Rance twisted her hair up and tucked it into her jacket. Tessa put her sunglasses on before he helped her put the helmet on then started the bike. Tessa got on behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle. “All you gotta do is lean when I lean, baby, and we’ll be just fine.” Tessa jumped. She didn’t expect a speaker to be in the helmet. “Tessa, can you hear me?”
“Yeah sorry, can you hear me?”
“Yes, beautiful, I can hear you. Hold on, here we go.”
Rance eased out of the driveway and when he hit the open road he opened up the bike. Tessa laughed and wanted to scream as she felt the wind in her face, the smell of fresh air. The excitement of riding was almost overwhelming. She loved the freedom of riding. The roar of the engine under her and the man she had her arms wrapped around made her feel completely at ease. She forgot about everything else and just enjoyed the moment. As they roared down the highway, they talked about horses, Harleys, and what she might want to eat for dinner. Tessa suggested they stop at the same diner she and Mitch ate at and Rance thought that was a great idea. In no time at all they were pulling up to the hospital. Rance turned off the bike and Tessa got off. Her legs were a little wobbly. Rance helped her take her helmet off after he removed his. He reached behind her and pulled her hair out of her jacket, running his fingers through it. “That was amazing! I can’t wait to get back on.” Tessa threw her arms around Rance and kissed him, sharing all the excitement, happiness, and love she felt.
“Tessa Rose, is that you?” Tessa broke away from Rance and turned to see her mom standing on the sidewalk.
“Hi, Mom. We just got here.”
“You came all this way on that? And what are you wearing?”
“That is a Harley and I’m wearing leathers. Mom, you remember Rance, right?”
“Of course, how are you Rance?”
“I’m just fine, Diane, how are you doing today? Are you getting any rest?”
“I’m well, resting when I can. I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed next week. I assumed Sam or Mitch would be bringing you up today. How did you rope Rance into driving you here on that motorcycle?”
“She didn’t rope me into anything. I offered to bring her and I’ve wanted to take her for a ride for a while now, so we killed two birds, as they say.”
Tessa pulled her gloves off and unzipped her jacket. “What are you wearing, Tessa Rose?”
Tessa opened the jacket to show her mom her top. “Oh my goodness, you don’t dress like that. What are you thinking?”
“Mom, you have no idea how I dress or what I think. I wear what makes me feel good and this makes me happy.”
“Ladies don’t dress like that, Tessa! You look like some slutty biker babe.”
“Well, today I am a biker babe, Rance’s biker babe, and if you think that’s slutty, well that’s your opinion. We’re going to go see Dad now.” Tessa abruptly turned, not wanting to fight with her mom in front of Rance.
“Your daughter is far from slutty, Diane, and we respect her totally. I would never do anything to hurt her or make her feel otherwise. She’s special to me and with all due respect, I don’t like the way you talked to her. She didn’t deserve that and it almost seems as if you hurt her intentionally. This isn’t a conversation we should have right now, but we will have a talk someday soon and I imagine Mitch and Sam will also be involved in that discussion. We’ll be in touch, Diane. You call if you need anything.” The look of shock on Diane’s face and the fact that she hadn’t said anything didn’t surprise Rance as he moved quickly to catch up with Tessa, putting his arm around her and pulling her close.
Tessa walked away not surprised that her mom once again tried to make her feel bad in front of someone she loved. She didn’t have a chance to tell her mom what had happened at the house. Brad said he would take care of everything anyhow and she was going to let him. She didn’t hear everything that Rance said to her mom, but it sounded almost like Rance put her in her place by standing up for Tessa. No one had ever done that for her before except Mitch, and not to the extent that Rance had. She felt relieved when Rance put his arm around her and pulled her close. No matter what her mom said, her men didn’t leave her. They were becoming her rock. When they walked into her dad’s room, he was standing, looking out the window. “Hey, Daddy, you’re up!”
