Page 122 of Tempt

The bed is empty because I was up late studying for finals and Daniel took Andy to school.

Now, I need to get ready for a shift at my summer job.

I shift out of bed and cross to the closet.

Back when I moved in, Daniel asked which half of the closet I wanted, and I told him that was cute and took half of his plus my former closet in the guest bedroom.

After grabbing a skirt and blouse, I hit the shower.

I check my email while brushing my teeth, the bathroom still thick with steam as I stand in my towel.

Then spit out the toothpaste as I screech.

Footsteps echo in the hallway. The screen stares up at me, black and white pixels unmoving.

“What’s wrong?” Daniel bursts in wearing only jeans.

I don’t answer. I can’t.

He looks over my shoulder. “You got a scholarship for grad school.”

The backs of my eyes sting with tears.

Daniel wraps his arms around me from behind, his forest scent as warm and familiar as his touch.

“You deserve it.”

“Thanks,” I murmur.

When I got accepted into the program, both Daniel and Clay offered to help me pay for tuition. Even my parents said they were proud of what I’d accomplished, and asked if I needed money.

I appreciated the offer, but told everyone I wanted to pay my own way if I could.

My summer job at the kid’s crisis center has been an amazing opportunity, but it wasn’t going to cover the bills.

Getting a scholarship that covers most of my school expenses changes everything.

More than that, I feel as if I made the right choice.

I’m wanted here.

If Russell U and Elmwood ever felt like home, it was because my friends made it that way.

Now, I have Liv and Jules, Daniel and Andy, Sawyer and Daniel’s other friends, my coworkers and clients at the center, plus the new professors and classmates I’m excited to meet on campus this fall.

Daniel moves my hair off my shoulder to skim featherlight kisses down the column of my throat.

Yum.

Girlfriend, 0, Hot single dad boyfriend, 1.

“I didn’t hear you come in last night,” he murmurs.

“I was trying to be stealthy so you could get your beauty sleep.” I take a second to admire how fucking hot he is, from his muscled body to the light stubble on his face. “Looks like it worked.”

He grins, spinning me to face him as his voice lowers. “You should’ve woken me. I would’ve helped you unwind after all the hours you’ve been putting in at the center.”

“Mmmm.” My fingers dig into his biceps. “I could use the unwinding.”

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