Page 82 of Tempt Me

I wanted a relationship like that.

I wanted to feel the simple thrill of holding a man’s hand, knowing that I’d go to bed in his arms that night. I wanted to be so in love that every time we separated, I felt as if my heart would split in two. And I wanted to have the best sex in the world. The kind of sex that only two people who were so completely committed to each other could have.

Was that too much to ask?

No. I decided it wasn’t. I’d seen that kind of love in Lolly and Cal.

I wasn’t being greedy. There was nothing wrong with creating a wish list.

My breakfast and coffee arrived, and as I ate and watched the anonymous people walk past, I contemplated what else I would have on my wish list.

I would want my man to be able to laugh freely. And enjoy the outdoors and know how to cook and clean and choose the best wine. I’d like him to have a sound financial situation but be comfortable with me adding to our wealth creation. He’d need to want to travel, and eat interesting food, and take on the occasional heart-pounding rollercoaster.

He would also need to be able to show his affection freely. Ryan, the man I’d had a secret relationship with, couldn’t wait to get away from me after we’d had sex. And my cheating bastard ex-fiancé, Alexander, well, when I looked back now, it was like he was embarrassed to even hold my hand. I’d been a fool.

I wasn’t a fool anymore. I was a woman who wouldn’t take second-best ever again.

It was only once I’d finished the last piece of crispy bacon that I realized my wish list didn’t have any attributes that dictated what my man should look like. Clearly, his looks weren’t as important as everything else. Which was interesting because every one of my Memphis conquests had been chosen solely on their looks. “Hmmm,” I mumbled under my breath. Maybe I should revisit my list later.

I finished my coffee and headed toward my favorite shoe store, Wittner. Shoe shopping was my kind of therapy.

“Hi, Jane.” One of the staff members greeted me with a huge smile. The staff always seemed so happy to see me.

I scanned the latest trends, but despite their extensive collection of winter boots, they didn’t have any white ones. They did, however, have a red pair. My spirits rose as I lifted the display shoe off the top shelf. It was divine soft leather, and the heel was an acceptable six inches.

“Hi, Jane.” Stefanie, one of the junior staff members, sidled up beside me.

“Hi, Stef. I have to have these; tell me you have them in my size.”

“They’ve just come in, so we should have them.” She disappeared through a back doorway.

I sat on the cushioned leather chair and undid the laces on my gym shoes. Rebecca returned holding a white box as if it were the Holy Grail. The boots were expertly crafted leather masterpieces. I zipped them up and walked to the mirror. Everything about them was perfect. I didn’t even bother looking at the price. I was worth it.

After the shoe purchase, I raced up to Myer and scoured the department store for the intimate apparel section. The extensive range of hosiery was spectacular, and it took me a while to make a choice. In the end, I selected a pair of thigh-high white patterned stockings that stayed in place thanks to a broad, patterned elastic at the top. I bought a couple of other stockings, too, but they were all black.

With my purchases hanging off my arm, I headed toward the taxi rank, and within fifteen minutes, I was back in my apartment. After I hung my nurse outfit on the hook outside my wardrobe, I took a long, hot shower.

It was already past eleven o’clock when I crawled into bed and set the alarm for six o’clock.

Sleep didn’t come easily, though, as my brain flicked around imaginary pictures of me in a nurse uniform with a hot naked guy kneeling before me, ready to perform whatever medical miracle I demanded. After rolling around for about half an hour, I turned on the television, found a re-run of Friends, and laughed along at the jokes that I’d probably heard three or four times before.

I woke to a siren, and it took me a while to work out it was the television. Annoyed at myself, I glanced at the clock, and was shocked that the alarm was just ten minutes off waking me anyway.

My neck was a bit sore from Lolita’s punishing workout this morning, and I rolled my head from side to side as I crawled out of bed and walked to the bathroom. I showered, washed my hair, and did a face scrub, tone, and cleanse. My skin just wasn’t used to all the makeup Memphis wore.

Loud voices drifting up from below caught my attention. I tugged on my bathrobe and peered over the verandah to see a bunch of men come out of the hotel. The sun had set more than an hour ago, but the lights dotted along the walking path highlighted the way. The men were dressed to go out in lounge suits and swanky shoes, and based on their boisterous laughter, they were in for a fun night.

As they disappeared into the distance, I wondered if one of them would need a nurse later. I giggled as I walked inside to make some dinner.

Fifteen minutes before my shift was due to start, I made my way downstairs to the lobby. Marjorie was almost hidden behind the reception counter as she worked on the computer.

“Hey, Marj, how’s your day?”

“Oh, Jane.” She sighed. “I’m bloody exhausted.”

I frowned at her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Sammy had me up all night, vomiting. Fortunately, Mom looked after her today while she was home from school.”

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