Page 41 of Tempt Me

“Hey, baby girl.” Jamila slipped a finger under my chin and tilted it up. Her brown eyes pierced into mine. “You sure you’re okay? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this quiet.”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled.

She didn’t take her finger away, and her gaze dropped lower.

She was about a foot away from me. Her flowery scent bloomed around me in the compact car. Most of her burgundy lipstick had come off during dinner, but a faint stain remained on her cushiony lips. Her tongue darted out to lick them, and her glossy lower lip gleamed in the hotel’s security lights. It called to me, and I couldn’t resist.

I leaned in and brushed my mouth over hers.

Once. Twice. My drier lips tugged against hers like my skin didn’t want to release her. None of me wanted to release her. My hands lifted as if I could cradle her face.

“Natalie,” she whispered, breaking the spell. I reared back, bumping against the passenger-side door.

Jesus. I’d just kissed Jamila Jallow. Against her will. That whisper was not an I-want-you whisper. It was a stop-now whisper.

“Sorry,” I wailed, struggling with the seatbelt latch.

“Hey, it’s o—”

I finally got the belt off and shoved through the door, then ran like a coward into the hotel lobby.

I didn’t even wave goodbye.

12

The sun was still up—barely—butit felt like midnight when I slammed the Hyundai’s door and waved off the rideshare driver in front of my house. The combination of battling my hangover through a full day of coding camp, the flight from Texas, and the extra effort of avoiding Jamila as much as possible weighed my body down.

All day, I’d looked forward to a long soak in my tub with the limited-edition, celebrity-endorsed bath bomb I’d been saving for a special occasion. Even through the packaging, it smelled like honey and promised herbal relaxation.

I unlocked the door and shuffled in, bumping my roller carry-on over the threshold. But instead of the blissful silence of an empty house, yapping met my ears. Bilbo Baggins skidded across the tiles. When he’d regained his footing, he danced around my feet. I froze, not wanting to step on him mid-whirl.

Sam leaned on the doorframe of the hall that led to the living room. “It’s Natalie,” she called.

“Of course it’s me,” I growled. “I live here, unlike you.”

My sister shoved her hands into her pockets. “It wasn’t me who was worried.”

A mass of curly, dark hair filled my vision before a set of arms cinched me. “There you are. I was so worried when you didn’t show up to drinks.”

“Drinks? Nuts.” With the last-minute trip, I’d completely forgotten about my standing Thursday-night happy hour with Mimi. Obsessed with bargain booze and munchies, she’d found us a bar that offered a selection of margaritas for half price, plus all-you-can-eat chips and salsa. Though I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to drink tequila again after the ranch-water disaster—or look Jamila in the eye.

“I’m sorry I missed it.” I dropped the handle of my suitcase and hugged Mimi. It wasn’t quite as good as a CBD-infused bath bomb, but she gave wonderful hugs, and I melted into her softness.

“It’s okay. I’m glad you’re not missing.” She released me and leaned back to scan my face. “Where were you? Not working, I hope.”

“Let’s sit down. I’m exhausted.” I tugged Mimi into the living room and sank into the sofa. Mimi sat next to me, and Sam inexplicably followed and sat in Charles’s favorite armchair. Bilbo leaped into the chair and curled up in her lap.

“I’m sorry for skipping drinks,” I said. “I hope you didn’t wait for me long.”

“It was okay. Mateo met me when I texted him you hadn’t showed, then he dropped me off here on his way to work. He’s on nights this week at tía Rosa’s.”

“How’s Mateo? He’s not mad about what I asked him to do at Jamilow, is he?” I shot a guilty look at Sam. I hadn’t told her what Mateo and I had done last Monday night. My successful sister never would have stooped to entrapment.

She remained silent, watching us with those otherworldly blue eyes of hers.

Mimi chuckled. “He had the best time playing your little spy game, even if you got caught. That night, he came home and…” Her cheeks blazed red.

“You guys didnotroleplay spies!” I laughed at the guilty expression on her face, and suddenly, I wasn’t so tired anymore.

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