28. Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Tessa carried the gift bag into the clan house and searched for the very special recipient. She found Megan in the kitchen sitting at the table with Bella, who waved her hands at Tessa.
“How’s my amazing, smart girl?”
Bella grinned before stuffing a fish cracker into her mouth.
“As you can see, she’s happy. Snack time makes her happy. She takes after her Auntie Tessa like that.”
Tessa chuckled. “Have you seen Lily?”
Megan pointed toward the half-eaten plate across from her. “She was having snack time with us, but she saw Ben and went outside to be with him. He was a bit anxious earlier. And Lily seems to sense it.”
Tessa nodded. “She did the same thing with me the other day.” She held up the bag. “I have a surprise for her.”
Bella raised her arms.
“Don’t worry, squirt. I have something for you too.” She handed Megan a small wrapped gift, and Bella went to town, ripping off the paper in record time.
She held up the soft book. “Bah!”
“It’s one of those indestructible books. She can chew on it too since she’s teething.”
“Thank you. I’ll read it to her before her nap.” She nodded toward the back windows. “I’m sure Lily and Ben would like you to go spend time with them.” Megan waggled her eyebrows at her.
“ Seriously. You have the subtlety of a rhino, my friend.”
Megan laughed. “Look who’s talking!”
Tessa walked away without responding, which had Megan laughing harder and Bella joining in. Tessa opened the door to the back deck, and her heart melted like a marshmallow too long over a campfire. Ben was sitting on a lounge chair with his legs on either side. Lily sat at the end of the chair and leaned against him as they both stared at the valley. She wondered if the scenery calmed their dragons. “What are you two up to?”
They both turned to her and smiled. Her marshmallow heart plopped into the flames.
“We were listening to the valley. It was telling us stories,” Ben said.
Lily nodded.
What a pair. “Well, I hope you don’t mind me interrupting?”
Lily pointed to the chair next to them and Tessa sat. “I brought you something, Lily. To celebrate you meeting your dragon.”
Lily sat up from her slouch against Ben and took the bag from Tessa. She removed the tissue paper, and her eyes widened as she pulled the stuffed dragon from the bag. It was purple and had a stubby nose with a grin sown under its snout. Around its neck was a neckband that had a moonstone attached to it. Lily ran her fingers over the stone.
“There is something else in the bottom of the bag.”
Lily pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a matching moonstone pendant. Tessa helped her put on the necklace. “What do you think, sweetheart?”
Lily threw her arms around Tessa’s neck, and Tessa’s breath caught. Especially when she saw Ben’s expression. Tessa wasn’t sure if she could categorize the emotions that seemed to play across his face. Happiness? Gratitude? Heat…anticipation?
“That is an amazing gift, Lily,” Ben said.
“Uh-oh, Lily. I think Ben might want your dragon. Should I have gotten him a gift too?”
Lily let go of Tessa and hugged her dragon tight.
He chuckled. “I’m fine.”
“Are you going to name your dragon?” Tessa asked.
Lily nodded.
“How about Waldo?” That was a good name for a stuffed dragon.
Lily shook her head.
“Sassafras?”
The little girl rolled her eyes at that, so Tessa started listing any far-fetched name she could think of, which got Lily giggling and Ben laughing at her choices.
Tessa finally held up her hands. “Well, I am all out of ideas. What name do you want, Lily?”
Lily pointed at Ben and he blinked.
“You want the dragon to be named Ben?” Tessa asked.
Lily shook her head and pointed at him again. Tessa exchanged confused looks with Ben. And then a chill ran up her back. “Adam? You want it to be named Adam?”
Lily beamed and held up her dragon to knock the point home. They hadn’t told Lily that Ben had a different name, had kept her from overhearing the serious conversations they’d been having. But nothing this little girl did surprised Tessa.
Lily’s face had lit up as Tessa told a story about a baby dragon and his best friend, Lily, flying across the sky. This little girl constantly caught Ben off guard, and Tessa? She was a walking, talking revelation. She was outspoken, brave, and kindhearted, which was sexy, sexy, and more sexy. But when she was with Lily, holy Fates, that combination brought him to his knees. He wanted to wrap his arms around them both. To protect them and his clan. What if he had the way to break the curse locked in his head to keep them all safe? Could he get his memories back? Could someone help him find the truth?
He couldn’t get lost in what-ifs right now. Not with Tessa standing next to him. Lily had gone inside to show everyone her new dragon, Adam. And wasn’t that a kick in the gut. She knew his name. They had no idea how powerful Lily truly was.
