Tank began unloading their stuff from the rig while Kayla wandered through the house, taking everything in. The modern farmhouse was an open-concept two-level home, and she was beyond impressed. It was the kind of place that could easily be featured in Architectural Digest—high ceilings, sleek but cozy decor, large windows that let in natural light, and a kitchen straight out of a luxury home magazine.

She ran her fingers over the marble countertops, admiring the contrast between the black cabinets and gold hardware. The living room was spacious yet warm, with a massive sectional, a stone fireplace, and family photos on the wall.

Tank had worked hard for this. She knew that much.

What really surprised her, though, was that he wasn't the only one who lived on the land. His family had a 10-acre plot where they all built their own houses. His parents, his older sister Tanya and her family, his older brother Terrance Jr. and his family, and his oldest sister Tamera and her family.

Tank was the baby of the family.

And while he hadn't paid for the land—since his parents and siblings had already purchased it when he was younger—he had fully paid for his farmhouse to be built.

Kayla turned as Tank walked in, setting down their bags. He watched her with a small smirk, his light brown eyes dancing with amusement. "You gon' keep staring, or you gon' say something?"

Kayla shook her head, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter. "I'm not gonna lie, Tanky... I didn't expect this."

Tank arched a brow as he pulled his hoodie off, tossing it onto the couch. "Expect what?"

"For you to have all this," she admitted, motioning around. "I mean, I knew you had money, but this house... this land... your whole family out here? This isn't just some truck driver lifestyle—this is generational wealth type shit."

Tank chuckled, rubbing his hand over his head. "Yeah, my folks made sure we had somethin' to build on. I just did my part."

Kayla nodded, impressed. "You worked for this."

"Damn right," Tank said. "And I ain't stoppin', either."

Kayla bit her lip, looking at him differently. She had always been attracted to Tank—his body, his face, his voice. But now? Seeing how he carried himself, how he built something for himself? That did something to her.

Tank noticed the way she was looking at him, and his smirk deepened. "What?"

Kayla shrugged. "Nothing."

"Nah, that ain't nothin'," Tank teased as he stepped closer, tilting her chin up. "You givin' me them eyes."

Kayla rolled her eyes playfully. "Boy, shut up."

Tank chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I know you tired from that ride. You wanna shower and chill?"

Kayla nodded. "Yeah... but uh, where am I'm sleeping?"

Tank gave her a knowing look. "Where you think?"

Kayla smirked but didn't argue as he led her toward the master bedroom.

Kayla unwinded as she stepped into the large shower, letting the hot water cascade over her body, washing away the stress of the long drive and the emotional weight she had been carrying. She took her time, needing the moment to herself. Meanwhile, Tank put her things away in the closet, making space for her like it was second nature.

Instead of waiting for her to finish, Tank decided to take his own shower in the guest bathroom. He was exhausted, and he wanted to lay down as soon as possible. By the time he was out, Kayla was still in the master bathroom, so he headed to the kitchen to heat up the food his mama had left for him. Shepherd's pie.

He made himself a bowl, then fixed one for Kayla, setting it on the nightstand for when she came out.

When Kayla finally stepped out of the bathroom, her braids were pulled into a bun, edges neatly wrapped with her scarf. She had changed into another pair of shorts and a tank top, her skin still dewy from the shower.

Tank caught himself staring for a second too long before he shook his head, climbing into bed.

That should be the last thing on his mind after everything she'd been through, but he was a man at the end of the day. And Kayla, she was fine as hell.

But more importantly than being a man, he was a gentleman. He wasn't about to make her feel uncomfortable, especially after she had just poured her heart out to him hours ago.

Kayla climbed into bed beside him, pulling her bowl into her lap as she exhaled. "Your mama can cook," she said after taking a bite.

Tank chuckled. "Yeah, she don't play 'bout her food."

Kayla nodded, eating in silence for a moment before peeking over at him. "You okay?"

Tank met her gaze, his jaw tightening slightly. "Yeah. Just thinkin'."

Kayla licked her lips, setting her bowl back on the nightstand. "About what?"

