Page 59 of Tempt Me

He quirks an eyebrow. “Which is?”

“I play with Grace,” I say. “You think I ever win a game against her? No. But I sure as hell learn some new words.”

“I was wondering how you knew what DYHANA was,” Caden says.

“It’s a type of Hindu meditation,” I tell him.

He points at another word. “And PACZKI?”

“That’s a kind of donut. I knew that one myself.”

He shakes his head. “Next time, we’re getting a couple more people and playing Scattergories. Maybe then I’ll have a chance of winning.”

Something shivers in me at the promise. Next time. But there won’t be a next time. He’s leaving. And I’m getting married.

He seems to feel the shift in mood too. He starts to put the tiles into the bag.

“Thanks for staying,” I say. “You didn’t have to do that.”

His head snaps up. “Yes, I did. I wasn’t going to abandon you again.”

I hold his gaze, unspoken words crackling between us.

“I never wanted you to feel—I wasn’t thinking when—” He puts the bag down and rubs his eyes. “I didn’t understand the consequences of the choices I made. Maybe that was on purpose. I didn’t want to think about it.” When he looks at me again, his gaze burns like silver-blue fire. I feel like I’ve been soldered onto this chair. My heart starts to thrum against my ribs. “You should know…I didn’t leave because I didn’t want to be with you.”

My mouth goes dry. “Why did you leave?”

“Isla? Isla!” There are footsteps outside and then a frantic pounding on my door. I leap up so fast my head spins and I have to plop back down in my chair.

“I’ll get it,” Caden says and strides over to open the door. Luke is standing there, panting. My apartment feels even smaller than usual. I have the sudden impulse to throw myself between the two men.

Luke takes in Caden and shock flits across his face.

“Everton?” he says.

“Hello, Luke,” Caden says.

“Hey babe,” I say, regaining my sense of equilibrium and hurrying over to wrap my arms around my fiancé. Luke is wearing a polo shirt that smells like his cologne. He presses his cheek against the top of my head. I relax into him. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“I didn’t get that text until this morning,” Luke says. I can feel his eyes move to Caden. “Didn’t know you’d still be here.”

“I was just helping out,” Caden says mechanically.

“Charlotte was helping too,” I add, looking up at Luke. “They both took really good care of me.” There’s a tightness around his mouth as he stares at Caden, and he keeps a protective arm around my shoulder.

“Okay,” he says. “Well, thanks but I’ve got it from here.”

“Right,” Caden says. He glances back at the table with the half cleaned up board game and seems to decide to leave it. “Take care, Isla.”

I duck my head, and don’t have time to say thanks before Caden is out the door in two giant strides. I hear his footsteps going down the stairs, then the Camaro’s engine roars to life.

I close the door as Luke stalks around my kitchen, vibrating with an unpleasant energy. He peers into the pot with the soup, frowning, then looks at the table with the Scrabble board.

“How was the weekend?” I ask, trying to sound peppy. I’m suddenly so tired, though. And a little shaky. My mind is half-stuck on the unfinished conversation with Caden.

“Was he spending the night?” Luke demands.

“What?”

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