Page 16 of Tempt Me

“Thanks to Tack, I’m okay.”

Siobhan probably wouldn’t be so frazzled if she had come over last night and gotten this angst out of her system. Instead, her panic festered.

“Why don’t you clean up,” Hunter suggests to her friend. “I’ll kick Tack out of the house, so he can get his shit done. Natasha will be here soon.”

Siobhan glances at me and sighs. “He looks like he might cry next.”

Before I can flip her off, she heads to the nearby bathroom.

“I know it’s difficult after what just happened,” Hunter says, wearing an unreadable expression. “But maybe you need to get the hell out here now.”

“Why would it be difficult?” I ask, messing with her. “You kissed me, remember, hot stuff? I was just talking about my feet when you lost control of yourself.”

Hunter rolls her eyes and walks to the door. “You were flirting so hard, I had no choice but to throw you a pity kiss.”

I grudgingly follow Hunter who glances down at my feet and smiles. “I’ve never seen a man walk around the house barefoot. It’s funny.”

“I’ll add your foot fetish to my list of Hunter turn-ons.”

Smirking, she inhales sharply and points out the door. “You do your thing, and I’ll do mine. If you’re good, maybe we’ll do a dry run on the promised ‘best date of my life’ when you get back.”

I glance down at her socked feet. “I wouldn’t mind seeing your ten little piggies stripped naked.”

“Weirdo,” Hunter says, laughing as she gently shoves me out of the billiard room. “Go handle your club and get clean stuff for tonight. I want your mind on me tonight and not your constantly vibrating phone.”

With her talking less like my buddy and more like a girlfriend, I hurry my ass to my room to locate my boots. The sooner I deal with a pissed Zoot and grab my best clothes, the faster I can work my magic on Hunter again.

HUNTER

On my phone’s security footage, I watch Natasha’s SUV convoy passing Tack on his way through the front gate.

At my side, Siobhan wraps her arm around mine and holds on. I smile at my friend. She flashes her bright grin with the little gap between her front teeth. Despite her blue eyes shining with affection, I can tell she didn’t sleep well last night.

Natasha also looks exhausted as she exits one of the SUVs. Though her smile can light up any room, it seems forced today. Her blonde hair hangs loose, and her shirt is on the baggier side to deal with her early pregnancy. I relax into her embrace, glad to be surrounded by my people.

Last night, Natasha and Siobhan texted me endlessly to see if I was okay. I think they worried my head injury was more serious than I was letting on.

Now, they take turns hugging me before deciding to hug each other. Natasha’s hand goes to her belly as we walk down the hallway to the billiard room. I catch her wearing a silly grin when she thinks of carrying Bear’s baby.

My stomach flips as I consider taking the leap with Tack. Is a husband and baby what I want?

“I’m not sorry for interrupting your kiss,” Siobhan says and smiles. “Not even a little bit.”

“Are Tack and you together now?” Natasha asks as I close the billiard room door to allow us privacy from the staff.

“I don’t know.”

“They looked together,” Siobhan insists and settles in the chair on my right while Natasha sits to my left. “If I hadn’t shown up, they might have bumped uglies on the pool table.”

Natasha glances at the table and shakes her head. “That doesn’t seem comfortable for their first time.”

“It was just a kiss,” I explain, trying to sound reasonable. “It’s been a long time since I tasted his lips. I was merely testing out his flavor.”

Siobhan leans closer. “What is your verdict?”

“I haven’t decided.”

“You like Tack, right?” Siobhan asks, wearing a confused frown. “He’s crazy about you. I don’t understand why you won’t try.”

---