Attraction: (A Temptation Series Stand-alone) (The Temptation Series Book 4)

by Golland, KM

  Smiling like the drama-greedy girl that I am, I was close to asking for a bowl of popcorn and taking up a seat.

  Charlotte dropped her hands from where they sat on her hips as something seemed to dawn on her. ‘Oh, I could hurt the baby,’ she blurted, while slapping her hand to her head. ‘Okay, Mum, I’ll let you off this time.’ She walked over to where I was standing — in shock, mind you — and gave me a hug. ‘Hi, Aunty Carls.’

  I couldn’t help but stare at Lexi, my mouth wide open, a smile forcing its way to the surface of my face. Charli wrapped her arms around me, so I gave her a half-arsed squeeze, not really paying much attention to the little secret-shouter. ‘You’re pregnant?’ I asked Alexis, completely stunned by the revelation.

  ‘Yes, I am,’ Lexi sighed in surrender before turning to her daughter. ‘Charlotte, please don’t tell anyone else. Bryce and I want to make it a surprise and tell everyone later tonight.’

  Charli wrinkled her nose apologetically, then dropped her head. ‘Oh, sorry, Mum.’

  ‘It’s okay, sweetheart. But don’t tell anyone else, all right?’

  ‘Okay,’ Charli said, happily skipping out of the room, the bomb she had just dropped already forgotten.

  Lexi watched her leave, then slowly shook her head from side to side before turning back to face me. ‘Yes,’ she answered as she placed her hand on her stomach and smiled. ‘Bryce planted his seed.’

  He walked up behind her and positioned his hands on her shoulders. ‘What can I say, I like gardening,’ he explained, his expression confident.

  Alexis laughed and leaned back into him, she really did seem happy.

  ‘Wow ... that’s ... wow! I’m assuming it wasn’t planned,’ I offered, giving her a hesitant glance. ‘Or was it?’

  She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments. ‘No. It definitely wasn’t planned.’

  Bryce shifted his gaze to look at Lexi, displaying nothing but love and adoration. It really was quite obvious just how much he truly loved her.

  ‘So you’re both happy?’ I asked.

  They answered simultaneously, just like fucking Tweedledum and Tweedledee. ‘Of course we are.’

  Amused by their cuteness, I smiled and shook my head. ‘Well, in that case, congratulations.’

  With impeccable timing, a waiter appeared next to us with glasses of champagne on a tray. I grabbed two of them and went to hand one to Lex, pausing when I realised that she shouldn’t drink any alcohol. Oh, this is gonna be great! The last time Lex was pregnant and off alcohol, she sulked like a baby when I teased her with my many glasses of wine.

  ‘Uh-uh,’ Bryce affirmed, grabbing a glass of a slightly pink concoction which also sat upon the tray. ‘You, my love, get this one.’ He handed her the drink. ‘The pink glasses are yours. The waitstaff have been briefed and know only to give you those ones.’

  She screwed up her nose, taking a sniff of the contents. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. What is it?’

  Before he could answer, the door buzzer sounded. Bryce turned and moved off to greet the arriving guests, calling back over his shoulder: ‘No. I’m not kidding. I never kid where you are concerned. You, my love, are drinking non-alcoholic rosé tonight.’

  I shrugged in mock sympathy and, rather than put one of the two glasses back on the tray, teasingly took sips from them both. ‘Suffer,’ I added with a childish grin. I know, I’m a bitch, but hey, what are friends for? Lexi fired me a squinty-eyed look in return. She was good at those. I, on the other hand, poked out my tongue.

  The newly arrived guests caught my attention as they walked in, my gaze instantly shifting from Alexis to the three super-hot guys, one in particular sparking waves of excitement to flow through me. Holy fuck! Who is that? I’d hoped Bryce would have spunky friends, but shit, this guy was fucking gorgeous.

  He gave Bryce a manly slap on the back, and the smile that beamed from his face was enough to nearly make my underwear go Carly-cave diving. Oh. My. God!

  I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away from the spunk-rat. I took in his shaved head that still had just enough hair to give him a sexy rugged look. He was wearing a black leather jacket over a tight white t-shirt and, even though I was halfway across the room, I could tell by the way the material clung to his chest that his many muscles were screaming to be explored by my tongue.

