“Moss had a wife,” he croaked. “Danielson had little kids. Their families lost them.”
I sucked in a gasp. All of a sudden, I understood. The reason Bryce left me was right there, out in the open once and for all. “You’ve been punishing yourself this whole time, haven’t you? You thought that, because they couldn’t go back home to their families, you didn’t deserve to come back to me.”
His hands came to my hips, his fingers digging in. “You were supposed to be my reward. The light I had waiting for me when I finally got home. I didn’t deserve you.”
“Oh, Bryce.” Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I squeezed him tight as I cried into his neck until something dawned on me.
Pulling from his arms, I jumped off the bed and moved to my bags. I dumped the biggest one over and quickly unzipped it. The box I’d kept stashed was tucked neatly inside. Grabbing it, I moved back to the bed and resumed my position.
“What is that?” he asked as I flipped the lid open.
“It’s proof.”
His eyes came to mine, full of questions. “Of what?”
“That you’re more deserving than you’re willing to admit.” Reaching inside, I pulled out the first item. “This is the wristband from that club in Vegas. Do you remember that night?”
He stared down at the neon green scrap of plastic before looking up at me, his gaze darkening as the memories took hold. “I remember everything about that night.”
“That was the first time I ever felt beautiful. The way you looked at me, the way you touched me . . . I’d never had anybody make me feel like I was everything to them. But you did just that.”
I pulled out a cheap, tarnished ring and held it up with a big smile. “You remember this?” Bryce’s body began to shake with quiet laughter. “The night you proposed to Agatha Snoot. I’d never laughed so hard in all my life. You gave me that, and you made it so easy. I hadn’t felt joy like that since before my parents died.”
I skimmed through the rest of the items, pushing aside the happy memories that came with them in search of the last, most important thing I’d kept hold of all these years.
Flipping the journal open, I turned to the page where I’d written down my graduation bucket list. Each item had a big fat checkmark beside it, and at the bottom of the page, written in handwriting that wasn’t mine, was the very last item.
“Marry the man who will worship and love you for the rest of your life,” I read out loud. “I did that, Bryce,” I whispered. Dropping the journal back into the box, I reached up and cupped his cheeks. “I didn’t understand why I couldn’t get rid of all of this stuff, but now I know why. In spite of the years we were apart, in spite of the pain and heart ache, during that week, you gave me everything I had ever wished for. You gave me the fairy tale I’d been holding out for without even realizing it. So don’t say you don’t deserve me, because that couldn’t be further from the truth. You deserve me. You deserve everything good there is in the world, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving that to you if that’s what it takes.”
His head turned, his lips brushed against my palm as he asked, “Does that mean I finally won you back for good, beauty?”
He’d promised to prove he could get this right the second time around, that he was a man who deserved my love. Now it was my turn to prove I was worthy. Climbing off his lap, I moved across the room, dropping the box back into the suitcase before going to my satchel. I pulled out the divorce papers that were still inside, still unsigned.
I ripped them in half on the way back to the bed, dropping them onto the floor as I climbed back into Bryce’s lap. My husband’s lap. “You have me,” I told him. “All of me, for the rest of our lives. It’s you and me from here on out, Bryce. You’re my other half.”
Squeezing his eyes closed, he lowered his head until it rested between my breasts, right over my heart. “You’re my heart and soul,” he said, finishing the words my parents used to speak to each other.
I lifted his face back to mine and said, “I love you, husband.”
Just like that, the shadows fell from his eyes, and that light I loved so damn much returned, burning bright. “And I love you, wife.”
Those walls were long gone. I’d been fooling myself to think I could protect my heart from him. It was his. He’d been carrying it with him for more than ten years.
And now I knew, without a doubt, that I’d been in possession of his that whole time as well.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tessa
Hope Valley’s Halloween Festival was officially in full swing.
The guys had done a wonderful job converting the barn and stringing up all kinds of scary decoration. My kids were beside themselves, getting a huge kick out of scaring the pants off everyone who came through, and they really were something. Thanks to Lily’s help, I’d finished the costumes in no time. Rory and Sage had helped me with the kids’ makeup, and by the time we were done, they definitely looked like the dead come back to life.
I’d been manning the ticket table out front with Rory, and it seemed like every single person in town had come out, paying an additional two dollars for a chance to go through the spooky barn.
“Isn’t this incredible?” Rory chirped. “The haunted house is a hit! I’ve already lost track of how much we’ve made, and it’s only the first day. I’d say that’s a success.”
On cue, a chorus of screams came from deep inside the barn. I grinned huge, feeling like I was floating on a cloud. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like this. The people in this town . . .” I looked out at the people passing by. Every single one who caught my eye waved or called out a greeting . . . like I’d been here all my life. I was a part of this town, this community. For the first time, I actually belonged somewhere.
“They’re good people,” Rory said, coming over and looping an arm across my shoulders. “We take care of each other here. You and those kids are a part of this place, which means we take care of you too.”
Before I had a chance to burst into tears, Sage and Dani came skipping out of the haunted house, both of them in full undead regalia since they’d volunteered to be part of the attraction.
