The night before the wedding and at the ceremony, the signals I was getting from Tessa had rippled excitement through me. When she looked at me, there was desire in her gaze, but then she hadn’t wanted to talk tonight. As I changed out of my suit and thought about every look and word we’d exchanged, I wondered if I’d misread her.
Chores weren’t enough of a distraction. Tonight, they were tiresome because they kept me away from her.
An hour later, I was still wondering and replaying every smile, every brush of her skin on mine.
I hadn’t kept my feelings a secret. She knew how I felt, and I had to let her make the choice to reciprocate those feelings. I couldn’t make her love me.
I’d be on edge until she decided she wanted to talk.
Slogging through the chores that needed to be done, I kept thinking back to the look Tessa gave me when she’d perched in my lap. Remembering that look, I wanted to believe that she loved me. I hoped . . .
It was after ten when I parked in front of my cabin, and I sat in my truck staring at the empty parking space in front of hers. Her car was gone.
My concern changed to mild panic, and I sent her a text. Tessa, please call me.
Earlier when she’d said we’d talk tomorrow, I lost a little hope that she’d get past her fear. Now that her car was gone, so was the rest of my hope.
I sat on the couch with my front door open, listening for her car to return.
Hours later, I woke up still sitting on my couch. I ran outside as I checked my phone. Her car still wasn’t here, and she hadn’t texted or called. It was three in the morning, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I knew she was safe.
Maybe she’d gone back to her apartment. If her car was there, I’d have a different problem to face, but at least I’d know where she was.
Fishing keys out of my pocket, I ran to my truck. It was tomorrow already, and when I found Tessa, I’d say everything I hadn’t said. How could I convince her that I wasn’t like Skeeter? I wouldn’t take her love for granted, cheat on her, or wound her intentionally. I called her again before starting the engine, but it went straight to voicemail.
Kicking up dust, I tore out of the ranch and headed toward town. The ten-minute drive had never seemed so long.
I turned into her complex and circled the lot at a crawl, hoping to spot her car. I gave up after three loops because someone was bound to call in a suspicious vehicle.
When I made the obligatory stop before turning on to the main road, I noticed her car parked in front of the doughnut shop. She wasn’t supposed to open tomorrow. Why was she there making doughnuts?
Immediately my thoughts jumped to our conversation on the rooftop patio. She’d made doughnuts during the night while she was closed after Skeeter dumped her.
Preparing myself to find her in tears and eating way too many doughnuts, I pulled into the lot and parked next to her car.
The lights didn’t seem to be on, but the blinds were closed. I peeked through the space created by the bent end of one slat. Lights were on in the kitchen. She had to be here. But why?
Pounding on the door, I prepared myself for a conversation I didn’t want to have. “Open up, Tessa. It’s me.”
Peering through the tiny gap, I watched as she ran toward the door. She stopped in the middle of the room when her doughnut slipper came off.
Smiling, she pulled the door open, and her eyes widened. “Garrett! Why aren’t you asleep?”
Her leggings were covered in flour, her sleeves pulled up to her elbows, and she’d skipped the apron altogether. There was chocolate smeared on her face and a half-eaten doughnut in her hand.
“What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” She backed up, giving me room to walk in.
“Freaking out. I was worried because you didn’t answer your phone.”
She glanced at her purse on the counter. “Sorry. It’s been off for hours. My mom called, and I didn’t want to talk to her tonight, so I turned off my phone. I’m sorry.”
“What’s wrong, Tessa?” I moved closer, hoping she wouldn’t back away.
She tucked a strand of hair back into her messy bun. “I just look horrible because I haven’t slept.” Biting her lip, she kicked up one foot. “But my slippers fit perfectly. They are really comfortable.”
She didn’t look horrible. She looked adorable, incredible, and beautiful. But before I told her that, I needed to figure out why she was making doughnuts in the middle of the night.
“Why are you here?”
Smiling, she walked to the counter and broke pieces off a doughnut. “Rather than explain why, I’ll just show you.” She popped one piece in her mouth, then stood in front of me. “Open up.”
I caught her around the wrist. “Please tell me what’s wrong. You’re eating doughnuts.”
Her brown eyes twinkled with what looked like—and what I hoped was—a flirty tease.
“Of course I’m eating doughnuts. How else would I know if the new flavors taste good?”
“New flavors?” We were both speaking English, but I was lost in our conversation.
After licking her lips, she touched my cheek. “Open your mouth.”
I did as requested, and once again, Tessa fed me. Having her feed me when I wasn’t in pain and helpless was, by far, a better experience. Cinnamon and sugar filled my senses. “This tastes like my grandma’s cookies.”
Her smile widened, and she ran back to the counter. “Now try this one.” Her fingers brushed my lips as she fed me the other piece. “What do you think?”
“I think it tastes like a chocolate chip cookie and a doughnut all mixed into one. It’s delicious.”
“Good.” She squared her shoulders. “Because I made them for you. I have so many things I want to say, but because I haven’t slept, I can’t remember most of them. But I remember two things.” She held up two fingers. “Wait three.” Another finger joined the others. “Before Thanksgiving, I kept thinking that my two best friends were getting married, but you changed that. Now when I think about Eli and Delaney, I think that two of my best friends got married. You added an of to my life.” Stepping closer, she rested a hand on my chest. “You’ve become one of my best friends.”
