Page 39 of Bound By Temptation

The barking started as I closed the door to the van. She was waiting for me. Like she always was.

Opening the door, a little ball of white and black fur came bouncing to me, the bit of light from inside shining bright. I swore she was part rabbit because the pup really did hop like one.

Scooping her up, I cooed, “How’s Mommy’s baby? Did you have a good day?” Little Gizmo started licking my face and squirming in excitement.

“That good, huh?”

We sat on the couch, and Gizmo automatically flipped on her back for me to scratch her belly. “Oh, this again. Wish someone would scratch my belly,” I grumbled to myself.

I’d just made one of the biggest mistakes a woman could make. Fucking an ex who broke their heart. Always said I’d never do such a thing. I was smarter than that.

No way would he worm his way anywhere close to my panties.

Then one kiss, and I was a puddle of mush and the worm got in.

It had been a while since I’d been with anyone, but that was no excuse.

He kissed me, and I was lost to it. The feel of him. The taste of him. Just … him. My whole body came alive just reliving the night in my mind.

It was hard in that moment to remember the hurt he’d caused. The devastation he portrayed. No, all I thought about was getting off, and that was even worse.

I’d loved that man with everything I had, and I hated to think it, but when he kissed me, when he was inside me … it felt like home. Like I’d just now came back to Sumner, and that was dangerous.

He couldn’t have that kind of pull on me again. I couldn’t allow him to envelop me in his life only to tear it away. I wouldn’t risk my heart being pulled out from my chest.

No. I wouldn’t.

Gizmo jumped, and I heard it too. The sound of a motorcycle.

You have got to be kidding me.He didn’t even try to go to the bakery; he came directly here. A place he’d never been before.

A place he had no stamp on. No memories.

If he came in here, there would be memories, and that would kill my sanctuary. It was the one place in Sumner where I could be without anything reminding me of Ax Monroe.

And here he was, wanting in my space.

Did he even know I had a dog? Maybe her bark would be enough to keep him away. Gizmo was only fifteen pounds. Let’s just say her bark was bigger than her bite.

The light of day was dissipating as I carried Gizmo and peeked out of the window. The man in question parked in my driveway like he’d done it a million times. He took off his helmet and shook his hair, then put his baseball cap on backward. Why did he still have to wear it like that to this day? In high school, the same thing. Made the girls swoon and still did… Dammit.

Maybe I should grab his hat and cut it up, then he wouldn’t look so damn hot.

Who was I kidding? With or without the hat, he would still be hot. I’d seen him without it several times and had first-hand knowledge.

He swung his leg off his bike and made a beeline for the front door. He looked my way, and I snapped the blind closed, but the smirk I caught on his lip told me he saw me. Well hell, that worked well.

Gizmo was going nuts now, barking and jumping at the door as if she could open it herself. “Shh … it’s okay. Calm down,” I whispered stupidly. Ax already knew I was here for God’s sakes.

Gizmo was a bit territorial of this home. She allowed family and Mrs. Denolli from next door, who took her out during the day, to come inside. Mailman? Nope, hated for her to be on the porch. Package delivery? Nope, barked to high hell. Girl Scouts? Nope, but I didn’t know if that was because she knew my cookies were better or if it was them.

Family was good too, but that was her limit.

Maybe she would scare Ax. Terrify him into running for his bike and driving away. I found myself laughing with my hand over my mouth when a banging came to the door.

It wasn’t my doorbell. It wasn’t a knock. No, this was a balled-up fist threatening to break the door down and shaking the damn house banging.

Seriously, Ax?

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