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“I think that went well,” Conner declares when we’re on the road in Gage’s car.
Gage slides a glance over to me in the passenger seat. “He’s on notice. Maybe that’s all it will take.”
“Maybe.” I’m uneasy, and unsure if this mission accomplished anything. Then again, it’s possible that nothing short of cracking Ballerini’s jaw would have felt satisfactory.
“Where is Tess today?” Conner says. “I didn’t see her at home this morning.”
The day her dad kicked her out, Dani and Gage assured Tess she could stay with them as long as she wanted. But I won her over to the idea of moving in with me. It feels right, having her in my bed every night and waking up beside her every morning.
It feels more than right. Already I can’t imagine spending a night away from her.
Gage answers Conner’s question. “Dani said she and Tess had plans.”
At home, we find Dani and Tess hanging out in the backyard. They’re stretched out together on one of the patio lounge chairs and giggling over some silly social media videos. It’s a cute scene.
Conner thinks so too. He dives in and shovels them both up in his big arms, hugging them as if he plans to devour them. “My girls.”
Dani gives his back a friendly pat. “Our Conner.”
But I pull Tess right out of his grip.
Conner doesn’t get dibs on my girlfriend.
Tess slips her arms around my waist. “You better kiss me.”
Glad to. The second she feels my tongue she answers by molding her body to mine. It takes all my willpower not to pick her up and carry her to the bedroom. There’s a whole lot more to Tess than her body but that doesn’t stop me from wanting her. Endlessly. Relentlessly.
Elsewhere, Gage has taken Dani away from Conner and now Conner pouts on the lounge chair all alone, grumbling about feeling like a fifth wheel.
Tess comes up for air and smiles at me. When I inspect her face I’m glad to find no trace of sadness. Her father’s betrayal can’t crush her. Tess is strong. Nothing that asshole does will keep her down.
“You look worried,” she says.
“Not worried. Did you two have fun?”
She nods. “We went to go see Lita. Haven was there too.” She glances at Conner to see if he’s listening. He’s not. He’s placed his hat over his eyes and appears to be drifting off to a nap.
“Has anything changed with Lita?” Ten years is a hell of a long time to be asleep.
Tess shakes her head. “No change at all. Haven was actually in a good mood, although she seemed put out that you don’t want to pick up shifts at the club anymore.”
“Never liked the job anyway. I just worked there now and then to have something to do.”
She pokes me in the belly. “When were you planning to mention that you crashed the Chamber of Commerce meeting?”
“Now. You mad?”
“No. Kind of wish I’d seen that.”
“How’d you find out?”
“Uncle Josh. Twenty minutes ago he texted with a plea to call him.” She sighs and lays her cheek on my chest. “We only talked for a minute. He swears he knew nothing about my father’s schemes. He thought I just quit and moved out.”
“Yeah, he gave me the same story.”
“He wants to see me, meet for lunch or something.”
“I’ll go with you.”
