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Love for this man filled her, filled the cracks. “They don’t bother you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Only in the way that you shouldn’t have had to suffer them in the first place. They’re just scars and I’ve got plenty of my own.”
That made her grimace. “I do remember a bull with a bad temper who did not appreciate you being on his back.”
He grinned. “Didn’t quite make the eight seconds on that one. Good old Zombullie. I think I’ve got a few from him.”
“Did anyone ever manage to ride him?”
His grin turned cocky. “I did. Three times. In fact, the third successful ride at the National Finals was my last rodeo event. Figured rodeo didn’t get better than beating Zombullie in the Finals.”
She cupped his cheek. “I’m surprised you gave it up. You loved the adrenaline rush and the animals.”
He smiled. “I did. But rodeo is a young man’s game. I grew up.”
In part because he’d thought she was dead and he wanted to find answers. She kissed him softly. “You grew up very well. I’m so proud of what you’ve accomplished, of what you do.”
His skin flushed but he smiled and kissed her back. “I feel the same about you, Tessa. You’re amazing. Now, stop distracting me and show me where it’s not comfortable to be touched.”
She blew out a breath and sat up. “Most of it is fine. The places where I’ve had multiple surgeries in the same spots are sometimes numb. Others can tingle and feel weird to touch. I avoid here.”
It should have felt weird, sitting naked in bed and highlighting her scars, but Flynn made it seem like the most natural thing in the world.
He traced his fingers over the areas that didn’t bother her and seemed to memorize the trouble spots. Instead of making her feel weak. It made her feel important. Cared for. Even loved. Although she was sure he wasn’t thinking like that.
“I’ve wanted to get tattoos of flowers that would intertwine with the scars, make them look like vines.” She hadn’t expected to say that out loud.
“Sexy flower tattoos. I like it. Why haven’t you done it?”
“I’m supposed to stay hidden, to fade away. Tattoos draw attention so they’re off limits. The tattoo artist would have to see the scars and that would lead to questions. It’s too risky.”
Flynn’s phone beeped, breaking the mood and reminding her they had a job to do if she was going to stay at Midnight Lake.
Flynn picked up his phone and sighed. “Sam has some time in about twenty minutes if we want to go over things at the Midnight Security cabin.”
Tessa stretched her legs and started to shift. “That gives me enough time to shower and do some of my stretches.”
Flynn held out a hand. “Sounds like a plan. I’d like to help with both.”
Laughing, she let him help her up. He never made her feel less. Somehow, he made her feel stronger. Able to handle everything. And do it better with his help.
For the first time, maybe ever, she realized she truly wasn’t alone.
Anger burned in Flynn’s belly.
Tessa was strong in so many ways. She hadn’t cried over her scars, although she’d been close when she’d checked over his. She understood the scars weren’t ugly. They symbolized survival. Enhancing them with flowers and integrating that into her new name, her memories, and her being was important.
But the Pavic family made it impossible for her to do even that. It was time to take those bastards down.
They set up in the loft office of the Midnight Security cabin. That way if anyone came in the main door, they wouldn’t see anything they shouldn’t.
Sam and Graham had been the primary force behind the cabin’s setup and it was perfect. On the main floor, the large room acted as a conference room with a long table and chairs, a whiteboard and screen. Up here, there were four desks clustered together and another screen.
At the moment, that screen showed the data from his files. Tessa sat at a desk with the laptop and she was scrolling through the data. She wore headphones and had told them she was listening to nature sounds as it helped her focus.
The speed with which she read and checked data was impressive. She’d always been an interested student and her ability to remember important information would be an asset to her in so many jobs. He was so glad she’d found one she enjoyed despite being unable to follow her Math-teacher dream.
When Tessa sat up straighter and scrolled more quickly, he and Sam stopped what they were doing and watched the screen where they’d projected her data.
