Tempt Me

by Cali Caliente

  She shrugged and meandered around the waiting room. David sat the couple and returned to his post, avoiding eye contact with her. Four more patrons walked in the front door, and this time she took the opportunity to slip down the right-hand hall that led to the kitchen. As she passed the first alcove room with its curtains drawn, Antonio’s voice boomed into the hallway. Rude to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t resist.

  “Brent is a lucky man to have such a beautiful child.” Antonio’s bold accent was hard to mistake. “He is only two, you say?”

  A son? Brent has a son?

  Marinara sauce in the face couldn’t have shocked her more. What was going on here? Last night, he was on the verge of proposing marriage, but he’d shied away from the subject. Maybe this was why.

  “Yes. We’re getting married soon,” a woman’s voice said in response to Antonio’s question. “Nothing big, just a courthouse wedding. Kyle needs his daddy.” She laughed, an obnoxious bawdy kind of laugh. “And I need a husband.”

  That’s enough!

  Danielle didn’t want to hear another word. She swung around and ran smack into Brent’s hard-muscled chest. She gazed into his dreamy brown eyes and tears formed. “What kind of jerk are you? Never mind, don’t talk to me.”

  “Danielle?” He grabbed for her with one hand, the other holding a tray of drinks.

  She pulled out of his grasp and punched him in the nose. The tray of drinks crashed to the floor with a clatter of breaking glass. “Don’t ever speak to me again. I’m done with you.”

  He swiped at his bleeding nose. “Dani…please!”

  The curtains flew open and the same busty blonde she’d seen on his lap that day in his office glared at her and rushed to his side. “Oh, Brent honey. Are you okay?”

  Danielle turned on her heel and forced herself to walk from the restaurant, not run—ignoring Antonio’s words begging her to return. She was so over Brent Lovella. He was totally crazy! How did he think this was going to play out? He would marry one woman and bear her children, while he had hot, playful sex on the side with another woman—her?

  Oh God! What a fool she’d been. She swiped at the angry tears burning her cheeks and ran the rest of the way to her car.

  A glance in the direction of the sports car gave her confirmation there was a child’s car seat in the compact car next to it. They rode separate. Big deal. What did that tell her? He wasn’t giving up his playboy lifestyle because he had a child? How long had he known this? Or did he always know, and she’d been played for a fool?

  Her heart pined for an unavailable man. A man who’d made love to her three times in the past two days. The look on his handsome face when she ran into him in the restaurant was priceless. He looked surprised, and worried. Oh yeah, those were deep worry lines on his forehead. Now, she’d discovered his little secret, he no longer had his ice cream and the topping. He only had a blonde woman, melting all over him like sticky syrup…and his toddler son was the cherry on top.

  Danielle blasted the horn and backed out of the parking lot as she spotted Brent running toward her car. She wasn’t going to talk to him. She didn’t care if she’d broken his perfect straight nose. He deserved it. What a royal jerk. He made Jon look like the best thing since apple pie. Her stomach growled in response to the food word.

  Her Bug sped right by where Brent stood with a shocked expression on his face. It was the last image she would have of him. Not necessarily a good one. No, she’d rather remember him gazing into her eyes when they climaxed together, collapsing in a pile of sweaty sex. Breathing hard, making memories, and planning dreams. Dreams she would never, ever forget.

  She sobbed and bit her fist.

  Crap. Double crap!

  ****

  A full week had passed since Danielle drove right past him in her blue Bug. Brent missed her but he deserved it, he’d broken her heart. Worse, he’d broken her trust and he would never get it back. But he had to try. She was the air he needed to breathe. She was the first thing he wanted to see every morning for the rest of his life. And she was the woman he wanted to cuddle with every night for as long as they both shall live.

  He looked down at the DNA test results proving he was no relation to Janie’s child. He was waiting for her to come by his office this morning. She’d agreed to the paternity testing without argument. Was she thinking her wild scheme would work? What were the chances he’d test positive to be the boy’s dad? Zero. Well, the kid could have been his, with as much sex as they’d had, but he didn’t think she was stupid enough to get caught.

