23. Tessa
Chapter 23
Tessa
“Y ou don’t have to carry me.”
Ro ignored me and carried me toward my house.
“Ro—”
“Quiet. I’m carrying you.” It was his bossy billionaire voice. But I heard the undertone of something hard.
I pressed my face to his neck and breathed him in. “I’m okay.”
“You were poisoned .” The words shot out like bullets, but then he reined it in. “Unlock the door, baby.”
I liked it when he called me baby. He held me while I unlocked the front door. I was wearing a pair of scrubs, and he was still in a scrubs shirt.
We looked like we’d gone to war and lost. I was just glad to be out of the hospital.
It was midmorning. I felt tired, gritty eyed, and wrung out. Everyone had come to see me. Haley had wanted to leave her teddy bear with me. Then she’d promised to bring Simba later for a cuddle. I managed a smile and hoped she didn’t.
Now, Ro had brought me home.
He carried me straight to the bedroom. My house was small and cozy. Not very billionaire-worthy, but he didn’t seem to notice. In my bedroom, he stopped and looked around with interest.
My queen bed was covered in a white eyelet cover and there was a mound of pillows on top of it.
“Nice,” he murmured.
“It’s not a glossy penthouse with the view of the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Harbor Bridge.”
“It’s nice. It feels homey. And it smells like green apples.”
My chest squeezed. He set me gently on the bed.
“Now, you need to rest,” he said.
“Ro, I need to go to the hotel?—”
“Absolutely not.”
There was the bossy billionaire tone again. I huffed.
He sat beside me and ran a hand over my hair, which was a tangled mess. I knew I must look terrible.
“You’re going to sleep. You are not going anywhere.”
I was tired, and I could tell he was too. He’d been up all night and had dark circles under his eyes. “Lie down with me.”
He nudged me down, then lay down beside me. He curled his body around mine, and I found myself being spooned by Ambrose Langston.
I felt warm, safe.
He nuzzled my hair. “Sleep. I’ve got you.”
I closed my eyes and I was out in seconds.
* * *
When I woke, I heard voices.
Blinking, I sat up, trying to get my bearings.
The horrible night returned in detail. I’d been poisoned .
I pressed a hand to my stomach. I felt okay now. I pulled in a few slow breaths. Ro had gotten me to the hospital in time, thankfully.
But then a worse thought hit me.
Ro had been the target.
The low rumble of his voice echoed from my living room, followed by a very familiar little-girl giggle.
God, the poor man was in my small, cute house with my family. I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was lunch time. I’d slept for a few hours.
Rising, I headed for the bathroom. I washed my face and looked down at my borrowed scrubs. Screwing my face up, I quickly ditched them, and pulled on some soft pajama pants and a tank top. I pulled my favorite slouchy cardigan over the top.
I headed for the living room to rescue Ro. I had no idea how a billionaire hotelier would deal with my crazy family.
Stepping into the room, I froze. The scent of pancakes and frying bacon hit me. Haley giggled again. She was standing on a chair beside Ro—who was still in the scrubs shirt, which shouldn’t look hot on him but did. He was cooking while Haley leaned into him, helping.
The boys were on the couch, playing a game on my television. Emily was setting the table.
Ro’s head whipped up and focused on me. His gaze ran over me.
“Tessa!” Haley cried.
Everyone looked at me. I saw relief on Emily’s face as she hurried over to hug me.
“We’re having pancakes,” Haley announced. “Ro’s cooking them.”
I hugged Emily back. “I’m okay.”
She nodded, her eyes teary.
I raised my voice. “Pancakes sound great, Hay-bear.”
“Glad you’re feeling better, Tessa,” Josh said. The boys all nodded and smiled at me.
I wandered into the kitchen and ran a hand over Hayley’s hair. Ro slipped an arm around me.
“How are you feeling?”
“Shocked. I didn’t know you could cook.”
His lips twitched. “I had a family chef who taught me one summer. I think he just wanted to keep me out of trouble. I can manage pancakes.”
“We’re having brunch,” Haley announced. “Ro told me that’s after breakfast but not quite lunch.”
“Brunch sounds awesome.”
His gaze turned serious. “Are you all right?”
My throat tightened at his obvious concern and I nodded.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Good. I bet you’re hungry.”
I realized I was.
Everyone bustled around. Soon, we were at the table, and pancakes and bacon were served.
“Leo is hogging the bacon,” Caleb cried.
Leo loaded more onto his plate. “You’ve got to be quick, pipsqueak.”
“I’m not a pipsqueak.”
“Leo,” Emily said in her warning tone.
I was sitting in between Haley and Ro. He poured me a glass of orange juice. Then I watched with no surprise as Leo poured a gallon of maple syrup on his stack of pancakes.
Caleb growled. “Mom, Leo is hogging the maple syrup!”
Emily snatched the syrup off Leo and tipped some on Caleb’s plate. “Eat, Caleb Maximillian, and use your inside voice.”
Everyone started eating and talking all at once. It was the usual crazy mayhem when we all ate together. Josh started talking about college with Ro, and Ro nodded thoughtfully and asked him questions on his upcoming studies.
I sat there frozen.
Ro…fit. He talked easily with my cousin, he was good with Haley, he’d cooked breakfast.
He shouldn’t belong here. He shouldn’t look like he belonged in my cute house, in my small town. He was private jets and penthouses.
This thing between us was temporary. I couldn’t let myself forget.
He leaned over and rested a hand on my thigh under the table and squeezed. His gaze on my face. I managed a smile and grabbed my glass of juice.
Just eat, Tessa.
Soon, I felt full and tired again.
Ro pressed a hand to my back. “Tessa needs a nap.”
“No, I?—”
“Yes.”
I rolled my eyes.
“She’s always been stubborn,” my aunt added.
“Don’t gang up on me.” I turned in my chair. “Ro, I need to check on the hotel and?—”
His face hardened. “No. You have the next few days off to rest. Doctor’s orders.”
Emily stood, stacking some of the empty plates. “Come on, kiddos, you guys need to stack the dishwasher. Thank Ro for the pancakes.” Her gaze moved between me and Ro. “We’ll get out of your hair.”
“Em—”
She came over and hugged me, then cupped my cheek. “You had us worried, sweet girl. I’m so glad you’re okay.” She smiled. “And I’m glad he’s taking good care of you.”
My cousins all hugged me, even Leo. Then I saw him give Ro a fist bump. Then of course, Caleb wanted to fist bump as well. It was surreal.
Haley threw her arms around Ro’s legs. “Thanks for the yummy pancakes, Ro.”
A soft look crossed his face. “You’re welcome, Haley.” He ruffled her hair.
Then they were gone.
“Bed,” he ordered.
Bossy . “I’ve been in bed all morning.”
Before I could say anything else, I was in his arms. The look on his face made me still.
“I thought you were going to die.”
His tone arrowed through me. “Ro…”
“I was holding your limp body on the way to the hospital, praying I’d be fast enough to get you help.” He released a shuddering breath. “I felt so helpless.”
And he was a man who rarely felt helpless.
I tightened my arms around him. “I’m okay, thanks to you.”
“You were poisoned because of me.” His voice turned harsh.
“ No .” I looked up at him. “I was poisoned because this asshole is targeting you. That’s who is to blame.”
“When I find them, they’re going to regret it.”
The lethal tone to his voice made my heart kick. “Hey, come on.” I cupped his stubbled cheek. “We both need some rest.”