Spinster? (31 page)

She smiled, but then it dropped. "Wait...define entertained the idea."

He sighed. "You promise you won't upset?"

That sounded ominous, but she said, "I'll try my best."

"We went on a date."

Okay, that wasn't so bad. "Aaaaand?"

"We went on a date, and we came back here." That sounded worse.

She put her hand out, shaking her head. "Stop. I don't want to hear the rest."

"No, you need to hear this. We came back, and I'll admit we kissed. At first, it was nice, comfortable, but then it just wasn't. It didn't go further." Mila had left out that bit of information. "What about you? Have you been seeing other men?" It came out stilted, like it pained him to say the words.

She wasn't going to let him change the subject. "Wes, we're talking about you and Mila right now, not me."
 

His squeeze tightened."Tess? Were you with other men while we were apart?" He sighed and loosened his grip. "You had every right to be, but I guess I need to know."

The truth was she hadn't been able to even look at another man, let alone touch one. "No. I wanted to, believe me. Any distraction from the pain I was feeing would have been welcome...but, I couldn't. I've missed you so much, Wes."
 

The look of relief on his face was instant. "I missed you, every second." Then he tensed again. "I thought about that a lot while you were gone. What you were doing and who with? The thought of another man putting his hands on you, makes me want to put my fucking fist through a wall." He looked straight into her eyes. "Listen, if you decide you want to be mine, that's it. No one else. Ever. Are we clear?" Tess nodded, tingling everywhere at his possessive declaration.
 

She cleared her throat. "Crystal...but that goes for you, too. If you're my man, I'm the only one who can..." She leaned in to him and put her mouth against his ear, whispering all the dirty things she wanted to do to him. She didn't have to say it in hushed tones, but somehow these elicit demands were better delivered on warm breathy words. She leaned back and pulled her lower lip into her mouth, sex kitten in full force. And by the look on his face, shocked was not the emotion he was feeling.
 

"So, you're mine?" he asked, voice hoarse.

Tess nodded, unzipping the side of her top. "Yes, all yours...whatever will you do with me?" She fluttered her lashes with false innocence. He helped her relieve herself of her clothes and pulled her behind him on his way back to his bedroom.

"Pretty much everything you just whispered in my ear, but I have a few things to add to the list."

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Their reconciliation was negotiated, not as much with words, but with naked rolling in the sheets that night. Well, words were spoken, more like screamed, but non-pertinent to the future of their relationship. The next morning they were all tired eyes and shy smiles, their reunion overshadowing the three hours of sleep they managed to steal.
 

Wes sat, looking yummy, bare chested and hair damp. "I love you, baby. I'm glad you're home."
 

That hit her in the middle of the chest surer than if he'd shot her with a gun. She
was
home, and it wasn't a place, but a feeling of being where she was meant to be. And for the first time, she was not only okay with that, she felt at peace.

On the heels of their steamy reunion, it was decided, they were in it for the long haul. But there were more parties to consider than just the two of them, and when it came time to see the girls, Tess again found herself
 
battling nerves. Wesley wasn't nervous, assuring her that Kate and Ella would be excited to have her back in their lives. Easy for him to say. She hadn't seen them in months, and kids were notorious for their short term memories and out of sight, out of mind ways, or so she assumed.
 

Had they forgotten about her? Would they be angry? Would she have to start from scratch? She found these were all valid concerns. She'd worked hard and spent countless hours with them, slowly gaining their trust and affections. She fervently hoped that the time apart didn't derail all of it. But if it had, so be it. If she had to start at square one, then that's what she would do.
 

She stood at the glass door to his backyard, unobserved, watching them play. Strong arms wrapped around her. His breath warm against her ear. "They're crazy about you, you know?"
 

She leaned into him. "I'm just nervous. I don't want them to think I bailed on them."

"They don't. I told them we had things to work out and it had nothing to do with them, that you loved them."

"I do love them, Wes."

