Page 101 of Tempt Me

Caden takes a few steps toward me, so that he’s only inches away. I can feel the heat of him, mixed with that leather and soap scent. “I’m sorry,” he says softly.

I shake my head. My eyes burn. This has to be a lie. Like Luke said. Caden telling lies to break us up…but my mind starts to spin back over other things. How Luke gets called into work at odd times. How cool he’s always been about me staying out here while he stays in the city.

My stomach twists sharply and bile rises in my throat. I turn and lean over the sink, willing the contents of my stomach to stay put. I feel a strong warm hand on my back.

“Don’t,” I snap, and the hand goes away. I take a few deep breaths and my stomach settles.

“I don’t know what to say,” Caden says.

“You’ve said enough,” I retort.

I turn and flee the kitchen, running back down the hall and out the door. When I get into my car, I grip the steering wheel and gulp for air.

Luke has always been such a decent, forthright person. I can’t have fallen for a cheater. Surely, I would have noticed a change in his mood or a sudden secrecy around his phone or something. There would have been signs. Right?

My head throbs. I don’t want to think anymore. I’d like to extract my brain for a minute. I start to hyperventilate as I pass the lodge and pull over when I reach the street. Tears fall thick and fast down my cheeks. My chest aches. What do I do? Who do I believe? I take out my phone to call Charlotte but stop short of hitting her number. I don’t think I want anyone else’s opinions in my head right now.

My phone buzzes.

Hey babe, the Willises just got here. They’re asking about you. When are you coming back from the Thorn?

It’s such a normal text. He sounds the way he always does. It’s disorienting. I take a deep, calming breath. I need to pull myself together. Be an adult. I’ll talk to my fiancé. See what Luke has to say for himself when confronted with Caden’s accusation.

Maybe this is all nothing, I think hopefully. A misunderstanding. Caden saw something he misinterpreted. Things got out of hand on both sides. Yes. There’s got to be a logical explanation to all this.

I start the car up again and drive to the Richards’ house. I dab at my eyes with a tissue and apply some concealer from the little bag I keep in the glove compartment. I check myself in the rearview mirror and take another deep breath.

Then I head inside.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ISLA

“We’re just so excited for you both,” Lisa Willis says, smiling at me and Luke over her cup of tea.

“Thank you,” I say. The Willises have a summer home on the Way. Before I was engaged to Luke, I think I’d spoken maybe three words to Lisa.

I keep glancing at Luke like he’ll do something to reveal the truth. I’m itchy and anxious and not in the mood for tea.

“How awful about that racquetball injury,” Lisa says to Luke. “But I’m sure you’ll be right as rain for the wedding.”

Racquetball? I shoot Luke a questioning glance and he squeezes my knee. “I should keep my eye on the ball,” he jokes. Lucille and Lisa laugh like he said the funniest thing they ever heard.

I can’t focus. Caden’s words keep replaying over and over in my mind. Luke kissing a waitress. The “people like us” comment. The selective video, showing only the end of the confrontation, with no evidence to back up either man’s claim.

It feels like my brain is breaking apart.

I need a minute.

“Excuse me,” I say. “I’ll be right back. Restroom,” I explain to Luke.

I extract myself from his grasp and make my way down the hall. As I go, I can hear Lisa say, “I didn’t think she’d be so well-mannered.”

I pass the stairs to the second floor and an impulse seizes me. It’s probably a bad idea.

No, it’s definitely a bad idea.

But my feet seem to move of their own accord. Suddenly, I’m running up the stairs and dashing down the hallway to Luke’s room. His duffel bag is open and I rummage through it, searching for some sign of infidelity. I don’t even know what I’m looking for—a pair of panties? A lipstick stain on his collar? Am I in some Lifetime movie? I can’t seem to stop myself though. I tear through his room, looking in drawers, in his closet, opening the boxes he keeps his watches in. Finally, I slump down onto his bed.

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