Page 23 of Tempt Me

“Oh, tell me, is he tall, dark, and handsome?”

I grinned. “He’s suave, sophisticated, and sexy.”

“Ooooh, sounds delicious. Give him a smooch for me.”

We said our goodbyes, and I was still laughing as I hung up the phone. From what I knew, Aunty Ann had been single her entire life. She was likely to remain that way until the day she died. I truly hoped that wasn’t a destiny for me.

I had a long, hot shower, which included shaving my legs and cleansing and toning my face. All the makeup I’d been using lately for my Memphis disguise was probably messing with my pores.

Henry’s suggestion that I leave my naughty alter-ego behind was an interesting one because it was Memphis that he’d met last time. Memphis was sexy and sassy and knew exactly what she wanted—sex. I, on the other hand, was usually shy and dorky when it came to men.

Hopefully, some of my Memphis traits will come out to play.

I still put on a touch of makeup—just enough foundation to cover the scattering of freckles across my nose, plus mascara and a touch of lipstick. That was it. It was a refreshing change from my usual get-up.

I blow-dried my hair and styled it using my curling wand. The result was loose curls that fell over my shoulders and down my back. It was rare for me to wear my hair down; usually, I couldn’t be bothered messing with it, so it went up into a ponytail or bun.

The decision of what to wear was much harder. Over and over, I dragged clothes from my wardrobe, tried them on, and then returned them because they were too old, too conservative, too boring, or just plain ugly. Although I wanted to look and feel sexy for him, I wanted to ensure it was me he was seeing and not Memphis.

In the end, I settled on a Bohemian maxi skirt that fell to the floor and a white linen top with elasticated sleeves that could either sit up on my shoulders or down on my biceps. I wore nice chunky earrings in a bold pattern to match the skirt and selected a pair of flat, comfortable sandals. I glanced in the mirror.

Is this what a twenty-eight-year-old single woman should look like on a hot date?

I had no idea, but I was about to find out.

With another dab of lipstick, I grabbed my bag and keys and headed for my suave tutor’s room.

Henry opened the door after I knocked just once.

“Welcome.” He leaned over and pressed his lips to my cheek. His aftershave was a delicate blend of floral and spice. “You look stunning.”

A tingle crawled up my neck as he placed his hand on my lower back and guided me into his room. A couple of candles flickered inside two large wine glasses set up on the balcony table. It was a clever idea to stop the wind from blowing them out.I’ll use that myself some time.

“I thought we’d have a drink outside. Would you like one?”

“Yes, please.” However, I’d have to watch how much I drank because, in a little more than three hours, I had to go to work.

“Perfect. I took a guess that you’d like champagne?” He pulled out a chair, and he guided it in as I sat.

“That’ll be lovely.”

He poured a generous quantity of bubbles into both our glasses and then held a bowl of strawberries toward me. “Pop it into your champagne.”

I did as he instructed, and the bubbles attacked the fruit as it bobbed and spun at the top of the glass.

Henry sat beside me and raised his glass. “Here’s to perfect strangers.”

I nearly crumbled at his toast because Perfect Stranger was the nickname I’d given to Hunter McCall, the chocolatier I’d met two weeks ago. I sipped my drink, hopeful that it wouldn’t come straight back up again.

“Are you hungry? I took the liberty of putting together a nibble plate if you’re interested?”

My stomach growled at the very thought. In my haze to get ready, I’d completely forgotten to eat. “Sounds great.”

“Good. I’ll be back in a second.”

I nibbled on another strawberry, and as Henry fussed about in the kitchen, I admired the edge of the moon beginning its glide up from the ocean, hundreds of miles in the distance. Thousands of stars lit up the night sky, tiny pinpricks in a blanket of black.

Henry returned carrying a large plate topped with an abundant selection of nibbles. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I’ve covered all bases.”

---