Page 102 of Tempt Her

“How’s this?” I present the small bowl of zucchini I shredded to Stacey. “Bits of my fingertip are in there, too, for extra flavor.”

A smile won’t leave Stacey’s face. She’s glowing like she does after yoga, but now, she’s even brighter. Guess that’s what a night of the hottest sex will do to you because I’m glowing like the goddamn sun, too.

The four of us stand in her kitchen like she’s Snow White, and we’re her three fucking huge and horny dwarves, helping her make a batch of her famous muffins.

“That’s perfect.” She pecks my cheek. “Fingertip and all.”

Holding a mug of coffee, she inspects Ford’s work next. She has him shredding a carrot while Mateo dumps pineapple bits into the batter that’s almost ready for the mixer.

I’ve never seen Mateo so happy, either.

Hell, even Ford’s fighting the grin under his beard.

Last night changed everything, and hell, yes, finally, it’s what we wanted.

It’s whatIneeded.

I need to know that Stacey is with us now. That she’ll be safe when I leave. I’m about to endure some brutal shit, but soon she’ll be switchin’ around Ford’s kitchen like this, making these muffins while Mateo sips coffee and Ford swipes through the news on his tablet.

They’ll be happy, and I’m relieved Stacey will replace me. She’ll be the smiling one for them to love and fuck like I always was.

Because I don’t think I’m coming back.

In a king-sized bed in one of her guest rooms last night, Stacey slept in my arms while Mateo rested beside Ford, making sure Ford slept propped up beside Stacey. Don’t think I didn’t clock how Ford reached for her hand as he closed his eyes. We were all so tired; we were asleep in minutes.

But I was the first to wake up.

And I felt like shit.

Because I woke up with guilt, for the first time, wanting to abandon my Army dream and stay home, holding Stacey in bed with us instead.

But there ain’t no backing out now.

I won’t recognize my life in days—I read the time on the new microwave—no, hours.

I need one thing I can hang on to while treasured moments slip from my grasp; the clock clicking down makes me desperate. The pressure pops the questions for Stacey from my mouth. “What’ll happen once you’re divorced? Will you marry one of us?”

Stacey falls back against her new kitchen countertop; a giant exhale dropping her shoulders. Wrapped in the silky gold robe Ford bought her, she looks happy… even though my impatience just fucked everything up.

Mateo glares my way. “That’snothow you ask a woman.”

Ford cooly lifts his eyes to mine. “Good initiative, bad judgment.” He always says shit from the Army like he knows my fate too. “You getting cold feet, Grunt?”

But I look to Stacey because my fucking heart starts pounding.

I need her answer.

I need something to be sure.

Stacey’s grin is soft. “Y’all have been talking about this, haven’t you?”

Mateo answers her, growling, as his eyes still murder mine. “We didn’t want to scare you off, so don’t answer him.”

“Don’t flick his balls.” Ford covers my six against Mateo’s rare rage. “They’re just shriveling for what’s next, but he’ll get over it.”

“Yeah,” but I share everything with Stacey, “we talked about it. I wanted to make sure you had my military benefits so you’d never have to worry. Now you got that violin you’re gonna sell, but I still need to know you’ll be okay.”

Her bare feet glide my way. “I’ll be okay.” When she reaches up to cup my stubbled cheek, her robe falls open, and goddammit, my dick responds when this is more important. “But it means a lot to me that you worry and were willing to do it.”

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