  Janie was experienced in sexual relations almost to the point of being called a slut. She was damn good at her chosen profession too. He wondered how many other guys she’d attempted to push this kid off on? Sad part was, the kid was cute. He’d spent some time with the boy and enjoyed his company. He was full of wonder and life was a challenge, from climbing everything in sight to tossing his food off the dinner table like a Frisbee. Cute kid. Too bad he had a loser for a mom.

  The office door opened and Kyle ran into the room, heading straight for his lap. He jumped up into his arms. Brent turned the chair to face the liar. “Doesn’t anyone ever knock on doors anymore?”

  “Good morning, Daddy. Little Kyle was excited to see you. He had fun at the park yesterday.” Janie flopped ungracefully into the chair across from him.

  How did he say this? He sucked in a deep breath and spoke without stopping to think of the consequences. “I have the DNA results. He’s not my kid. You’re out of luck, Janie.”

  She leaned forward and covered her mouth with her hand. Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, my God. He’s not yours?”

  “Don’t fake it with me. You must have known.” She really was a drama queen to try to keep this charade going.

  “No. I honestly thought he was yours. We used to have sex everywhere we went together. You do remember how good sex is between us, Brent. I know you do.”

  Her attempted trickery pissed him off so bad he had a hard time controlling his temper. Her over-made-up eyes filled with tears and pain, but he showed no mercy. She had to learn an important lesson. Never mess with other people’s lives and treat them like they were nothing. She was ruining her son’s life now. After years of sleeping with men all over the country, now she finally decided she wants to settle down with the first lover she could fool into marrying her? Too bad it wasn’t going to be him. He had no interest in her, except to get her out of his sight.

  “Why don’t you just go find a guy, fall in love, and get married? That’s the right way to do it, Janie.”

  “Oh, like you and Miss Goodie Two-shoes? No thanks. I can find a real man any time I want one.” She sniffled her fake tears and held out her hand toward the toddler on his lap. “Come on, Kyle. He’s not your daddy.”

  Brent shook his head in disbelief. She was amazing, but not in a good way. “God, you’re cold. Why did you do this?”

  She shook her head and her smile wavered. “Maybe because you were the best. You were the one I wanted back in college. I worked hard to please you and do whatever you enjoyed. I changed what I was into what I thought you wanted—a hot sex pet, someone to help you get off, and someone who looked sexy, so you could show me off to your friends. But you still pushed me away. This was my last attempt. I can tell you’re in love with her. Go find her and make up. I hope you can. One of us should be happy.”

  Her blunt words shocked him. He’d had no idea she was ever interested in him for anything other than sex. She’d played her part almost too well. She seemed happy being single and dating lots of men. “Janie…”

  “Goodbye, Brent. I’m sorry for what I did to you. I don’t think I’ll ever get over you.”

  The door closed behind her and the little boy. He sat back in his chair, feeling worse than before she walked in. Did she really love him? He never gave her any reason to, but he’d never refused sex with her either. In some odd, surreal way that meant he cared in her twisted mind. Feeling about as low as he coul
d go, he wondered if he’d done this to other women too? What kind of asshole had he been before he met Danielle?

  A knock and the office door opened. Bryce strolled in with a super-sized grin that lit up the room. “Hey, I’m a daddy. Where the hell have you been?”

  He jumped up and crossed the room to shake his brother’s hand. “When? Last night? Oh God, I’m sorry. I had to get out of town for a few days…thinking and stuff.” He wasn’t going to admit to Bryce what he’d really been up to—playing daddy to a kid that wasn’t his.

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  Damn, Bryce could tell he wasn’t being completely truthful and it irked him.

  Bryce frowned and pointed out the window. “Wasn’t that Janie Something I passed in the market downstairs? I thought you two were finished. What’s up with that?”

  “She just dropped by for a minute.”

  “Got a nice blowjob, did you?”

