Page 12 of Claiming Tessa

Diego watched the brotherand sister get reacquainted.It was bittersweet.He could see the emotion in both their faces and knew they should have done this years ago.“Do you guys want to go out back and talk privately?”

Tessa shook her head.Diego could tell she hadn’t knocked down the wall she erected between her and her brother, but it had been a long time since she’d thought she hadn’t had him.

“All right.Why don’t we all go out back?It’s nice out.”Diego followed the other three and sat down in a chair to watch the siblings get reacquainted.He could see the resemblance when they sat next to each other.

He decided he could very well watch Tessa move for a long time.She used her hands to convey her thoughts, and her expressions were beautiful.The more they talked, the more similarities he noticed.They talked about what they’d been up to over the years but avoided the topic of their mother.

Finally, Jared stood up and looked at his sister.“Hey, I have to get back to the office.I have an extra bedroom you can use...”

Diego shook his head at Jared.“She’s staying here with us.”

Jared looked surprised but pleased, which made Diego feel more at ease.He hadn’t known how his friend would take his sister in a menage relationship.One hurdle down.

Diego and Gavin stood off to the side as Jared and Tessa said goodbye.

“Hey, if you’re not busy tonight, come back and we’ll have dinner.”

Jared grinned at Diego.“That would be great.”Jared squeezed his sister’s shoulder.“I’ll see you soon.”He let himself out, the door shutting softly behind him.

She nodded and smiled, but Diego saw the emotion she tried to hide.“I’m going to the bedroom to rest.”

Diego shook his head.“No, you’ll stay here and let us hold you.”

He could see her fight the tears as she shook her head.He pulled her into his arms, lifted her, and carried her to an oversized chaise they had in the shade.He laid her down in the middle and came down on one side of her while Gavin took the other, closing her in and making it impossible for her to escape.

She smacked Diego’s shoulder.“I want to be alone.”

“It’s not going to happen.You’ve been alone too long.”

Gavin kissed her forehead.“He’s right, Baby.Let us hold you.”

Her body relaxed, and then a sob burst from her throat, followed by a deluge of emotions that had built up for a long time.

Gavin pulled her alongside his chest, and Diego pressed against her back, giving her all the support and human contact she needed right then.She’d actually needed for years.

The men waited patiently for the storm to pass, and Gavin handed her several Kleenex from the box he’d brought out with him.After blowing her nose and hiccupping a few times, her body relaxed against them, and her breathing deepened.

Gavin grinned at Diego.“She’s out.”

“Good.She’s getting two of the things she needed the most.A good cry to release all the pain and the sleep she desperately needs.”

Diego lay there, content, knowing they’d found the woman they’d been looking for.He just didn’t want them to go too fast and scare her into running.

He pressed a kiss to the back of her head.“I’m going to grab a blanket so she doesn’t get too chilled, and then why don’t you hold her while I start making lasagna for tonight?”

Gavin grinned.“Awesome.I get the job of holding her.”

“Hey, that’s not going to happen every time.”

Gavin snorted.“I know.”

****

Gavin tucked the blanketDiego handed him around her, pulled her tighter against him, closed his own eyes, and slept.

Her moving around woke him.

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

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