Page 25 of Homebody (The Long Road Home #21)

Chapter Twenty-Four

T essa didn’t know how long had passed by the time she looked up from the screen. It could have been five minutes or just as easily five hours. That was what happened when she got deep into work.

What she did know was that something had disturbed her now. She glanced around the lab, eyesight blurry from having stared solely, single-mindedly, at the screen in front of her.

Through the barred windows she saw the fading light outside. Then she realized what had disrupted her. It was the crunch of a vehicle’s tires on the gravel. The sound preceded the visual of a green car pulling up to park next to the building.

Dean.

Tessa pushed the chair back from the desk and reached for her cell phone. Hitting the button to check the time she saw instead all the notifications.

Two texts plus a missed call and a voicemail had come in while she’d had the phone set on silent and face down on the desk. All from Dean.

He couldn’t reach her so he’d come looking. This man was definitely hero material.

Her heart speeding, she headed toward the door just as he knocked. Flinging the door open wide, she grinned and said, “I got a job!”

His lips twitched. “So I see. And how do you like it?” he asked.

“So far so good. Gabe’s been good company.” Tessa took a step back and gestured for Dean to come inside.

Dean lifted one dark brow as his gaze hit on the naked cadaver under clear plastic on the table.

“Yes, I’ve heard all about Gabe.” He shook his head before he pulled his gaze away from the body. “I can’t believe you’re okay working alongside… him.”

“Honestly, I forgot all about him being here once I got into the files. Dean, your friend Liam is a genius.”

“Is he? I wasn’t aware.” Dean leaned back against the cabinets and countertop along the wall and folded his arms. Keeping his eyes on her, he said, “You’ll be happy to know Liam’s pretty impressed with you too.”

“He is?” She couldn’t control the smile.

“Yeah. He is.” Dean scowled and Tessa’s smile grew.

Dean was jealous. And she was enjoying it. “I can be done here for the night, if you wanted to do something.”

Was that flirty? Was she flirting? More importantly, was it working?

Dean pushed himself off the counter and took a step closer. “Actually, that’s why I was looking for you. I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” Her eyes widened.

“You’re not one of those people who hates surprises, are you?” he asked.

“Depends on the surprise, I guess.” She eyed him as she gathered up the pages of notes she’d taken while there and took a step toward the door. “Is it a good surprise?”

“I think so but you’ll have to judge for yourself. You ready to go?”

“I am.”

“Then let’s go.” He grinned and led her to the car… where he made her close her eyes for the duration of the drive, which luckily was a short one.

“We’re here,” Dean finally announced. “You can open your eyes now.”

“We’re at my apartment,” Tessa observed.

“Yes we are. Come on.” He got out of the car and she scrambled out her side.

She followed Dean up the walk. He paused at her door, waiting for her to unlock it. Confused, she did, wishing once again she had a nicer apartment if Dean was going to insist on surprising her in it.

With the door unlocked, she pushed it open and turned to ask, “Now what?”

“Go on in,” he said, physically turning her around with a hand on each shoulder.

Her breath caught in her throat. “You got me a sofa. And a coffee table?” She spun to face him.

“I did. Don’t be too impressed. Both pieces are used.”

“I don’t care.” She rushed inside and bounced onto a seat cushion. “It’s not plastic.”

“No, it’s not.” He smiled. “Do you like it?”

“Yes. It’s beautiful. The table too. Everything.” Then she frowned when the logistics of his surprise hit her. “How did you get inside?”

“Your landlord knows my mother from church. I guess with Mom as my character witness I was convincing enough for him to let me inside.”

The couch and the table were both amazing. But not as amazing as the man. She stood and walked to Liam. Standing on tip toe, she hugged him hard and said, “Thank you.”

He cleared his throat and pulled back, saying, “You’re welcome.”

They stared at each other a few more moments before he took a step back. “I’m gonna go. Let you get settled in with your sofa.”

He was halfway to the door before she realized he was really leaving. He had the door open by the time she reached where he stood.

“Oh, okay. Um, thank you again. Really. I appreciate it.”

“You deserve it and so much more,” he said with sincerity. “But it’s a start.”

“It’s a start,” she repeated as he stepped outside.

He turned back to face her, hesitating again before he said, “Goodnight.”

“Good night.”

Then he was gone.