Page 109 of Holiday Home 3

Tess smiled and dismissed his concerns with a shake of her head. “Later. For now, a nap.”

Liam nodded again. He didn’t have the energy to make it back to his home; he barely had the energy to make it up the stairs. Hopefully, no neighbors had spotted him heading into Tess’s house with the espresso machine. If they had, hopefully, they weren’t aware enough about the fact that he didn’t emerge from it for the rest of the day.

“Come on, we can nap together,” Tess said, scooping his hand up from his side.

“To…gether?” he asked, a yawn splitting the word in two.

“That’s right,” Tess said, guiding him toward her stairs, then up them.

And then toward her bedroom.

Some of Liam’s sleepiness dissipated, and he stalled. “You’re sure?”

Tess looked over her shoulder as they reached her door. “Very sure. I want you to sleep in my bed for the rest of winter break. In fact, just in the future, you’re always welcome in my bed.” She paused, then ignited his very soul with a smile as beautiful as the first dawn ever to grace the planet. “Does that sound alright?”

“Yes,” he croaked, overcome with emotion. “Tess, I…” He cleared his throat, trying to fix his voice back to normal.

The woman he’d adored for years leaned in and brushed her lips against his. “I’m looking forward to seeing you regularly in the coming weeks and months. We’re together now, aren’t we? A couple?”

“Y-Yes!” he exclaimed, shaking from sheer joy. He cleared his throat, raised his chin, and forced himself to say it properly. “We’re together now. A couple.”

“Say it readily and often,” Tess said, drawing him into her bedroom.

He would. Several times more before his exhaustion overwhelmed his joy and forced him into a four-hour nap. Many times that night, too. For the final few days of his winter break, as well. And with any luck, for months and years to come.

The most marvelous winter break of Liam’s life ended a few days later.

Spring break was up next.

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