Page 17 of Illicit Temptation

The big tip now registers, and I push it back against his chest. “Is thispaymentfor my company?”

“Don’t look so shocked, sweet thing. I bet men line up to fuck you.”

“They have to get past me first.” Trace’s rich brogue sails over my shoulder. “Especially since I’m her husband.”

Edward’s jaw quivers. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see a ring, I thought she was—”

“A prostitute?” Trace scrapes out between clenched teeth, wedging his brawny body between me and this jackass.

“No, of course not. I just thought...” Coyle’s voice quivers. “My mistake.”

I don’t get to watch the retiree stumble away. Trace’s wide shoulders block my view. I yank him around to address one of my many concerns. “Why areyoueven here?”

“Covering for Soren.”

I grumble, realizing Lachlan was fucking with me when I said I didn’t need a guard this weekend while Soren was away and he said, ‘Okay.’

Clearly, I don’t get his humor anymore.

“You didn’t have to do that with Archer,” I whisper, a hint of guilt and worry coming back to me.

Trace stands over me. “Did you think I’d let a man raise his hand to you and not leave in pain?”

“I meant the brutal part.” I take a breath.

Despite all his flaws and lies, Archer understood me, and we bonded over being born into dangerous families. I accepted a long time ago that if I wanted to keep my family in my life, for better or worse, I’d have to marry someone just like my brothers.

My eyes linger on Trace. Apparently, I’daccidentallydone that.

I don’t keep bodyguards for long. A year or two, tops. Trace is here for a few days. That will give me time to convince him to divorce me. I can’t have this marriage hanging over my head. Christ, he unnerves me with his sinful good looks.

“Are we officially off duty?” Larke comes up to me, Trace hanging back to lean against the bar.

With a glance, I see the party is winding down. The venue’s event manager and her staff are wrapping up the flowers for the guests to take home fresh bouquets.

I’ve been paid, and I’ve been tipped, so I say, “We sure are.”

Larke bites her lip. “My mom’s still not feeling well. Can I take off?”

“Of course,” I say with a hug. “Give her my best, as usual.”

“Why don’t you and the big guy go have fun,” Larke says, digging for her car keys.

I snort at her suggestion. Oh, to be young again, optimistic about love and sex. With Archer gone, my uterus on its last leg, and a husband I don’t want, I’ll just go quietly drink alone.

“I can’t have fun with my bodyguard.” Myhusband,however...

His searing and scandalous gaze suggests if I wanted some fake husband with benefits, he’d be up to give me what I’d been lacking for the last three years.

Larke smiles conspiratorially. “Ooh, forbidden sex. Even better!”

Sex that will get Trace killed if Lachlan finds out.

“We have a meeting tomorrow at noon about the Mallory communion,” I remind her, but I know her mom’s been having long, difficult nights. “I can meet with Andrew and Gwen alone if you’re not up to it.”

“I’ll keep you posted.” Larke passes Trace and mocks with hands stretched to indicate that his height and length of his dick might be in proportion.

Girl...you have no idea.Wait, neither do I, because I don’t remember. But what I felt a few hours ago...

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