  My eyes dropped further down his body, spying light denim jeans which were riding low on his hips. Holy mother of vaginal spasms, those hips would fit perfectly in between my legs. I mentally took some measurements.

  Unfortunately, I couldn’t see his arse from my current standing position, but I was quite certain it was an arse that deserved nothing but a tight squeeze.

  Barely able to swallow my champagne, I took in the sight of his ink, which disappeared under the neckline of his t-shirt. And it was that small hint of artwork that sent my hormones on a hormonal-bender.

  Not knowing whether or not I had been ogling him like a lovesick schoolgirl, I quickly found concealment behind my champagne glass, because we all know a see-through flute made of crystal and no bigger than your hand provides ample camouflage. Carly, you idiotic fool.

  ‘Who the fuck is that sex-on-a-stick?’ I whispered, peeking over the rim of my glass before taking an inconspicuous sip.

  Alexis followed my line of sight then leaned in and answered. ‘That is Derek, Bryce’s best mate. He’s also the lead singer of the band. He was at the pub in Shepparton, remember? You know, when the band played “November Rain” and Bryce performed the guitar solos for me.’

  ‘Is that him? Oh my god! He looks different,’ I whisper-squealed.

  ‘You were slightly occupied with the barman, Carls. Plus Derek has shaved his head since then. Maybe that’s why you don’t recognise him.’

  ‘Fuck, Lexi, he is beyond hot. His hotness factor is through the bloody roof.’ That is actually an enormous understatement. This man is F.I.N.E.-fine. Very fucking fine.

  She laughed at me as though she was privy to information that I was not. ‘It’s funny you should say that, because he is a firefighter.’

  Grabbing hold of her arm to prevent myself from melting into a puddle of my own drool, I dramatically pleaded, ‘Please tell me he’s single, Alexis, because I have a fucking ferocious fire in between my legs that he needs to put out.’

  She cracked up laughing. ‘Yes, Carls, he is single ... as far as I know.’

  Halle-freakin’-lujah.

  Bryce, Derek and the other two hotty-hotcakes made their way over to where Lexi and I were standing. As they approached, I squeezed Alexis’ arm tightly. ‘Quick! Quick! My vagina is burning, please come to my rescue,’ I said theatrically under my breath, clearly enunciating my double meaning of the word come.

  Alexis laughed then added just as quietly, ‘Mr Firefighter Derek, please douse my friend’s fiery hole with your fire hose. Nobody likes a burnt burger.’

  I almost spat out the champagne I had only just seconds ago taken into my mouth and, with great difficulty, we managed to subdue ourselves and act like the adults that we were by the time the men reached us.

  Securing Alexis by placing his arm around her waist, Bryce introduced the man candies. ‘Alexis, you remember Derek, Will and Matt?’

  ‘Yes, of course I do. It’s nice to see you again. Thanks for coming,’ Alexis answered, very subtly emphasising her last spoken word.

  I couldn’t help giggling. I was already in that type of mood and the champers was not helping.

  ‘Happy birthday, Alexis,’ Derek said, his voice rolling through me like a sex express train. He handed her a small package and gave me a quick smile before focussing his attention back to Lex. Fuck me! No, I really mean it. Derek, sexy firefighter, please fuck me now.

  ‘You really shouldn’t have,’ Lexi said sheepishly, clearly embarrassed. She was never a fan of birthday presents.

  Derek shot her another smile, a smile that somehow had an invisible line directly to my Carly-cave, my cave waking up and blessing
me with an aroused tingle.

  I not so subtly cleared my throat, not waiting any longer for Lex to introduce us. My god! Talk about fail with the wingwoman duties. She should’ve done it by now.

  ‘Is it your birthday, Lexi?’ I asked, feigning ignorance. ‘Because I didn’t get you jack shit.’ Mind you, my statement was both confident and truthful. I honestly didn’t get her anything, my presence being present enough.

  Lexi gently shoved my shoulder. ‘Sorry, this rude bitch here is my best friend, Carly. Carly, this is Will, Matt and Derek. They are Bryce’s friends and members of the band he plays in.’

  ‘Yes, I know. I saw you guys in Shepparton. You were fantastic.’ I pointed my glass at Derek. ‘And you have a voice to die for.’ And a body, and eyes, and lips, and ... let’s face it ... you are just completely to die for.

