Ian gave her a look of mock severity. “First, of all, we’re not married yet, love. So your argument isn’t applicable. Second, I think we’ve had plenty of practice in that regard over the last year and a half.”

Tessa smiled flirtatiously, and quite deliberately ran a palm up over his chest. “I could just try seducing you,” she taunted. “You can be awfully easy at times, you know. Like on your birthday back in April. Or last week when I stopped by your office after work.”

He captured her hand, giving it a little warning squeeze. “Behave,” he warned her, all while trying not to laugh. “Otherwise, I’ll call my mother and Mrs. C. and tell them they can come and sequester you away for the night.”

“Okay,” she acquiesced. “I’ll be good. Though I know what your little game is, Mr. Gregson. You just love to make me wait for it, don’t you? You like it when I’m so hot for you that I can hardly bear it a moment longer. When you’ve got me so turned on that all it takes is the tiniest touch and I fall apart in your arms.” She patted his cheek. “You’ve got an evil streak beneath all those gentlemanly manners of yours.”

This time he did laugh, picking her up by the waist and twirling her around in a circle. “I confess,” he admitted meekly. “So to make it up to you for having to wait until tomorrow night, I’ve got a gift for you.”

Tessa scowled fiercely. “I thought we agreed not to buy each other wedding gifts. A promise you’ve already broken - twice - by giving me those gorgeous earrings and bracelet.”

He shrugged, unconcerned. “It’s a man’s prerogative to change his mind, darling.”

She stuck out her tongue. “You know darned well that it’s the woman’s prerogative, not the man’s. And I’m more than a little annoyed that you bought me another gift, Ian. Especially when I don’t have anything for you.”

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong,” he chided. He tipped her chin up to gaze into his eyes. “You, my love, are the greatest gift I could have ever wished for.”

Ian poured them each a small snifter of brandy from the well-stocked bar, then led her outside to the suite’s secluded, spacious terrace that overlooked a private infinity pool. It was cooler outside at this hour of the night since it wasn’t quite summer yet, but Tessa gently refused his offer to fetch her a wrap.

They sat silently for a few minutes, sipping their drinks slowly as they gazed out at the night sky. It was drawing close to a full moon, and it was so clear out tonight that the stars felt almost close enough to touch.

Quietly, he slid the manila envelope he’d brought outside with him to her side of the table. “Open it.”

Tessa set her snifter down, her brow wrinkling in bemusement as she picked up the envelope and undid the clasp. She slid out the sheaf of papers and glanced at the top page, her expression growing increasingly more confused as she began to read the document over.

“I don’t understand,” she said, lifting her puzzled gaze to his. “What is this exactly?”

“What does it look like?” asked Ian gently.

Tessa glanced back down at the document. “It’s a deed. To a house. A house in The Sea Ranch. But why is it in my name?”

“Because I bought it for you,” he replied easily. “The same beach house we’ve stayed at three times now. I know how much you like that house, how happy you’ve been during our vacations there. Now you can go there whenever you like.”

The deed slipped from her fingers to the glass-topped table as she stared at him in shock. “You bought me a house?” she whispered. “But - but why isn’t it in both of our names? I mean, when we saw your attorneys last month, you made it very clear that you were putting all of your assets in joint name - the house, cars, stocks, savings, everything. Why wouldn’t you do the same with the beach house?”

Ian took her hands in his. “Because,” he told her quietly, “this is something just for you. I know how little you’ve had in your life, Tessa, how many things you’ve gone without over the years. And how you lost everything you’d managed to acquire on your own not once but twice in a fire. This house - this is something you can truly call your own, that will only belong to you. Of course, I’d be very happy to be invited to stay there with you occasionally, as long as you’re - oomph!”

He was abruptly cut off as she practically leaped onto his lap, wrapping her arms fiercely around his neck, and kissing him with eager, hungry enthusiasm. The kiss went on for long seconds, enough that he had to quell the nearly insatiable lust he always experienced when Tessa was nearby.

But finally she lifted her head to gaze at him with tear-filled eyes, and with a look of such pure, overwhelming love that it made him want to weep, too.

“I could say thank you a thousand times,” she whispered brokenly. “A million times. But I could never say it enough times to make you understand everything you’ve done for me, Ian. And I’m not talking about the clothes or the jewels or even this beautiful house you just bought me - which, by the way, is way over the top, even for you.”

She slid her palms to either side of his face, her thumb brushing over his lips. “None of the material things, though, can ever come close to all of the other wonderful, amazing, kind, thoughtful things you’ve done for me. The way you take care of me, make me feel safe and cherished and protected. You have slayed every dragon, banished every ghost, chased every monster out from under my bed. You are my Prince Charming, my Knight in Shining Armor, and my dream lover all rolled into one. But the most wonderful thing you’ve done for me is to simply love me. I’ve never had anyone in my life who’s done that. And that, to me, is by far the most precious gift of all.”

Their lips met and clung, the kiss so filled with pure emotion, that Ian’s heart alternately ached and sang with joy. He held her on his lap for long minutes after that, cuddling her close as the temperature began to drop. But when she began to shiver from the cool night air, he urged her to her feet and guided her back inside.

As she replaced the deed to the beach house in the envelope, Tessa gave him a stern look.

“I’m going to assume that this is the final wedding gift,” she told him.

Ian shook his head, a mischievous smile curling up the corners of his mouth. “There is just one more. You’ll find it on the bed.”