He slid into bed, wrapped himself around her, and tried to devise ways to convince her he cared. The last thing he wanted was for her to doubt his love for her.
When Nate woke up the next day, he was thrilled to have Tessa in his arms. As much as he wanted to stay with her, he had a meeting he couldn’t get out of, but he planned to check on her right after. He kissed the back of her head and rolled out of bed.
Two hours later, he stopped by Cole’s and knocked. A moment later, Jade answered.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi. I need Tessa.”
Jade looked down. “She’s not here.”
“Why? When did she leave?”
“She hasn’t been here at all today. When I talked to her, she said she wanted to stay at your place.”
“Does she still feel ill?”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” Jade said. “I know she’s sad, but she won’t tell me why.”
“I’ll take care of it. Thank you.”
Nate called Cullen on his way up the elevator. “Hey man, my woman is really sad right now, and I have to figure it out. Will it be a problem taking the rest of the day off?”
“Hell no. Go take care of your little,” Cullen said. “I know how much you care for Tessa.”
“Thank you.”
Nate got to his floor and unlocked the door. He looked around and didn’t see her, and he didn’t hear a peep either. He wasn’t going to call out to her like he usually did.
He scanned the living room and kitchen and then started down the hall. He stopped when he saw her at his desk with her back to him and on the computer.
He walked up behind her and read the ads she was looking at. His stomach dropped when he saw they were job-wanted ads in Little Rock.
What the fuck?
“Hey,” he said behind her.
She screamed and shut down the computer before facing him with one of her hands against her chest. “God, you scared me. Why are you home already?”
“I came home to check on my girl, but she wasn’t where she’s supposed to be, and then I come home to see she’s looking at jobs in her old hometown. Baby, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”
Tessa stood, and it looked like she might try to make a run for it, but she settled and wrapped her arms around her waist.
“Come into the living room.”
She reluctantly followed him.
He pointed to the sofa. “Sit.”
She did what he asked and then stared down at her feet.
Nate crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her. “We’re going to have this out before we leave this room. Do you want to start talking?”
“I want to go home.”
“What do you mean? This is your home.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not and never will be.”