Page 63 of Tempt Me

I manage to do the same now. First, I cry into my pillow while Tack rubs my back. Next, I clean myself up and hide out with him for the afternoon.

Later, we’ll check on Carys and get dinner. I can goof around with Siobhan. Tack will relax with his friends. As the farm faces another day on lockdown, I can pretend the world outside this place isn’t crawling with danger.

TACK

I wake up to another day with Hunter at my side. We already have a morning routine. Hunter and I talk in bed and check our messages before showering together and joining Siobhan and the twins for breakfast.

With anyone else, I’d likely get hostile over sharing my space so much. With Hunter, I feel like our entire lives have been leading to this comfortable moment.

This morning, Siobhan sits between her girls and plays word games. Around us, people seem restless from staying at the farm so long. I spot Indigo wandering around the dining hall, unsure where to sit his ass. When I call his name, he seems leery about joining Hunter and me.

After breakfast, Hunter and Siobhan bail on me so they can take care of Carys. I’m unsure what to do with myself. Before I can hunt down Indigo, I run into my foster dad.

Elvis is a big guy with a thick head of dark hair and a strong chin. He smiles easily, loves to dance, and lives on his own terms. I took a long time to trust his easygoing behavior. My dad was a piece of shit but could fake a warm personality. Elvis, though, really is a fun guy.

“How are you feeling, bud?” Elvis asks and gestures toward my stomach.

I pat it harder than I should and shrug. “I’ve felt worse.”

“But you’ve also felt better,” Elvis replies. “How are you up here?”

When he gestures to his head, I exhale deeply. “I don’t need a pep talk.”

“How many girlfriends have you had before, sport?”

Rolling my eyes, I mumble, “I get it.”

“No, you don’t. Dating is a whole different monster than what you’ve experienced before. And Hunter isn’t just any chick. She’s a rich girl with options, and you’ve been waiting for a long time. That’s a lot of pressure.”

“I’m fine.”

Elvis tilts his head and murmurs, “You look pissed off.”

“Hunter and I are doing good.”

“You can’t know. Things are wild at the beginning of the romance. Everything is fun. But you’re also dealing with people trying to steal away your woman. Hunter’s a strong woman, but everyone has a breaking point. And there you are saddled with the pressure of keeping her safe and sane. If you can’t see it’s a lot to deal with, maybe you need glasses.”

Elvis’s fun, almost goofy vibe can be jarring after dealing with his younger brothers. Some people wrongly view him as a lightweight. But he owns the ability to break through an asshole’s walls. That’s why I’m suddenly feeling insecure and looking for his approval.

“I don’t want her to leave,” I admit, glancing around to make sure no one hears me sounding like a worried bitch.

“She’s gotta go sometime. The farm doesn’t fit a rich girl like Hunter.”

“If the farm doesn’t suit her, how can I?”

“Well, chicks like to slum it, kid.”

Elvis throws his head back and laughs loudly at whatever he sees on my face. He pats my shoulder, and I fight the urge to smack away his hand.

“You’re a member of the Backcountry Kings,” Elvis says through his chuckling. “That makes you royalty in Banta City. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“So, I am good enough for her?”

“You know the answer to that shit, Tack. But this dating thing is new for you. That’s why you’re acting like a little bitch.”

Shaking my head, I mutter, “Suzanne will be back in Banta City soon.”

“And you’re worried she’ll meddle in your relationship.”

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