The word ‘friends’ was not what I was hoping to hear. I steeled my reaction and smiled because that was how I was supposed to react when someone said I was their best friend.
And she wasn’t wrong. We were friends, but I wanted so much more.
“You know that I was afraid of disappointing you, but after the wedding when I told you we’d talk tomorrow, the hurt and disappointment on your face made me realize something else. Hurting you was never my intention.”
All this talk of hurting me had me nauseous. I met her gaze, bracing for words I hoped would never come. “Tessa, you don’t need to worry about disappointing me.”
Her lips pinched together as she rested her other hand on my chest, and her gaze dropped to my shirt.
If she couldn’t even look at me, this wasn’t going to be good.
“And the second thing, I mean the third . . .” Tears glistened in her eyes as she stared at my buttons.
I was about to become a sympathy crier. “Tessa, please tell me.”
“I love you.”
Her words landed like a toddler on a trampoline, and somewhere deep inside, I felt the same giddy joy as that kid. I’d been waiting for her to say I had a chance or that she’d go out with me, but she’d skipped right past all that. I was stunned speechless.
She licked her lips and looked up at me. “I know it’s customary for me to let you say that first, but I needed to say that. If you don’t feel that way, please tell me right now while I have plenty of doughnuts to eat.” Her gaze stayed fixed on mine as she waited for me to respond. “I’m not ready to sleep with you. Yet. But—”
Words were insufficient right now. I caught her lips with mine and backed her toward the counter.
When she couldn’t back up anymore, she broke the kiss. “You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about doing this.”
“Believe me. I have a pretty good idea.” I kissed her again, blindly making sure a spot on the counter was clear before lifting her onto it.
She circled her arms around my neck and kissed me more fervently.
After several minutes, I pulled back and brushed my thumb across her lips. “I’ve thought about kissing you multiple times a day, sometimes multiple times an hour, since not kissing you in the hot tub. And after New Year’s, I thought about it twice as often.”
“I can’t wait to kiss you in the hot tub.” She tugged me back to her and wrapped her legs around my waist. “And in the cabin.” She pressed a kiss to my stubble. “And by the barn.” Her lips brushed mine. “And on the hilltop with the amazing view.”
“There is so much of the ranch you haven’t seen. So much of it I want to show you.” I crushed her to my chest and held her, helped by the fact that her legs were wrapped around me.
“I remembered one other thing I needed to say. Later, I’m sure I’ll remember the other stuff.” She rested her forehead against mine.
“What’s the other thing?”
“I want to move into the cabin if it’s really okay.”
“Yes. It’s okay. More than okay.” All my dreams were coming true in this little doughnut shop in the middle of the night. Well, not all of them, but there was a perfect time for everything.
“Good. Because I want to be able to see you at the end of every day, laugh with you over dinner in the dining hall, and enjoy a more-than-friendly soak in the hot tub with you when you have time.”
“I love you, Tessa. I hope my actions have been clear about that. And I’m not asking for more right now. When I carry you to my bed, there will be a ring on your finger, and I don’t mean an engagement ring.”
She hugged me, her grin wide and tears glistening in her eyes. “I fell in love with you when we were only friends. Wait! Did you plan it that way?”
“We can talk about that tomorrow.” I didn’t want to mess up a good thing.
Her head wagged back and forth. “No. Seriously. Did you?”
“I knew you were afraid of dating and getting hurt. My hope was that you’d see that you could trust me. Love is a lot like friendship. It’s about spending time together, laughing together, and crying together. So, yeah, I was hoping to sneak into your heart through the friend zone.”
She kissed the scar just under my eye. “You knew exactly what I needed. You showed me that you’re . . .” She crinkled her nose, then teared up. “You’re perfect for me.”
“I want to be, Tessa.”
She teased her fingers through my hair. “Isn’t it funny that we’re saying we love each other in the same place where you asked me out the very first time?”
Her smile made it seem like she remembered that day fondly. My take on it was a bit different.
“Quite funny. Especially considering that you turned me down.” I kissed her again before setting her on her feet. “Let’s get you home and to bed.”
“I’m going to have a sugar crash very soon. I haven’t eaten anything but doughnuts since the wedding, and I haven’t slept a wink.”
“What do I need to do to get us out of here? I’ll come back later and help you clean.”
“Gosh. I sure made a mess. I’m usually not this messy in the kitchen.” She ran around behind the counter. “Put all those doughnuts in here.” She laid out flat boxes. “I forgot to tell you what they’re called. These are my after-school flavors. After-school snickerdoodle and after-school chocolate chip.”
She’d definitely be an after-school cookies kind of mom, but that was a conversation for another day.
I started packing doughnuts into boxes. In one of them, I mixed the flavors and labeled that one with my name. That particular box was headed to my cabin. The rest could go to the dining hall.
“I’m ready. Everything perishable is put away.” She covered a yawn.
I lifted the stack of boxes. “We’ll come back for your car.”
“Good idea.” She pushed open the door, then ran back to the counter for her purse. “I’m glad you love me.”
I’d spend the next hundred years thinking the same thing.
Before we made it even halfway back to the ranch, Tessa was asleep. Her fingers were laced with mine, and her lips were curved into a smile.
Once we passed through the gate, I drove to the main house at a snail’s pace, relishing every moment. After gently sliding my hand out of hers, I ran the doughnuts into the dining hall before driving to the cabins.
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.