Tank sighed, leaning back against the headboard. "Just everything. You. Your situation. My family. The fact that you safe now, but..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

"But what?" Kayla pressed.

Tank exhaled through his nose. "But I know it's still sittin' heavy on you."

Kayla didn't respond right away. Instead, she curled up beside him, resting her head against his chest. "It is," she admitted softly. "But being here with you? It makes it a little easier."

Tank wrapped his arm around her, rubbing slow circles on her back. "Ain't gotta worry no more, lil' bit. You home now."

Kayla didn't know what it was about those words, but they settled deep in her chest.

Home.

Kayla leaned in without thinking, pressing her lips to his in a soft kiss. It happened so fast—one moment, she was lying against his chest, and the next, she was tasting him. The warmth of his lips, the way he didn't hesitate to kiss her back, had her heart racing.

But as soon as she pulled away, reality hit.

Her cheeks burned as she quickly averted her gaze, grabbing her bowl and shoveling food into her mouth like nothing had happened.

Tank smirked, shaking his head. He wasn't about to tease her, though. He could tell she was already flustered.

Instead, he grabbed the remote, cutting on the TV and flipping through the channels.

"Damn, Power on," he said, stopping on Starz. The familiar theme song played through the surround sound.

Kayla let out a breath, grateful for the distraction. "I never really watched it like that."

Tank turned to her like she had just spoken another language. "Ain't no way."

Kayla laughed, shrugging. "I mean, I know about it, but I never sat and watched it for real."

Tank shook his head in disbelief. "Yeah, we 'bout to fix that."

Kayla smiled, curling her legs underneath her as she settled in beside him.

Even with the show playing, she was still replaying that kiss in her mind and from the way Tank occasionally glanced at her, she knew she wasn't the only one thinking about it.

As they continued to watch Power, the weight of the day settled in. Tank could feel the heaviness in his own body, the exhaustion from the long drive, the mental toll of everything that had happened with Kayla, and the strain of still being on edge from his protective instincts. He shifted slightly in the bed, his arm around her tightening just a bit as she snuggled closer.

Kayla, on the other hand, felt the sense of comfort she hadn't realized she'd been longing for. As she rested her head against his chest, she felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, each beat grounding her more. The world outside felt distant and irrelevant, a place she didn't want to be, not when she was here with him.

Tank's hand brushed lightly over her back, the warmth of his touch reassuring her that, she wasn't alone. The weight of the trauma she'd carried with her was still there, lingering under the surface, but in his arms, she felt a sense of peace that was unfamiliar and almost foreign to her.

She let out a soft sigh, her body melting against his as the soothing rhythm of the show and the gentle pressure of his embrace coaxed her toward sleep. Tank's fingers continued their gentle movements on her back, his other arm securing her to him like he never wanted to let her go.

"You good?" Tank murmured, his voice low and steady, barely above a whisper.

Kayla nodded against him, her words muffled as her eyes fluttered closed. "Yeah... just tired."

Tank smiled softly, knowing the feeling all too well. "Get some rest," he told her, his voice a promise as he kissed the top of her head. "I'm right here."

She didn't need to hear more than that. His words, his touch, were enough to settle the anxiety in her chest. With a final sigh of relief, Kayla closed her eyes, letting herself relax fully for the first time in what felt like forever.

Tank, still wide awake but slowly succumbing to sleep, felt a sense of peace he hadn't experienced in a long time. He held her tighter, his protective instincts kicking in even further. In that moment, nothing mattered except for her, and he wasn't about to let anything take her away from him.

The world outside could wait. For now, all that mattered was the two of them, together in the warmth of his bed, on his family's land, where nothing could harm her—not while he was here.

The sun slowly crept through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across the room as Tank held Kayla close. His muscular arm was wrapped protectively around her, her body still pressed against his, as if she couldn't bear the thought of being separated. The sounds of the morning, from the chickens clucking to the pigs grunting, the cows mooing to the horse's soft neighs, drifted in through the window, marking the beginning of another day on the family land.

Kayla stirred in his arms, the peaceful rhythm of his breathing lulling her deeper into his embrace. She couldn't help but take a moment to watch him as he slept. His face, relaxed and calm, was the definition of peacefulness. His full lips were slightly parted, and she couldn't stop herself from marveling at the way he looked. He was handsome—strong, protective, everything she didn't know she needed until now.

