Page 31 of Taming Her Temptations

“Was that a compliment?” He reaches over and squeezes my knee playfully.

I swat at him. “Your table manners still suck,” I try to save myself. “I saw you copying Jeremy, a literal 13-year-old, to remember what to do.”

He’s grinning now. “You can’t be perfect at everything. You should know, as you screwed up our dance.”

I turn to him, my mouth agape. “I did not screw it up. You were trying to rile me up just to mess me up, weren’t you?”

He laughs. “It is nice seeing you riled up,” his eyes go up and down me, taking in my flustered appearance.

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.” I lift my chin and straighten my back, hopefully creating the absolute picture of composure. I’m so composed that I could practically be a symphony.

“Oh, I’d never get used to it,” he says, looking straight at the road. “I’d enjoy it every time.”

I see a playful smirk dance on his lips as he looks at the road and damn it, I’m not such the vision of composure anymore.

“I have your check at the house,” he says as he pulls into the driveway that connects our houses. He keeps driving past my cottage to their house. “I can run in and get it or I can make you a coffee or something if you want to come in.”

Right, employment. My employer. Not to mention my ex-husband’s pregnant mistress’ brother. Yeah, that’s a mouthful.

As if the universe wants to slap me in the face with reality, we pull into their driveway to a very sobering vision. Madison is standing at the front door, her arms crossed over her baby bump, looking like someone just pooped in her designer handbag.

Levi swears under his breath as he parks the car.

We look at each other, debating what to do, but we don’t get a chance before Madison heads our way.

I want to be so mean to this woman. I strongly dislike this woman. I would say hate, but I reserve that word only for my ex.

But she’s pregnant. And I’m not a monster. Even if I so badly want to be.

Levi jumps out of the car and I just sit in my seat awkwardly.

“Is everything okay?” He sounds panicked.

“No, everything isn’t okay!” Her voice is raised at him and she lifts her phone.

He looks, squinting to see her phone screen.

It’s a video that she’s showing him. I can hear noise. No, not noise. That’s the instrumental cover of the song I played for the class today. The one I danced with Levi to.

“Okay, so what?” Levi says. “It’s a video of Ruby and I dancing.”

“Not just dancing!” Madison yells, her voice high-pitched and shrill. “There are already about one hundred fan edits of you two, showing your supposed chemistry.”

Levi looks back at me, and I just stare back at him like a deer in the headlights. What the hell are fan edits? Our chemistry?

He turns back to his sister. “It’s the internet, Madison. It’s not the first time this has happened, nor is it the last.”

“This is different and you know it!” Her perfectly delicate features are twisted and red with rage. “Websites are already posting articles about this. It’s a matter of hours until they identify who she is and then my business is all over the internet.” She rubs her stomach reflexively. “We’ve managed to avoid it so far, but you know people will think this is a juicy story. It will be viral in a second.”

“I’ll call my P.R. people.” He shrugs. “It’s not a big deal.”

She groans in frustration. “Of all the people you could fuck around with, why her?”

Yep, I’ve heard enough. I’m really not trying to physically assault a pregnant woman today.

Pure anger blooms in my chest as I unbuckle my seatbelt and swing open the car door. As if this woman hasn’t already done enough to me, now she is degrading me. She’s talking about me like I have zero value. I guess that’s the only way you can destroy another person’s life in the way she did, to assume they’re nothing worthwhile, something you can just trample on.

“Fucking hell, Madison.” I hear Levi say. “Get the hell out of here. You’re acting like a fucking lunatic.”

---