Page 27 of Tempt

When I finally drag my gaze away from him I find that Gretchen is looking at me from across the room with a smile.

* * *

“Tonight was entertaining,” I say as we climb the stairs of my front porch. Looking back over my shoulder I’m met with Garrett’s smile. Clearing the last step I turn around just as he too reaches the top landing.

“It’s like that with them all the time.” He confesses. “Most of them have no filter, they definitely do not think before they speak.”

“I love them,” I confess. “I had more fun tonight than I have in, well ever. Gran is great don’t get me wrong but getting out with people my own age was so much fun.”

Garrett steps in closer, placing a hand on my hip. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.” His voice is much lower, and he slouches enough that his face is now only inches from mine. “It was really nice having you there. I’ve been the lone ranger for so long.”

“I was happy to keep you company,” my body is on fire with him being so close.

I’ve always thought Garrett was good looking, for years from a distance I’ve noticed him. But having him near, with him touching me and looking at me the way that he is, sends shivers through me. There is something in his green eyes, an intensity I’ve never experienced before.

“I could get used to having you around.”

“Yeah?” I smile back at him because his smile is contagious. His dimples are insane.

“Oh yeah,” then his hand is on my cheek, his fingers sliding into my hair. “So much time I’ve wasted,” he whispers before his lips settle on mine. I try not to act like I’m starving, but the reminder of what his lips feel like pressed to mine makes it difficult.

“But you are so worth the wait.” He confesses and I smile against his lips.

I’m just about to tell him the same when I hear the door behind me creep open.

“Good evening, you two,” glancing back I find my gran smiling wide and for the first time ever I want to tackle her. The thought of grabbing the door and closing it forcing her back inside so that Garrett and I can get back to what we were doing flashes in my mind.

“I made an apple pie, and we have ice cream,” she adds, “would you two like to join me?”

If she didn’t look so hopeful I may have told her no.

“I love apple pie,” Garrett says before I get the chance and in that moment I realize even more just how amazing of a guy he truly is.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

Garrett

I glanceacross the table to find Kyra watching me, biting her lip with a half-eaten piece of pie on her plate. Her gran hasn’t stopped talking since the moment she opened the door and found us canoodling on the front porch. Those were her words not mine.

She talked about remembering the first days she’d met Kyra’s grandfather and how the two of them couldn’t keep their hands off one another. To which Kyra wrinkled up her brows and groaned for her to stop.

It is hilarious to watch the two of them together.

Her gran has no filter and though Kyra seems annoyed or embarrassed, I know it's just an act. Anyone who looks at them can see the love shared. They aren’t just Grandmother and granddaughter; they are best friends. The connection they share is a close one.

“Another piece?”

I quickly look away from Kyra to find her gran standing at my side with a smile as she glances between the two of us.

“Of pie,” she adds, pressing her lips tightly together. I look back to her, the now bubbling laughter threatening to spill from her.

“I’m good, thanks,” I can tell she wants to say more, but instead she turns around and walks toward the sink.

When I look back over at Kyra, she is only shaking her head like she picked up on her gran’s mischievous mood too.

“Is your Grams ready for the cook-off event?” Lily Mae sets back down at the table with us, completely oblivious to the heated stare I am sharing with her granddaughter. Either that or she has gotten used to it and it no longer phases her.

“She loves this time of year,” I reply. Every year she spends hours preparing her chili. Sautéing the ingredients, dicing and slicing, putting so much attention to the details, we all know not to bother her during this time.

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