His amber eyes met mine. “I love you, Tessa. I’ve never loved anyone before.” He swallowed. “Or been loved.”

A tear slid down my cheek, emotion welling in my chest.

“I’m not going anywhere, fairy queen. You’ve made me happier and more content than I’ve ever been. I’ve never had one, but I know that being with you feels like home.”

I threw myself off the chair and into his arms. He caught me and rose.

Then he was kissing me. Or I was kissing him.

I didn’t care.

Ro loved me. He was mine.

That was all that mattered.

34. Ro

Chapter 34

Ro

I unlocked the door to Tessa’s cottage and led her inside. I knew she was exhausted.

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.”