Page 46 of Ride Me Reckless

Tessa returned to my bedside and leaned down, her hand resting lightly against the side rail, and kissed me.

It wasn't one of those chaste, be-good-while-I'm-gone kisses. No, this was slow and certain, with a warm press of lips that said everything she wasn't ready to voice. Sexy and sweet. Familiar in all the ways that counted.

When she pulled back, I caught her hand for half a second longer. Just enough to let her know I wasn't letting go easy this time.

"I'll be back tomorrow," she said, her voice softer now.

And damn, if that didn't sound better than any pain meds they'd given me.

I watched her walk out, the door clicking gently behind her.

She was still good at leaving.

But this time, she promised she'd come back.

Chapter Twelve

Halfway Home

Tessa

Iwoke to the faint clatter of silverware and the hiss of the gas stove lighting—the smell of instant coffee filtered through the small trailer like a peace offering. Callie was already up, tiptoeing around the kitchenette, wearing the same tank top from yesterday and her favorite flannel pajama pants with faded steer heads.

“You want first crack at the bathroom?” she asked without looking back.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll sip on my coffee first.”

She poured a second mug and handed it over. “Brave woman.”

I slipped on yesterday’s hoodie and ducked out the door, coffee in hand. Outside, the morning air still held a chill, but the sun was bright and getting brighter. We’d parked the trailer in Rhett’s side yard, wedged between his fancy hot tub and new barn. He’d strung an extension cord and a hose across the grass like it was nothing—hospitality, Rhett-style. No speeches. Nopity. Just the practical kindness of a man who still remembered what survival looked like.

Callie joined me at the picnic table in the yard. We sat across from each other, sipping quietly.

“You know what’s wild?” she said after a while. “This time last week, we were in Dallas.”

I gave a dry laugh. “This time last week, we were millionaires in our heads.”

“Well, we’ve still got a few thousand. That’s got to count for something.”

It did. We had parkedRecklessat Rhett’s garage, next to his antique car collection, on a trailer with wheels that hadn’t fallen off. We have enough money left over from the prize purse to keep food on our table for the foreseeable future. However, it was a stark contrast to the season we had envisioned.

She grinned but didn’t meet my eyes. “I applied at the grocery store yesterday. Cashier gig, just part-time until we figure out the next move.”

“You didn’t have to?—”

“Yes, I did.” Her tone was gentle but firm. “We’re not living on dreams anymore, Tessa. We’ve got to be smart with what’s left.”

I let that settle. She wasn’t wrong. I had my appointment with Mama’s case manager at eleven. Depending on how that went, everything could shift again.

“You want me to drive you?” she asked.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

We sat for a moment, sipping. Birds chirped somewhere in the trees, unaware that a block away, my childhood home was now just blackened beams and ash. Every time we drove past it on the way to Rhett’s spread on Lucky Ranch, I felt my stomach tighten like a fist.

Callie glanced sideways. “Have you stopped by the house…?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.”