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He set Tessa on the closed toilet seat and then started the water in the tub. She reached for the cabinet where she kept her bath stuff, but he beat her to it. “Try this one.”
“What’s this?”
“Gift number one. Bella helped. Something Christmassy she said.”
Tessa grinned and tossed it in. Cinnamon and chocolate scents went along with the cookie-like design of the sphere. While the tub filled, he kissed her softly. “I’m going to grab you a glass of wine and let you relax for a bit.”
“You could join me.”
He grinned at her and kissed her. “I could, but I’m betting your legs would appreciate a chance to simply relax and soak up the heat. I’ll be back.”
When he returned, Tessa was leaned back against the back of the tub, eyes closed and music playing softly from her phone. He put the wine within reach and moved back to the other room.
With a grin, Flynn fluffed up the pillows and set the tray he’d brought up at the end of the bed. They’d agreed to extend the rules of the group exchange to their own personal gifts. Next year, they’d have more time, but with the month they’d survived, the gifts themselves would mean less than the simple act of being together.
When he heard the tub draining, he moved back into the room to find Tessa pushing to her feet, bubbles drifting down her body. His own reacted with lightning speed. “You’re so damn beautiful, Tessa. Here, let me help.”
She looked up and laughed. “What I am is awkward and slippery. I should have grabbed a towel first.”
He grabbed one and wrapped it around her where she stood in the tub. He kissed her while he started to dry her off, then he lifted her out of the tub and finished the job.
When she was dry, he slipped one of his t-shirts over her head, making her smile. “I’ve never worn a boyfriend’s shirt before.”
She’d missed so damn much.
Tessa reached up and caressed his jaw. “That wasn’t meant to make you sad. I’m not. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. And I’m wearing my sexy boyfriend’s shirt.”
He held her hands out to the side and checked her over. “I like it. Especially the fact you’re wearing nothing but skin underneath it. You keep checking off the fantasies I started way back when we were kids.”
“Fantasies. I like the sound of that. Tell me more.”
Laughing, he lifted her again and pulled her in for a kiss. “This is another.”
He walked through and dropped her onto the bed and sat beside her. “Another one.”
His hand slipped under the tee and up to her breast. “Another. And this is on the highlight reel.”
Before he got carried away, he pulled away. “I’ll show you a few more later, but I want to give you this first.”
Suddenly nervous, he handed her the book. “This is the same book I gave Josie. It’s from my folks too.”
Tessa flipped it open and found his mom’s inscription.Welcome to the family, Tessa. Love Shelley and Marty.
Tessa gasped softly and tears glistened through the huge smile as she beamed at him. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
He rose to grab her phone from the bathroom, then handed it to her. “The second half, I’m going to drop to your phone.”
Once she had hers, he dropped the folder and watched her tap it.
This gasp was softer and shakier. “Oh, Flynn. They’re from that day. I’ve relived it so often in my memory, but I never thought I’d have photographs.”
He shifted to tuck her into his side as she scrolled through the photos. He’d gathered all the ones everyone in his family had taken and compiled them in the folder.
He laughed when she pointed at the one of him standing on the railing of the corral, smiling down at her. “I was trying so hard to impress you that day. My brothers took a lot of pics so they could rag on me later.”
Tessa with his mom in the garden. Making lunch. His dad showing her how to feed a horse. And so many of him and Tessa. On horseback. Grooming the horses. Eating. Laughing.
Wiping away tears, Tessa flipped between the photos again and again as they laughed and shared their memories. Eventually, she shifted so she could kiss him. “I love you, Flynn. That was the most perfect gift ever.”