“Well, there’s my girl, I was wondering when you were going to get here.” Tessa walked over to her dad and hugged him. It felt good when he tightened the hug. He was getting his strength back and looked so much better. Rance walked forward and held out his hand. “Hello, Rance, it’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too, Grant. You look good, I bet you’re ready to bust out of this place.”
“I am. It looks like I get to go home Tuesday morning and should be able to go back to work in a couple weeks. So you two are all decked out in leather. Nice jacket, Tessa Rose. I take it you rode up here on Rance’s Harley.”
“We did and it was so much fun! I loved it. Wait, how did you know he had a Harley?”
“Rance brought his new bike by the pharmacy last year to show it to me. I’ve always been fascinated with those machines but your mother would never let me have one. You still owe me a ride,” he told Rance.
“You’re right I do. Maybe before you go back to work we can sneak in a ride.”
“That would be great. So what are you kids up to today besides visiting this old man in the hospital?”
“We’re going to grab some dinner then head back to Allure. We’re meeting Mitch, Sam, and Ally at The Spur later.”
“Kathy said you’re doing a fine job at the pharmacy, Tessa. I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. She said business has been good and picked up a bit also since you took over.”
“It has been busy but I’m not sure that has anything to do with me.”
“Sure it does, Tessa, everyone’s coming in to look at the beautiful woman behind the counter,” Rance told her.
“Anyhow.” She rolled her eyes at Rance and she felt the blush creep across her neck and cheeks. “Do you need anything, Daddy? I brought you another bag of candy,” Tessa told him as she reached in her pocket.
“Thanks, Tessa. Don’t tell your mother though. She thinks I need to be on a healthier diet. This will just be our little secret. She wasn’t too happy about the last bag you brought me, but I didn’t let on it came from you and it was empty when she found it so I enjoyed the entire bag.” Grant took the bag Tessa handed him and put it in the drawer by his bed.
“You look really good, Dad. I’m so glad you’ll be home next week. Then we can spend some more time together.”
“I’m looking forward to it, babe. I haven’t played a good game of canasta since you left.” Tessa smiled remembering all the hours they would play, having their very own canasta tournament. It was a card game that older people played but she enjoyed it, and playing with her dad was so much fun that Tessa looked forward to it. They chatted for nearly an hour about work, people she had seen and met, and how they were all sending prayers his way. The entire town loved him. There was no doubt about that. Tessa told him about the night she watched a horse give birth. Rance joined in the conversation and Tessa realized that her dad and Rance had a connection she knew nothing about.
“Mr. Walker, it’s time for physical therapy,” a pretty nurse said from the doorway.
“Guess that’s our queue to leave. Bye, Daddy, I love you and I’ll see you on Tuesday.” Tessa hugged her dad then stepped back as Rance shook his hand and gave him a one-armed man hug.
“Take good care of my girl, Rance, and I’ll be waiting for that ride on your Harley after I get home. It was good to see you, son.”
“It’s good to see you, too, sir. I’ll be by to see you after you get home. Call if you need anything.”
“You kids have fun and I’ll see you both on Tuesday.”
“Love you, Daddy,” Tessa told him one last time from the doorway.
“Love you, too, Tessa Rose.”
Tessa’s mom was sitting out front waiting for them as they approached the bike. “Tessa, I just got off the phone with Brad. He told me what happened and said he needed our insurance information if I wanted to file a claim. What have you got yourself into? I can’t believe someone destroyed our property.”
“She didn’t cause this, Diane. She has no control over what this nutcase is doing. We don’t know what he is capable of. We’re just thankful she wasn’t hurt. Material items can be replaced. Tessa can’t,” Rance told her.
“Brad said Ally is staying with him, but when I asked about you he said that was your business and not his place to tell me. Where are you staying, Tessa?”
“I am staying at the Collins’ ranch. This guy is after me and there is no way that I would put Brad’s family in danger or Lanni.”
“She wanted to stay at a hotel, but we wouldn’t hear of it. She’s safer with us. One of us is always with her except when she is at work so he won’t have the opportunity to get to her. Being with us is the safest place for her,” Rance added.
