Page 72 of Reckless Temptation

He didn’t react, carrying me all the way inside, through the front, up the stairs, and toward a bedroom.

When I realized he was bringing me into his bathroom, I sighed and gave up to the fact that he wanted to have his way. He set me down, ensuring I would lean against the vanity while he started the shower.

As steam filled the room, he undressed himself, then me.

Still, not another word was spoken.

Only when he carried me into the shower and began washing us both did he sigh and soften his gaze. “Please, Sabrina. I’m confused.”

“About what?” I asked.

“About why you’re pretending to care about?—”

I tugged his head down toward mine until I could kiss him. Once he relaxed, kissing me back, I retreated and looked him in the eye. “I’m not pretending, Nick. I care. I do care. More than I should.”

“What happened to not letting me close?” he asked.

I huffed a weak laugh. “That plan fell apart.”

“You care about me? For me? Despite how I treated you?” He sounded so dubious.

“I do. That’s always been my problem. I always care too much.”

He scoffed. “As honored as I am, I am still confused. You are so stubborn and insist you don’t want anything to do with me, but now you pull a one-eighty…”

I ducked my head, resting my chin on my chest. “Because I realized why you might have been motivated to be so horrible to me.”

He stiffened. Keeping his hands on my upper arms, he went so still, I frowned without lifting my head.

“You do?”

“Yes. I…” I blew out a deep breath and then faced him. If he wanted to get mad about what I learned, or how I had come tothis information, he had every right to do so. “I saw a woman on the beach at the end of the cleanup event.”

He stared at me intensely, the water running down on us and streaming over his rugged, handsome face. And he didn’t change that somber, serious expression at any time while I told him all of it. I started with how I saw his mom but didn’t know who she was at first. Then how she unloaded all her woes on me. I finished with how she clammed up, embarrassed and apologetic to share so many details with me.

After I explained it all, I sighed and wished he’d say something.

“I felt so bad, and I hated the idea of your hurting. You do seem mad at the world, and sad, and I can’t claim to know what it’s like to lose a parent, but I wanted to let you know that I care. So much. And it breaks my heart to know that you’re hurting at all. I came to the studio just to see you, just to hug you, and then… one thing turned into another.”

Keeping his dark gaze locked on me, he let out a long, deep breath and pulled me close for a tight hug. With my cheek against his chest, I closed my eyes and listened to the steady thrum of his heart beating. And I wished I could help him piece all the broken pieces of it back together again.

26

NICK

Ishould’ve known better.

I really should’ve known.

Shock reverberated through me at what Sabrina revealed.

I didn’t doubt her. I had no reason to. She’d never set out to hurt me. She had no incentive to mess with me like I had with her. And the irony of it all killed me.

I was motivated to try to “ruin” her and bully her because Tiffany threatened the stability Mom and I had here.

But she’d lied.

“I should have fucking known.” It left my lips as a bitter whisper.

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