Page 104 of Stripping Bare

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Jonah’s familyobviously had some strange affinity for early morning visits, because when Tessa woke, someone was knocking at the bedroom door. The Steeles also had a problem with house keysharing.

It felt as if she and Jonah had plunged into a sleep coma only seconds before. He was sprawled on his back, one arm hanging off the bedside and one covering her pelvic area. That man had sleep gropinghabits.

Last night, he’d said he thought he loved her. Did he truly loveheror was he simply relieved that she felt there was nothing wrong with a man who liked to take control in thebedroom?

The way he’d handled her body hadn’t scared her. It had thrilledher.

But this morning they obviously didn’t have time to discuss the hot sex or the emotions brought on by it. She nudged his shoulder. “Jonah. Jonah, wakeup.”

“No breakfast, Mom. Not hungry,” hemumbled.

She rolled her lips in to keep from laughing. “If you don’t get up, your brothers are going to see me nakedagain.”

His eyes opened—pop—and he stared at her with complete lucidity. “What time isit?”

Tessa checked her phone on the nightstand. “Eight.”

“This time, Iwillkill every last one ofthem.”

“Even yourmom?”

His mouth turned down. “No. Because she makes kick-ass biscuits. And because, well, she’s mymama.”

Tessa’s heart turned a slow, sweet loop de loop. Her own mother had always told her to watch how a son treated his mom because that would tell her what kind of man he was. And what she saw in front of her was a loyal, protective, caring man who had a hard time accepting help. A hard time accepting himself for exactly who hewas.

A hard time believing he and Tessa could belongtogether.

So she would just have to keep proving it to him day after day until he believed it. Starting when his family wasn’t standing directly outside the door, probably picturing what she and Jonah were upto.

She scrambled to get out of the bed, but Jonah caught her hand and drew her back for a softkiss.

“What was that for?” sheasked.

“Are youokay?”

She knew he meant physically, but she hesitated because her emotional state wasn’t on an even keel right now after hearing him talk aboutlove.

“I’m sorryif—”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You worry about me feeling safe, but you need to understand you’re safe with me, too. I loved being with you—the real you—last night. I never want you to be anything less than honest withme.”

He blinked and a shade seemed to come down over his eyes. Then he about-faced with a wicked grin and a pat to her ass. “You might want to put clothes on before going into the livingroom.”

“Youthink?”

His deep laugh warmed her, inflated her heart, and pulsed through her body. Tessa realized it was a feeling of everything being right. Inalignment.

She quickly slipped into a pair of surprisingly comfy jean leggings, a shirt, and the beautiful sweater from Brynne. When she and Jonah walked out of the bedroom, most of his family was gathered in the apartment’s sparse living room. Tessa hadn’t noticed it last night, but against one wall sat a psychedelic green, pink, and yellow couch with sagging cushions. With his knees spread, Reid took up two-thirds of it, while Grif glared in that direction. Whether his displeasure was directed at his brother or the couch, Tessa wasn’tsure.

Badger arrowed directly for Micki, and she hefted him like a football. “I’ll take himout.”

From a basket, Miss Joan was unpacking enough biscuits, ham, and jam to feed half the population of Steele Ridge. She glanced up, looked between Tessa and her son, and gave a tidy nod. “I figured everyone could use somefuel.”

Reid reached for a biscuit and she slapped at his hand. “Tessa and Jonahfirst.”

“I think you love him more than the rest of us,” Reid playfullygroused.