Page 30 of Tempted

When I head home to work remotely, I wake up the next day, and I find myself a little surprise at my front door.

Chapter 10

Steph

The security gate preemptively opens, just as I arrive at Malcolm’s house. I’m not even sure if he’s checking to see who it is first, the fool. The blue sedan that Declan spoke about, I still can’t see, but then, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the point. If they’re worth their salt, then they’ll go undetected. As I pull up to his driveway, he pokes his head out the front door, looking up at the storm clouds forming above. The wind is wild, pulling my long hair in all directions, and I’m soaked from head to toe, justfrom walking to his front door. “Are you crazy?” He shouts over the wind. “What are you doing, driving in this?”

He gets me in the house and grabs the small dish towel he has hanging on the oven door. “Just hold on a second. I’ll get you a bigger towel.”

I feel a bone chill go through my body, as I shudder uncontrollably. “Just what are you doing, lass? Coming out in this. Jesus, you could have been hurt.” Malcolm chides as he wraps a towel over my shoulders, and then around my waist. “Here, come by the fire. I’ll start it up for you.”

Shivering, I follow him to the fireplace, where he has dry wood piled up in a metal basket next to it. He’s very apt at getting it going straight away, and before I know it, its flames begin to warm me. “I’ll make you some tea. Sit there before you catch pneumonia.” He orders, half angry, half concerned.

He talks to me from the kitchen. “How did you even get here? I heard the highway was closed.”

“I used the back roads. That’s where the GPS took me.” I explain as my teeth chatter.

“What in God’s name prompted you to come here, anyway?” He asks as the water quickly comes to a boil.

I don’t answer, as I want to see his expression when I do. That’s the only way that I’m going to know if he’s telling the truth. When he brings me a tea, and I take a sip, feeling the warmth go to my bones, I speak. “I had to know, Malcolm.”

“Had to know what, lass?” He asks, concerned, sitting on the wing chair that matches the one that I’m sitting on. The fire is roaring happily, flames licking up the sides of the wood, causing a glow on Malcolm’s gorgeous face. It’s been days since I’ve seen him, and I’d forgotten how beautiful he is.

“Clare.” Is all I say, well, I seethe, more like it.

Recognition comes to his face as he clasps his hands together, closes his eyes, lifts his chin slightly, and exhales, voice calm.“What is it you’d like to know, lass?” The way he asks it is off. It’s like he’s dying to say that it’s none of my business, which he’s right. But all the same, I’m an idiot for driving all the way over here, in severe weather, just to snoop into something that has nothing to do with me. When a phone call would suffice. But again, I needed to see his face.

“Did you fuck her?” I ask through gritted teeth.

He draws in a deep breath, fingertips at his lips. “No. I did not. Is that all you wanted to know?” His words are snide, but his tone betrays him. It’s like he’s not mad at me. It’s like he’s mad at her.

I level with him. “Look, I don’t know why I want to know this, but I do. I hate it that I do, and I’m sure that you feel the same, and you can tell me to go to hell and I’d think that’s reasonable, but all the same, I have to know.”

He’s frustrated. “Have to know what, Stephanie? I’ve already told you that I didn’t sleep with her.”

“Do you want to get back together with her?”

He looks away, soured by the thought, evidently. “I’d rather have all my teeth pulled out, one-by-one, without anesthetic.”

“Then why did you agree to meet with her?” I ask, hating myself for uttering the words.

“It was for business, as I’ve explained before. Now, can I offer you a dry change of clothes? It can’t be comfortable in that outfit. You’re also dripping all over my floor.”

“Quit changing the subject, Malcolm.”

“I’ve already answered the question. And if you’re going to question every lass I see for work, then we’re going to have a huge problem, especially since you are not in a position to be questioning anything to do with my personal life.”

I close my eyes tight and bite my tongue. Why this lad makes me so angry for certain things is beyond me. He doesn’t wait for me to respond. He rises. I’m guessing to go get me some clothes.Even my bra is soaked through. If he’s got a bra for me, then we’re going to have a whole other conversation here, ladies and gentlemen. After I take another sip of tea, I can hear him in his room, opening and closing drawers. He returns a minute later, holding what looks like a jogging suit, in his hand. “Here. I’ll give you some privacy so you can change in front of the fireplace. Otherwise, you’ll catch a chill.”

“I’ve already caught a chill, Malcolm.” I inform him, rising, undoing my blouse, modesty gone out the window, along with my patience and care.

He walks back into the kitchen, which is next to us, acting as though he’s either shy or not desiring to see me naked. Either way, I don’t give a shit. I pull off my blouse and skirt, hang them over the back of the wing chair, and then I remove my bra and underwear, doing the same. Once I’m completely naked, I pull on the jogging pants and sweater, which are way too big, but so comfy I could die. I don’t hear him in the kitchen, but I can hear him walking around in the basement. When I’m redressed, I hear him coming up the basement stairs.

“You can hang your clothes here. I’m sure none of that would tolerate the dryer.” He comments, assembling the wooden clothes rack in front of the fireplace. “That jogging set my mama bought for me for Christmas two years ago. I can’t imagine wearing something like that.”

“Jogging suits are beneath you, huh.” I comment snarkily.

“The closest thing I wear to that is my tearaway pants. Or swim shorts.”

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