefree to concerned.

You will not have complete freedom to browse about Houston, Dallas, or anywhere. You need to be aware of what you’re facing as a member of the Tyler family. Just listen to me, please.

I don’t think I want to hear this, Jake.

What I have to say is for your safety, and I need you to pay attention, please.

Safety! she exclaimed.

Let me finish, Tess.

Jake let her know about the upcoming annual meeting of Tyler Oil with its stakeholders and that an appreciation gala would be held on the evening of the meeting. He told Tess that they would be staying at Tyler Estates, his parents’ home in Dallas, and that his mother, Rebecca, would have a meeting with the women, giving them the details of their annual spa/shopping day on the day of the meeting. He made her aware of the threats against Tyler Oil this time of year and the heightened security in Dallas. He also informed her that there would be extra security for all the Tyler women and children.

Tess, you will need to be extra careful, even in Houston, especially when we bring Alli back. Don’t go anywhere without Max. Alli will attend a good school and will always have security to protect her.

Max McGuiness was Jake’s driver in Houston. He spent more time running errands than chauffeuring Jake. However, Max had told Jake he was looking forward to driving Princess around. He and the crew at the Houston Lounge referred to Tess as Princess, a name her family in Riverton, South Carolina, called her.

Tess tried not to sound alarmed. This is scary. I can’t live like that—Max taking me everywhere, people following me around. I don’t think that I’m the target. I just became a member of this family, and I think the other Tyler women would mean more to kidnappers or whomever than I would. These restraints you’re imposing will prevent me from promoting and expanding my business, she said in an elevated tone.

Trying to sound calm, Jake replied, You are the target, Tess, and you have no choice in this matter. You’re married to me; therefore, you, Alli, and Deuce, as well as any other member of the Tyler family, would be leverage for outrageous amounts of money.

"Who are these people, and are they really after you and your family? What about Deuce, since he’s by himself in New Hampshire? Oh, my goodness! Alli is with my parents; is she okay there?

"Don’t be alarmed by these people, he said. They are crazy and sick-minded individuals whose twisted goal is to find ways to extort money from us, Tyler Oil. They would take any Tyler, but since I’m a senior partner, they will especially target my family. And yes, Tess, Alli is okay. She has had security since I visited Riverton in September, when you enrolled her in Fort Clark Academy, and Deuce has never been without security."

So you’re telling me that Alli has had security since then?

Jake held her hand and continued. Yes. When I visited you in Riverton last year, you told me about the lady at the playground who told Alli that she was going to take her away. I saw how upset you were, and that’s when I made the arrangements to keep her safe—and you as well.

I never saw any uniformed people or men in black suits hanging around Alli or me.

That’s because they do not wear uniforms. They are very inconspicuous.

Tess just stared at him in disbelief. What kind of family have I gotten myself into? she thought.

Jake told Tess about the planned events at Tyler Oil for the week. He didn’t want to frighten her, but she needed to be aware of her new lifestyle.

We will have our annual meeting, which will include all board members and shareholders who care to attend. This meeting is usually about four hours, give or take an hour or two. On the evening of the meeting, we have an employee recognition gala. Josiah will open with remarks.

Tess was shocked. Josiah? I didn’t know your grandfather was still alive!

"I never said he wasn’t, Tess. When I told you about my family members, I said my grandfather’s name is Josiah, and his wife’s name