Page 61 of Taming Her Temptations

After eating, everyone dispersed to different parts of the grounds to fully enjoy the sunshine.

Dean is teaching my brother to throw axes. Ryan has already video-called his wife Jessica three times to show off his new skills and is now proudly proclaiming that he can provide for his family in an apocalypse.

“Pockalysh,” I hear Daisy mimic excitedly over the phone.

“Sorry, Jessica.” I peak my head in and wave. “And we miss you guys.”

She laughs and blows me a virtual kiss.

I move on to Odette and my dad, who are being serenaded by Levi and Asher in the rose garden. I have a feeling they’ve sensed the budding chemistry between my dad and my favorite Frenchwoman and are now really pushing it over the edge.

I settle next to Odette on the stone bench, not unafraid to give them a little chaperoning and also wanting to hear the song better. They’re currently doing an acoustic cover of “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and their voices meld together perfectly. I force myself to stop considering how well they work together in other ways.

“What happened to being tough on these guys?” I whisper to Odette as Levi and Asher finish and get ready for the next song.

“Some flowers bloom under tough conditions,” she says. “Other flowers are perfect as they are. They are perfect as they are and before your dirty mind starts working, all I’m trying to say is I like them. And thank you for inviting me today. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

I squeeze her hand and nod at my dad, who is beaming at me. I’ll leave them to their romantic date. Asher and Levi grin at me as I wave goodbye. Yeah, they know exactly what they’re doing. And all I feel for them is gratitude that they have always treated my dad with nothing but respect and kindness.

I head to the house to grab myself a water, when I see a figure standing awkwardly just inside the glass door.

Petra Collins.

She waves to me, looking unsure of what to do.

I open the door and step inside.

“I’m so sorry, one of the chefs let me in. I realize now that I’m interrupting something,” she says, looking more unsure than I’ve ever seen her.

“It’s okay,” I nod. I hate that immediately my guard is up with her. I just can’t stop imagining her on the arm of Dean.

“Uh,” she looks around awkwardly. “To be honest, I didn’t really have a plan. I just came here in kind of a rush of adrenaline when I got the e-mail from Steven.”

I look at her confused.

“Steven. You guys are suspicious he’s up to something…” She says as if she’s trying to jog my memory.

Of course, I know this. I just didn’t know she knew this.

“Dean told you?” I ask, trying not to sound as confused as I am.

“Oh,” she nods, realizing where the disconnect is. “After we ran into you at the bakery, I knew he wasn’t telling the truth with me. The man was seething in his seat, unable to peel his eyes away from the door. It was clear he had a thing for you, so I made him spill. Not the best poker face on that one.”

Dean and I hadn’t discussed what happened with Petra again after he came barreling in, apologizing. We’ve been too busy being completely and utterly obsessed with each other’s bodies since that day. And I’m not sure I’m in agreement with him on this decision. It was a risky move telling Petra. She could be on anyone’s side.

“I would be mad at you for hogging all three of the most eligible bachelors in town if you didn’t just potentially save my dad and me from reputational obliteration.”

I don’t know what’s more shocking, that Dean also managed to slip in the fact to Petra that I’m with all three of them or that Petra is confirming my suspicions.

“Wait,” I shake my head. “I am so lost. Do you want to come outside? We’re having a picnic.”

“A picnic?” She raises an eyebrow and I just shrug in response.

I can tell Petra resents the quaintness of our picnic, but I actually grow a newfound respect for her as she does her best to tuck her heels under her skirt and sit like a lady on the bumpy picnic blanket.

We all gather around her like she’s about to give us a campfire story. Dean makes a show of putting his arm around me, and I debate telling him it’s okay, he can relax and I know he’s not into Petra. But I also would never refuse his arm around me, so I let it happen, and even burrow into him a little closer for the extra warmth now that the sun is lower in the sky.

Petra goes on to explain that she searched her dad’s files when he wasn’t home but couldn’t find anything that would incriminate Steven. She holds steadfast that her dad is the most honorable guy she knows, and would never be involved with anything untoward. I tend to agree with her, as he’s been nothing but kind and straightforward for as long as I’ve known him. But I also certainly can’t rule anything out.

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