  A seductive smile crept in at the corners of his mouth and, just as he was about to say thank you — or quite possibly, let me stick my tongue down your throat, Carly — Alexis offered her gratitude.

  ‘I love it! Thank you.’ She held up a CD which belonged to the band. ‘You didn’t tell me you had a CD,’ she said to Bryce.

  ‘We’ve only just recently produced it. It appears you would be one of the first to own a copy,’ he answered, proudly.

  ‘Oh, lucky me,’ she replied excitedly. ‘Can you all sign it?’

  ‘I think track four already has your name on it,’ Matt advised her, as he helped himself to a beer from the tray a waiter before us was balancing.

  Alexis shot him a confused expression. ‘A track that has my name on it?’

  Before anyone could answer, the buzzer to the door sounded again, and this time, the people entering seemed to be a never-ending stream.

  ‘Sorry, guys,’ Bryce interrupted. ‘I need to steal this beautiful woman and greet our arriving guests.’

  We smiled as he whisked Alexis away, his playful demeanour eliciting a loving giggle from her mouth.

  ‘So, Carly,’ Derek said as he turned to face me, ‘I’m a little concerned.’

  ‘Why?’ I stammered, unsure as to why he would be worried.

  ‘Because, according to you, if I talk to you and you hear my voice, you could quite possibly die.’ He lifted one eyebrow and took a swig of his beer.

  Oh, god. Did I really say that?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  I was normally confident around men, probably too confident if I’m completely honest. My confidence, however, had absolutely nothing to do with how I felt about myself, or how I looked for that matter. Yes, I looked pretty bloody good, being fortunate enough to eat whatever I wanted and never worry about my dress size. But my good genes and luck where my looks were concerned weren’t what gave me the poise and prowess to own a room when I walked into it. No, my confidence was more to do with the fact that I always felt on top of the game, in control of my life and any situation. Especially where men were concerned.

  So the feeling of helplessness I was now experiencing — the result of one sentence spoken by Derek — was unfamiliar, strange and unsettling, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it one bit.

  Mustering my semblance of Carly-is-the-shit, I placed my index and middle finger against my wrist. ‘Nope,’ I teased, with a slight shake of the head, pausing for effect. ‘There’s no need to worry. I feel a pulse. I’m still alive. It must only be when you sing.’

  ‘Damn!’ Will laughed while slapping Derek on the back. ‘Talk about being shot down in a blaze of glory. Carly, I think I love you.’

  The mention of the word ‘blaze’ had me giggling again, until Derek leaned in and started singing the opening line to the Bon Jovi song. The intense look in his eyes and the sexiness of his voice had me catching my breath.

  Unable to help myself, I stared at his lips as if they were moving in slow motion, soon finding myself entranced by his sultry tone. His face was so close to mine that if I wanted to, I could stick my tongue out and lick the side of it. I actually did want to ... desperately.

  A faint smell of beer gently wafted across my face. Normally, beer-breath would have me dry-retching, but the warm air that was lightly skating across the surface of my lips was about the yummiest thing I had experienced since my mini-tube of Pringles earlier in the day.

  Just as I was about to drag my tongue across the tasty singing morsel in front of me, I was snapped out of my daze by the sensation of his palm pressed flat against my back, his other hand now comfortably splayed across my waist and his ear gently resting against my chest.

  ‘I’m not sure I can hear her heartbeat,’ he explained to Will.

  Derek’s fingers very subtly brushed over the dark green material covering my lower abdomen, the sensation exciting me. I honestly didn’t want him to move, but I also couldn’t allow the impression that I was easily turned into a puppet. Carly Henkley was no Pinocchio.

  ‘Let’s just say your performance gave me a heart murmur. That’s all. You’ll have to do a little better than that to stop my heart completely,’ I compromised, giving an awkward but cocky smile.

  He released me and took a small step back, a stern but mischievous look upon his face. ‘Who said I wanted to stop it? I prefer things pumping.’

  ‘On that note, I’m heading into the cave,’ Matt declared. ‘You guys coming or what?’

  My brain seemed to only decipher two words from that last exchange; pumping and cave. And I couldn’t help but now visualise Derek doing just that; pumping my cave.

