Page 9 of Devious Temptation
“Rhys’dad stopped by this morning and dropped off a package for you,” Liam side-eyes me as he unscrews the cap from the orange juice bottle. “Why isn’t yourboyfriendbringing you presents?”
Surprise rushes through me as I approach the small decorative cookie box on the island. Why would Lawson drop anything off? I pull my navy silk robe tighter as I sit on a stool, briefly wondering how his face would have looked if I’d answered the door wearing it with only my matching nightdress underneath.
My cheeks grow warm as I look up to catch my brother watching me warily, his right brow arched in suspicion. “What? And why do you say the word ‘boyfriend’ like that? I thought you liked Rhys?”
Liam shrugs his bare, sweaty shoulders. “He kind of turned into a dick this year, don’t you think? He’s not exactly nice to you, Luce.”
I thought it was just me who noticed my boyfriend’s change of attitude, but apparently not. I didn’t think Rhys was mean to me, though. “I think he’s just stressed about graduation.”
The cookie box is white with little rainbows printed on it. A smile tugs at my lips, and I try my best to keep it from taking up my whole face since Liam is still watching me like a hawk eyeing a mouse on the ground. After using my nail to rip the sticker seal, I open the box to see a small white envelope sitting on top of a dozen of his cookies secured in one of the compostable cellophane bags I gave him for his thirty-sixth birthday this year.
Well, they were from me…andRhys—who had completely forgotten what day it was.
My name is written across the envelope in Lawson’s elegant scrawl, and there’s a small, thick card inside that says,
“Life is short. Eat the cookies.”
I can’t help my growing smile. But the elation in my chest quickly tightens and makes my heart thump harder as I realize there’s a small slip of paper in the envelope as well. It simply says,
“Inside flap.”
After checking that Liam is preoccupied with the fridge’s contents instead of me, I shove the cookies over to check the part where the back of the box and the side connect. There’s a little strip of silver sticking out—a familiar white pill encased in the original packaging that’s been cut down so Lawson could hide it in the box.
The morning-after pill.
My cheeks start to burn as I realize that Lawson went out and got me an emergency contraception so that I wouldn’t have to. My knees press together as my insides tighten. To have a man take care of it and save me the embarrassment of having to face the pharmacist’s judgy eyes… Why is that simple act so hot?
Quickly, I shove the pill into the envelope with the card and slip of paper before tucking it into the pocket of my robe. Just in time, too, as Liam strides out of the kitchen and Lorraine walks in, followed by our parents.
“Good morning, darling. Are you feeling better?” Mom asks as she pulls two mugs down from the cabinet for coffee.
Running a hand through my mess of curls that Istupidly let air dry as I slept, I nod even though her back is to me. “I am. Thanks. Will you make me a cup?”
Pulling a cookie from the box, I take a big bite as Dad slides onto the stool next to me. “Are you eating a cookie? Aren’t you ladies headed to brunch club in a bit?”
“Quiet, Will. They’re Lawson’s cookies. It’s fine.” Mom gently shushes him as she places a mug in front of me. She plucks the cookie from my hand, breaks off a chunk, and shoves it in her mouth before giving the other half back to me. “God, these are so good. Have you asked him for the recipe yet?”
Lorraine holds a hand out silently for a piece, never pulling her eyes from her book, so I break the rest of the cookie up and hand her some. “Only every time he makes them, Mom. He says it’s a family recipe.”
“Well, you’re practically family!” Mom throws her hands in the air with a laugh and a shake of her head. “Tell him to give up the goods!”
Her words make me think of Lawson’s othergoodsthat have nothing to do with his cookie recipe.
“Is that who was knocking on the door this morning? Why didn’t he just send them home with you last night?” Dad’s voice sounds far away as I daydream about what occurred yesterday.
Should I say thank you to Lawson for taking care of the pill for me? Should I even show up to help him organize his office? I feel like there’s this line where he’s on one side, Rhys is on the other, and I’m standing super close to the buzzing barrier between them, threatening to snap the divide.
Does this make me a bad girlfriend?
The attraction I feel for Lawson is all perfectly normal, isn’t it? He’s a young dad. Gorgeous and kind. And I can only hope that Rhys adopts more of his father’s attributes as we get older, even if right now he’s taking more after his mother.
“Luce?” Mom’s sharp tone snaps me from my thoughts.
With a shake of my head, my glazed-over eyes refocus to find my parents both staring at me. Even Lorraine has pulled her mossy eyes from the pages of her newest fantasy novel and is watching me curiously.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I ask on an exhale.
“You should go get ready. We need to leave for brunch in twenty. Are you sure you’re up for it? You look flushed, sweetheart.” She reaches over the island to press the back of a hand to my forehead.