As much as she wanted to stay in that moment, wrapped up in his warmth, the sound of the front door opening caught her attention. She instinctively pulled herself closer into his chest, not wanting to be seen. Tank's body tensed in response. He could feel her shift against him, and even in his deep sleep, his protective instincts kicked in.

His eyes fluttered open slightly, adjusting to the dim light, and he listened carefully. He was awake now. The sound of the door shutting confirmed that someone had entered the house, and Tank didn't hesitate. Without a second thought, he gently disentangled himself from Kayla as he slipped out of the bed.

As he moved toward the door, Tank's mind raced. It was either his mama or pops checking in on him, as they always did whenever he came home, especially after being gone for a while. But Tank wasn't ready for them to know about Kayla—hell, he wasn't sure how he would even begin to explain her presence without overexposing her, without crossing lines he wasn't prepared to cross.

He gently shut the bedroom door behind him, his heart racing a little faster than he liked.

In that moment, Tank knew that he was in too deep. He cared about Kayla, maybe more than he realized, and he wasn't willing to let anything jeopardize her safety or her peace of mind. His thoughts were clouded with a mix of protective instinct, desire, and something far deeper, something that scared him a little bit. But more than anything, he knew that he had to protect her, even if it meant lying to keep her safe—lying to his family, lying to anyone who might question it.

His feelings for her were real, and that reality weighed heavy on his chest. But for now, all he could do was keep her safe and close to him, just like he promised.

Tank stepped quietly into the living room, his bare feet pressing softly against the wooden floor as he moved toward the front door. His eyes were sharp, every sense alert to the slightest noise, ensuring no one saw or heard him. He paused by the doorway, listening closely for any further sounds. It didn't take long before he recognized his mother's soft, familiar voice.

"Tank, you up already?" his mama called out softly, not quite expecting an answer. She often got up early to tend to the livestock or check on him when he returned home. It wasn't unusual for her to do so, but the last thing Tank needed was for her to find out about Kayla.

Tank ran a hand across his face, trying to quiet the swirl of thoughts in his head. He had to act quickly, but calmly. He stepped into the living room, keeping his voice steady. "Yeah, Mama. Just getting up. Thought I'd take care of a few things around here before breakfast."

His mama was in the kitchen, already preparing some food, the scent of fresh biscuits filling the air. Tank could hear the clinking of pots and pans as she moved around, preparing for another busy day. He shifted his stance, standing in the doorway of the kitchen, trying to appear casual, but inside, he was tense.

"Alright, baby. Well, I made breakfast. You should eat before you head back out." She paused for a moment, eyeing him with a knowing look. "How's everything on the road? Your load okay?"

"Yeah, all good, Mama," Tank replied, forcing a smile. He didn't want to delve too deeply into the details, not now. He was already thinking of a way to get back to the bedroom, to be with Kayla again, without his family suspecting anything.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. I haven't seen much of you lately," she said, her voice softening. "You know you can always come around whenever you want. We miss you around here."

Tank smiled, his mother's words tugging at his heart. "I know, Mama. I'll be around more, don't worry. Just got a lot on my plate."

She nodded, giving him a final glance before focusing back on breakfast. Tank took it as his chance to slip away, making his way back to the hallway. As he passed the living room window, he couldn't help but glance out to the land that stretched before him—his family's legacy, something they have all worked hard for, something that he took pride in.

His thoughts flickered back to Kayla, and his stomach tightened. He needed to figure this out—what he wanted with her, how he was going to protect her, how he could make this work. There was no going back now, not after everything she had told him, not after he'd let her into his life. She wasn't just someone passing through anymore. She was his, and he intended to keep her that way.

With a final, steady breath, Tank returned to the bedroom, shutting the door behind him quietly. As he moved closer to the bed, Kayla was still curled up, her face peaceful as she slept. His heart softened at the sight of her, and he knelt down beside the bed, brushing a few braids from her face.

He wasn't sure where this was going, but he did know one thing for sure—he would do anything to keep her safe.