36. Ro
The helicopter swept in over Windward.
The leaves had turned and I saw yellows, oranges, and pops of red. As we approached the hotel, I saw the scaffold on the east side of the building with workers crawling all over it as they painted.
Smiling, I leaned forward. Once we were done, the Langston Windward would be the best mountain resort in North America.
But nothing was as exciting as knowing I was coming home to Tessa.
I’d been gone for almost a week, working with Kavner Fury in New Orleans on our latest investment, the Langston New Orleans.
Now, all I wanted was Tessa in my arms. I’d missed her so goddamn much.
I had another trip to the Maldives planned soon, but I’d limit the length of it. I had good people on my team. I knew I didn’t have to do everything myself.
As the helicopter descended, I spotted a figure waiting on the landing pad and my smile widened.
There was my fairy queen.
As soon as the pilot set down, I murmured my thanks and threw the door open. I strode across the landing pad.
Tessa was running toward me. She leaped and I caught her.
I kissed her long and hard, then let my mouth travel down her neck, over her beautiful, pale skin.
“You’re home,” she said breathlessly.
“I am.” And I realized home wasn’t a building or a house, it was her. It was the love she gave me every second I was with her.
I’d never had love before. I’d had cold indifference or just nothing from my parents who sometimes forgot they had a child.
My child would never, ever feel like that.
I jolted. I’d never thought about having kids before. Not once. I’d sometimes had the vague idea that I never wanted them.
But I could picture them with Tessa. I could picture her with a round belly, growing our child, and her being a fierce, loving mother.
Shit . My throat tightened.
“You okay?” She was watching me.
I nibbled on her lips again. “I am now. Now that I’m home with you.”
Her face softened. “I missed you.”
I curled an arm around her shoulders, and we headed for the door. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Is it more jewelry?” She held up her wrist. There was another bracelet to match the one her parents had given her. I’d had the jeweler make it with tiger’s eye—which Tessa thought matched my eyes—and brown tourmaline—which was the same shade as her eyes.
“No. You’ll have to wait and see.”
“I have one for you too. It’s small so don’t get too excited.”
Mine was not small. I felt a flush of uncharacteristic nerves. What if she didn’t like it?
She’ll like it, Langston.
“Come on.” Inside, we headed for my office. Lots of staff members called out hellos and waved, welcoming me back.
It was…nice. I’d never cared too much about what people thought of me. I’d been so focused on my work and that was all I’d cared about. I’d never stayed anywhere long enough to form strong friendships—except for my executive team—or get to know people.
I dropped my gear on my desk, then grabbed Tessa’s hand. “Come with me.”
In the hall, I spotted Jazz wearing a jaunty dress covered in red poppies.
“Hi, Jazz. Tessa is off the clock for an hour.”
“What?” Tessa’s brow creased.
“Sure thing, boss man,” Jazz said with a smile.
“I’m being kidnapped,” Tessa said. “Again.”
I whipped around. I hated any reminder of what Rupert Fairbanks had done to her.
Her face softened and she cupped my cheek. “I like this kidnapping a lot better. He’s gone, Ro. He can’t hurt us.”
Rupert was in a psychiatric facility. She was right. He was never coming back. I set him out of my mind.
We crossed the lobby and at the front door, Enzo smiled. “Welcome home. Your car’s ready.”
“Thanks, Enzo.”
Once I’d decided to make Windward home, I’d bought myself a sleek Aston Martin Vanquish Volante in steel gray. I opened the passenger side door for Tessa and she slid in. She’d made me promise not to drive the car in winter. To be fair, I didn’t drive it much. I kept it garaged at the hotel because Tessa and I walked to work most days from her house.
I started the engine, took a second to admire the growl, then set off. We drove through town.
“So what’s this surprise?”
“You need to look up the definition of surprise, Ms. Ashford.”
She shot me a look and rolled her eyes.
I’d learned over the last two months that my woman hated surprises. She hated not knowing and not being prepared.
“Have you heard from your father?” Tessa asked.
“No, thank God. Not a peep.”
She watched me carefully and I knew she was trying to take my temperature. I reached out and squeezed her knee.
“I’m fine, baby. Things are better with him gone. I did hear some news.”
“Oh?”
“He and Tawny split up.”
“Trinity.”
“Whatever. She’s trying to get a settlement out of him, he wants the ring back, and things are messy.”
“What a surprise,” Tessa said sarcastically.
I drove into an area of Windward with beautiful homes perched on the hillside. It was still in the eastern side of town and only a few blocks from Tessa’s house. “No more talk about my father.”
“Oh, there are some gorgeous places here.” She peered out the window. “Emily and I used to come and daydream about what house we’d buy if we won the lottery.”
I pulled into the driveway of a house. It wasn’t as big as some of the rambling mansions—but I knew Tessa would want a home, not a showpiece. It had lots of glass and lots of natural stone. It reminded me a little of the Langston Windward.
She shot me a confused look. “Ro, what are?—?”
I took her hand and squeezed. “Come and see.”
We exited the car, and I tugged her up the drive. I pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the front door.
Her brow creased. “You have a key?”
“Yep.” Our footsteps echoed in the empty entry. She gasped, taking in the huge open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. There was a huge stone fireplace that gave me lots of ideas. I imagined warm flames and naked skin on a fur rug. The house also had a gorgeous mountain view out the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“I have a key because this is ours.”
She whirled, brown eyes wide.
“I love your place, but it’s small and very much yours. I thought we could make this place?—”
“ Ours . It could be ours.” She pressed her hands to my chest.
I nodded. “That’s what I hoped. What I want.” A home that we would make together.
Her smile bloomed. “I haven’t seen it all, but I love it.”
“There’s an indoor swimming pool.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“And lots of garden for you to transform. And a games room your cousins will love.” I smiled. “They’ll probably never leave.”
“And it’s still walking distance to Emily’s house.”
“Yes. I was thinking we could add a cat door for Simba.”
She grimaced. “Don’t you dare.”
“Hey, he likes me.”
She smiled. “I love you, Ro Langston. Not because you bought us a house, but because you want to make a space that’s ours.”
“I love you too, Tessa Ashford. More than you’ll ever know.” I nuzzled her neck. “My bright sun in the day and my fairy queen at night.”
She laughed and pressed into me.
“You said you had a surprise.”
“Well, it isn’t a gorgeous house.”
I ran my hand down her ponytail and tugged. “I know I’ll still love it.”
A sexy look crossed her face, and my gut instantly tightened.
“I found my mask from the masquerade ball this morning…”
And instantly, I went hard.
“Have you got yours somewhere?” she asked in a breathy, teasing tone.
“Yes.”
“Then tonight, we’ll celebrate our new home. I only want you wearing the mask, Ro. Nothing else.”
I hauled her closer, my lips on hers. “Whatever my fairy queen desires.”
She laughed. “I love you, Ro. Now, show me the rest of our house.”
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Ro and Tessa’s story!