Page 70 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

“Freaking out. I was worried because you didn’t answer your phone.”

She glanced at her purse on the counter. “Sorry. It’s been off for hours. My mom called, and I didn’t want to talk to her tonight, so I turned off my phone. I’m sorry.”

“What’s wrong, Tessa?” I moved closer, hoping she wouldn’t back away.

She tucked a strand of hair back into her messy bun. “I just look horrible because I haven’t slept.” Biting her lip, she kicked up one foot. “But my slippers fit perfectly. They are really comfortable.”

She didn’t look horrible. She looked adorable, incredible, and beautiful. But before I told her that, I needed to figure out why she was making doughnuts in the middle of the night.

“Why are you here?”

Smiling, she walked to the counter and broke pieces off a doughnut. “Rather than explain why, I’ll just show you.” She popped one piece in her mouth, then stood in front of me. “Open up.”

I caught her around the wrist. “Please tell me what’s wrong. You’re eating doughnuts.”

Her brown eyes twinkled with what looked like—and what I hoped was—a flirty tease.

“Of course I’m eating doughnuts. How else would I know if the new flavors taste good?”

“New flavors?” We were both speaking English, but I was lost in our conversation.

After licking her lips, she touched my cheek. “Open your mouth.”

I did as requested, and once again, Tessa fed me. Having her feed me when I wasn’t in pain and helpless was, by far, a better experience. Cinnamon and sugar filled my senses. “This tastes like my grandma’s cookies.”

Her smile widened, and she ran back to the counter. “Now try this one.” Her fingers brushed my lips as she fed me the other piece. “What do you think?”

“I think it tastes like a chocolate chip cookie and a doughnut all mixed into one. It’s delicious.”

“Good.” She squared her shoulders. “Because I made them for you. I have so many things I want to say, but because I haven’t slept, I can’t remember most of them. But I remember two things.” She held up two fingers. “Wait three.” Another finger joined the others. “Before Thanksgiving, I kept thinking that my two best friends were getting married, but you changed that. Now when I think about Eli and Delaney, I think that twoofmy best friends got married. You added an of to my life.” Stepping closer, she rested a hand on my chest. “You’ve become one of my best friends.”

The word ‘friends’ was not what I was hoping to hear. I steeled my reaction and smiled because that was how I was supposed to react when someone said I was their best friend.

And she wasn’t wrong. We were friends, but I wanted so much more.

“You know that I was afraid of disappointing you, but after the wedding when I told you we’d talk tomorrow, the hurt and disappointment on your face made me realize something else. Hurting you was never my intention.”

All this talk of hurting me had me nauseous. I met her gaze, bracing for words I hoped would never come. “Tessa, you don’t need to worry about disappointing me.”

Her lips pinched together as she rested her other hand on my chest, and her gaze dropped to my shirt.

If she couldn’t even look at me, this wasn’t going to be good.

“And the second thing, I mean the third...” Tears glistened in her eyes as she stared at my buttons.

I was about to become a sympathy crier. “Tessa, please tell me.”

“I love you.”

Her words landed like a toddler on a trampoline, and somewhere deep inside, I felt the same giddy joy as that kid. I’d been waiting for her to say I had a chance or that she’d go out with me, but she’d skipped right past all that. I was stunned speechless.

She licked her lips and looked up at me. “I know it’s customary for me to let you say that first, but I needed to say that. If you don’t feel that way, please tell me right now while I have plenty of doughnuts to eat.” Her gaze stayed fixed on mine as she waited for me to respond. “I’m not ready to sleep with you. Yet. But—”

Words were insufficient right now. I caught her lips with mine and backed her toward the counter.

When she couldn’t back up anymore, she broke the kiss. “You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about doing this.”

“Believe me. I have a pretty good idea.” I kissed her again, blindly making sure a spot on the counter was clear before lifting her onto it.

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