Page 53 of Tempt

“I’ll see you later?”

“You better,” she says in that stern don’t cross me voice. “And you better call or text that man of yours. I have a feeling if you don’t ease his worries he’ll be out searching for you. He doesn’t cross me as someone who is good when they are left to stew in worry. I’d imagine all kinds of things work their way into his mind, even though that may make for some real fun times in the sheets.”

I hang my head and laugh.

“It can make a mess for a man when he is working with electricity and heaving farm equipment. Ease his worries, if even just a little.”

She ends the call just as Gretchen sits down opposite me and arches a brow.

“So tell me now, do I need to drive back home to Brooklet and hang Garrett from a light pole by his balls.” Her voice echoes over the cafe and a few people look in our direction. My mind is racing, fear and anxiety have been eating away at me for hours, but the minute she says this I lose it.

Leaning over to rest my face in my hands I try to keep from falling out of my chair from laughter.

“Gretchen,” I say through my tears, “you are exactly what I need right now.” I sit up shaking my head. “Exactly what I need.”

“Honey, you are adorably cute, and you have a nice rack, but I like men, particularly my hot brooding man that rattles my teeth when, well you know,” she wiggles her brows and I again start to laugh.

“The coffee is better at my shop,” she starts to stand. “And I still have some amazing cinnamon coffee cake I got yesterday from Sugarland.”

“That’s perfect,” she really had no idea just how much I needed her company right now. Even if we talk about nothing, I just needed to feel like me again. The me before my mom showed back up.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

Garrett

“Can I get you another?”Nina asks from the other side of the bar. Only I don’t look away from my phone, because looking away means most likely getting another look down her shirt, and I can go without that.

“I’m good,” I say.

I swear I hear her say, I’m sure you are, as she walks away but again I don’t even look her way.

“That woman has no shame.” Colton says with a chuckle as he sits down at my side.

“Not even a little,” we’ve all been on the opposite end of Nina’s flirting. Lucky’s keeps her around because the guys love her. Well, most guys. She is not afraid to flirt for tips and she does pretty well for herself.

“Why are you staring at your phone like it might explode if you look away?”

“I’m not dumbass,” I look up, finally placing it face down on the bar. “Waiting for Ky to text me back.”

It vibrates about the same time his does, and we both grab our phones.

I stare at the message.

Kyra: With Gretchen at her shop. We’ve both had too much wine. Gonna sleep it off here.

I glance at Colton and then my phone once again.

“What the hell is going on?” He looks up from his phone and then looks back at it before turning it to face me so I can see the similar text on his screen from Gretchen.

“I have no idea, but your girl just stole mine and I don’t like it.”

He is scowling and I gotta say I feel his pain.

Garrett: You want me to come get you?

Please say yes. I’m already reaching for my keys in my pocket when my phone vibrates with a response.

Kyra: No, I’m good, still more wine to drink and Grace is on the way here with Julian to share.

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