“Time for a water break,” Sage stated, fanning her face. “And by water, I mean beer. Making grown men nearly pee their pants really takes it out of a lady.”
I looked at her, my brows lifting. “Do zombies drink beer?”
“That one does,” Dani answered, hiking her thumb in Sages direction. “And watch out. If you try to stop her, she probably wouldn’t hesitate to take a chunk outta your pretty face.”
“Then consider this your break. And if you happened to swing back by with a funnel cake or two, I wouldn’t be mad.”
“Consider it done,” Dani said, hooking her arm through Sage’s. “We’ll be back in a few.”
They took off, and Rory moved to the other end of the table to collect money and hand out more tickets just as a shadow passed over me.
“Hey, Tessa. How’s it goin’?”
I looked up at Leo wearing a black T-shirt with VOLUNTEER stamped across the front in big white letters. I offered him a polite grin. “It’s good. Great actually. We’ve raised a lot of money for Hope House.”
“I’m glad. Those kids deserve it.”
“Thank you so much for helping with this, by the way. It probably wasn’t your idea of fun to stand around, making sure nothing goes awry, but I appreciate it all the same.”
“Don’t mention it, darlin’. I don’t mind helpin’ any way I can.” He took a step closer. “So I heard an interestin’ bit of gossip the other day.”
“Yeah, what’d you hear?”
One corner of his mouth kicked up in a sly grin. “That you’re married to Dixon.”
At the mention of my husband, a big smile pulled at my lips. “You heard right.”
He didn’t seem upset or put off by the news. In fact, he looked almost . . . happy for me. “Not gonna say I wasn
’t bummed when I first heard. I’d been wantin’ to ask you out since we first met. But Bryce is a good guy. He deserves a good woman.”
Man, could the people in this town get any more awesome? “Thank you, Leo,” I said gently. “That means a lot.”
His gaze shifted to something over my shoulder just before two arms banded around my waist. The man in question leaned down and spoke in my ear. “Hey, beauty. Everything good?”
I looked over my shoulder, feeling my expression go soft and dreamy. “Everything’s great, baby.”
His smiling eyes shifted from me to Leo, and he tipped his chin in that way only guys did. “Drake.”
Leo returned that weird, alpha greeting with a jerk of his own chin. “Dixon. You boys did good work. Place looks great.”
“Thanks.”
With one last look in my direction, Leo took a step back, saying, “Well, I’ll let you get back to it. Nice to see you again, Tessa. See you around, Dixon.”
As he started to turn, I spoke up. “You know, if you’re on the market, I know a certain gorgeous coffee shop owner who might be interested.”
He followed my gaze toward the funnel cake booth where Danika was standing, chatting with Sage. When his attention returned to me, he had one brow lifted in question.
“A woman who looks like that, bakes littles pieces of heaven, and can brew the best cup of coffee you’ll ever taste? She’s our town’s own personal unicorn. Bet men are lined up for a chance with her.” I lifted a single shoulder in a shrug. “Maybe that’s something you should think on.”
He shook his head on a chuckle. “Maybe I will.”
I really, really hoped so.
He took off a second later, and I spun around to face my husband.
“What was all that about?” he asked, looking equal parts amused and curious.
“Just doing my part for the sisterhood,” I answered casually.
He hummed, pulling me closer and leaning in for a short kiss. “Well, if you can pull yourself away from your little matchmakin’ scheme, there are some people I want you to meet.” He moved me, tucking me into his side without once letting go. I shifted my attention to the three people standing in front of us as Bryce announced, “Tessa, these are my brothers, Beck and Brad, and that little pipsqueak there is our baby sister, Briar.”
Holy shit. Bryce’s siblings!
“I’m not a pipsqueak!” Briar snapped, slamming her hands down on her hips. “You jerks are just abnormally huge.”
She wasn’t lying. Bryce’s two brothers were just as big as he was. They were also just as good looking. Seeing the three of them together was enough to make every woman with in a ten mile radius pass out from lack of oxygen. Because dayum!
Briar, only a couple inches taller than her mother, was just as beautiful as her brothers were attractive. Lily and Sam Dixon made some seriously gorgeous kids.
“Oh, wow, hey . . . hi. It’s um . . . wow, it’s really nice to meet you.”
“Pop was right,” the one I thought was Beck said. “She is cute when she’s all flustered.”
My cheeks caught fire as Bryce laughed from beside me. “Sorry, I’m just surprised. I mean, I’m really glad you’re all here. It’s just that someone didn’t tell me you guys were coming.” For added effect, I glared up at Bryce.
“Hey, don’t look at me, beauty. I didn’t know they were comin’ either. Apparently Mom set this whole thing up behind our backs. Blame her.”
“Blame me for what?” Lily asked as she and Sam joined our little group.
“Nothing,” I told her. “You’re never to blame for anything. It’s always a man’s fault.”
“Yes!” Briar cried, throwing her hands up in the air before rushing forward and pulling me into a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re part of the family now.” She pulled back and beamed up at me. “It’s just been me and Mom against these losers for years. You’re helping even our numbers. We’re gonna have so much fun torturing them.”
