Page 12 of Taming Her Temptations

“I need to think about it,” I finally say.

Asher nods and Dean drums nervously on the kitchen counter.

“I’m,” I start awkwardly. “Uh, I’m gonna go.”

“We hope to see you tomorrow,” Asher says with a weak smile.

I just nod and turn on my heels to leave. I open the big oak door and wonder if I’ll ever get a chance to see the interior of this house again.

CHAPTER SIX

Ruby

I slip my slides off so I can feel the sand in my toes as I walk down the length of the white sand beach. The sand is cold but I’m just grateful it’s not covered in snow anymore. I angle my face toward the sun and take in my last moments of Zen before I meet with Asher, Dean, and Levi.

I texted Levi this morning saying that I need to talk to them. He responded by asking me what my favorite restaurant is in town because they want to bring me there to make it up to me. I responded with an eye roll emoji, which wasn’t my most mature or professional decision, but I’m not quite ready to be either of those things.

Eventually, I gave him the name of The Oyster, my favorite restaurant that’s right on the water, but only because I really, really miss the calamari and can’t afford it anymore.

So now, I’m taking the long way to the restaurant to clear my mind before I talk to them. They think they’re surprising me with a nice lunch, but really, I’m the one with surprises. I stayed up late doing some more research on them and I’ve got a theory.

I approach the sun-bleached wooden building and nostalgia washes over me. Mom and Dad used to take us here for my birthday. It’s been around at least as long as I can remember. Steve didn’t love coming here. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s always delicious. Somehow I don’t expect that Levi, Asher, and Dean will judge me for suggesting this place instead of the many fine dining places closer to town. But I’m not entirely sure if that’s because I don’t think they’re judgemental or because I don’t care what they think.

I sit on the wooden steps leading up to the restaurant and brush the sand off my feet before slipping my flats back on. I stroll through the entrance and wave hi to a server I recognize, pointing to the table by the window where Dean, Asher, and Levi sit, holding my shoulders high as I walk over to them.

“Good afternoon, Rubes.” Dean stands up and pulls my chair out.

“Is it though?” I scan his face as I sit down. This might seem like a harsh greeting, but they’ve got some explaining to do and I’m not going to fall for their overabundance of charm until I’m satisfied.

The server comes over to hand me a menu, and I politely decline it. Instead, I order. “Four plates of calamari to start,” I tell him and I’m thankful that he doesn’t look to anyone else for confirmation, but just cheerily confirms and walks away.

“Why so much calamari?” Levi swirls the coffee in his mug, looking amused by me.

Well, you won’t be amused much longer, Levi Wilde.

“I’m asking the questions here,” I shoot back at him.

He puts his hands up in surrender. “Go ahead.”

“And I’ll start with this one. What’s the one thing you would guess that I’m really, truly sick of right about now?” I scan all of them who are looking at me like I’m a space invader, and not even a scary one. My attempts at intimidating them never seem to work.

“Apparently, not squid?” Dean answers unhelpfully.

“No, but if any of you even try to steal one piece off my plate, then I’m leaving with a to-go container.” I glare at each of them.

“Ruby, I’ll buy you ten calamari if you tell us what’s going on in that twisted head of yours right now,” Levi shakes his head as he says it.

“I can’t eat ten plates of calamari don’t be ridiculous.” I sit back in my chair. “But I’ll tell you this anyway, the number one thing I’m sick of is men deceiving and manipulating me.”

“Okay, understandable.” Asher nods.

“I’m pretty sure that Ruby here is accusing us of something.” Dean’s smile is a little unnerving, but also something about it tells me I’m on the right track.

“I am,” I nod my head in agreement as I pull my notebook out of my purse. “Something didn’t sit right with me. You don’t seem at all actually interested in fitting in here. Plus, you have no real reason to want to fit in here. So I did a little more research on you three and I was right. You don’t give a damn about all this fuss like galas and etiquette and upper society.”

“Oh?” Levi crosses his arms. “Then tell us what we do give a damn about?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” I eye all three of them, really watching their expressions for any indication of what they’re not telling me. And I get the impression that they’re analyzing me right back.

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