Page 39 of Tempted

“You’re very smart, lad. And you work hard. There’s no denying that. I love your passion.”

“Yours, too, lass. Look at you. I’ve never known a woman more successful, except for my Auntie, that is.”

“I’d love to meet her. Anyone that stands up to Dougall is a unicorn in my book.”

I scoff. Then we do something crazy.

...We fall asleep.

Chapter 13

Steph

Iwake up to the sound of our phones screaming in tandem. “Jesus Christ, what is that?”

“I’ll go find out. It must be the storm.” Malcolm says sleepily. He rises out of the bed, where we were both in a dead sleep, and he grabs both phones, bringing mine to me.

“Category four.” He explains. “Set to make landfall in two hours.”

“Does it say where?”

“Florida. But we’ll feel it enough here.”

“Evacuations?”

“Ordered hours ago. Not us, though.”

I look at him. “See? I could have gone home.” I tease.

“Sure. But I hope that you’ve left your company to someone that can look after it as you do, lass. Because if the storm didn’t kill you, then this fever would have. Make no mistake.”

“Are you trying to say that you saved me?”

“I would hardly call what I did saving you. I brought you cough syrup and cold packs, lass.”

“Modesty suits you, Malcolm.” I say through a cough.

“And you’re still not out of the woods, Steph. Your fever hasn’t broken yet and that cough still begs for pneumonia.”

“It’ll be gone in a day or two. I told you I bounce back fast.”

“Don’t count your chickens, Steph.”

That’s when his phone rings. "It’s my cousin, Ethan." He puts it on speakerphone. “Hey, man. You okay?”

“I’m fine. Hunkered down here with Rory. He’s out cold. The lad could sleep through a hurricane...literally.”

“What’s he doing with you? Doesn’t he have a home?”

I start to cough and turn over in bed, so I don’t interrupt.

“Shit. Who the hell’s dying?” Ethan asks.

“That’s Steph. It’s been a long fucking night to say the least.”

“I’ll bet.” He scoffs. “Other than that, are you guys good?”

“Aye. We’re fine. Winds are nuts but we’ve got it under control.”

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