Page 20 of Resisting Temptation

Her perfectly manicured brow rises. “Juicy. Your secret’s safe with me. And mine with you?” she asks a little more seriously.

“Sure is, as long as you want it to be. But for what it’s worth, I think you should tell your nan. Be upfront with her, say this is my life and this is who I am.”

Her head drops, and she stares into her nearly empty glass of wine, swirling the remnants around. “I have tried so many times, but she won’t hear it. I lost my parents when I was young, and she took their place. She wants the best for me, and she thinks that’s a manand a house full of babies. I want kids and all that, just not the traditional way.”

“It’s your life, Whitney. You can’t live it trying to make your nan happy. Not in this town. You and I both know secrets don’t stay that way for long.”

“I know,” she says sadly. “But I really am worried I will give her a heart attack. She’s so traditional. What would the other tennis playing grannies say?”

“That’s not for you to worry about. She loves you; she will come around to the idea. I know she’s a pain in the ass, but I reckon she only wants you to be happy.”

“You might be right.” She finishes her pasta, lost in thought, and I hope I haven't crossed a line.

I have nothing to compare her situation to, and I’m sure it’s so difficult. But she seems like such a sweet girl. She should be able to do whatever she wants and not have the people of this town judging her for it. Maybe I need to help somehow. I think over it while I finish my meal.

“So, what are we going to do about your predicament?” she asks, following my line of sight. I can’t take my eyes off Paisley. The way she drinks her wine, the way she flicks her hair over her shoulder, the way she’s flirting with him unashamedly. Why is she here with him? I don’t like it, not for a second.

My eyes flicker back to Whitney for a moment. “Mine?”

She motions to Paisley’s table. Paisley’s smiling at Beckett, her red lips looking so fucking delicious. What I wouldn’t do just for one more night with her. “Yeah, that I haven’t quite worked out yet.”

“Taking me out on a date probably wasn’t a great idea if you want her back.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Look how jealous she is.”

“Noah Harrington, were you using me to make your ex jealous?” She laughs playfully.

“Maybe a little. You’re a beautiful woman, and I knew it would get under her skin. I know that’s not fair on you. I’ve tried to make amends, and she won’t even talk to me. It doesn’t help that our friends are all connected. And I just moved in next door to her.”

Her eyes narrow in on me. “How hard have you really tried?”

Shrugging, I think over her comment. From Paisley’s perspective it probably doesn’t look like all that hard, but she doesn’t know what I’m willing to do for her. What I’ve done. “Every chance I get, I try. I have for six months. I even stopped in while she was working the other day, hoping to talk with her, but she ran away from me. In those stupid tall heels she likes to wear and all, just sprinted right across the lawn. I would have been impressed if I wasn’t so disappointed.”

Laughter bubbles up from Whitney as she cracks up. “No, she didn’t! She must really hate you.”

“It’s so complicated, but nothing with her has ever been easy.”

“But it’s clear you still hold something for her, you haven’t stopped watching her since she walked in. And she’s glaring this way every chance she gets. I think you’re still in with a chance. No woman pays that much attention to a dude she’s not interested in, trust me. Don’t give up on her. It’s never too late to fix whatever you did wrong. You just need to try a little harder. She’s obviously hurt. You need to make it up to her, tellher how you feel. Girls love it when you’re honest with them.”

“You don’t know Paisley if you think that will work.” I can’t help but chuckle. But I also know Whitney is right. I fucked things up between us, and now I need to fix them. Because I can’t stand the way she looks at me with so much hatred anymore. She’s mine, she always has been, and I want her back by my side and tangled in my sheets where she belongs.

Chapter 12

Paisley

My wine is comforting and helping me relax my nerves after seeing Noah’s stupid face as soon as we walked in. Glaring at him, I wonder how on earth we both ended up at the same restaurant tonight. That’s right, because we live in this little town, and in truth, there’s nothing fancier than this place for miles. Just more proof this town isn’t big enough for the both of us.

Following Emerson’s advice, I shift my attention to Beckett and disregard Noah completely. “Sorry, you were saying?” I twirl the spaghetti marinara around my fork and groan as the rich tomato and herb sauce hits my taste buds.

Beckett ordered some sort of duck leg, but he’s barely touched it. He’s too busy talking to eat. Quickly he scans Noah’s table, then shifts his gaze to me. “I was saying, taking over the flower shop from your boss is a fantastic idea. You have the experience,and I’m sure your father will back you if you need him to. You should go for it.”

The mention of my daddy makes my skin prickle in annoyance. Everyone in this town adores him. They all think of him like a hero just because he’s the town doctor and has been for nearly forty years. Healing others doesn’t guarantee he’d assist his daughter when she needed it. I learned that the hard way. “I want to. I’m just scared of screwing it up,” I admit, not sure why I feel so free to say exactly what’s on my mind with Beckett, but I do. He’s easy to talk to.

“You won’t. Sometimes in business, just like in life, you just have to back yourself. No one else is going to do it for you. Have a little faith and go for it. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I lock eyes with him. “I will go broke before I’m thirty-five.” The thought makes me feel sick to my stomach because it’s a real possibility. Maybe that’s why I have shied away from any real responsibility; it’s safer not to try than to put myself out there and fail like my father thinks I will.

Beckett runs a hand through his short hair, looking me over with a curious interest. “Where is the Paisley I have heard so much about? The overconfident bombshell I was warned to stay away from because she eats men alive and takes the world by storm in everything she does?”

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