  “She had her son with her, for hell’s sake. I wasn’t getting sex favors.”

  “Her son? I didn’t see a kid. Just big boobs with lots of cleavage and long sexy-as-hell legs. I’d have recognized her anywhere. She’s pretty hot, considering what she does for a living.”

  Huh? She walked out of the office with Kyle in tow. Where did the kid go? He turned and looked down into the market. “Yeah, she’s hot all right.” And a super liar.

  Next to the produce aisles, he noticed Janie passing money to a short dark-haired woman, who grabbed Kyle’s hand and walked away. Janie glanced up at him, flipped him off, and walked out the market doors. He’d been duped. Did anything she say ring true? Or was she just trying to snag him into a marriage he didn’t want?

  “So, we thought if you’d like to come visit—”

  Brent tuned back in to what his brother was saying. “Let’s go meet your two new sons. This is so cool, Bryce. You’re a daddy now.”

  And thank God, he wasn’t.

  A weight the size of Texas lifted off his shoulders, and he could breathe easy again. Except for one thing he had to do as soon as possible. He had to come to terms with Danielle. He wouldn’t blame her if she never spoke to him again, but he had to tell her the truth and apologize.

  ****

  The massive hospital resembled a modern-day castle with flowered pathways and ponds. Danielle was so excited to see the babies and Aurora, she kept turning the Bug down the wrong lanes and getting lost. Where the heck was labor and delivery anyway?

  Jon rode shotgun directing her, but she wasn’t listening to half of what he said. She’d taken two pregnancy tests this morning—both turned out positive. She invited Jon along for moral support in case Brent showed up. But how would she approach the subject with Brent anyway? She didn’t want to face him before she discovered this little secret. Now? Well, she might burst into tears and everyone would think she was crazy.

  Wait a second. She was crazy. Dating a man whom she had no intention of marrying, while yearning for a man she loved with all her heart—the father of her baby.

  Chapter Six

  Aurora’s room was bright and spacious. When Danielle walked in, the first thing she noticed was her best friend’s rosy cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. Not only was she in love, she was in heavenly bliss with the birth of two precious sons. If only this could happen for her, but she didn’t see how it was possible now.

  “Rory! Congratulations. How are the babies?” She rushed across the room and gave Aurora a hug. She looked good, though exhausted. How cool to have two babies and a man who adores you.

  Aurora was beaming. “They’re perfect! I’ve counted each tiny finger and toe. They weighed just under four pounds each and they have to stay in the NICU for a while. But look, they have this new system setup. I can watch the boys in the NICU.” She pointed to a small monitor above her bed tray that showed live images of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and the two incubators where the newborn boys slept soundly.

  “Wow, so small. What happened? They weren’t due yet.” And that couldn’t be a good sign, could it? She sat on the edge of the bed and patted her friend’s swollen hand.

  “The doctor thought it would be best to bring them early since I had the beginning signs of preeclampsia. He did a C-Section late last night. They were born at thirty-four weeks, so it isn’t that bad. The pediatrician says they should both do fine at their current weight and status.”

  “Oh gosh, I can’t wait to hold them. They’re beautiful.” Most important everything went well. But would it be the same for her? Would she have twins too? Double trouble and no father to help with them?

  Oh God…

  Aurora took ahold of her hand. “Why are you crying, Dani?”

  She swiped at her eyes. “Am I? Oh, I’m always sentimental at emotional events…weddings, births, you know—”

  “I do.” A deep voice she didn’t want to hear again came from behind.

  She glanced over her shoulder to see the twin brothers standing just inside the room. She would never get over how identical they were. She hugged Aurora, kissed her puffy cheek, and backed away from the hospital bed. “I’ll let the big boys visit with you now.”

  “Danielle—”

  Brent grabbed for her, but she side-stepped the attempt and hurried out of the room to where Jon waited by the nurse’s station. It hurt to see Brent again. He was who she wanted and yet, he’d crushed her heart one too many times.

