Page 34 of Must Love Fallen Angels

Then something struck him oddly, and he knew that Tessa felt the change in him.

Without saying anything, they both rose to their feet and closed up the chairs, carrying them back to the cottage.

He’d protected numerous people over the years without thought, thrown himself into danger without caring about the cost to himself.But creating a future with Tessa scared him in a way he hadn’t expected.

He leaned the chair against the cottage and set Tessa’s against it.

“What’s on your mind?”she asked.

He blew out a breath.“I don’t know how to be a good mate.Or a father.I never had a family.”

“But you see how good Brody and Delaney are to each other, and Zay and Kinsley too.I think that being a good mate doesn’t have to be perfect; it doesn’t have to follow any particular guidelines; it just has to come from a place of love.”

“Angels don’t have families.I didn’t grow up with a mom who tucked me into bed at night or parents who celebrated my birthday.I justwas.And when I fell, I realized all the things I never had, and there was some part of me that always felt inadequate as a man.”

“You’re absolutely not,” she said earnestly.“You’re the best guy I’ve ever known, and I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to have you in my life, to beyours.You are the only guy for me, Venice.And from this moment forward, we’re going to celebrate all the milestones, and we’re going to have the best relationship because we are not going to give up on each other.Good times, bad times, whatever comes.You and me, forever.”

He was feeling very humbled.

“I’m the lucky one, Tessa.”

“I think we’re both lucky.”

“I want everything with you,” he said.“Mornings on the beach, grocery shopping, a house that’s ours, and kids… the whole nine yards.”

“I want that too.”

They’d both been betrayed, but they’d both chosen a new path that had led them to each other.

He stared down at his beautiful mate, feeling so incredibly close to her.

Lowering his head, he kissed her, sweetly at first, and then it tipped over into something hotter, as they clung to each other, hands roaming, and unspoken promises surrounding them.

He backed them into the house, kicking the door shut, and then scooped her up into his arms.“I’ve got an idea.”

She hooked her arms around his neck with a laugh.“I think we have the same one.Take me to bed, Venice.I want to make you mine, again and again.”

“You got it, sweetheart.”

A quiet sort of happiness filled him, the kind he never thought he deserved.With Tessa in his life, he didn’t have to worry about what the future held, because he knew they could face whatever came—together.

Note to Self: Who knew forever came with such a sexy smile?

Tessa hadn’t had much interaction with supernatural people before she’d come to Sable Cove.After just a week, she’d met witches, dragons, a vampire, wolves, a merman, and a fairy.Not to mention her fallen angel sweetie.

She was excited to get to witness the witches doing their magical restock.

After dressing in jeans and a short-sleeved top, she looked through her closet and found a long-sleeved flannel in case it got chilly once the sun set.

“Is it a far walk?”she asked.

Venice leaned out of the bathroom, looking mouthwatering in a fitted dark tee and worn jeans.

“The overlook is on the other side of the lighthouse, a bit down the shoreline.There’s a parking lot, but it’s a bit of a climb up to the top.”

“So boots, probably.”

“If you have them.I could also be super chivalrous and carry you.”