Pouncing on Tess in front of her mother would hardly make the best impression.
The door opens before I get a chance to knock and my breath stops short, my hands curl into fists so I don’t instinctively reach out and grab onto her hips.
She’s wearing her waitress’s uniform, just like when she captivated me, but this time I know what she looks like underneath all that fabric.
I know the gorgeous shade her ass turns when I grab it with carnal ownership.
I know how perky her nipples get when I kiss her in just the right way.
“Hey,” she says, looking up at me with those naive eyes…
Naive, yes, but there’s a glimmer of something else behind the naivety now, something suggesting that what happened last night has changed her. A new confidence is growing inside of her, I can tell, shimmering across her expression.
“Thanks for coming.”
I chuckle quietly. “You say that like we’re casual acquaintances. You don’t have to thank me, Snapshot.”
She giggles, nodding endearingly, and then steps aside and waves me in.
I walk into the small hallway, fighting the urge to comment on how threadbare the carpet is.
I’m not judging her. I served with plenty of men who came from poor means in the SEALs, and I grew up pretty damn hard-off myself.
It’s just that she’s my woman and she deserves so much more than this.
I am going to give her so much more than this.
She leads me into the kitchen slash living room area. Her mom smiles at me over the kitchen partition as she pours a glass of water. She looks much as I remember her, except she’s cut her hair short now.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” she says. “How are you, Trent?”
“No bad, ma’am,” I say. “And yourself?”
“Can’t complain.” She trails off, her eyes shifting between me and her daughter. “Something tells me this isn’t a social call.”
“I think you should sit down, Mom,” Tessa says, her voice wavering.
I clench my fist even harder, somehow resisting the overwhelming urge to grab her shoulder and give it a supportive squeeze.
“Okay…”
Caitlin walks into the living room and over to the couch, sitting down and tilting her head at Tessa.
Tessa takes the armchair and I stand next to her, my arms behind my back out of habit.
“Mom…”
“Trent Tanner is the mystery man you’ve been seeing,” Caitlin says, waving a hand.
Tessa glances at me and I almost shrug. I don’t know what to tell her. Her mother is a shrewd woman.
“Well,” she goes on. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
When Tessa just stares at her mother, I step forward with a nod.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say. “Your daughter and I are in a relationship. I’m crazy about her and she means the world to me.”
My voice becomes choked with emotion, something which seems to surprise them as much as it surprises me.
“I know this will seem crazy to you,” I say. “But it all started two days ago. I walked into the diner and I saw her standing there, looking beautiful and captivating, and I just knew I had to be with her. I don’t want a fling. I want to be with her, dedicate myself to her, and that’s what I plan to do.”
“Two days ago?” she gasps, looking between us like we’ve gone crazy.
“I know,” Tessa says. “It seems so fast. But I feel the same, Mom. I want to be with him. We’re together, really together. This isn’t some fling. I wanted you to know because you deserve to know. I love you and I don’t want to lie to you.”
She keeps staring, like any second we’re going to deliver the punchline to some joke.
“Does the age gap not bother you?” she asks matter of fact. “With all due respect, Trent, you’re my age. Tessa just turned twenty-one a few months ago.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” I snarl passionately, unable to stop a flicker of rage from entering my words.
The rage isn’t directed at Tessa’s mother – no man should get angry at his woman’s mother – but at the idea that something as stupid as age could stand in the way of what we have.
“Tessa is the perfect match for me. She’s silly and funny and talented and intelligent and caring and beautiful. But it’s more than that. It’s a feeling, a fucking fate-fueled feeling, and I know how crazy that sounds and I apologize for cursing. But it’s the truth. I didn’t even believe in fate until yesterday.”
“Neither did I,” Tessa murmurs, her voice cracking with tears.
I can’t fight it anymore. I reach over and touch her shoulder.
She darts her hand up and grabs onto me, telling me I made the right choice.
Her mother stares at us for a moment longer, and then she lets out a laugh. At first, I think she’s making fun of us, but then I see the joy-filled smile that spreads across her cheeks and the tears that glisten in her eyes. She laughs and laughs and I glance down at Tessa, judging her expression.