Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

10. Milo

TEN

MILO

“Knock, knock,” the voice called from out of nowhere.

Ah, shit.

I knew that voice, and I knew it well.

I jerked around from where I was loading the dishwasher, needing something to do with my hands, all around trying to get my head on straight while Tessa went to shower and get ready to go get her things.

That right there fucked with my brain.

I couldn’t stop from picturing her under the spray.

Bare body beneath it.

Girl perfect and wet and, motherfuck, there I went, losing direction all over again.

I tamped the visions down because I had a brand-new situation to attend to.

I forced a smile just in time to catch my mother poking her head through the front door.

She gave me a giant grin when she saw me and slipped in without invitation like it was just another day.

Funny, considering there wasn’t a single thing about this day that felt normal.

“Hey, Mom, how are you?” I roughed a flustered hand through my hair as I fumbled out from around the island.

“I’m great. It’s gorgeous out, so I decided to take the long route and swing by to see how my favorite son is, you know, since he hasn’t bothered to call his poor, lonely mother in the last week.”

“Your only son,” I gruffed, though there wasn’t an ounce of annoyance to it since my mother was the best woman in the world.

She’d been there for me when no one else was.

Dragging me out from the pit where I’d fallen and into the land of the living when living was the last thing I’d wanted to do.

Reeled me back from the edge of destruction where I’d hunted like a beast.

Bloodthirst on my tongue and vengeance on my hands.

Going after it hadn’t done anything but steal the rest of my joy, and she’d been the one who’d gotten through to me, forced me to see I was only spoiling what I had left.

I had to stand for my kids.

Little did we know what a battle that was going to be.

“Pretty sure Matthew is keeping you plenty busy, anyway.” I arched a brow.

My mom had gone and fallen in love, and the guy was over there constantly.

My mother was a knockout.

Her hair was thick and black, and she wore it in a long bob around her defined face. She had this vibrancy about her that glowed. But make no mistake—she wasn’t up for taking anyone’s shit, either.

She’d been through hell and back when I was young, and she wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

With a giggle, she waved me off. “Pssh. He’s no replacement for you, and for the record, just because you’re my only son doesn’t mean you’re not still my favorite . Accept it.”

Casually, she stomped off her boots on the rug. It sent her hair swishing around her shoulders, and her eyes that were the same color as mine danced with love as she peered over at me.

“Fine. I’m your favorite.” A tweak of a grin hit the edge of my mouth.

“Busy week?” she asked, seriously that time, staring at me in question.

No doubt she’d taken note of the anxiety that had to be zapping from my skin in strikes of chaotic colors.

I rubbed a hand over my beard. “Somethin’ like that.”

It was just then that the shower turned off in the guest bathroom, and with the stark change in noise level, my mom realized we weren’t alone.

“Oh.” There was a slight furrow to her brow, then the dent got compounded by a bolt of glee that lit in her eyes.

Shit.

Of course, she was going to jump to conclusions.

Hanging onto a hope that was never going to come to fruition.

I hated she was going to have to believe this arrangement with Tessa was something it was not, but there was no other way. That didn’t mean I had a clue how to deal with it, and panic sped through my veins when the bathroom door creaked open.

“I’ll be ready in ten, Milo!” Tessa called before she appeared at the opening of the hall.

Wrapped in a black terrycloth robe, her red hair as wet as could be.

Tessa was this natural, stunning beauty.

The sight of her did just that.

Stunned me.

My tongue locked in my mouth, and my stomach fisted in want.

Shit.

I had to get this attraction under control.

Her blue eyes rounded when she saw we had company, and she shifted on her feet like she was standing in hot coals, stammering, “O-o-oh, hi.”

Taking a step forward, Tessa pinned a bright smile on her face that was only partially faked. Her freckles sparked in the sunlight that slanted in through the windows, and I could feel her discomfort coming off her in waves.

She swallowed, forcing back the agitation. “You must be Milo’s mom.”

My mom’s attention swung to me in pure speculation.

I didn’t have women at my place.

Not ever.

And certainly not ones soaking wet and wearing only a robe.

When I didn’t say anything, she returned her gaze to Tessa. “I am.”

Tessa’s smile grew sincere. “I am not shocked. Seriously, he looks just like you, and believe me, that is about the highest compliment I could pay you. Have you seen your son?”

She sent me a gentle yet ribbing grin.

Warmth radiated from her spirit.

This girl so kind.

She had a way of making the people around her feel welcome.

Important.

I’d seen her do it a hundred times at the club, not to mention the times I’d hung out with the Lawsons.

The woman shining her light.

