Page 60 of Stuffed

"Don't forget the culinary training program." I pull her back down against me. "Can't have people thinking I'm completely soft."

"Right, because teaching people to bake is very intimidating."

"Hey, you've seen what happens when I try to cook. That's pretty terrifying."

She laughs against my chest, and Espresso makes a disgruntled noise at being disturbed.

"Sorry, baby," she coos at him. "Daddy's just being silly."

My heart does that thing again—that skip-flutter that happens whenever she casually includes herself in our little family.

"I love you," I say suddenly, urgently. "Both of you."

She looks up at me, eyes bright. "We love you too. Even when you set off smoke alarms and question our taste in snack cakes."

"Those things are growing on me." I reach for the box on the coffee table. "Want one for breakfast?"

"Now who's being corrupted?" But she's already opening the package. "Next thing you know, you'll be trading in your fancy coffee for gas station brew."

"Let's not get crazy." I accept half of her snack cake. "I have some standards left."

"Mmm." She licks frosting from her fingers in a way that makes my body temperature rise. "Sure about that?"

I grab her hand, bringing her fingers to my mouth. "About some things."

Her breath hitches as I slowly clean each digit. "Zane…"

"Yes, baby?"

"You're making it very hard to focus on breakfast."

I release her hand with a wicked grin. "Just returning the favor. You've been driving me crazy since high school."

"Have I?" She shifts until she's straddling my lap, careful not to disturb Espresso. "Tell me more about that."

"About how I used to watch you pretending not to watch me?" I slide my hands up her thighs. "About how many times I almost kissed you in empty hallways?"

"Why didn't you?"

"Because you deserved better than the mess I was back then." I cup her face. "Still do, probably."

"No." She kisses me fiercely. "I deserve exactly what I want. And I want you. All of you. The CEO and the rebel. The bad boy and the softie. The whole complicated, beautiful mess of you."

"You have me." I pull her closer. "Forever."

Because that's what this is—what we are. Not just a holiday romance or a teenage fantasy finally fulfilled. But forever.

And as snow continues to fall outside, as Christmas lights twinkle and Espresso purrs and Tessa melts against me, I know with absolute certainty that this is exactly where we were always meant to be and where I want to stay.

Chapter 17

Tessa

NEW YEAR’S EVE…

Ivy and Asher's New Year's Eve party is in full swing, their newly renovated townhouse glowing with warmth and laughter. I adjust my silver sequined dress, already regretting how short it is based on the way Zane keeps finding excuses to touch me.

"You're terrible at being subtle," I whisper when his hand grazes my lower back for the tenth time.

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