Page 13 of Tempt

Something I never dreamed I would ever be. Had it not been for Gran I’d most likely would have ended up as low as my mother. Another thing I am grateful for every day, because being Luann is nothing more than a dead-end road.

“Ice cream?” Gran stands from the couch and starts toward the kitchen. “I got mint chocolate chip, fudge brownie, and Oreo.”

“All of the above,” I follow behind her and grab two bowls while she grabs the ice cream from the freezer.

I know Gran means no harm when it comes to her ways with me. She seriously hovers in the best kind of way. She wants me happy; she wants me safe and most of all she never wants me to feel lost like I was all those years ago.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Garrett

“Twice in one week,”the woman behind the counter beams as I enter the bakery. “And I thought all the treats were stored in these display cases.” The way she looks me up and down as she drags her hands over the glass sends a shiver through me and not the good kind.

“What can I say?” I shrug, needing this moment to end fast. I have no idea who she is, but what I do know is she’s gotta be ten to fifteen years older than me and wearing a ring on her finger. Apparently flirting heavily with a younger guy is open game.

“You can come right over here and say anything you want, handsome.” I try not to throw up in my mouth, but the way she is stroking the edge of the counter is turning my stomach.

“Kyra around?” I ignore her wandering eyes and look to the left at the swinging doors, practically begging for someone to step through them.

“She’s around here somewhere.” Yet the lady shows no signs of searching for her. “Can I get you something sweet while you wait?”

“I’m good,” why do I suddenly feel so dirty. Like this woman is violating me with her eyes. The way she is biting her lip lost in thought makes me consider leaving without giving Kyra what I’ve brought for her.

“Casey did we run out of—,” relief washes over me when the swinging door flies open as Kyra comes out front from the kitchen, stopping as she stares at me. But before I can warn her the door reverses back and collides with her without warning. Suddenly she is gone.

“Ow,” the word is muffled but clear and whispered harshly behind the now closed door.

Casey laughs, her mouth covered as she leans over onto the counter and I too want to laugh, but more importantly I want to make sure Kyra is okay.

Placing one hand on the door I slowly start to push it open when I am met with resistance.

“No,” she whines.

“Are you okay?”

“Nope,” this word is clearer than the last, yet she still won’t let me open the door enough to get by. Nothing more than a crack big enough to put my arm through. So I present what I’ve brought to her through the opening. When I feel her hand brush against mine, I smile in satisfaction.

“June says it's what you always get.”

She takes the cup of coffee from me and again I try to open the door.

“Nope,” she replies, “right now looking at you is only going to remind me that you watched as the door collided with my face. So for now I’ll say thank you for the coffee, it really is a very sweet gesture. But I need to forget that I’m a hot mess and you watched it unfold.”

“I don’t think you are a mess,” I purposely left off the word hot.

“I think it is safe to say that I am. Let’s just start over another day. Maybe a little warning next time, some type of signal. Hey Kyra, you have a visitor, or something like that.”

I laugh, I can’t help it.

“The element of surprise is so much more entertaining though.”

“And now you are laughing, which solidifies my earlier comment about this being an embarrassing moment I’d like to forget all about.”

“Kyra.”

“Thanks for the yummy coffee,” she interrupts, “but I’m gonna go hide now.”

I know I can pull the door open in the opposite direction and take away her ability to hide from me but instead I dip my chin and try not to laugh out loud. My shoulder’s shake and I’m on the verge of tears.

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