Page 60 of Tempt Me

“And you didn’t want that.”

“I thought we couldn’t work.”

“But now you think different.”

“Honestly?” Hunter asks and leans away. “I still don’t know what will happen. But I love you, and I’ve fantasized about what might happen between us. That’s why I have these ideas already about kids’ graduations and a big garage for your motorcycles.”

Realizing how much Hunter wanted me all this time leaves me edgy.

“What’s wrong?” Hunter asks and cups my jaw. “Don’t think. Just tell me.”

“I want something.”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

Hunter studies me while still cupping my jaw. “Then, you don’t know, and we’ll leave it at that.”

“Shouldn’t we want to know?”

“Maybe it’s nothing. Or you’re reacting to the last week. All these new emotions might have gotten muddled in your head and made you feel unsatisfied. If that’s the case, we shouldn’t analyze it to death. We’ll just hang out and watch a movie. Later, we’ll get sweaty together. I might want a quick shower to cool down. We’ll choose to be together without thinking or worrying. Can you do that?”

“Is it enough?”

“It is for me.” Resting my hand on her chest, Hunter watches me with her beautiful blue eyes. “It’d be easy to let the fear, guilt, and pain swallow me up. Or I can strip away everything except you and me spending time together. That’s all I want for tonight.”

Hunter is a practical woman. That’s one reason I fell so hard for her. She’s worldly and educated. When everyone else is losing their shit, she acts as the voice of reason.

Right now, Hunter offers me only the truth. I want more, but I also know if she swore we’d be together until our dying breaths, I wouldn’t believe her.

That’s why I give her what she wants and turn on the TV. We find a mindless action movie to watch. After “Time Cop” is over, we leisurely fuck before fooling around in the shower. As we spend our third night together, I promise myself this uneasy feeling will fade.

HUNTER

Tack and I sleep better on our second night at the farm. That’s probably why he wakes up when I do. We hang out in bed, looking at our phones and texting people. After a shower together, we enjoy breakfast at the dining hall.

Siobhan shows up with the twins and her nephews, Hicks and Hudson. They eat with Tack, Indigo, Golden, and me. Afterward, while Tack and Indigo take the two foster boys for a walk, I help Siobhan bring food to her sister.

“I can barely eat,” Carys mumbles and looks sadly at the scrambled eggs. “Maybe I could keep sticky ribs down.”

Siobhan frowns at her sister. “You didn’t cook for me when I was near my due date.”

“You were scheduled for a C-section. You didn’t suffer through any of this last-minute misery. But if you had, I would have cooked anything you wanted.”

“I hate you,” Siobhan hisses. “Sneaky twat waffle.”

“Are you this angry because you’re planning to make me ribs?” Carys asks with a hopeful smile.

“Yes,” Siobhan grumbles. “I can’t help myself. You look so much like Mom. How can I say no to this face?”

Carys claps her hands and blows a kiss at Siobhan. “Can you make enough for Pork Chop and the boys? I don’t want them to suffer by watching me eat.”

“Of course,” Siobhan says and glances at me. “Want to help me prepare the ribs while we talk shit about my sister?”

“Yes,” I say and glance at the kids. “What about them?”

“I hate cooking. They can help make it less painful.”

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