  “Let’s go. We can’t see the babies yet. Only parents and grandparents.” Disappointment filled her, and she wanted to leave.

  Brent walked out of Aurora’s room.

  At least, she supposed it was Brent. Both brothers were dressed in gray slacks and blue shirts today so it was harder to tell them apart. It didn’t matter, she had nothing to say to him, the lying jerk. After discovering his two-timing ways, punching him in the nose at Antonio’s had been a highlight of her day.

  “Dani? It’s me, Bryce. I had a few questions about the wedding plans since Rory had our babies earlier than planned.”

  “Congratulations, Daddy.” She waited for him to approach. “What can I do for you?”

  Did he just wince? “Can we talk in private?”

  “Sure.” She looked over at Jon where he sat on a chair, being ogled by all the young nurses. “Jon? I won’t be long.”

  Whatever Bryce had to say about the wedding plans could easily be said in front of Jon. But the concern on his face warned of something more delicate than he wanted to share with the world. She walked in silence beside Bryce, down the hall and into the hospital’s chapel. No one was there, so they had the quiet prayer room to themselves.

  “Let’s sit over here.”

  He held out his hand, and she accepted but her heart raced at his touch. Was it fear of what he might have to say? Was everything still good between him and Rory?

  “Bryce, is everything okay?”

  “Well, we might have to put the wedding off if Rory isn’t strong enough by our wedding date. Will that be a problem for you?”

  A problem? Was he serious?

  It would toss a boomerang into her tight schedule.

  “I think she’ll be just fine in four weeks. Well enough to walk down the aisle anyway. We can get her through this, honest.” She tugged her hand, but he wouldn’t let it go. She met his steady, unsmiling gaze. “What is this really about, Bryce?”

  “I’m worried about Brent. A girl dumped him, and he’s not in very good shape right now. I was hoping you—”

  “No. I won’t talk to him. I don’t ever want to talk to him again.” This time when she pulled on her hand, he released it.

  Odd, his touch is familiar. Just another reason she had trouble telling which twin she was with, or maybe she’d only been with one all along.

  “What if you’re wrong about Brent? What if he’s sorry?”

  What if he was sorry? What did that prove? It wouldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t do it again. He was a playboy at heart. She’d known of his reputation before she met him. Somehow, s
he’d hoped he might have changed. But all his sweet words of love were insincere. He’d lied, repeatedly. And the blonde woman he cheated on her with looked like a hooker. That was the most demoralizing thing of all.

  “He hasn’t even approached me, Bryce.” But she hadn’t made herself available either. She’d avoided his phone calls and stayed clear of the places he frequented, like the coffee shop, his uncle’s restaurant, and Love’s Farmer’s Market.

  “You’re a little unapproachable when you want to be, you know.” A dimpled smile flashed across his face, and she looked away. “Besides he doesn’t know your new cell number. How could he call?”

  Something about his touch, the tone in his voice— “Are you really Bryce?”

  “Sure. Why do you ask?”

  “It would be just like Brent to pretend to be you to try to trick me into forgiving him. He hurt me, and I didn’t deserve it. How can someone cheat on someone, if they love that someone? And if they cared even a tiny bit about a person, they wouldn’t go and have sex with a streetwalker. Would they? Never mind. I don’t really want to talk about this right now.”

  “You really feel that strongly about not allowing him to apologize? Or give him the chance to explain about the woman who meant nothing to him?” He looked at her with a wounded expression in his deep brown eyes.

  If my heart is right…no, he wouldn’t have the guts to deceive me again. Would he?

  “I need time, Bryce. I haven’t gotten over being fooled into thinking he loved me. Don’t you understand what that does to a person? My heart was his for the taking. I wanted him more than I’ve ever wanted a man before, but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m not one to mess with fate. It is what it is. Let it go for both our sakes. It’s over.”

  She walked to the door. But she couldn’t resist one more backward glance. He stood with his head back and gaze focused on something unnoticeable on the high ceiling. Was that a tear on his cheek?