by Tessa Frank
“Ok, baby. I understand.” I hold her close to my body. My arms fold around her. I kiss the top of her head. I want to say that I love her back. The words are on the tip of my tongue. Her lips meeting mine prevent me getting the words out.
23
Becca
“That’s it? You’re just going to accept what she says?” Hadley screeches at Henry. “I want to know why she sent that stupid email.”
Henry looks down at me. I wince. “It was an accident. The estate guys arrived right as I read it and the email I meant to send. I sent the wrong one.”
“What did the other one say? Why was it so important?” Hadley’s tone is clear. She doesn’t believe me. Yet.
I smile tentatively at Henry. “You’re looking at the newest Brentwood High School history and geography teacher.”
Silence. Neither of them utters a word or a sound.
I look up at Henry through dry eyes. “You believe me?”
“I believe you.” He kisses me. “I’m surprised, but I believe you.”
“Well, I sure don’t. You’ve never once mentioned wanting to be a teacher, not even when we were kids.” Hadley wears a scowl.
“That was a long time ago,” I remind her, wrapping my arms around Henry. No matter what, I don’t want him to think I’m letting him go.
“Honestly, Becca, I think you’re mental.” Hadley walks around the yard, pretty much talking to herself — and the people here for the estate sale. “A month ago I was threatening to hold you captive in my parents’ house to make sure you were at my wedding.”
Henry looks down at me. “She’s more intense than I remember.”
“You never saw her at her finest.” I spare a glance at Hadley. She’s moved into a monologue about that wedding — the one that isn’t happening. “She’s had a rough few weeks since the reunion.”
Henry’s arms wrap around me. “You know, we could find a place for us.”
I relax into his arms. “I kind of thought you liked that house.”
He chuckles. “I do like that house.” He squeezes me. “I’d like it even more if you wanted to live there too.”
“I liked it.”
I feel his kiss on my head. I sense the question. “I wasn’t planning this, you know.”
Henry gives a soft snort. Hadley stalks off with an “I’ll talk to you later.” There’s a definite vibe of “you’re gonna pay for this” in her voice. I sigh.
“I’d planned to be here only a month, to clear the house, because I had to get it done. Then I was going back to travel work.”
“What changed your mind?” He tightens his arms around me. “All me?”
It’s my turn to snort because that is so arrogant. “Well… when we, ah…” Ok, I don’t want to claim that I’m driven by sex. “… started spending time together…” That’s a nicer term for it.
Henry struggles to maintain a straight face. I punch him on his belt, earning not even the slightest wince. I huff out a breath of air and say, “Well, I thought I might have another chance with you when that, um, you know, happened.”
Henry is taking on a truly cocky look. “I was that good, huh?”
My eyes could pop out the back of my head, they roll so hard. “Oh, baby,” I deadpan.
“I knew my skills would make you want to stay.”
If he weren’t whispering that against my neck and making me go all tingly, I’d be smacking him. “It’s not the only reason,” I whisper back, blushing that I’m admitting he’s good in bed all the same.
“Yeah, baby, I get it. You do the same for me.” Then Henry picks me up off the ground and tosses me over his shoulder.
“What! Put me down.”
Henry swats my rear end. “Pass. I’m keeping you glued to my side for the next few hours.” He shifts, ignoring me. “Who’s in charge here?”
The guy from earlier thumbs over his shoulder. “Gary. He’s inside.”
“Tell him Becca’s unavailable for a while.”
“You got it.” Henry turns so I can’t see the guy anymore but I hear him call, “Good luck, man.”
I poke Henry in the back. “Yeah. Good luck.”
Henry pinches my rear. “I’ve got you right where I want you. I obviously have good luck already.”
Oh, the arrogance. I only grin though because I’m getting exactly what I want. Looks like I’m the one with good luck today.
Epilogue
“I still don’t understand why you want to paint that room.” I lug rollers, a tarp, and one paint bucket into our new place. The house we both kind of fell for on first sight a month ago. We may have only been here two weeks, but it’s definitely our first home.
Becca grins at me. “It really needs to be freshened up.”
“Freshened up,” I mutter, but I plaster a grin on my face. Leaning against the doorway, I flex my arms at Becca. “You’re gonna waste these on walls and paint?”
With a laugh, she leans up to kiss me. “Trust me.”
“Hm. Okay but don’t be surprised if I need extra kisses and words of encouragement to get this done.”
“Not a fan of painting?”
Wiggling my eyebrows suggestively, I say, “I can think of better things to do with the time.”
“Right.” Becca holds the door for me. “I suppose I could reward you when you’re finished…”
I’d skip, if I could make it look manly. Instead, I wink and walk past her through the kitchen and into the hall. “Isn’t this the room you painted that weird brown shade—“
“Taupe.”