Oh, I really liked this girl. “Anything I can do to help,” I returned on a giggle.
“Christ, Bri. How about you let her go so the rest of us can welcome her to the family,” Brad said. “You can finish bringin’ her over to the dark side later.”
I received welcoming hugs from the other two Dixon boys, and just like that, I was swept into the family fold. It felt great.
* * *
“Hey, Tessa. Come over here. I want you to meet someone.”
I handed the tickets to the couple in front of me and looked to the far side of the table where Rory was standing with her husband and a boy.
When Bryce and I got close, Rory put her arm around the kid and pulled him into her side. “Tessa, this is our son, Zach. Zach, this is Tessa.”
I beamed down at him, excited to meet the boy Rory had talked so much about. “Nice to finally meet you. Rory’s told me so much, I feel like I know you already.”
The kid gave me an assessing look. “You’re the new lady at Hope House, right? Is it true you were a foster kid too?”
Bryce’s arm went around my waist, holding me close in a show of support. It wasn’t necessary, but it still felt damn nice. “Yep. From ten to eighteen.”
“My dad was a foster kid too,” he said, his chest swelling at the mention of Cord. It was obvious Zach was proud to be part of the family the Paulsons had built. “I think it’s cool you’re helpin’ out over there. I mean, you and Dad get it, so it makes it easier, you know? A lotta folks don’t know what it’s like. But you do, so I think what you’re doin’ is pretty awesome.”
Oh God, this kid. No wonder Cord and Rory fell in love so easily.
“Thank you, Zach. That means a lot.”
“I mean, not all kids are lucky enough to get a mom and dad like I did, so it’s good they have someone cool watchin’ out for them.”
Rory looked like she was on the verge of tears at her son’s sweet words, and Cord looked proud as hell.
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Well, thanks for calling me cool. I think you’re pretty cool too, and I also think your parents are pretty lucky.”
His cheeks flushed pink, making him even cuter. As I was about to say something else, Charity ran out of the haunted house with Brooklyn on her heels.
“Hey, Ms. Tessa. Brook and I are starving. Is it cool if we take a break to grab something to eat?”
“Fine with me, but you know the rules. You guys stay where I can see you.”
“We will, promise!” They started skipping off, but at the last second Charity turned back, slamming into me with a tight, quick hug before taking off once more.
“I’m kinda hungry too. Think I’ll go with them.”
At Zach’s declaration, Cord, Rory, and I turned to look down at the boy who was eagerly tracking Charity’s movements.
“Reel it in, bud,” Cord said with a frown, his voice a deep baritone. “She’s older than you.”
Zach looked up at his dad in exasperation. “Only by like, a year.”
“A year’s a big difference at your age.”
He rolled his eyes. “Not that big a difference. Besides, I’m mature for my age. Probably way more mature than the thirteen-year-old boys she knows. Anyway, I’m just goin’ with ’em to make sure they stay safe. I’ll be right back.”
With that, he ran after Charity like his behind was on fire.
“Ah, Christ,” Bryce muttered, his body shaking on a silent chuckle.
I clapped a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing at the horror etched on Rory’s face. “I’m so not ready for this,” she grumbled, turning to give her husband a scathing look. “This is all your fault.”
Cord’s eyes went wide. “Me? How the hell is this my fault?”
“He acts just like you!” she cried, throwing her arm out and pointing in the direction of the booth where Zach stood with my girls. “That right there was mini-Cord through and through.” Her head whipped around to me. “I’d tell you never to hook yourself to an alpha male, but
you screwed the pooch on that one long before I did. Just wait until you guys have kids.”
Cord and Bryce both threw their heads back in laughter, and as I sank deeper against my husband’s side, I couldn’t help but think that I couldn’t wait for us to have kids.
Alpha male or not.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Tessa
With the Halloween Festival over, things had gone back to normal. Well, somewhat normal.
With Bryce’s whole family in town, we were doing a lot of entertaining. Apparently, knowing about me for ten years but not meeting me had made the Dixon clan antsy, and they wanted to soak up as much time with their new sister and daughter as humanly possible.
I couldn’t say I hated it. In fact, I freaking loved it. I had a family now, and they were loud and boisterous and fun, and very, very loving. I felt like I’d known each and every one of them for years.
I loved having them around. We still had them for another week, but I was already sad at the idea of them eventually leaving. I was experiencing what it was like to be part of a big family during the day, with the added bonus of having the nights to ourselves.
“I got you somethin’ today while you were at work.” Tipping my head back on the pillow, I blinked the sleep from my tired eyes and looked up at my husband. We’d just finished making love, and he’d worn me out in the very best ways.
“Like a present?” I asked excitedly, suddenly feeling very awake.
“Yeah.” He grinned. “Like a present.”
Sitting up, I tucked the sheet under my arms and held out my hands. “Ooh! Gimme, gimme!”
He shifted with a laugh, reaching over to pull open his bedside drawer. When he came back, there was a small, black velvet box in the center of his palm.
The Second Time Around: a Hope Valley novel Page 19
