TESSA

“Charlie, you know you can’t answer the door without our permission,” I yell to him as he runs through the fifty-two-hundred-square-foot penthouse we now call home.

“Mom. Hello?” he says, way too sarcastic for his age. “We have a doorman. A stranger is not getting into this building without anyone knowing,” he retorts.

“You make him sound like the Hulk.”

Charlie’s eyes light up. “Could you imagine if our doorman really was the Hulk? At night, he morphs into this giant green humanoid who clobbers villains with his incredible strength?”

I laugh lightly while shaking my head. “Just slow down, okay? I don’t want you to slip on the wood floor in your socks,” I say as I chase Charlie down the hallway when he takes off again.

In my old apartment, the doorbell would ring, and I’d have two steps to walk to the door. In Bryce’s penthouse, I have two floors to walk through. And, since I was in my room, putting the last of my clothes away in the closet, it’s taking me a bit longer to answer the door.

I’m not too concerned. Since we have a doorman, visitors are usually called in, and since I didn’t hear the phone ring, I know exactly who is here. I mean, there’s only one person who could get past security.

“Uncle Austin!” Charlie boasts as I open the door.

“Charlie, my man. What’s up, big guy?” Austin says as he enters through the door with his hand up in the air.

Charlie jumps up to give him a high five. It’s become their thing. Yes, in the short time Charlie and Austin have gotten to know each other, they’ve developed a bond. Just this past weekend, they played laser tag, and Austin told stories of his time in the Marines. I have a feeling Charlie’s love for superheroes is going to move in the direction of Army and war toys very soon.

“Hello, Tessa.” Austin gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Hi, Uncle Austin,” I say with a raised brow.

“Come on, it’s cute. He’s my little buddy.” Austin’s blue eyes twinkle.

“Even though we are living with Bryce, I don’t want to jump to the next step until we’re ready.”

Austin laughs. “Are you seriously worried you’re gonna break up? Even if you wanted to leave Bryce, the guy would stalk you to the other side of the country. Sorry, Tessa, but you’re stuck with him. And us.” He swings an arm around Jalynn, who comes in behind him.

Jalynn shrugs with a laugh. “He’s right. On the bright side, you get me, too!”

“Do you want to see the skyscraper we’re building out of over a thousand Lego pieces?” Charlie asks with so much enthusiasm that it makes Austin chuckle to himself.

“You know I do. Show me the way.” Austin motions before winking at Jalynn. “Come on, Pyle. Let’s go see what my brother spoiled Charlie with this time.”

“I hate that nickname!” she yells at Austin.

He doesn’t seem to care though. He places a hand on her cheek and pulls her in for a long kiss.

“Ew.” Charlie is looking up at them in disgust.

Austin gives Jalynn one more kiss. When he releases her, her eyes are still closed. Clearly, she is over whatever she was upset about a moment ago. Austin grabs her hand and pulls her with him up to Charlie’s room.

The room is double the size of his old room, which is a good thing because, the day we moved in, Bryce surprised Charlie with an absurd amount of gifts, including a bed in the shape of the Batmobile. It was all very sweet but too much. I was keeping Charlie from being spoiled when I was living on a budget. Now, I’m in a penthouse with my millionaire boyfriend. My job just got harder.

I can’t complain though. Bryce is head over heels in love with both Charlie and me. We are both spoiled rotten, and it has nothing to do with money.

It’s love.

It’s his attention.

It’s the way he’ll come all the way home just to read Charlie’s bedtime story and then go back to work.

It’s the way he has rearranged his schedule to make sure he doesn’t miss one Boy Scouts event, no matter how late he has to stay up to finish his work.

But, most importantly, it’s the way he looks at both of us, like he is truly at peace when he’s by our side, especially now that the Christine accusation has ended.

My mother documented what she’d overheard in the hallway should Christine try to press charges or do anything similar again. Bryce’s attorneys also had his other past assistants who he’d been intimate with file their own letters, stating that acts were consensual. No money was exchanged between Bryce or any of the women who vouched for his character. It was just a security blanket for the future.

I don’t like the fact that Bryce has had relationships before we met, but I’m secure in ours that I won’t let it affect me. We’re in love. Damn … that feels good.

I fill a glass with water and walk it over to the Guiana chestnut Bryce brought me. This tree was meant to bring me luck, and boy did it, tenfold. I would never have dreamed it would bring me love. That’s greater than luck.

“Honey, I’m home!” Bryce announces as he walks through the door.

He says it every time he comes home, and as cheesy as it is, I can’t help but find it incredibly sexy. Especially when he’s wearing a dark suit that’s molded to his perfectly strong frame and his hair is a little wild from a long day of running his hands through it and he’s wearing those sunglasses, making him look all GQ, like he is right this very second.

He doesn’t even get another word out before I’m across the room and in his arms. His hands go right for my ass, and he lifts me off the ground. I wrap my arms around him and kiss him like I haven’t seen him in years.

He kicks the door closed, shoves his glasses off, and walks me over to the living room. It’s a grand room with two-story windows and sweeping views of the city. It’s a gorgeous room with a stunning view, but it’s got nothing on the man who is laying me on the couch and settling himself in between my legs as our mouths are hot and our bodies are heavy with need.

