It was nighttime now. The police and firefighters had gone. The guests had all been settled. Tessa had refused to leave the hotel until she’d overseen rebooking everyone who had reservations at the restaurant somewhere else.
Clyde Parker had been overjoyed to have a bunch of guests sent his way. The man had even come to check on Tessa and make sure she was okay.
Chef Harvey had been fussing over his damaged kitchen. When I’d mentioned remodeling, he’d given me a long look.
“Langston, I haven’t found a way to tell Tessa yet, but my wife wants me to retire. She’s sick of the snow in the winter. She wants to move to Florida.”
I slapped his shoulder. “Tessa wants what makes you happy. There are going to be lots of changes around here. We’ll deal with one more.”
He nodded. “Not ready to leave tomorrow. I’ll help for as long as I can.” Then he’d made sandwiches for me and Tessa. “She needs to keep her strength up after everything today.”
She sure did.
Now, I’d finally driven her home. I’d wanted her out of the hotel and in her safe space.
“God, what a day.” She turned and grimaced. “I need a shower.” She looked at her shirt, and the smear of blood on it from her cut. “And to burn these clothes.”
“Go and shower, baby.”
She smiled. “Okay.” She hesitated. “I love you.”
Damn. Hearing her say those words hit me everywhere. “I love you too.” I smiled back at her. “It’s easier to say it without an audience.”
She kissed me, keeping it slow and teasing. “It gets easier with practice.”
I cupped her cheek. “I know love can hurt too. You lost your parents, you lost that love from your life.”
“It’s never truly gone, but you feel the lack of it. My aunt made me realize that a part of the reason I’ve never let a man too close before was because of that loss. I wasn’t consciously holding myself back.” Her lips tilted up. “You just blew through all of that. It must be the bossy attitude.”
I traced my thumb over her lips.
“Emily told me I should tell you how I feel. That love is always worth the risk.”
I pressed my forehead to hers. “I’ll make it worth it.”
“All you have to do is be you, Ro. And be mine.”
Those words still hitting me in the heart, she stepped back.
“Shower time.”
After she’d disappeared, I locked up the house and turned the lights off.
She was safe. The nightmare of wondering who the saboteur was and when he would strike again was over. I no longer had to be haunted by the thought of Tessa being hurt.
In the bedroom, the lamp on the bedside table was on and I heard the shower running. Stopping in the bathroom doorway, I stared through the foggy glass shower screen. It gave me a hazy view of her slim body.
Shedding my clothes, I stepped into the stall with her.
She turned with a smile. “I don’t smell like smoke anymore.”
I touched the cut on her cheek. I hated seeing it on her skin. Water cascaded over us.
“The fire and kidnapping aside, this has been the best day of my life,” she said.
My eyebrows winged up.
“We’re alive, and you love me.” She pressed a kiss to my chest. “Best day ever.”