"I know you do, or I wouldn't have said it to them...I would watch you sometimes, when you thought you were by yourself. The way you were with them, the way you cared for them, played with them, laughed with them...that can't be faked. At least not someone like you. I bet you haven't faked an emotion your whole life.

"You'd be surprised. I've had to fake it quite often," she teased, earning her a squeeze.

"Not with me. You're not that good of an actress."

She laughed, then turned her head, giving him a soft kiss on the jaw. "You're right. I never faked it with them. Maybe that's why they like me. I treat them like people. I don't talk down to them like they're idiots."

"I think kids can sense those things. Besides, they see how I love you and that means something."

"Maybe you're right."

"Of course I'm right. You're my girls. I know these things." She liked the sound of that. "You know, the girls have to be my top priority because they rely on me for survival, but you're no less important to me."

Tess turned in his arms and gave him a deep kiss. This man. His greatness knew no bounds.

He pulled back. "As much as I'd like to stand here and kiss you until you pull me back into the bedroom, we need to go out there...come on." She nodded and opened the back door. Her steps were slower than normal, waiting for them to look up, to notice her. Turns out, Wes was right, like always, which she found adorably annoying. When they noticed her standing by the patio table they squealed.
 

"Tess!"
 

"T!" They flew into her arms.
 

"We missed you!" Ella said.
 

"I missed you more," Kate yelled. Tess bit back tears, as it hit her how much she'd missed their sweet faces and tight hugs. Wes stood to the side with his arms crossed across his chest. A content, knowing smile on his face.
 

"I'm ready for another Connect 4 tournament when you are," Ella said, with a confident gleam in her eye.
 

"Bring it, mini," Tess taunted, hugging her with all of her might.
 

"I missed you, girls, too...so much."

Kate held onto her hand the rest of the day. Tess now saw how attached kids got people, they didn't have the out of sight out of mind mentality as she suspected. It was a sobering thought. Good thing she wasn't going anywhere.

Tess was surprised when things fell into place without a struggle. Her waiting for trouble to surface tendencies wouldn't disappear overnight. There were adjustments and conversations regarding schedules and boundaries, but nothing stressful or combative. It was all quite amicable. It's amazing how smooth things could go when adults act as such. Mila was respectful of their time and was even becoming what Tess might consider a friend, especially when Mila declared she and Donovan had become an item. She also felt more secure when she noticed how Wes and Mila interacted with one another. They cared about each other, that much was apparent, but there was nothing romantic about it. They had a connection and a friendship, and Tess had no problem sharing him with another women as long as they didn't want to get into his pants.
 

Being an adult had never felt so grown up.

The revelation she found most surprising was, everything that had transpired up to this point in her life had a purpose in shaping the woman she'd become. Every relationship, the good, the bad, and the underwhelming, had to happen. She'd made the choices that were best for her at the time. This included watching Wesley walk away all those months before.

 
It had been devastating, but now she knew it had been necessary. She was able to shed her animosity and jealousy towards Mila, which had been freeing beyond belief.
 

The people not surprised by any of it were Tess's friends. When she announced that they'd rekindled their relationship the reaction was more it's about time, than why. They all, Mila included, seemed to know what she and Wes had been slower to grasp—that they were perfect for each other.
 

"So, when's the wedding?" Emma asked. Everyone was nodding, and saying "yeah" at the question.

"Guys, he hasn't even proposed," Tess reminded them.

"Technicality," Marin added.

"We've been back together for like, a second." Tess shook her head, taking a drink of her wine.

"You're right, no pressure. We're just glad you two came to your senses...and you're totally getting married," Willa added, rubbing her now basketball-sized stomach. She was the cutest pregnant woman Tess had ever seen.

"And all thanks to Mila, isn't that bizarre?" Marin added.

Tess nodded. "I certainly didn't see that one coming...speaking of, you'll never guess who she's seeing."

"Donovan," Rebel announced.

"You knew, and you didn't say anything?" Tess petite screeched.

"First, chill. Second, I just found out yesterday."

