Page 13 of Tempt Me

“Yes, and I’d do a wonderful job.”

“If you died, I’d likely drink myself to death.”

The unfiltered certainty behind his words breaks me. “Don’t say that.”

“After what happened tonight, why should we lie to each other?”

Nodding, I grip the marble countertop and sigh. “I don’t know the right answer about anything right now.”

Tack levels his gaze on me, gluing my feet to their spot. “When you get back, I’m taking you out on a date.”

“Where will we go?”

Tack hesitates, having likely expected me to disagree. “To a movie and dinner. When I walk you up to your door at the end of the evening, you’ll reward me with a goodnight kiss. It’ll be the best date of your life.”

Despite smiling at his words, I shuffle behind the island for protection from my growing lust. “I have no doubt you’ll sweep me off my feet. The dating part has never been the problem.”

Tack inches his fine ass around the island, slowly as not to unnerve me. I inhale his scent and think back to the parking garage. My mind swirls with memories. I want to zero in on those I shared with Tack at the clubhouse. Instead, I mostly remember how my body went limp and dropped to the ground when the taser hit me.

That’s why I flinch when Tack’s fingers stroke my cheek in the barely lit kitchen.

“I’m scared.”

Cocking an eyebrow, he asks, “Of me?”

“I felt so powerless tonight.”

“Then, having me closer should be a good thing, right?”

Unwilling to fall apart, I ask, “If this thing happens between us, shouldn’t it be because I want you rather than because I’m afraid?”

“I don’t care.”

“I think you do,” I insist and step back when he invades my space. “Tomorrow, Natasha and Siobhan are visiting me at the estate. I’d like you to use that time to deal with this,” I say and gesture toward his phone vibrating in his pocket. “You can calm their concerns.”

“I can do that on the phone from here.”

“After talking to your club’s management, you can pack overnight clothes. If you’re planning to stay at the estate, I assume you’ll want to wear something clean at some point,” I explain and then grin. “Unless you want me to locate you clothing. I can’t promise you won’t look silly like Walla Walla did after the attack on Austen when the staff brought him oversized clothes.”

Tack hesitates as if stripping my words down to the important part where he gets to stay overnight.

Having gotten what he wants, Tack offers a smug smile. “I’ll give you alone time with the girls if you rest tonight.”

“Will you walk me to my room?” I ask and tear up when my voice breaks. “I thought I was tough. I trained in martial arts and carry weapons, but it didn’t matter.”

“You kicked their asses,” Tack says, sliding his arm around my shoulders and guiding me toward the foyer. “In a hundred different scenarios, you’d have won.”

“If they wanted me dead, I’d be dead.”

“Don’t think like that. Just focus on how you’re alive. You need rest. Tomorrow, you’ll see your friends. We’ll play pool. You said your mom has a table, right?”

As we reach the front door, I turn toward the hallway leading to my room. “Yes, it’s not far from the guest rooms. Do you promise you’ll rest, too? I’d hate to crush you at pool because you’re sleepy.”

Tack offers me a smile as we reach my room. He looks at the door and then back toward the path we took. I wonder if he’s gotten himself turned around in the house. His gaze returns to me.

“Thank you for saving me,” I tell him as I reach for the doorknob.

A moment passes, as we both consider if a kiss is the wrong move. The fact that we hesitate is the only answer I need. We aren’t there yet. Not tonight when I’m clingy and he’s holding all the power.

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