Page 56 of Mountain Struggle

Tess nodded.

“Mmmm,” the boy said, licking his lips.

“Hey son,” Damien began. His voice was light, but there was an undertone Tess didn’t recognize, that made her look up at him. Damien didn’t look at her. He was stirring vegetables in the wok, but his gaze was focused on Jamie. “Is it okay with you if I ask Tess to sleep in the house with us?”

What are you doing, Damien?

Jamie looked up at his dad. “Is she scared because of the car?” he asked. Tess wondered where he’d heard about the incident. Probably overheard John, Gael and Kat talking about it.

Perceptive kid.

“No. She’s not scared—there’s nothing to be scared about, but I’ll sleep better knowing she’s close to us.”

Jamie nodded, his expression serious.

“So we can take care of her.”

“So we can take care of her,” Damien confirmed. He then took a deep breath. “It’s not just tonight. I would like to ask her to move in with us. What do you think, buddy?”

Tess watched Jamie’s expression carefully, and she suddenly realized that’s why Damien had waited until she was there before speaking to the boy. He’d wanted her to see the boy’s reaction first-hand.

Jamie’s face lit up in a big smile. “Of course, daddy. She’s family—I know that already.”

Tess felt tears roll down her face again.

“Tess?” Jamie asked uncertainly.

“I’m okay, Jamie.”

“But you’re crying.”

“I am, but they’re happy tears.”

“Oh, okay,” the boy said, looking like a carbon copy of his dad. “Where will she sleep, dad?”

Damien’s eyes locked with hers, and she couldn’t have looked away even if she’d tried. His voice was soft as he replied. “I’d like her to sleep in my room with me, buddy.”

Jamie nodded, his expression serious once again. “That makes sense—your bed is bigger than mine.”

Damien laughed. “But you know you can still come to our bed anytime.”

Our bed.

There was a question in Damien’s eyes now, and the answer was a resounding yes. She wanted to jump into his arms and scream to the rooftops, but settled with nodding lightly in response.

“Dinner’s ready. Hand me your plates, both of you,” Damien said, spooning a generous serving of rice onto the first plate.

Chapter 18

Damien

After Jamie was asleep, Damien and Tess had made love once again. This time, their love-making had been gentle, and they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

In the morning, he’d helped her move some of her things to his room—their room, now. She’d still be using the studio to write, but at night they’d sleep together.

Today was a Saturday, so Jamie didn’t have summer camp. That made it easier for Damien to ask him and Tess to please stay home. They still hadn’t been able to trace the Porsche, and Damien didn’t want them going anywhere until they had a better idea who tried to hurt Tess.

Damien’s father had volunteered to come spend the day—he and Jamie were going to build a dog house in the yard. Damien wasn’t about to ask who the dog house was for—he’d cross that bridge when he got to it.