“What will people think, Tessa? A single girl staying out there with three men. People are going to talk. You will come home on Tuesday as soon as your father and I get home.”
Tessa looked at Rance and said, “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea either. Daddy needs to worry about getting stronger and if I’m there there’s no telling what that psycho might do. And Mom, I don’t care what people think or say about me. I’m not that person and haven’t been for a long time. I’m not changing who I am for anyone. It’s better if I stay with Rance and his brothers until they get tired of having me around, and people can talk about me until they are blue in the face, I really don’t care.”
“We’re never going to get tired of you, baby,” Rance told her as he rubbed her check. God, he wanted her. He needed her more than his next breath but that would have to wait until he was home and his brothers were there. “We better get going, baby girl, if we’re gonna have dinner before we go to The Spur.”
“So you are going out tonight? I guess being stalked by some deranged lunatic hasn’t slowed you down. I can’t believe you are acting like nothing is wrong.”
“That’s not true, Mom. I’m scared to death. If it wasn’t for Rance, Mitch, and Sam, I would be a total wreck. They make me feel safe, and if I let this guy and his actions get to me, then he has won. I’m not going to let him win. I’ve done nothing to encourage this. I just hope they catch the bastard soon before he hurts someone or causes more damage. I’m sorry about the house, so sorry, Mom. We’ve got to go, Mom. Call if you need anything.”
“Diane, we won’t let anything happen to her. We love her.” Tessa looked up at Rance and couldn’t believe he had just said that to her mom.
“You love her? She hasn’t been home long enough to know if you can love her or not,” Diane told him.
“Diane, Sam has been in love with her since high school, and Mitch and I fell the first night we saw her. She’s our everything and we won’t let anything happen to her, I promise you that. And it’s not if we can love her, we can’t not love her.”
Tessa zipped up her jacket and put her gloves on as Rance once again tucked her hair in her jacket, pulled out the helmets, and placed Tessa’s on her head. He kissed her before he lowered the face guard. Diane stood and watched the exchange between them as they got ready to leave, saying nothing. Mitch put his helmet on and straddled the bike. “I’ll see you Tuesday, Mom. Love you.”
Mitch started the bike, Tessa got on the back, and he pulled out. “Thanks for standing up for me. I’m sorry she’s like that.”
“Mitch warned me. I just don’t get it. She should be proud as hell of you, baby. Something just doesn’t make sense.”
“Oh well, it’s over now and I’m once again on the back of this powerful machine, wrapped around a hot guy and I’m hungry.”
“Well then let’s head to the diner and feed you.”
They rode in relative silence and Tessa was glad as she was lost in thoughts about where her life was headed. Part of her would love to move back to Allure and work with her dad and be with her men. The other part of her was scared that if things didn’t work out with Mitch, Rance, and Sam, she would be stuck back in Allure and alone. She had her life in Seattle and she liked it and she missed Heather. But something had been missing and that something was love. She had finally found it and she didn’t want to give it up.
Rance pulled up to Carson’s Kitchen and turned off the bike. “It’s been a while since I’ve been here. The food is amazing and Velma is one in a million. Come on, baby, let’s go feed you.” Rance took care of both their helmets then took Tessa’s hand as they walked into the restaurant.
“Well, land sakes! Is that Rance Collins I see walking through my door?”
“Yes, ma’am, it is. You’re even prettier than the last time I saw you, Mizz Velma.” Rance walked over and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, causing her cheeks to flush.
“You always were such a flirt. I see you have the lovely Tessa with you today. How you doing, sweetie? How’s your daddy?”
“Hi, Ms. Velma.” Tessa also received a hug. “I’m doing well and so is my dad. He gets to come home on Tuesday.”
“Well I’m glad to hear it but I suppose that means it’ll be another year before I see this rascal again.”
“I won’t let that happen, Mizz Velma. I promise. I’ve missed this place and the good food. How’s Jerry?”
“He’s good. Jerry, get out here and say hello to Rance,” Velma yelled to the back.
Jerry came through the door and shook Rance’s hand. “Good to see you, son, and who’s this pretty little lady?”
