Page 36 of Temporary Wife Temptation

Everything happened in a split second, but she saw it in slow motion. They were all tired, which was probably why Camilia’s next serve veered to the wrong side and came straight toward Natalie. She just had to lift her racquet and shield herself, but she was too focused on her husband to react in time. The ball caught Natalie squarely on the forehead. She fell onto her bottom and sat dazed with a hand over her injury.

“Natalie.” Garrett was by her side in an instant and peeled her hand off her forehead. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, my goodness.” Camilia had reached her side. “Are you all right, Natalie? I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry. It startled me more than anything,” Natalie said, but her voice sounded faint.

Sebastian, who’d disappeared from the court when it happened, now sprinted to them with a bag of ice. “Here you are. Put this on.”

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

Garrett grabbed the ice and placed it gently on her forehead, ignoring her protests. Natalie got her bearings back in a few minutes. The mild throbbing told her she was going to have some bruising the next day, but she was otherwise perfectly fine.

“That’s all, folks,” she said, waving her hands to dispel their worried expressions. “The show’s over.”

Natalie wanted to get off the cold ground, but before she could stand, Garrett reached under her and lifted her as though she didn’t weigh much more than Sophie. She squeaked but reflexively grabbed onto him.

“Oh, my,” Camilia said, fanning her face. “Maybe I should get hit in the head with a ball so Sebastian would carry me like that.”

“There’s no need for such extremes.” Sebastian reached out to grab her and Camilia slapped his hands away, laughing.

Garrett met Natalie’s eyes with a smile that made her heart vibrate like a windup alarm clock. “Feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. You can put me down.”

He shifted her in his arms but ignored her request. “Okay, you kids. I need to take my wife back to our villa.”

“Of course,” Sebastian said, pausing from their horseplay. “Please call us if you need anything. And let’s play a round of golf next week to talk about your proposal in detail.”

“Thank you. That sounds great. I’ll call you Monday,” Garrett said, and turned to leave.

“I’m sorry about knocking you down.” Camilia waved, her smile bright and affectionate. “Good night.”

“Wait.” Natalie remembered something very important. “We didn’t finish the game. We don’t have a winner yet.”

“Why don’t we call it a tie?” Garrett said.

“A tie? But that’s so...not winning.” Natalie deflated in her husband’s arms.

“Well, why don’t we say we won?” Garrett’s warm breath tickled her ear. She sighed and a shiver ran through her, awareness simmering between them. “We won Sebastian’s support.”

“I guess you’re right.” They’d not only secured their business goal, but also gained the Diazes’ friendship. It was a double win.

Garrett looked down at her with a perplexed frown, but his eyes twinkled with humor. “When am I not?”

When the golf cart stopped in front of their villa, Garrett reached for his wife.

“I’m really okay,” Natalie protested.

He ignored her and carried her through the door. The significance of the act hit him a moment later. How appropriate to carry his bride over the threshold on their long-overdue honeymoon.

Natalie gazed at him with wide, vulnerable eyes. He was hit again with how alluring she was—so innocent yet sensual. In an instant, his blood turned molten with raw desire. Once inside, he lowered her to the floor, letting her body slide slowly down his.

All his reasons for not touching her were still valid, but he couldn’t fight what they had anymore. Their kiss earlier had proven that. Whenever he was near her, she came into sharp focus and everything else ceased to exist. Call it a cruel twist of fate, but their attraction was beyond their control. And they were caught in its vortex again.

“I’m going to collapse in bed after a nice bath.” Her soft voice trembled and she hastily turned away from him.

Garrett followed her into the master suite, and she spun around with wide eyes.

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