Page 94 of Tempt Her

And Luke’s a good one. I hope he asks Stacey to marry him. I hope she says yes because I can’t do it.

After Stacey found out her fiddle is actually a seven-million-dollar violin, she doesn’t need money or benefits anymore. Once she divorces Gentry, she says she’ll sell it to an auction house.

It’s Luke who needs Stacey now, just like I needed someone when I came home.

What crushed my heart and left it permanently damaged? When I returned, my someone had moved on, taking the piece of me I cherish the most with her.

That’s why I fought Stacey so much.

She looks like her. The wife I thought I had. The mother to my child. The reason I fought so hard to live. Ironically, it wasn’t war, it was a woman who almost killed me, so I buried my pain and secret past.

But Luke needs this now.

If you’re gonna risk your life, you need a reason why.

He loves Mateo and me, but we’re not enough. But with Stacey, we are. We’ll keep him fighting for us.

“What you got there?” Luke’s mom eyes the box Mateo forgot he was holding. Like a hawk, she spots the naughty lingerie and laughs. “Finally, Alexander.” She’s always giving me shit. “But you know you don’t have to tie a woman up to make her love you.”

“No, you don’t”—all I can think about is Stacey and tonight—“but it sure is fun.”

“Good luck with that.” The Colonel punches my arm then Mateo gets her jab. “What about you, handsome?” She asks him, “You going next?”

Next?Hell, yes, Mateo goes next.We know the order tonight.

“Leave ‘em be, Mom.” Luke wraps his arm over her shoulder. “They’re bachelors and proud.”

Bachelors? No. We’re committed to each other. And I don’t want any woman but Stacey.

But proud? I hate lying to Luke’s mom. I hate keeping secrets, but I’m so damn used to it that I don’t even know why I keep them.

I fight it like the flu, not letting our lie to Luke’s mom and my secret from everyone kill me.

Mateo helps. He’s always calm. The man makes Buddha look like he’s having a panic attack.

Stacey’s at the spa today, getting ready for tonight while her husband is floating like a turd in the pool on his yacht all weekend. Luke will meet us at Stacey’s house later while Mateo and I run errands.

Because I’ve had this plan in my head for a while now. It makes me come every time I tempt Mateo and Luke with it. They want it too.

Those fuckers knew I’d finally come around.

So later in the afternoon, I get such a fucking thrill walking into Stacey’s house like we own it.

It doesn’t even look like it belongs to Gentry Evans anymore. New paint. A new kitchen. Stacey’s thrown out a lot of his shit, secretly getting ready to sell it as soon as she can.

Though the parlor still looks like him with that dumbass painting of men playing golf on the wall.

I wanna punch it.

The only stick and balls I play with are mine. Or Mateo’s. Or Luke’s. And going eighteen rounds with Stacey’s holes?

Damn right, it’s gonna be a Master’s tour tonight.

I set everything up in the parlor while Mateo sets out the drinks and fancy snacks he got to keep us just full enough.

The sun is setting when Luke arrives minutes before Stacey does. He took an Uber over after his afternoon with his family while my truck hides in her garage.

The minute everyone arrives, I’m in charge.

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