Page 27 of Playing with Temptation

The logical objections her brain posed gave way to the temptation and desire that made her skin tingle. She relaxed into him and pressed her fingers to the warm skin of his muscular back.

She missed the strength of his hands, the tenderness of his kiss. The way his touch filled her belly with fire and made her knees weak.

Her senses were overloaded with the heat emanating from his skin, the scent of his freshly scrubbed skin, mingled with a hint of sweat and the salty taste of him.

Maybe she was overly cautious. They’d done this before—had one night together and then sensibly walked away.

Would it be so wrong if we did it again?

But that wasn’t what Nate had proposed. He’d asked whether they could be a family.

That, she couldn’t promise.

Kendra pulled away, her eyes searching his. “Nate, please, we agreed to keep this strictly business.”

Nate sighed heavily, frowning. He cupped her cheek with his rough palm. “We didn’t agree to anything. You insisted on it.”

“I know, but you promised to keep your hands to yourself.” She poked a finger in his chest, attempting to lighten the suddenly heavy mood. The tension between them was finally abating. She couldn’t afford for things to go back to the way they were.

“We both made promises.” He dropped his gaze, his voice gruff. “Things change.”

He didn’t need to elaborate. Kendra knew exactly what he meant. The night they’d gotten tossed from the prom, they spent the night on Pleasure Cove Beach, watching the waves crash on the shore. He’d made love to her on the beach under an incredible full moon and a sky full of stars that had never shone brighter.

That night, Nate promised to always love her. She’d promised the same.

They were just kids. Neither of them had a clue what life had in store or how they’d change.

Kendra clenched her fists at her side and sank her teeth into her lower lip as she searched for the right words.

Head cocked to the side, Nate’s dark eyes studied hers. His words were a husky whisper that sent electricity up her spine. “There’s obviously still something between us.”

“We have a lot of history and an amazing little boy. It’s hard not to get caught up in those feelings.”

“Then maybe we should explore them.” He trailed the back of his hand down the side of her face. “See where this thing takes us.”

Kendra fought off the overwhelming desire to let Nate take her back to his bed and make love to her. His mouth exploring hers, his hands roaming her skin as she lay in his arms.

Sex and business don’t mix. Stay strong.

“Wanting each other isn’t enough, Nate.” She stepped back, giving herself room to breathe in air that wasn’t permeated with his fresh, woodsy scent. “And what we want isn’t necessarily what’s best for us. No matter how badly we want it.”

Nate caught her hand as she turned to walk away, tugging her toward him again. “I don’t believe our being together isn’t what’s best for us or Kai. Neither do you.”

“One kiss and you’re talking about being a family? I can’t promise you that.”

Nate groaned, releasing her hand. “We’re not kids on a first date, Kendra. We know each other. Most important, we love our son and want what’s best for him.”

Kendra wanted Nate. Loved him. But did he love her? Or was this just about finally making them a family?

Nate grew up in a big, close family that had earned the moniker “the black Waltons.” His parents had been married for four decades. Nate wanted Kai to be raised by both his parents—just as he’d been.

She wanted that, too, but not at the expense of a one-sided marriage where they were just in it for the kids. Relationships like that didn’t last.

Her parents were proof of that.

“We both want what’s best for Kai. That’s why we need to focus on the mission at hand. There’s a lot on the line here, Nate. Your career, your future income, the work you’ve been able to do with the foundation—”

“Your career.” His mouth tugged down in a frown. “It’s serious, I get it, but this—” he gestured between them “—is important, too.”

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