Making the world better just by being in it.

Friendly laughter rippled from my mom. “He’s about as handsome as they come, isn’t he?”

Two of them.

Now I was in trouble.

“Oh, yeah,” Tessa agreed. “Good DNA.”

My mom’s eyes were wide when she looked over at me. “I like this girl.”

In an instant, Tessa came rushing from the hall. “I’m Tessa, and it’s so great to meet you.”

The warmth Tessa exuded also made her a smidge erratic.

She was nothing but a streak of joy and excitement as she rushed my mom, like my mother’s statement had given her the go.

She opened her arms and wrapped my mom in them, swaying her back and forth and making a bunch of squealing noises. “I knew you were going to be amazing.”

My mom laughed before she pulled back a fraction so she could look at Tessa. “Is that so?”

Mom’s voice was soft curiosity and a slow thrill.

Something I could feel climbing from her spirit.

It made me itchy.

“Well, your son is crazy amazing, so I figured you had to be, too.”

“That he is.”

They both looked at me.

I fidgeted, antsy as fuck.

Tessa shifted to take my mom by both hands, and she looked her up and down. “How are you so gorgeous?”

“Okay, I really like this girl,” Mom said, voice a sweet tease, gaze speaking in silent code that shouted, Oh, you snagged yourself a good one.

She had to know it was an impossibility.

But if we were going to pull this thing off?

We had to convince people it was real, and shit, my heart sank at what I had to do, but my mom would never fucking approve if she knew the plan we’d concocted.

I forced myself to move, boots thudding the floor as I warily approached where they stood together like they were the best of friends.

My heart climbed up to take residence in my throat as I stretched a shaking hand toward Tessa.

Confusion filled her expression before she slowly reached out and accepted it. Warmth streaked up my arm.

Exactly the way I wished it wouldn’t.

I tugged her to stand at my side, shifting her around so we both were facing my mom.

I sucked for a steadying breath, holding on to Tessa like it would give me strength.

“Oh, good, he’s going to say something,” Mom teased.

I sent her a soft glare, then struggled to keep my voice light when I said, “Figured official introductions are in order. Tessa, this is my mom, Cheryl.” Hesitation held the confession for a second before I pushed it out. “Mom, I want you to meet Tessa, my fiancée.”

A tremor rocked through Tessa’s body at my proclamation, though she managed to keep it together.

My mother didn’t fare so well.

She went pale and came close to buckling, and her hand shot out to the wall to keep herself steady as she was rocked with the impact of my lie that she believed only as the truth.

“What? How? When?”

The questions tumbled fast.

Guilt locked up my tongue.

Tessa gave me another squeeze, her voice this low, compassionate thing when she quickly spoke, “I met Milo through our friends, Trent and Eden. I always had this secret thing for him, like instant, from the second I saw him.”

A husky, nervous giggle rolled up her throat as she peeked at me before she returned her attention to my mom.

“But I had a boyfriend at the time, who was a total jerk. Things were never going to work out for us. So, when Milo found out I’d ended it, he asked me to dinner. We clicked. And I know it’s fast, but this…what we have? It’s beautiful.”

Her hand twitched against mine. That message for me.

It was beautiful.

What we were doing.

Fighting for my kids.

Swallowing hard, I lifted her hand and brought the back of it to my lips.

“She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” I muttered.

I should have known this wasn’t gonna end well when I didn’t have to dig all that deep for the deception.

Still, shame flared.

Clawed.

Gutted me from the inside.

Tears started streaming down my mom’s face.

Fuck.

This was brutal.

She breathed a couple haggard breaths before she rushed back for Tessa. For the longest time, she hugged her hard, the two caught up in some sacred place.

Murmurings rumbled from their mouths.

“Thank you. Thank you for loving my son.”

“I’m the one who’s thankful.”

I was wrong. This wasn’t just brutal. It was devastating.

Finally, Mom peeled herself away. Her cheeks were red and soaked, and she smacked my chest with the back of her hand. “I am so mad at you for keeping this from me.”

There was no anger.

Just joy.

Sheer, fucking joy.

“I’m sorry. It’s brand new, and we needed to figure a few things out before we announced it,” I forced out.

Mom curled her arms around my waist and set her head on my chest since she was an entire foot and a half shorter than me. “I’m so happy for you, Milo. I knew the time would come. I knew you’d find love. Joy and peace. Everything you deserve.”

Agony twisted me in two.

Easing back, she turned her affection on Tessa. “And I’m so thankful he gets to share it with you.”

Tessa looked at me. Ocean eyes a calm, vast sea. “So am I.”