Page 42 of Playing with Temptation

Vi snorted in the unladylike manner that signaled a smart-ass comment was on the horizon. With one hand on her hip, she shoved a finger in his direction. “If you stopped thinking with the head below your belt and started using the one above your shoulders, I wouldn’t need to act like your mama.”

Maybe she has me there.

He’d never admit that to her. Vi already thought she knew better than everyone in their family when it came to their careers, love lives and how they raised their kids. Never mind that she had zero expertise with any of the above. He took a long swig of his beer, then set it down.

“Don’t oversimplify this. It isn’t just about sex. I care for Kendra. I always will. More importantly, this is a chance for Kai to finally have his parents living together under one roof. Just like we did.”

Vi’s expression softened and her shoulders relaxed. “Nate, don’t get your hopes up. Kendra’s only going to disappoint you again.”

Nate cringed at the pity in his twin sister’s eyes. “Don’t look at me like that, Vi.”

“Like what? Like I’m your sister who loves you? It’s always been my job to look out for you.”

“I don’t need you to protect me from Kendra or anyone else, and I certainly don’t need your pity. You can pack up all that attitude and take it back with you to wherever you came from.” He thrust his thumb over his shoulder and gave her his I-ain’t-got-time-for-the-bullshit face.

“First, you know exactly where I came from—Barbados. Second, it was Marcus, Mitchell and Drew’s job to protect you from other people. My job is to protect you from yourself. We both know you can be your own worst enemy.” She raised an eyebrow and twisted her mouth in a smug smirk when he didn’t respond. “Like when you run your big mouth on video at a club in the middle of the night and screw up your contract negotiations.”

Nate gritted his teeth. If his own family was going at him this hard, he could only imagine what his first TV appearance—scheduled for later that week—would be like. “It was stupid, shortsighted. I know that, but I can’t change what happened. Kendra has a thoughtful strategy laid out, which we’re executing now.”

“‘Executing strategy,’ huh?” She used air quotes. “Is that some cute new euphemism for screwing your client?” Vi grabbed a beer out of the freezer.

Nate swiped the beer from Vi’s hand before she could open it. “You won’t be needing this. You were just about to leave.”

“But I smell lasagna, and I’m starving.”

“Got it at Maxine’s Kitchen.” He reached into his wallet and held out a twenty. “Stop and pick yourself up one on the way home. My treat.”

“You’re kicking me out for her? Really?”

Nate glowered silently, extending the bill.

“I don’t need your money.” She pointed a finger at him, then sighed, snatching the bill from between his fingers. “But I’ll take it anyway. And you should take my unsolicited advice. If you must work with her, keep it professional, before you do something else you’ll regret.”

Nate grabbed his beer and drained it, hoping his opinionated twin sister wasn’t right.

* * *

Ms. Thing here doesn’t have your back. She never did.

A cavalcade of emotions rolled through her chest as Vi’s words replayed in Kendra’s head. Anger at Vi’s insistence she couldn’t be trusted. Gratitude for Nate’s staunch defense of her.

Ending up in Nate’s bed, in the midst of dealing with the biggest crisis of his career, certainly didn’t make her case for being a professional who could be trusted with the fate of his future.

Kendra got up and quickly got dressed. What hurt the most was Vi’s implication that she’d hurt Nate before, and she’d hurt him again.

She couldn’t do that to him, and she wouldn’t give him false hope.

Once Kendra heard Vi’s car leave, she made her way down to the kitchen where Nate was preparing their plates. “Smells delicious.”

Nate looked up, disappointed. “I hoped to find you in the same state I left you.” He winked, giving her a sly smile.

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