"Wow, Mila and Donovan, what are the odds?" Jen, now Mrs. K-Thor, said. Her wedding was the most unique and wonderful ceremony Tess had ever attended. She knew it was only a matter of time until Jen was sporting her own basketball.

"Does he know she's," Emma circled her finger around her ear, sticking her tongue out.

"Emma!" Tess admonished, feeling defensive for Mila. When this little development started was anyone's guess.

"What?" Emma griped, putting her hands in the air.
 

"He told Cameron all about it. He knows about her past stuff and she knows his. Maybe a bit of dysfunction can cancel each other out," Rebel said. "He really likes her though...and he says he has you to thank, Tess. So I guess you and Mila helped each other."

"Me? What did I do?"

"He said, and I quote, 'you opened his heart to the possibility of love again,'" Rebel declared. Tess just smiled. That sounded like something Donovan would say.
 

"I went on a few dates with him and listened, like anyone would do."

"Not every woman would do that, Tess. I think most women would have ignored his vulnerability," Marin speculated.

"I don't know. I just don't think I deserve too much credit, but I'm happy I could help him. He's good people," Tess said, with a smile.

"You're good people, too, Tessy," Bristol added. Tess smiled at her sister, grateful she was part of her life again. Divorce looked good on her.
 

Her friends all agreed and warmth bloomed in her cheeks. These women, they were the first loves of her life.

"To Tess, who ran from love like the plague, but you know what they say, you can run but you can't hide," Emma said, raising her glass.

"Yup, you can't run from love." Tess agreed.

"No, you can't run from the Plague. That shit got everybody." Rebel was the first the laugh, then everyone else joined in. Emma was like a Hallmark card from hell.

"Thanks, guys, you're the best. With friends like you, who needs a penis?" Tess teased.
 

A hand raised. "Me."

"Me."

"Yeah, me, too."

"Rather fond of cock, actually."

"I'm down with the D."

"Strap on."

Tess sighed. "Never mind."

 
"Dicks, all in favor," Willa said with authority.

"Aye." Resounded from all around the table.

"Motion carried, dicks, whether real or prosthetic, stay."

 
Dysfunctional obviously didn't cancel out dysfunctional with this group....and that was just the way she liked it.

It was a Thursday evening and Tess was over making her now famous French toast. It was a tradition in the Caraway household to have breakfast for dinner at least once a week. The girls were singing the theme song to
KungFu Panda
. Well, Ella was singing it, Kate chimed in about every fourth word. They were chopping their fists in the air and kicking.

"Hey, take your karate moves out into the living room, please," Tess asked, narrowly missing getting a chop to the thigh.
 

"It's kunfoo, T," Kate corrected.

"Whatever, just move it in there," Tess said, air kicking them out of the kitchen, which they found hilarious.

Tess turned her attention back to the bowl on the counter. The beaten eggs were ready for their bread buddies to take a dip.

"I'm home! Where my girls at?" Wes hollered, in what might have been his attempt to sound street, and failing miserably. Tess shook her head and laughed.
 

"Daddy!" she heard the girls scream, no doubt followed by them tackling into his legs. Sure enough, the most handsome man she knew came into the kitchen with a daughter clinging to each leg, like cherubic sloths.

Tess wiped her hands and smiled. "Hey there! I was worried you were going to miss Din-fast." She walked over to him and placed a soft kiss onto his cheek. She liked that he still smelled like his aftershave, even after a long day.

"Sorry, baby. Meeting ran way late. Mrs. Gunterman wouldn't take 'you signed a non-disclosure agreement' for an answer." He pecked her on the lips.

 
"Give me a minute to wash up, and to see about removing these growths." He lumbered out of the kitchen, the girls giggling with each step. Tess sighed a content sigh. Those were her favorite people on the planet, and even though it wasn't official yet, she felt like they were her family. She could do this. She could be a role model to these kids. A lover to their dad. Step-Monster, never—she was a do unto others type gal.