“I want a copy of the bill of sale and a receipt for any parts you have to buy to make it safe. I’ll pay you out of my salary every week until I’ve paid you back for it,” she told Tag. Then she smiled. “I’m going to accept your kind offer of free labor on the work.”
Tag’s mouth quirked then he outright smiled for all of two seconds before he scowled at her. “I’m not running a charity, Tessa. Don’t expect me to keep it washed and waxed for free.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around him for a quick hug before she hopped off his lap and jumped into Zander’s arms to hug him as well.
“Hey! Why is he getting in on my hug? I’m the one getting the deal and footing the labor,” he groused.
Zander’s soft chuckle sounded and felt good to her with his arms wrapped around her. Why had she ever been uncomfortable around them and not trusted them? They were good men who genuinely cared about her and her feelings. She vowed to try harder to be what they needed, but it didn’t stop a shiver at the thought of allowing them to tie her up. That might take a bit more time.
“Let’s go scrounge up some boxes, kitten.” Zander slowly released her and let her slide down his body—his very aroused body. She felt her cheeks heat as she looked up at him.
He winked but didn’t say anything. Tessa hurried back to the bedroom to put on her shoes. She prayed she was making the right decision. Moving in after only one date still felt wrong and much too soon, but like they had said, she’d known them for nearly a year and had been running from them for almost that long.
As she followed them through the kitchen to the garage, Tessa prayed she was making the right decision. She had made the decision to trust them when she’d rarely trusted anyone since Paul. Only time would tell if she’d made the right decision where they were concerned. She sure as hell hadn’t with Paul.
Chapter Eight
“You’re fucking kidding, right? This is all you have. There’s nothing in storage somewhere.” Tag’s face tightened even as storm clouds darkened his already black eyes.
“I didn’t have any way to carry anything else, Tag. I don’t need much to live, just some clothes and toiletries. I told you we had too many boxes.” She sighed, stressed now that they saw how she’d been living for the last five years.
As if he could tell that she was about to lose it with them, Zander stepped in and directed them on what to do next.
“Well, she’s with us now, so it’s all in the past. Why don’t you pack up your clothes and things, Tessa, while Tag and I find out what the landlord wants us to do about the furniture? He might want to leave it for the next renter.”
She nodded without saying anything and, grabbing a box, walked quickly out of the tiny living area. She needed to settle down and regain some control before she said something she’d regret. She knew Tag wasn’t fussing at her for living there, but it hurt to hear the anger and disgust in his voice. The place was as clean as you could get it with how old and layered on everything was. She wasn’t a nasty person, but seeing the tiny apartment through their eyes was almost humiliating.
She quickly packed her meager belongings into two boxes, one for clothes and the other for toiletries. She folded the one set of sheets she had and left them on the mattress in case they were leaving it for the next resident. The only other things she wanted to take were in the living area. There she had six books she’d been buying from the store every other paycheck. They had helped her make it through the lonely nights and weekends when she wasn’t working.
It dawned on her that if she did get a car she would be able to take that part-time work at the diner and save more money. Pleased that she’d finally thought of that, Tessa carried the two boxes into the living area only to hear growling noises before the boxes were pulled from her grasp.
“You should have told us the boxes were ready. There’s no need for you to carry anything with us here. I’ll go get the rest of them when I get back from putting these in the truck. Don’t even think about trying to carry them yourself,” the big man said.
She smirked at him. “I wouldn’t dream of it since there aren’t any more boxes in there.”
He blinked then sighed. “Fine. I’ll be right back.”
She frowned then blew out a breath as soon as he’d walked through the front door.
“Don’t let him upset you, kitten. You know he doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s just upset that you’ve been living without any of the things we could have been providing for you,” Zander said. “Like kisses in the morning, and foot rubs at night.”