Sentinel - Devil Riders MC Book 1 (MC Romance Novel with FREE Bonus Novel!) (30 page)

After a short while, he set her down on the ground once more, and Tess found that her legs were weak and shaky. Eli noticed and laughed, then pulled over a bench so she could sit. He placed himself next to her, then put his arm around her and pulled her into him. Tess rested her head on his chest and let out a satiated sigh. He kissed her lightly on the top of her head, and then they sat for a while in silence. They didn’t need to speak – being together was enough, occupying this place, this moment in time, just the two of them.

“I love you, Tess Bailey.”

Eli’s voice was soft as he said it, but his words sent a jolt through Tess. She looked up at him, into his eyes, and her response felt like the most natural thing she had ever said.

“I love you too.”

*****

A little while later, the two of them sat out the front of the workshop. Tess had been due back at work a long time ago, but she didn’t care. It didn’t seem to matter anymore. Everything had changed since she’d met Eli and after what they’d been through together. She’d deal with all that tomorrow, or another day. Right now, this was where she belonged. Right here, with Eli Flint.

They each sipped from long-necked bottles of ice-cold beer, looking out into the desert beyond.

“You know, Mike’s decided to give up on this place,” Eli said, out of the blue. He laughed good-naturedly.

“After he and my grandma spent those few days together, it seems like they suddenly remembered what they liked about each other all those years ago. They’ve been talking about selling up and spending the rest of their days over in Florida, or on a cruise or something.”

Tess smiled at the thought.

“Good for them. But what about you? What’ll you do?”

“Well, I was thinking about taking this place on. Renovating it a little, bringing it up to date. I know I can make it work.”

He swallowed a mouthful of beer thoughtfully.

“How about you? Shouldn’t you be back at work by now? Won’t you get in trouble?”

Tess sighed.

“Maybe. But it’s not the same as it used to be. It doesn’t seem so important, all of a sudden. I mean, I still care about my work, still care about the people, even if they’re a pain in the ass to deal with sometimes. I just can’t help but wonder if there’s more to life than sitting in that office and wading through endless reports and paperwork and bureaucracy.”

He turned to her, his face sincere.

“Well, why don’t you just stay here with me? We can do this thing together, just the two of us. I guarantee it’ll be less paperwork.”

He smiled uncertainly. He looked almost vulnerable, and Tess knew he was serious, that he meant every word. And just like that, she knew her answer.

“Why not? Let’s do it. Just the two of us.”

Eli laughed in delight and swept her into an embrace, a fierce, loving embrace that Tess knew she would never want to leave.

Behind them the sun was setting on the horizon, reds and oranges and golds diffusing through the clouds and up into the last of the day’s light. Tess drank in the beautiful sight, and knew that this was where she belonged.

*****

THE END