Tessa smiled. “A picnic.”
I chuckled. “Sure. Let me just run up and grab us some drinks and paper towels.”
“Sounds good.”
I squeezed Tessa’s hand, pulling her towards me and pressing my lips against hers. I couldn’t seem to stop touching her, I always wanted some point of connection, to feel her skin brushing mine, smell that scent that was uniquely Tessa’s. “Stay put. I’ll come open your door.”
She smiled against my mouth. “Okay.”
I released her and circled the vehicle, opening her door. “There you go.”
Tessa took my hand as she got down. “I love your gentlemanly ways.”
I grinned. “My mama would be so happy to hear that.” I wanted Tessa and my mom to meet. They’d love each other. And as soon as my mom heard that Tessa didn’t have any family left, she’d bring her into the Fairchild fold and never let her go.
Warmth filled my chest. I wanted that to happen. And soon. “I’ll be right back.” I released Tessa’s hand, leaving her in the gym, and jogged up the stairs to grab us drinks.
By the time I made it back down, Tessa had taken a couple of towels from a stack I kept next to the weight bench and spread them out like placemats on the workout mats, setting our sandwiches and chips on each. I chuckled. “So fancy.”
Tessa looked up, eyes dancing. “Only the best for the famous rock star.”
My chuckle deepened. “Champagne and caviar for me, please.” I took a seat opposite her.
Tessa studied me thoughtfully. “You know, for a rock star, you really aren’t that spoiled.”
I arched a brow. “I’m notthatspoiled? What am I spoiled about?”
Tessa laughed. “Well, you did close down an entire shooting range for us today.”
I shrugged. “Fame does have some perks.”
Tessa opened her bag of chips. “I’m sure it does.” She popped a chip into her perfect mouth, and I fought the groan that wanted to surface. “So, what’s been the best one?”
I blinked, attempting to clear my mind. “Best one what?”
“Best perk.”
I unwrapped my sandwich, thinking about the most fun I’d had because of my fame. I grinned. Two things immediately popped into my mind. “Playing the Hollywood Bowl and getting to skip all the lines at Disneyland.”
Tessa’s mouth fell open. “They let you cut the lines?”
I chuckled. Of course, she’d be more impressed with amusement park perks than playing one of the most famous venues in the world. “They have these ambassadors that take you around and bring you to the front of every line. And you get to see some cool behind-the-scenes stuff, too.”
Tessa’s expression took on a longing quality I’d rarely seen, and my gut tightened. I was such a callous ass. “You’ve never been, have you?” I’d doubted one of her foster families would have had the money to take her, and I’d be shocked as shit if her ex had been a frequenter of the happiest place on Earth.
Tessa met my gaze as if forcing herself not to be embarrassed. “No. I’ve never been. It looks so fun, though.”
“We’re going.” My words came out with finality.
Tessa’s brows pulled together. “You want to go to Disneyland now?”
I leaned forward, cupping her face in my hands. “Not now. When we get all this stuff with your ex figured out, and we don’t have to hide anymore, we’re going. We are going to cut every line and eat so much food we feel sick. We’ll bring all our friends from Sutter Lake and mine back in LA, and we’ll make a whole day of it.”
The smile that split Tessa’s face would have brought me to my knees if I weren’t already sitting. So pure. So full of joy. I didn’t deserve her, but I was going to do my best to take care of the gift she was.
Tessa twisted her head to plant a quick kiss on my palm. “I’d love that.”
I pulled her to me, brushing my lips against that spot on her temple—a spot that was all mine. “Good.” I released my hold and settled back. “Now, ready to talk some self-defense?”