“A dollar for your thoughts?” Tessa said.
“I thought it was a penny?”
She smiled. “Inflation.”
Ben chuckled. “I wonder if my memories could be a key to breaking the curse. And if so, how do we bring them back? I need to do something.”
“We’ll figure it out. You’re not alone now. As much as I hate the idea, I’ve been thinking it might be time to bring John into the conversation about you and Lily. Maybe he can clue us in to something from his dusty memory bank.”
“It can’t hurt to hear what he has to say. And if he has information on oracles that could help Lily, all the better.” He turned to her. “That was so thoughtful of you to get Lily a gift. She adores it.”
Tessa smiled. “Well, she adores you, obviously.”
Ben’s face heated. Was he normally a blusher? “The feeling is mutual.” And his heart wasn’t immune to the woman in front of him either. “What do you do in your spare time, Tessa Stuart, when you aren’t trying to break a witch’s curse?”
“And being an amateur detective?” She shrugged. “Work keeps me busy. Megan and I used to do a lot of things together before she met your bossy brother.”
Her shrug tried to downplay the words, but he wasn’t going to let it drop. “It’s been an adjustment for you.”
“Somewhat. But that’s more than okay. Megan is so happy, and Bella is a gift. And now that I don’t want to bludgeon Eric, he’s grown on me too.”
“From what I can see, you’ve become part of the clan.” More than he was right now, truth be told.
“I pushed my way in last year when Megan was in danger, and I stayed once she and Eric realized they were meant to be together. I count Sienna as a close friend, and I like Marcus too even though I give him a hard time. And Ian.”
Ben’s dragon rumbled at the last name. “Do you and Ian spend a lot of time together?”
Tessa’s eyes danced. “Why do you ask?”
Why did he ask? “I just wanted to make sure you haven’t been ill.”
“Nothing major. Just got shot with an arrow.”
He faced her. “What?”
She patted him on the chest. “Nothing to worry about, big guy. I’m all better and have a cool scar to brag about.”
All he could concentrate on were the hands on his chest. She started to lift them, and he placed his hands on top to stop her. They stared at each other for a drawn-out moment. How had this woman ended up meaning so much to him in so short a time? He knew it wasn’t a good idea to pursue anything with her now, not when he didn’t know who he was, but those eyes…
He lifted his right hand and placed it on the petal-soft side of her face and took her in. He wasn’t going to back away. She was something real and beautiful to hold on to in his blurry, shifting world.
He bent slowly and her denim eyes darkened. He rested his lips ever so lightly on hers. He hesitated instead of advancing the kiss, and she spoke against his lips, making them tingle.
“Did you forget how to kiss too?” she teased. He could feel her smile against him.
He growled (or was it his dragon?) and deepened the kiss. His tongue begged entry and she opened. And it was like flying again—wings out, wind keeping him afloat. She slotted herself against him as if she was his missing half, and he raised his other hand to her face and held her in his hands.
He didn’t want to stop, especially when she released a tiny growl of her own as he slowed his kisses. So. Damn. Sexy.
He rested his forehead against hers and took a breath before leaning back to look at her. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes a bit unfocused.
“I guess you remember how to kiss,” she said in a raspy voice.
His chest puffed up, or maybe it was his dragon making himself known. “I was inspired.”
“Ditto, dragon boy.”
He chuckled. “God, you are gorgeous.” Her eyes quickly lost their shine. “What did I say wrong?”
“Nothing.” She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
And something clicked. “Hell, Tessa. You’re beautiful. You know you are. But that brain, heart, and smart mouth of yours is what makes you a knockout to me. Okay?”
And there was the smile he wanted to see.
“So you like my smart mouth? I think you might regret that later.”
He grinned. “Yes.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “I like this mouth. No regrets.” And then he leaned in again and gave her another not-so-quick kiss.
The back door opened, and someone made a squeaking noise. He broke away reluctantly and turned to see Megan giving them a wide-eyed stare. “Sorry for interrupting. Um, Lily showed us the dragon and um…yeah. I’ll leave you two alone.”
Ben stepped back but still held Tessa’s hand. “That’s okay. I’m actually supposed to be meeting with Sienna and Eric about the business and I’m running late.” He smiled down at Tessa. “Got a bit distracted.”
Tessa nodded, and he squeezed her hand before releasing it. There were so many things he wasn’t sure of, but kissing Tessa? That was one of the first right things he had done as far back as he could remember as he stumbled bloody through the woods. He hoped she felt the same. He wasn’t sure what he could promise her yet, but maybe they could figure that out together.