Page 216 of The Tempted

“Reina, this is mydaughterLacey,” he continued, gauging my reaction.

Lacey smiled widely at me and that’s when I realized she had her dad’s smile. I looked back and forth between them, noting all the similarities and kicked myself for thinking she was his girlfriend.

“Nice to meet you, Reina,” she said, before her curious eyes turned back to her father, studying him as he watched me.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I attempted to smile but my jaw felt stiff. “You look just like your dad.”

“Poor kid,” he said, winking at Lacey.

“Everyone says that,” she laughed, before smacking her dad’s arm playfully. “You should invite her tonight.”

The playfulness disappeared from his face, unbeknownst to his bubbly daughter, who looked back at me.

“It’s the big guy’s birthday,” she said, pointing her thumb at her dad. “And I’m cooking dinner.”

Jack cringed, and I wasn’t sure if it was Lacey’s invitation that was the cause or the fact it was his birthday.

“The big three-eight,” She exclaimed mischievously.

He grunted.

“Happy birthday,” I whispered, finding the nerve to meet his gaze.

“Dinner’s at seven, do you think you can make it?”

“I… I…have this thing,” I stuttered. I didn’t have shit to do. But watching paint dry sounded more tempting than sitting at a table with Jack. I could picture him glaring at me as he passed the salad, cursing under his breath when our fingers touched because he didn’t like the connection any more than I did. He didn’t like surrendering his pride to something that was bigger than him and this attraction, this unexplainable pull, it was gargantuan.

Jack raised an eyebrow, biting down on his lip before clearing his throat.

“You should come,” he said.

I diverted my eyes to his, noting the amusement reflected in them.

Filthy. He was so damn filthy.

I was starting to love it.

The new Reina was crazy.

“I want you to come,” he added, his words slow and full of innuendo.

“See,” Lacey declared. “You’re not going to let the birthday boy down are you?” she winked at me, her smile electrifying.

“Okay,” I whispered, surprising myself. I forced a smile at her then lifted my eyes to Jack’s. “I’ll come.”

His lips quirked, blossoming into a smile, a smile meant for me.

Shit.

That smile was everything.

It almost made me forget the purely selfish reason behind agreeing to go…hoping he’d talk dirty to me.

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