Page 72 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

As I slid out of the truck, I texted Ava.Tessa created two new flavors. Enjoy. I might be late to breakfast.

Ava replied right away. I’ll keep breakfast tacos warm for you. Everything okay?

She loves me.

I already knew that. Ava followed her text with a laughing emoji and a heart.

When I opened the passenger-side door, Tessa’s eyes fluttered open. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Her dark hair draped across her face when she turned to look at me.

I was the luckiest man alive. “You are beautiful. I know I wasn’t allowed to say that before, but I hope it’s okay now.”

Smiling, she bobbed her head. “More than okay. I like it when you call me beautiful... and fantastic... and stunning.”

“Good. Let’s get you into bed, my beautiful, fantastic, and stunning friend.”

She unbuckled her seat belt and climbed out of the truck. “I like being your friend. But I think I’m really going to like being your girlfriend.”

“I’ll make sure you do.” I swept her off her feet and carried her inside. After laying her in the bed and pulling off her slippers, I kissed her on the forehead. “Sleep. I’ll be back later.”

Her brow furrowed. “I messed up your sleep, and now you have to work. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that when I turned off my phone.”

“No apologies. I’ll be back later. And after I sleep, we’ll soak in the hot tub.”

“And kiss?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I planned to do a lot of kissing in the hot tub.

Chapter 23

After sleeping for seven glorious hours, I rolled out of bed. It had been the best sleep I’d had in months... probably because I wasn’t lying to myself anymore. I took a quick shower, then threw on jeans and a sweater. I had a shop to clean, but the first order of business was to find Garrett.

My Garrett.

I walked into the living room and smiled. He was stretched out on my couch with his feet propped up on one end. The couch wasn’t big enough to fit his tall frame.

On the coffee table, was a box of doughnuts, and several were missing.

I knelt beside the couch and admired the man who’d shown me that love and friendship had lots in common. My fingers itched to trace the small scar below his right eye, a forever reminder of what had happened at Thanksgiving and the week we’d spent together.

With a book in one hand and a doughnut in the other, I sat with my back to the couch and read and ate. I wanted to be here when he woke up.

A half hour later, the couch creaked before warm fingers brushed hair out of the way, and Garrett dropped kisses on my neck.

“Mmm. Good morning, cowboy.”

Chuckling he sat up. “Are you going to missthe spy?”

I nestled into his lap and kissed his scar. “You’ll always be mycowboy spy. Lots of integrity and a little bit of mystery.” I combed my fingers through his brown wavy hair. “Think we can keep the move quiet until after Delaney and Eli get back?”

He scrunched up his face. “Maybe. In this town, all it takes is one person to see you carrying a box out of your apartment, and word will spread like glaze on a hot doughnut.”

“We should at least try. I’m going to get some food and then go clean. After that, I’m going to get boxes and start packing. You can sleep more.”

“I’m good. When dad found out that I hadn’t slept much, he sent me home. So I slept on your couch.” His smile made the implication abundantly clear.

I was home for him, which was perfect because I felt the same way.

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