His mouth trails down to my neck. “I thought you didn’t like PDA when Charlie’s home?”

“He’s upstairs with Austin and Jalynn,” I say with a slight pant.

“Well then, we shouldn’t get too carried away.” He places one more kiss on my lips and then lifts his weight off me a bit. “Tonight, you’re mine.”

I bite my lip and nod. Now that we’re in a large home with multiple bedrooms, I’m okay with being intimate with Bryce while Charlie’s home. We just make sure to lock the door, and if Charlie happens to wake up, all action stops, so I can tend to my son. Lucky for us, he’s been a sound sleeper ever since we moved in.

Bryce sits up on the couch and pulls my legs onto his lap. He leans over and lifts a white bag off the floor.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“I had it in my hand when I walked in, but you were too busy molesting me that you didn’t realize I had it.”

I hit him in the side of the arm.

He chuckles. “I saw it in the same window display where I got your Superman shirt.”

I sit up a little to open the bag and pull out a folded blue T-shirt. He winks and gives me a sexy-as-sin grin as I open it to see what it says.

I would walk across Legos for you.

I laugh out loud.

“I never knew true love until I stepped on a Lego,” he says.

“Aw, my hero would save me from the dungeons surrounded by Legos instead of a moat.” I hold the shirt to me and lean over to give Bryce a kiss. “I love it. Thank you.”

“I knew you would. You have no idea how happy I am to come home, knowing you’re here.”

I look back at his impossibly handsome face. At the kind brown eyes and his gloriously full mouth. He’s so beautiful, yet it’s nothing compared to his heart, his soul, and his love for Charlie and me.

“I have a surprise for you, too,” I tell him. “I went to a travel agency today and booked a little vacation for us.”

“You did?” He raises a brow, intrigued.

“I know you’re crazed with the Seattle purchase, but I spoke to Austin, and he said the deal would be closed by the middle of the summer. Regardless of whether it is or isn’t, he promised he’d take care of everything for you while we’re gone,” I speak fast and then bite my lip, wondering if he’ll be annoyed.

Bryce has made time for Charlie and me, but a week away from the office is a big leap. For me as well, but this isn’t for a few months, and I think I can swing it.

“Where are we going?” he asks.

“Maui,” I say with raised shoulders. “I mean, it’s no Fiji, but there’s a direct flight, and I found a great hotel that’s both romantic for us and has a ton for Charlie—”

“I love it.” He smiles, and I let out a huge sigh of relief.

“You do? I wanted to surprise you but then panicked. I just … I want you to have it all. There are things you gave up for your job. I understand why you work the way you do. I just want to make sure you remember to stop and take a breath.”

His hand rises, and his thumb draws those circles along my cheek that I love so much. “I decided to hire another vice president. Did you know I have eleven senior vice presidents who work under me now?”

The answer is, no, I did not, and that seems like a lot of people to work under him when he works like a dog.

Bryce laughs a little. “There were so many aspects of the company I refused to give up control over because it was easier to bury myself with work than to dream. I still need to be involved. Hell, if I don’t watch out, my father and Missy will finally get what they’ve been fighting for. But I need to spend more time with you and Charlie. That’s why I’m hiring someone to take away some of my responsibilities. I know what I need to be personally involved with. I also know that I have a family now. And they want me to go to Hawaii.”

There isn’t a playbook when it comes to Bryce Sexton. Just when you think you have him figured out, he goes and changes the game. When I met him, he was all work and no play. I thought he resented his job for that. But, the more I’ve watched him, listened to him on the phone, or spied on him in the home office, I’ve learned something interesting; he actually likes what he does. He was just bitter because of how it was thrust upon him. His anger became his crutch.

His fight with his father and stepmother isn’t over. They’re still trying to dismantle the company, and the brothers will stop at nothing to keep them from succeeding. We’ll see what happens when Tanner comes home after graduation. I’m looking forward to meeting the mysterious little brother.

I don’t know what lies in the next chapter of our lives. What I do know is, I’m in it to win it. Truth or dare, I love Bryce, and there is nothing that will keep me away from him again.

He must sense my need for a kiss right now because he leans down and resumes his position over me. I fall flat to the cushions and sink in as his body pushes right up against mine. My hands are in his hair; his are gripping my hips. We’re making out like teenagers when a knock on the door interrupts our kiss. Bryce growls into my shoulder and then pulls back.

“Hold that thought,” he says and gets up.

I sit up and adjust my shirt.

Charlie’s loud footsteps echo as he comes barreling down the stairs. “Who’s here?”

I look up to see him standing on the staircase. Austin and Jalynn are right behind him.

“I don’t know,” I say and then pause. “That’s weird; we didn’t get a call from the doorman.”

Austin’s brows furrow. “I thought I was the only one who got the privilege.”

I tilt my head to the side as I try to think of who it could be.

Bryce comes walking back into the room.

His face is a mix of confusion, annoyance, and odd amusement. We look back at him with side-eyes, wondering who is at the door.

“Tanner’s here,” he says.

I look at Bryce, questioning why Tanner is here and why he has such a bewildered expression on his face.

Then, he clarifies, “And he has a wife.”