Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

33. Tessa

THIRTY-THREE

TESSA

I shuffled to the doorway and paused to peer out at the man who lumbered around his kitchen the same way as I’d seen him do so many mornings since I’d started staying with him.

But today…today it was different.

The way the sunlight streamed in through the massive bank of windows.

Or maybe the way the birds seemed to be chirping a little bit louder. Or maybe the coffee brewing in the pot smelled like it might have an extra shot of caffeine in it.

Okay.

Fine.

It was entirely, 1000-percent, hands down due to the way Milo looked at me when he shifted around after he sensed my presence.

Like he was looking at the dawning day.

His gruff demeanor was softened, and his eyes deepened with affection as he perused me like I was his to take.

Heat blossomed in my belly, and I shifted on my feet.

I stood there in one of his enormous shirts that swallowed me whole, so huge it nearly went down to my knees, my hair undoubtedly a flaming red mess, my lips still swollen, and every inch of my body aching in the most glorious of ways.

Could anyone blame me if I wanted to eat cake all freaking day?

Hell no.

Because a sly grin pulled to the edge of his mouth, his voice all grumbly and sexy as he murmured, “Mornin’, Little Dove.”

“Good morning,” I peeped, popping up on my toes for a beat before I snapped myself out of it and moved toward the kitchen.

He filled a mug of coffee and already was setting it in my spot before I’d made it there, and he grabbed the creamer and set that in front of me, too.

So sweet.

“Thank you,” I said as I slipped onto the stool.

From across the island, he reached out with one of those big hands and tipped up my chin. “Gotta take care of my girl.”

Butterflies swarmed.

So thick they might have been a plague.

Alrighty then. It was settled.

Milo Hendricks was most definitely a stone-cold charmer.

“You took care of her pretty nicely last night,” I muttered, fighting a blush. I wasn’t even shy, but holy mother, the man wasn’t shy , either.

Those eyes gleamed. “That’s just the start.”

Everything tingled. “I’m going to hold you to that, Milo Hendricks.”

“No need. Already told you that you’re mine now.”

My belly buzzed, and I pressed my thighs together.

“You’d do well not to go looking at me like that.” Did he just growl?

“I’m not sure I can stop.”

“You’re going to have to keep those needy little hands off me for a minute.” His mouth twisted in a delicious smirk. “We need to get packed and get out of here soon.”

Hope burned through his expression, and my body that was vibrating shifted and hummed in a new way.

I touched his face. “Are you excited for today?”

He took my hand and threaded our fingers together. “I’m always excited to see them, but…”

He trailed off like he was searching for the right words.

“It feels different today,” I pressed.

I could already feel it.

Anticipation alight in the atmosphere.

Wisping through our beings.

Filling these once-vacant walls with hope.

He nodded, his attention downturned to our joined hands, before he lifted his striking face to look at me, his brow slashed in all his intensity. “Yeah, it feels different, Tessa. I’m not walking into it feeling like I’m just going to have to turn around and walk away. It doesn’t feel like torment. It feels like I’m on the cusp of something good. A change. A change toward something better.”

I squeezed his hand. “That’s because better things are on the horizon. We’re getting your kids back.”

His thick throat bobbed when he swallowed, and he ran his thumb along the outside of my hand, his voice heavy with implication. “Because of you.”

“Because of us. Because we’re a great team.” My tongue swept out to wet my lips. “Have you heard anything else from your attorney?”

“Just that the paperwork is submitted, and all parties have been notified.”

That was the only time his expression dimmed.

Paula was not going to be happy.

So be it.

“It’s time, Milo.”

He rounded the edge of the counter, and his big palm spread across the side of my face before he slipped his fingers all the way into my hair. He tipped my head back. “It’s time.”

Then he kissed me.

Kissed me tenderly and profoundly, his hand framing the back of my head as he did.

He pulled back as I clutched at his shirt.

“You ready, Little Dove?”

“Yeah, I’m most definitely ready.”