Vegas Aces: The Wide Receiver Complete Series

CHAPTER 28 TESSA

We pull into the driveaway of some huge mansion a little less than a week later.

I’m exhausted after three days in the car. Newborns are exhausting anyway, but traveling with one takes that exhaustion to a whole new level.

Between worrying about whether we have enough diapers and whether she’s getting enough to eat and whether she’s getting enough activity or if she shouldn’t be strapped into her car seat for so many hours and oh then there’s the thought of whether tearing her away from Iowa and her grandparents is actually a good idea…it’s a lot to worry about for a new mom, that’s all.

“Home sweet home,” Tristan says softly as we stare at the house.

It’s beautiful if not a little imposing as I stare up at it. “This is where Luke and Ellie live?” I ask.

“It’s where we’ll be living until November,” he says.

I draw in a breath. How did this become my life?

Less than a year ago, I was sitting in a bar avoiding watching Vegas Aces games so I wouldn’t have to be reminded of everything I lost.

And now I’m moving into a spare room at Luke Dalton’s house with Tristan Higgins and our baby.

What a whirlwind.

We grab Fallon, asleep in her carrier, and knock on the front door, and Ellie opens it a few beats later. “You’re here!” she squeals, and she grabs me into a big hug. She hugs Tristan next, and then she glances down into the carrier. “Oh my goodness! She’s precious! My littlest one is almost six months,” she says, shaking her head. “Time really flies. Come on in.”

Luke walks in behind her, and he’s barefoot and gorgeous and I’m in freaking awe for a second that the legend that is Luke Dalton is walking around without shoes on and I can see his feet. Somehow even his feet are hot, and feet are about the least sexy body part to me.

And then I realize it’s his home, and of course he’s not wearing shoes, it all makes sense, but it still feels like I’ve entered some alternate universe.

This may take some getting used to.

Luke greets us, too— with hugs —and I manage not to faint as Ellie walks toward a staircase.

“Let me show you where you’ll be staying,” she says, and we follow her up.

She takes us to a huge guest room that includes a private sitting area outfitted with a crib and a rocking chair, and all the items we’ve ordered since we knew we were moving here are still in their original packaging, stacked neatly in the closet. The room has its own bathroom, and there’s a window that overlooks the backyard. The view is gorgeous even at night. Palm trees surround the pool, and ambient lighting is set up to make it look like an absolute desert oasis.

This is home for the next few months, and I’m so excited to get settled in.

Tristan brings up our bags while I feed the baby, and he tells me dinner’s ready downstairs. Fallon’s asleep, so I gently place her in the crib, make sure the monitor is on, and bring the other unit with me downstairs.

Everyone else is already gathered around the table, and when I say everyone, I mean…well, everyone.

Jack Dalton sits with his wife, Kate. On one side is a boy who looks to be around two sitting in a highchair, and between Jack and Kate is a little girl who looks about the same age as the girl sitting between Luke and Ellie. A little boy sits on Luke’s other side in a highchair, and an older woman sits beside a man in a flannel shirt (yes, a flannel shirt in July in Las Vegas) and jeans. The sleeves are rolled up, and his head is bent close to the woman as they stare at one of the babies.

The doorbell rings, and I turn around as Ellie runs to see who it is.

She opens the door, and Ben Freaking Olson stands there. In his hands he holds two baby carriers, and a woman who looks a lot like Luke scrambles up behind him, panting as she says, “Sorry we’re late!” to Ellie.

“No worries,” Ellie says, hugging the girl. “Come on in and meet our newest houseguest. This is Tessa, Tristan’s fiancée,” she says.

“Kaylee,” the girl says, and she gives me a hug. “Luke and Jack’s little sister. Welcome to the chaos.”

I giggle, and then Ben Olson walks in, sets down one of the carriers, and sticks his hand out to shake mine.

I nearly fall over from my knees buckling when he flashes his grin at me. God, he’s even hotter in real life than on television.

The same could be said for my Tristan, though, and Ben picks up the carriers and follows behind Kaylee with the twin girls. He takes one girl out and sets her in a high chair while Kaylee takes the other one out, and I slip into the empty chair beside Tristan as Ellie introduces us to the woman—her mother-in-law, Diane, and the flannel shirt man, who happens to be Ben’s dad. I’m guessing these two are something of an item, and everybody here looks so freaking happy to be here.

It’s chaotic, like Kaylee said, and it’s loud as forks scrape plates and glasses clink together and laughter, so much laughter, fills the room. Babies chatter—and there are four girls here, all about the same age, plus two boys who are a little older than them—and the adults share conversation and I just sit quietly as I take it all in.

Ellie doesn’t let me be quiet, though. She tells Kate how I’ve already started helping at her public relations firm, which gets a whole side conversation going about Prince Charming Public Relations, and I can’t wait to really dig into my new job. It may not be nursing, but there are plenty of kids around here who I’m sure will keep me busy…especially those boys who surely take after their dads.

I always wanted the big family, and even though I found out about half-siblings later in life, that doesn’t change the fact that we’re still not a big family. I’ve grown closer to Stephanie, but we still have a long way to go until we’re sisters.

This right here, though—this is family, and somehow Tristan and I have been accepted right into it without missing a beat.

I can already tell I’m going to freaking love it here.