Page 59 of Tempt

She steps in closer, moving to my side and her shoulder brushes against my arm. My eyes close as I take the feeling in, trying my best not to turn toward her and pull her in close.

“How are you?”

“Today was a rough one,” she admits, and I glance in her direction just in time to see her shift her gaze down. Her lower lip trembles a bit and I have to fist the edge of the bar to keep from grabbing for her. She is trying so hard to stay strong and I know offering comfort will only make her crumble. I don’t want to make her fall, but damn, if she does I guarantee I will be the one to hold her up.

“Sometimes it takes a bumpy road to reach a clearing.”

She looks over at me and the corner of her mouth tipping up. “How do you do that?"

“What?”

“Find the good, even in the worst possible scenarios?”

“I don’t always, but with you I have to, because I refuse to believe this is how you and I end.”

“So you see us ending?”

“Hell no, woman, you crazy?”

She laughs and leans into me. “I do miss you like crazy.”

“Miss you too,” I take the opportunity to place my arm over her shoulder and lean in to press a kiss to the top of her head. “But the ball is in your court, I’m not going anywhere.”

I feel her body shift as she takes in a slow deep breath.

“What do you say you spin me around the dance floor a few times?” Kyra steps out of my hold and then turns to face me. “And before you try to convince me you can’t dance you should remember that I already know you can.

“Sweetheart, the last thing I’m gonna do is say no when the prettiest girl I know is asking me to dance,” I link my fingers through hers and spin her around, walking her toward the dance floor. When I find she is still holding her drink I place it on the closest empty table and twirl her until she is facing me.

She moves in close without hesitation and I wrap my arms around her tight. Instantly the pain I’ve felt in my chest for days, weeks even, slowly fades. The emptiness in my stomach no longer feels hollow and I know without a doubt that I am in love with Kyra. She isthe one, she is my girl.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

Kyra

I remainas quiet as possible, not wanting to wake Gran or Rose. I left the house earlier, not because I wanted to go out, but because I had to. I needed a break. I needed to breathe.

Everywhere I look, everywhere I turn, it's like she is there, and my past is looming over me.

Placing the key in the lock I turn it and carefully push open the front door. The house is dark, and I move in, closing the door behind me.

Slipping off my shoes I walk toward the kitchen for a bottle of water and suddenly realize I am not alone. “I wasn’t sure you’d come back tonight?”

Placing my hand to my chest I press my lips tightly together to keep from screaming in surprise. Sitting in the corner of the living room, in a recliner, with a blanket all around her is Rose.

She seems so tiny, but that is what years of drugs and malnutrition will do to you.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Believe me I’m regretting it now.

“Don’t you have a boyfriend?”

I can barely stand to be in the same room as her for two minutes, the last thing I want is to deal with her this late at night.

I start toward my room, wanting to lock myself away once again.

“Ma says he’s a nice guy.”

I pause in the hallway, gripping the water bottle tightly in my hands.

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