Page 105 of Tempt

Sawyer pours coffee and I reach across the spot where his phone is plugged in to charge and take it.

His phone buzzes and I can’t help but notice the name on the screen.

Daniel.

“Don’t tell him I’m here.”

Sawyer reaches for the phone, our gazes locking over it.

He answers. “Yeah. How’s he holding up?”

My stomach knots. Is it fucked up how much I want to hear his voice?

I take my coffee and turn away.

“Sure, I can.”

Pause.

“Wouldn’t miss it. But we can’t do it here. Zander’s? Yeah. See you then.”

Sawyer clicks off and I take a breath. “How is he?”

“Andy’s fine. Daniel sounds…” He reads something on my face. “Like he’s had a rough week.”

I exhale hard.

“Of course he has. He was traveling for the first time in ages, found out his son was in the hospital, freaked out, flew home, and fired me. And dumped me.”

“Did he? Fire you and break up with you?”

“Not in so many words,” I concede.

Sawyer crosses the kitchen to the window. “I’m not going to tell you Daniel’s been through some shit, because all of us have. He wears it better than most. But he let you in. Now he’s punishing himself for it.”

“He’s punishing me for it,” I correct.

Sawyer turns back, leaning against the counter. “I don’t know what you’re going through. But I can promise he’s giving himself ten times worse.”

I take a long sip of hot coffee. It’s rich and bitter and suits my mood.

“It’s not the twelfth century. They don’t give out awards for martyrdom anymore.”

“I can see why he likes you,” he calls after me when I turn and head for the doorway.

31

DANIEL

“There’s no way he’s going to eat that.”

Zander’s voice carries as I walk around the side of his house to the big screened-in porch.

“Oh, shit. He is too.”

I carry the beers up the stairs and lean over Zander’s shoulder to where he crows at a video on his phone. On it, a guy is taking a bite out of a giant insect.

“For a highbrow lit professor, you have some twisted tastes,” I say.

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