“Right. Taupe. Weird name for a weird color.” I can feel Becca rolling her eyes behind me. I love that I don’t even need to look.
This woman is everything to me. I can’t wait to pull the ring riding shotgun in my jeans pocket out. Alicia helped me pick it out weeks ago. I’ve been carrying it around waiting for the perfect opportunity to give it a solid reveal.
I’m running out of time too. Alicia is threatening to upstage me if I don’t get it done by the end of this weekend. Somehow painting a spare guest room does not seem like the right moment.
The door to the room in question is closed. I pause in front of it, assuming Becca will open it since I have my hands full.
I turn toward her when she coughs. “What’s up?”
Becca wears this strange, almost strained expression on her face. “Nothing.”
“Liar.”
Placing her hand on the doorknob, she says, “Well, honestly, I just hope you’ll like what I’ve done to it so far.”
I knew she’d been up to something yesterday when I got home. I briefly close my eyes, then reply, “I’m sure I’ll like it.”
Becca’s “I’m not” is soft. She turns the knob and pushed the door open. I take three steps into the room, then come to a full stop.
The world literally ceases to move as I stare at the words painted on the wall in front of me. My arms go limp, dropping all the painting supplies Becca meticulously picked out to the floor.
I look over my shoulder. She’s hovering at the door as if afraid to come in. “Really?”
“What do you think?” Her hands twist together. “Are you mad at me?”
“Mad at you?” I walk toward her. “I am not mad at you.” I reach for her hands, kneeling down to press my face against her flat stomach. “I’m amazed by you every day.”
“You can’t hear or feel him yet,” Becca says. There’s laughter and tears mixing in her voice.
“I know.” I shift to one knee, one hand slipping into my pocket to fish out the ring. “I’ve been waiting for the right time.” I look up at Becca, the woman I’ve loved for so long. “This seems like the perfect time.”
Becca’s head tilts to the side, and her brow crinkles.
I slip the ring up between my pointer finger and thumb. “Becca Fisher, will you marry me because I love you more than life?”
There are several gasps, tears, a cry of joy, and then I’m holding her to me, my new f
iancé. Behind us, painted in blue letters is “It’s a BOY.” My gal certainly has a way of delivering big news.
“What color did you pick for the room?” I ask, rubbing my chin on top of her hair. “Please, not brown.”
Becca giggles in my arms, the place I want her always to be. “Yellow.”
“Good choice.”
“You’re my best choice.”
“Don’t I know it,” I growl against her lips, holding her to me. I am never letting her leave me again. Her and our future son. Plus any other kids we have. Hey, I’m thinking long term here. And I will never stop wanting this woman.
Tessa’s Gossip Column
Oh, dear readers, do I have a note of pure sappiness for you!
Henry Sanchez and Becca Fisher are not only engaged but expecting their first born in 8.5 months.
This reporter hears it might be a baby boy.
Isn’t that sweet?
One does wonder if the wedding will be before or after said baby arrives…
In other news, Hadley Bailey’s love life is in shambles. This reporter heard the cops are involved.
Oh me, oh my. I can’t wait to get more details for you, dear readers. Members of law enforcement always make my silly little heart pound.
Keep up to date on all the Brentwood gossip by subscribing.
Tessa’s Gossip Column
Thank you from Tessa
Thank you for reading Henry and Becca’s story. This is the second book centered around Brentwood High’s 10th Reunion. All of these romances are stand-alone with some character cameo appearances. Since I do not always appreciate books that require I read them in order, I work hard to make sure these stories can be read in any order.
As you’ve probably noticed, since you’re reading this section, the stories in this series are shorter romances. I’m an extremely busy mother who rarely gets to read without interruption. I need my lovey-dovey romance stories to be quick. Little kids do not comprehend reading time, like toilet or shower time, should be uninterrupted (and mostly private).
All of the 10th Reunion stories are in Kindle Unlimited. I hope that you enjoyed Henry and Becca’s story. Click the link below to signup and receive all the gossipy news related to Brentwood and the reunion.
Tessa’s Gossip Column
Of course, information on the next book will also be in there.
Also by Tessa Frank
THE 10th REUNION SERIES:
Devon: Second Chance for the Quarterback
Henry: Second Chance for the Marine
Brian: Second Chance for the Cop
SMITH & GUY UNIVERSITY SERIES:
This series is my first and does not follow tropes. I was learning during this time — it shows. The series also does not have any Tessa Gossip Column news.
College & Chemistry
Never Waste Chemistry
Finding Chemistry
More Than Chemistry
Unexpected Chemistry
All That Chemistry — Box Set — Direct from Tessa
Copyright © 2020 by Tamara Ruth writing as Tessa Frank
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