Page 22 of My Temptation (Kingston Lane)

She’s probably going to prance around here every fucking Thursday in a little white tennis skirt.

With their two point five perfect children that go to a private school. She probably vacuums her car every Saturday and weeds the garden on Sunday.

Bakes pies and shit.

Ugh . . . I roll over, infuriated, and punch the pillow.

God, I wish I never met him.

And the worst part is, my mind still goes there. It lingers on that night when he was throwing me around in bed. The way we laughed at dinner, the way he kissed me.

The way he made me feel.

But worse than that, it lingers on how I wasn’t enough for him.

And how badly it hurt.

A click sounds through the kitchen as the toast pops. I take it out and juggle it between my fingers. Ouch, that’s hot. I put the scrambled eggs onto the plates. “Mom, Dad, breakfast is ready,” I call.

They come down the stairs and sit at the makeshift card table in camp chairs. “This looks good.” Dad smiles as he picks up his knife and fork before digging in.

After tossing and turning all night, I’ve decided I’m not going to let that horrid man next door spoil my new-house glow. He’s nothing to me, and I don’t care where he lives or how beautiful his wife is.

Fucker.

Our date never happened. That was a lifetime ago. I’ve moved on.

“Maybe I’ll get a round table for the kitchen area,” I think out loud. On the ground floor there is a foyer with a big, rickety timber staircase, a formal living room, and then a dining area, and in the back of the house is a big kitchen and informal living area. It’s all horrible, of course. I can’t wait to dig in and make it my own.

“Maybe a bench built into the corner would look good too,” Mom says as she looks around.

“Maybe.” I smile. “So many possibilities.”

“I can’t wait to see what you do with the place,” Mom says as she begins to eat. “Are you sure you’re going to be all right here on your own?”

“Yes. Go on your trip. You’ve had this booked for over a year.” Mom and Dad are leaving for Europe tomorrow for their trip of a lifetime, four months of sightseeing. “I get my dog today, remember? We will be fine, just the two of us.”

Mom exhales heavily. “I wish we could stay for a few more days. It just feels so . . . empty. You don’t even have furniture for most of the place yet.”

“Mom, I’m fine. My girlfriends are around, and if I need anything, Liam is here, and I have enough furniture to get by until the new stuff arrives. I came from a one-bedroom apartment, Mom. Of course this big old house looks empty right now.”

“I guess,” she agrees.

“Besides, I want to live here for a few weeks before I decide what I want. This house is different. I want to really get a feel for it and buy just the right things.”

“What time do you pick up your dog?” Dad asks.

“As soon as you guys leave.” I hunch my shoulders. “I’m more excited about getting him than I am about the house.” I’ve wanted my own dog for years.

“It’s not vicious, is it?” Mom says. “I always worry about grown dogs in shelters being vicious.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s not vicious. He’s as sweet as pie.”

“Did you think of a name for him?”

“Not yet; I’ll see what suits him when he gets here.” I can hardly wipe the goofy smile from my face. “I have to go by the store and get him some food on the way.” My mind goes into overdrive. “I wonder what he likes to eat?”

Knock, knock sounds at the door.

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