Bound by Their Kisses(40)

“We’ll talk about shopping trips when we talk tomorrow. So be ready.”

“Right now we all need to get some rest. It’s nearly midnight. Six comes early, guys,” Zander reminded them.

Tessa groaned. Even if she didn’t have to be at work till nine, they’d wake her up for sure getting ready. Plus, she needed one of them to drive her to work. She was used to getting up early, but she was also used to going to bed early as well. Life was changing, and despite the future promise of less sleep in her future, she wouldn’t complain.



* * * *



Tessa rode to work with Zander since he was right next door to Heavy Trinkets. He kissed her at the door to the store then walked back to his shop. The moment she walked inside the store, Tessa knew she was in for some teasing. Kelly and Steve stood just inside the shop with wide grins on their faces.

“Looks like someone’s been busy over the weekend,” Kelly said.

“Where’s your guys? I’m surprised that I don’t see one of them with you here,” Tessa teased back.

“Oh, Marx will be back in a few minutes. He just left me here with Steve while he went to take care of some business. I was dropping off an order and saw you getting out of Zander’s truck.” Kelly wiggled her eyebrows and waited, obviously expecting her to fill her in on what was going on between them.

“Um, well, he gave me a ride to work this morning so I wouldn’t have to walk,” she finally said, walking toward the back past a grinning Steve.

“Uh-huh. And since you’re not living in the apartments anymore, that would be a ride from where exactly?” Kelly asked, following right behind her.

Tessa cringed. How had she found that out? Who would even know after only one day? She turned and narrowed her eyes at Steve. He knew she had seen the men but didn’t know she’d moved in with them. Did he? Had one of her guys bragged about getting her in bed with them?

“Hey. Don’t look at me.” He took a step back, holding both hands up in the air. “I didn’t know you’d moved. I’ll need your new address for my records, though.”

She growled when he grinned. She was going to kill someone. It might as well be her boss. Tessa took a step toward him.

“So how do you like the house? I hear it’s beautiful on the inside but needs some decorating. You know men. They can’t match colors for anything,” Kelly continued.

“Why do you think I’ve seen the inside of their house?” she asked, sticking one hand on her hip to glare at her ex-best friend.

Jessie laughed. “You should see your face. You look as if you’d like to chew me up and spit me out right now. Honey. Nothing is sacred in a small town like Perkins City. Get used to it. Besides. Tag and Zander haven’t exactly hidden their plan to capture you for their own. The way they feel about you is written all over their faces anytime you’re around or someone mentions your name. We all knew it was just a matter of time if you stuck around town.”

“Hell, some of us even had a pool going on how long it would take for you to cave,” Steve said then frowned. “I lost. I think Marx won, but I’m not sure. We’ll find out at the club this weekend.”

“You bet on me?” Horror had Tessa seeing red. “I can’t believe you were taking bets on me. That’s, that’s…oh!” She couldn’t finish her thoughts.

“Calm down, Tessa. It’s all in fun. We care about you and only wanted you to be happy. None of us would have ever stood by and let them pursue you if we didn’t think they could make you happy and their intentions were honest,” Kelly said, stepping closer to her.

“I can’t believe everyone already knows I’m sleeping with them. I’m not easy. I mean we have known each other for nearly a year now. Oh, God! Everyone is going to think I’m a slut because I’ve already moved in with them after one freaking date!” Tessa ran for the back and locked herself in the bathroom.

“Tessa. Please come out. No one thinks anything like that at all. And no one knows but a few of the members of Golden Shackles. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just teasing you. Please don’t be upset. Come out so I can tell you my secret. Please, Tessa?”

Kelly did sound worried about upsetting her like she had. Still, just how many people knew that she was living with the two men? Crap! It had only been one night. How had they found out already?

“Please come out, Tessa. I feel terrible now. We were just so excited that you were finally going to be with Zander and Tag that we couldn’t help ourselves. Please, Tessa,” Kelly pleaded.