She was laying out tiles when a knock came on their front door. Zach went to answer it. While he was gone, she began marking tiles she’d cut to allow for the sink to be inset.
She could tell from the voices that their visitor was male. When Zach returned, he had his brother with him.
Bran nodded in greeting. “You’re looking better.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You mean less like a zombie?”
He laughed because...well, yes, the swelling and discoloration had made her face so ghoulish, she’d have frightened kids if she’d dared go out in public. “The yellow is an improvement over purple.”
Even Zach smiled. So far, he hadn’t displayed much of a sense of humor where her injuries were concerned. She’d had a little trouble laughing, too.
“Just wanted to tell you both that Tyler rolled on his brother’s best bud. Stokes fired Doug Gundry today.”
Tess didn’t remember ever hearing the name before, but she could see that Zach knew it.
“I’ve barely met him. We’re not on the same shift.” He shook his head. “He didn’t know me at all.”
“He claims he didn’t have anything to do with the dead rabbit, only put the flyer in your box because Andy asked him to. He denies being part of the threats or hammering your pickup, but Stokes says he’s lying. Easley and the SIU guys will be talking to him. Losing his job may be the least of his troubles.”
“So...it’s over.” Tess was having a little trouble believing that.
“Except for testifying in three or four trials,” Bran said.
“Three or four...?” Why hadn’t that occurred to her? “Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes.” Zach wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You’ll be a star.”
At her look of horror, both men laughed.
“I’m here to work,” Bran said. “What can I do?”
He might not have seen the pleasure Zach tried to hide, but Tess did.
“I thought I’d replace the rest of the windows today. You game?”
“I am.” With another nod at Tess, Bran retreated from the bathroom.
Zach kissed her. Lightly. But it didn’t stay that way. Desire flared and his arms came around her hard. He nipped her lip and she parted her lips for him. Suddenly they were straining together, Tess’s arms locked around his neck, her breasts aching for his touch.
He eased his mouth from hers and groaned. “Damn, Tess.”
She gave a tiny whimper of protest.
Zach rubbed his cheek against hers. “We can move in tomorrow night.”
“We do have a bed here.”
Zach groaned again. “We do. Want me to get rid of Bran?”
A giggle bubbled out. “Once you’ve gotten all the work out of him you can.”
“You’re right. I’m really looking forward to this place looking like a home.”
Her small, secret fear gave a twinge. “Is that how you think of it?”
His eyes were as blue as the heart of a flame. “You’re my home,” he said gruffly. “But...yeah.” He finally tore his gaze from hers to look around. “For now.”
“For now?”
He shrugged. “We might want a bigger house someday. Once we have kids.”
Just like that, he’d told her everything she needed to know. Her heart settled. Humming with contentment, she teased, “Getting ahead of yourself there, guy.”
He met her eyes again. “Am I?”
Seeing that he wasn’t any surer about her than she’d been about him, she rose on tiptoe to press her lips to his. “No,” she murmured. “We’ll definitely have kids.”
“Deal,” he said, his shoulders relaxing. He kissed her again quickly then backed away. “Better get to work, if we want to move in anytime soon.”
Tess smiled as she returned to marking tiles. She was really glad he’d chosen ones she liked so much. It was a good omen.
* * * * *