  ‘Can you play eight-ball, Carly?’ he asked, snapping me out of my head-porn.

  ‘Can a dog lick his own balls?’ I blurted out.

  For the love of fuck, Carly. Filter, where is your filter?

  ‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ he said with a laugh and pointed his beer in the direction the other guys went. ‘After you, then.’

  Nodding my head in acceptance, I led the way — finally leading something — and snatched up another two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. I was almost certain I would require them both.

  ***

  Entering a room that looked a little like a recording studio mashed together with a dude hangout, I found myself being handed a pool cue by Derek. I was still in a daze, feeling slightly unnerved and unsettled. Something that never EVER happened to me.

  Taking the cue from him, I smiled and once again gave myself a mental bitch-slap. Carly Josephine Henkley, what the hell is wrong with you? He is just a walking penis, a walking, talking, singing man-toy.

  I turned my back to him and reached for the block of blue chalk sitting on the rack fixed to the wall. As I chalked the tip of my cue and blew off the excess residue, I continued to give myself a silent pep talk. Right, you’ve got this. You own a vagina, and a good one at that. You’ve spent many a night at the local pub playing eight-ball. And anyway, I’m sure Derek won’t mind you bending over the pool table and enticing him with your size ten arse.

  ‘You want to break?’ Derek asked.

  ‘Sure,’ I said confidently, still not facing him, ‘unless you do?’

  ‘No. Ladies before gentlemen,’ he replied, his tone laced with cheeky provocation.

  Rolling my eyes at his obnoxiousness — because, let’s face it, no one likes to break the first time — I spun around. ‘Who says I’m a la—’

  He’d removed his jacket and the sight of him in his white tee stole the words from my mouth. His skin was the tone of caramel, to the point where I wanted to trail my tongue up his bicep, just to make sure he was not made of the sweet treat. And speaking of biceps, holy fucking muscle merriment ... those bumps and grooves were giving me vertigo.

  I soon realised I was standing there, clasping the pool cue in a death grip, my mouth wide open with unfinished words. ‘—dy ... lady. Who says I’m a lady?’ I barely voiced, finishing my sentence.

  ‘Well, you sure as hell look like one,’ he stated, perched on a stool, his eyebrow raised in amusement.

  I tore my eyes away from his t-shirt snug chest and leaned
forward across the table, preparing to take my shot. ‘Well, I’m not,’ I declared, concentrating on the trajectory of my cue. ‘I chew gum, I drink beer and I eat pizza while sitting on my couch,’ I explained as I slammed the pool cue into the white ball, sending it hurtling into the triangular arrangement.

  Balls scattered in all directions as I straightened up.

  ‘I read books instead of balancing them on my head,’ I continued. ‘My favourite word is fuck and I prefer my legs open. Clearly, I am not a lady.’ I bent down to take my next shot, smiling at the fact that I had sunk a ball. Looking up before playing it, I locked my eyes on Derek who seemed to have his fixed on my cleavage. ‘Looks like I have the big balls and you have the small ones,’ I informed, snapping his attention to my mouth.

  Suddenly, Will performed a rimshot, sounding a sting to punctuate my joke. Derek glared at him, placed his beer on the edge of the table and stood beside me, pretending to focus on the shot I was about to make. The heat from his body, which was subtly pressed against my side, along with the scent of his aftershave, worked to conspire against me, resulting in my aim being slightly off. I missed sinking a ball which was probably more sinkable than the Titanic.

  Derek took the cue stick from my hands. ‘The only small balls here, baby, are the ones on the table,’ he said matter-of-factly, before lowering himself to take his shot.

  Two of his balls found pockets quite easily. I was unfazed by this, more stunned at the way he had just called me ‘baby’.

  Snatching up his beer, I stole a swig to moisten my now parched mouth before setting it back down. ‘Well, that remains to be seen.’

  He looked at his beer bottle for the smallest of seconds then up at me. The hooded expression on his face had me clenching my legs together. Oh, sweet fuck of all fucks that are downright hot, hard and sweaty. I want this man. I want this walking, fuckable man-caramel.

  Just as I was about to quite possibly turn Alexis’ birthday party into the hottest live porn show on earth, Mr Sexy Brycealicious walked into the room. ‘Watch him like a hawk, Carly. The dickhead cheats,’ he informed.