Page 66 of Playing with Temptation

“I should hope not. You’re both older and wiser now. Been through the fire and come out on the other side. You’ll build something stronger.”

“Some part of him will always resent me, and some part of me will always be anticipating the moment he falls for a newer, shinier model.” The words felt like sandpaper in her throat. “How do we get past that?”

“Forgive yourself and believe in him. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.” Anna’s voice was firm but sympathetic. “Is giving in to your fear over what you might lose worth losing what you could have?”

Kendra pulled into the long driveway that led to Nate’s beach house, not answering her mother’s question. “You go ahead to the front. I’ll take the tray around to the back.”

Anna opened the car door and stepped out reluctantly. “Just think about what I said.”

Kendra flipped down the visor mirror and gave herself a long, hard look. If only it were as simple as her mother made it sound.

She grabbed the tray and went around toward the back entrance. A light suddenly came on in a second-floor guest room. Through the sheer, gauzy curtain she could make out two figures in an embrace—Nate’s twin sister Vi and Jase Hernandez.

Suddenly Vi’s solo island vacation and Jase’s supposed camping trip made sense. Something was going on between those two.

When Kendra looked up again, Vi was in the window staring down at her.

They were both busted.

Kendra made her way to the back door. She practically floated inside astride a warm cloud of air carrying the aroma of a variety of Southern comfort foods. Naomi’s shrimp and grits, Marcus’s wife Alison’s chicken and dumplings, and the batch of crispy chicken Nate’s youngest sister, Sydney, was frying. There was a tray of Maya’s famous Cuban pork and another of her yummy empanadas.

Alison and Sydney greeted her.

Naomi, smelling of bacon and shrimp, hugged Kendra tight, then kissed her cheek. “Thank you for helping Nate through this crisis.”

“It was my pleasure.” Kendra smiled.

“Things didn’t work out too badly for her, either,” Vi interjected. “I hear Marcus has got you lined up with two more athlete clients.”

“Don’t start, missy.” Naomi pointed a finger at her oldest daughter. “Be nice.”

Vi turned to Kendra, taking the tray of cookies from her hand. “Why don’t I help you put that away?”

Kendra followed Vi to a small table overflowing with desserts, including banana pudding with a perfect meringue topping and Vi’s famous bourbon–brown butter pecan pie.

Vi made room for the tray of cookies, then folded her arms. She leaned closer to Kendra and lowered her voice. “Why didn’t you out me in front of everyone just now?”

Kendra shrugged, removing her coat. “Figured if you wanted everyone to know you wouldn’t have been sneaking around in the guest room upstairs or pretending you went to Barbados all alone.”

Vi’s cheeks turned crimson. She took Kendra’s coat. “Walk with me while I hang this up?”

Kendra followed her to the back hall.

“Thank you.” The words seemed to cause Vi physical pain. “Nate would go ballistic if he knew.”

“I know, but I also know you’re a grown woman and it isn’t your brother’s business who you’re spending your vacation with…or kissing in his guest room.” Kendra couldn’t help the smile that tightened one side of her mouth.

Vi gave her a look that indicated she didn’t appreciate her humor, which only made Kendra break out into laughter.

“This isn’t funny.” Vi hung her coat in the closet, then ran a hand through her box braids.

“Oh…it’s serious.” Kendra watched Vi’s entire face flush. “Are you in love with him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Vi folded her arms. “We’re just… I don’t know exactly what we’re doing, but whatever it is, Nate doesn’t need to know about it.”

“Fine.” Kendra turned to walk away.

Vi grabbed her arm. “Look, I appreciate you not ratting me out in front of my family, but this doesn’t mean we’re best friends.”

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