Page 61 of Tempt Me

Hicks shakes his head. “Cooking is for girls.”

“I know you’re full of shit,” Siobhan says and tousles his longish brown hair. “You need to talk to your dad about how to lie better.”

I follow Siobhan and the four kids to the main farmhouse. I’m struck by the welcoming nutmeg scent. Aunt Fred’s been baking recently.

“Where will you live when this is over?” Siobhan asks me as she digs out a rack of ribs from her parents’ freezer.

“I plan to buy a house for Tack and me. It’ll probably need renovations to fit our tastes. Until it’s ready, we’ll likely live here and my mom’s place.”

“The condo’s just a no-go now?”

“I’d return if I was forced to, but since I have a choice, it’s a no-go. Besides, Tack needs more room.”

“I need more room, too,” Hicks announces as he washes the cabbage for his aunt. “I need all the room. No more kids.”

“I’m a kid,” Hudson says and then eyes his brother and adds, “I’m the best kid.”

The twins look at each other and then at Hudson before shaking their heads.

“We’re in a happy mood today,” Siobhan announces. “No fighting or crying. Only smiles and crazy happy energy.”

Using her “Real Genius” laugh, she cracks us all up. The kids imitate her, laughing wildly. Though I’d like to do nothing more than quietly chop cabbage, the five of them wait for me to mimic Siobhan. As soon as I start laughing like a crazy person, Tack and Golden arrive.

“A few days at the farm, and she’s already cracked,” Golden says, walking past us. “I lasted longer than that.”

Tack rolls his eyes and looks over our work. “What’s all this?”

“Carys wants ribs,” I explain.

“Well, that sounds like a Siobhan problem. You’re needed at the donkey pen.”

Siobhan considers complaining about getting ditched with a meal to cook and four children to entertain. Then, she remembers her own “only smiles and crazy happy energy” rule.

“Enjoy the donkeys,” she says and takes over with the cabbage. “If you see my mom or a club wife without anything to do, send them this way to help me cook.”

Tack starts to head for the door before stopping and glancing at Golden screwing around in the fridge.

“Golden, go watch the new boys and send Indigo here to help Siobhan.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m asking nicely. You’re too pretty to endure what’ll happen once I’m no longer nice.”

Rather than feel intimidated, Golden laughs loudly. “Hilarious behavior from the lovesick dude. But I’ll do you this favor since I’m stuck on the farm today.”

Despite Golden’s agreement, he ends up sending Indigo to the kitchen and the foster boys with Tack and me to the barn.

“The donkeys like hay,” Tack explains in a patient voice. “But we give them carrots as treats.”

It’s intoxicating how Tack’s voice and demeanor change when he’s dealing with these rowdy children. I swear I fall in love even more as another side of him is revealed to me.

I’m floating on a cloud by lunchtime. Tack and I eat with Siobhan and the kids at the farmhouse. The cooker out back emits a wonderful scent from the slow-cooking ribs. I feel relaxed in this place, surrounded by safe people.

As the day gets as sticky and hot as the ribs, Tack and I hide out in his room. We look at houses on the market and talk about dogs. We’re just getting frisky when I receive a text from Suzanne.

“I need to talk to you.”

“This can’t be good,” I mutter to Tack. “I’m going to talk to her alone.”

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