Page 35 of Taming Her Temptations

Ruby on the other hand… Well, she does.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Ruby

A familiar humming and the clatter of pans wake me. For a moment, I wonder if I’ve traveled back in time and I’m fifteen again on a weekend morning.

I look around.

Nope, just still living in my childhood home.

My dad got back from his retreat last night and we stayed up late chatting. He had a wonderful time and, of course, became lifelong friends with everyone. And to my slight disappointment, no new lady friends.

The thought of him meeting someone and dating would have made me lose my mind when I was a teenager. We lost our mom unexpectedly in a car crash when I was sixteen. She was the love of my dad’s life. Growing up, when my peers were worried that their parents might get a divorce, I never was. I knew how madly in love they were, even as a kid. Now that I’m older, I’ve grown an entirely new appreciation for their love and how rare it was.

And also how exceptionally cruel it was that it was taken away.

But my dad has grieved for her long enough. I don’t want him to be lonely. And sure, he’s happy to have me here for the company, but it’s only temporary. Well, hopefully.

I stretch long. My body is scraped and sore but the pain only reminds me of the pleasure. My cheeks blush as visions of Levi flash in my head.

How the hell did that happen?

It’s like something has been cracked open inside me. I’ve gone from one sexual partner in my entire life to four in the span of a few days. Math was never my favorite subject, but even I know that Steven leaving me has had a wonderful sexual return on investment.

I feel some of my anxious thoughts slipping in.

How many women have they made feel like this in the past?

Was it weird how Levi and I left it?

What if people find out?

I shoot up out of my bed. I’ve got no time for that today.

I clean up in the bathroom and then wrap my robe around me to greet my dad. His small frame is busy at the stove, his bony shoulders rising and falling as he flips the French toast.

He whips around and smiles at me. “Good morning, gemstone. Sleep well?”

“Eh,” I shrug. “I had a lot to think about after our conversation last night. I stayed up scribbling as many details as I could remember.”

Last night, after scrolling through about five hundred edits of me and Levi dancing, which started out cute and turned strangely possessive over Levi real quick, I realized I needed to focus on something else. So I filled my dad in on the real goal of working with Asher, Levi, and Dean.

I decided that I need to be more proactive. It feels like we’ve been completely disconnected from the goal since the gala. Especially recently with all the, uh… touching. So running everything past my dad to get his opinion felt much needed. And I was surprised by how much he agreed with the possibility that something might be up with Steven’s business. Although, he didn’t have a concrete reason to think that, just a “father’s hunch”.

He also had the brilliant idea of looking into all the fundraisers we’ve hosted and checking the donations. Steven didn’t involve me in the correspondence with the various organizations we worked with. I thought it was just because he was the “money person” in our relationship and I didn’t see it as a red flag at the time. But now that I think about it, I’m surprised he didn’t at least let me be involved in some of the communication with the organizations, especially because he tried to offload as many tasks to me as possible.

I open the notebook I’ve been working out the details in and show my dad as he pushes a plate of French toast in front of me. I smile at the plate, perfectly decorated with smashed blueberries and whipped cream, in a design that only an artist could create.

“Thanks, Dad,” I grin at him. “It’s nice having these mornings with you.”

“Yeah, Dad” A voice comes through the open screened window and I jump. “It’s nice having these mornings with you.” Ryan comes barreling through the backdoor into the kitchen with Daisy on his hip.

I get up to give Daisy a big kiss, fighting my dad for her attention. When she reaches her arms out to me, I gladly pull her in tight.

“Jessica has yoga teacher training today, so Daisy and I are blessing you with our company.” Ryan dips his finger into the whipped cream on my French toast, despite me smacking his hand.

“Daisy makes any morning brighter,” I settle down with my favorite little buddy on my lap. “Her dad, on the other hand, could use some work on his manners.” I hit his hand again as he goes for a second helping and Daisy laughs.

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