“Jerry, this is the girl I was telling you about that came in with Mitch,” Velma told him.
“Jerry, this is Tessa Walker. Tessa, meet Jerry Carson.” Rance introduced them.
“It’s great to meet you, Mr. Carson. I really enjoyed my meal when I was here with Mitch. You’re an amazing cook.”
“Don’t go making his head any bigger than it is, sweetie,” Velma joked with her.
“The pie was really good, too, Ms. Velma.”
“Aren’t you just the sweetest thing? You kids find a booth and I’ll bring you a couple drinks.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Tessa, and please call me Jerry,” he told her as he headed back into the kitchen.
Rance and Tessa slid into a booth toward the back and Velma was there in no time with peach tea. “Chicken-fried steak is today’s special,” she told them.
“Sounds good to me, what do you want, baby?”
“I’ll have that also, thanks.” Velma left and Tessa decided it was now or never. “So Mitch mentioned that you guys used to come here all the time but hadn’t been here for over a year. He told me that the three of you went to a BDSM club often but stopped. Do you miss it?”
Rance thought for a bit before he answered, not wanting to scare Tessa. “I miss going with my brothers. It was a chance for the three of us to be together with a woman. I like to be in control. I need it. I like to give pleasure and see how far I can push the person I’m with. Taking someone out of their comfort zone to experience something new can be a rush. Knowing that I brought that person more pleasure than they had ever experienced before stirs something inside of me. After Mitch and Sam quit going I still went, but not as a participant. The Dom that owns the club became a good friend of mine and asked me if I was interested in being a dungeon monitor. I usually worked every couple weeks on a Friday or Saturday night depending on what was needed. I haven’t been back there to work since the first night I saw you and I don’t plan on going back.”
Tessa was surprised that he went but
was working, not a participant. She was also surprised he had stopped going altogether. “So what does a dungeon monitor do?”
“I make sure that whoever is involved in the scenes is safe. Sometimes a Dom or a Domme take it too far. They don’t see the warning signs that something isn’t right with their sub. That’s when we step in. When we check on the sub and they appear to be fine then we let the scene continue, but there have been times we’ve had to stop the scene. So many people have no idea what they are doing and even though Master Xavier offers classes there are a lot of people who think they understand everything from reading about it and don’t take the opportunity to learn hands-on. Most of them don’t understand the importance of aftercare either and we have had to help with that. So I guess in a way I protect and teach.”
“Do you miss not participating?”
“Yes and no. There are times that a third is needed and I’ve stepped in on occasion for that, but when my brothers decided they weren’t interested any longer, it changed for me. I don’t know anyone that I feel close enough to or comfortable enough with to have that kind of relationship.”
“As in a woman?”
“No, as in another Dom. I don’t take women by myself, Tessa. I haven’t for a long time.”
“Why, what about me? If I wanted to go to the club would you take me?”
“Not unless Mitch or Sam went with us and even then I’m not sure that that would be a good idea.”
“Rance, if something is important to you, if there is something that you need to fulfill your desires, then I want to be there for you in every way. I’ll go with you. I’ll go to classes if you want me to. I need to be who each of you need me to be. I don’t have to enjoy cooking with you, but I might with Sam. We have to have our own connections and our separate relationships if this is going to work and I’m willing to do whatever it takes. All of you have very different personalities and that’s what I love about each of you. I essentially get to be three different women. I had so much fun today riding on the Harley with you and I want to do it again often, but that’s not Mitch or Sam’s thing. I enjoyed working in the kitchen with Sam and we talked about gardening which is something I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t been able to. I can’t see you planting and tending a garden with me. I know you would if I asked, but I want us both to enjoy it. Mitch talked about taking me to the rodeo and teaching me how to play the guitar. That’s where he can be in his element. Don’t you see, if you need to go to a BDSM club, I’ll gladly go with you. I trust you and I know you’ll take care of me, plus I’ve always been curious about that lifestyle.”
Welcome Home, Tessa [Allure, Wyoming] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 26