Page 4 of Claiming Tessa

“Oh, Miss Tessa, I’m so sorry,” Arthur said.“Your mother had everything boxed up and put out in the shed.”

She braced herself and blocked the pain.She should have expected something like that, but it still hurt.She’d deal with it later.“I see.Thank you, Arthur.I’ll take care of it.You look good.”

He frowned at her.“You’re still as beautiful as ever, but it looks like you’re ready to fall down.”

She put on her best smile.“Nah, I’m tougher than that.”

“I’m sorry to say you’ve had to be,” Arthur said.

She shrugged.“Such is life.Please tell Maggie hi for me.You take care of yourself.”

“You, too, Miss Tessa.”

She pressed her fingertips to her forehead after he closed the door.One of the men cleared their throat, making her turn around.She tried to smile.“So, you see.Everything’s good, so you guys can go.”

Gavin snorted.“Show us where the shed is.”

“Listen, this is not your problem...”she started, only to stop when one of them reached for her.

Diego grabbed her arm again.“Show us where it is, Sweetheart.”

“But...”she scowled.

Gavin scowled.“Stop.We’re making it our problem, so you won’t be able to get rid of us.”

She sighed.She was too tired to fight with them.“This way.”

They walked to one side of the huge house to a shed hidden by bushes.God,she thought,it looks worse than I remember.The shed was for lawn equipment, but looked like it hadn’t been used in years.The outside was grey, weathered wood, and the lock on it was rusted.She worried about opening the door because the small shed leaned to the side, and she felt it could fall at any moment.“This is it.”

The guys looked at each other, and then Gavin opened one of the old doors, which made a haunting creaking sound.Stacked against one wall were cardboard boxes full of everything she owned.Well, mostly what she owned.Some of her stuff she had in storage already, like family heirlooms her father wanted her to have.The rest of the shed was empty except for the dust and cobwebs in every corner.

“These are all yours?”Diego asked.

She nodded.“I’ll rent something and hire some peop...”

“Knock it off.We’re here and we’re helping you whether you like it or not.”

She frowned at him but was secretly glad for the help.She couldn’t remember the last time someone cared about her or took the time to help her.

Both men grabbed a few boxes, and she grabbed one and followed.

Diego lifted it out of her arms and set it in the back of the huge truck.“Why don’t you go get your backpack and duffle, and we’ll get the rest of the boxes?”

“All right.”

They only made two more trips, and then Gavin helped her back into the truck.

“Can you take me to the nearest hotel, please?”she asked, but neither of them responded.She leaned forward and tapped Diego’s shoulder.“Did you hear me?”

Diego turned his head.“Yeah, we heard you.We’re just not going to do it.”

“Excuse me?”she hissed.

“You heard me,” he replied.

Tessa gritted her teeth.“Exactly whatareyou going to do because I can bet my brother will give me the same reception as my mother, so I hope that’s not where you are taking me.”

“I don’t believe that.Not the way he worries about you.But we’re taking you to our house.We’ll store your boxes until we figure out what we’re going to do, and you’ll get some sleep.”

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