Page 69 of Her Athlete's Wedding Secret

Tessa looked over at him.

“You and I are much more compatible.”

“But is that enough?” Tessa asked.

“Please give me more time. Our marriage is still so new, and we just started developing these feelings for each other.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m still figuring out what it means to love you. What if we just need to give it time to grow?”

“I think I see where you’re going with this.” The wind whipped Tessa’s hair around her face.

“What if my feelings for you end up eclipsing my feelings for Megan altogether?”

“I don’t know. Is that possible?” Tessa asked.

“I think it’s already been happening.”

“You do?” She looked at him with a vulnerable look in her eyes.

“It started on the honeymoon. The longer I’ve spent time with you, the stronger it’s gotten.”

“That’s beautiful,” Tessa said.

“So please don’t give up on me. I’m trying my best to make this marriage work.”

“Of course I’m not going to give up on you. We can take this one day at a time.”

“That means so much to me. You are a remarkable woman.”

Tessa and Benson decided to sleep in the same room that night. She wasn’t ready to take their relationship beyond just cuddling and sleeping, but Benson was willing to wait as long as she felt she needed. He was just grateful to have her in his home at this point. He hadn’t expected her to want to be in his room when she had a bed of her own. He treasured her company in his bed, her sweet kisses and snuggles.

Tessa went to her job interview, and Benson spent the morning working out. He’d gotten out of his workout routine while he’d been vacationing, and he could tell a difference. After his exercise session, he showered and then dressed. He headed into the kitchen to take stock of the fridge and made a list on his phone of the foods he wanted to get. He’d decided to try being healthier after all the food he pigged out on during his honeymoon. Maybe try cooking a little.

Tessa came back after a few hours.

“How did it go?” he asked her as she came in the door.

“I think it went well.”

“That’s great to hear.”

“They hired me on the spot, so I’d say it was a success.”

“What?” Benson couldn’t believe it. “They hired you on the spot?”

“Yes, sir!”

He wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. He’d thought he’d had more time for Tessa to look for jobs. He hoped that she wouldn’t leave him now that she had the means to get her own place in the city. They had been doing better, but he wasn’t confident that he’d completely earned her trust. He didn’t know if she was being completely honest with him. What if she was only trying to spare his feelings?

“Congratulations!” Somehow the victory felt hollow. His fear that she would leave overtook the happy feelings he knew he should be feeling for her. “Should we pop some bubbly?”

“Sure. Do you have any?”

“I do.” He opened a cabinet in the kitchen and pulled out a couple of glasses. He opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of champagne. “This was one of our wedding gifts. I had them all sent to the house.”

“I noticed our gifts in the living room when you gave me the tour,” Tessa said.

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