Page 42 of Tempt

He laughs out loud. “Disquieted uncertainty?” Spinning me around, he grabs me by the hips and hoists me into the air. “Hold on tight, funny girl.”

I squeal and wrap my arms around him as he carries me into the kitchen and deposits me on the counter.

Then he braces his hands on either side of me and leans in, resting his forehead against mine. “Hazel,” he whispers, his eyes dancing. “I have a confession to make.”

“You don’t know how to make pancakes?”

“I’m confident I can figure it out.” He kisses me. “But I’m going to need to you to close your eyes for a minute while I Google it.”

I giggle and squeeze my eyelids shut. “Deal.” But he doesn’t move. “Are you staring at me?”

“Guilty.”

“Sam…”

He kisses me softly, his lips lingering against mine. I keep my eyes closed the whole time. Ignore my pounding heart, my complicated feelings. I ignore everything except the way his mouth feels, the taste of his skin, the slide of his tongue. Simple, pure, good.

“I have ten years of kissing to make up for,” he finally says roughly. “And I like to look at you. Is that okay?”

I nod.

And I keep my eyes squeezed shut.

It’s more than okay.

So why did I trip over my own feet when I saw him reading my book, a copy I gave him myself?

One of Sam’sclients has a panicky meltdown about a stock price changing that afternoon, so he goes out for a few hours.

I do a bit of work, then curl up on his couch and pick up the book of poetry. My book, in Sam’s condo. My book, with the spine cracked, and despite his cocky teasing, it’s not the poem about himself that the book falls open to.

It’s a poem about friendship, and absence.

Growling at my past self for being a better person than my present self, I grab my phone and send Regan a quick text.

Hazel: Hey stranger! Hope you guys had a good Christmas.

Regan: Were your ears burning? I was just talking about you.

I hit the call button, and she answers right away. There’s noise in the background, laughing and talking.

“Is this a bad time?”

“Not at all. Hang on, let me just escape…” She sighs a moment later. “That’s better. My sister’s family is here.”

“Fun.” I pick at the blanket I’ve wrapped myself in. “Hey, so…weird that you were just talking about me. I was just thinking about you.”

“Aww. The universe works in mysterious ways. Did you guess my news?”

“Nope.” I take a deep breath, willing my chest to relax. “Tell me.”

“I’m pregnant again.”

“Oh, wow.” I laugh, and then shake my head—at myself—glad she can’t see me. “That’s exciting.”

“I’m almost five months along, but we held off on telling people this time…” She trailed off.

I remember her last pregnancy announcement being followed by sad news. “I understand,” I say softly. “I’m thrilled for you both.”

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