Sweet Temptation

by Spencer Pearson

  Sweet Temptation

  Spencer Pearson

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

  Copyright © 2020

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Thank You

  New Releases

  1

  Riley Shaw pushed open the glass door to the campus coffee shop, the sweet smell of cinnamon hitting her as she held the door open for her best friend, Nicole. It was quiet with just a few of the wooden tables occupied, but that was normal for the first week of classes. The hum of coffee beans being ground got louder as they moved closer to the counter.

  “Our last anniversary coffee,” Nicole said with a smile as they got in line. “I can’t believe this is our last year.”

  “I know,” Riley said, glancing up at the menu to see if they’d added anything new since they were in here in May, but the iced caramel macchiato caught her eye, an old favorite. It was definitely still warm enough for an iced coffee.

  She’d met Nicole here on her first day of college, three years ago. Back then, Riley knew absolutely no one. She was hundreds of miles from home, and for some reason, she’d asked Nicole if she could join her. They’d both been sitting alone at tables right beside one another, and that had been the start of their friendship. They’d made it a tradition, stopping here for a coffee and a catch-up each year after being apart for the summer.

  “Have you thought about what you want to do next?” Nicole asked after she’d placed her order.

  Riley exhaled. “I guess, join an accountancy firm. I haven’t really looked into it, but I’m not going back home. I might even stay here. Upstate New York is growing on me.”

  Riley hadn’t thought much about her future because she was still processing what had happened over the summer. She was still trying to figure out how she was going to even make it through this last year, because her parents had cut her off. Just like that. Well, they thought they were doing the right thing, but Riley couldn’t fathom how her parents could do it. They’d thrown her out, telling her not to come back until she’d changed.

  “Really?” Nicole asked. “I thought your dad wanted you to work for him.”

  “Hmm. He did. I’ll tell you all about that drama when we sit down.”

  Riley ordered and paid before stepping aside with Nicole to wait for their drinks. She tapped her short nails against the counter, the burgundy paint already chipping from her thumb. Riley looked up when Nicole gently elbowed her in the ribs.

  “Guess who just walked in?” Nicole asked in a hushed tone.

  Riley glanced towards the door, and her breath caught. Lauren Harper breezed through the door, her piercing blue eyes doing a sweep of the room before landing on her brother, another lecturer who had a table in the front of the coffee shop beside the windows.

  Riley hated that her crush on Ms. Harper was so obvious, but Nicole didn’t tease her about it. She actually encouraged her, which was even more dangerous. Not that Riley thought she had a chance with her or anything. Lauren Harper was the image of sophistication in a navy pencil skirt and a white blouse with the top buttons undone, revealing her collarbone and that same circular silver pendant she’d been wearing since Riley had first seen her on campus three years ago. Her copper brown hair was pulled back in a high ponytail today, and Riley knew she had to stop staring.

  “Riley? Our coffees are ready,” Nicole said, snapping Riley out of her daze.

  She tucked a lock of blond hair behind her ear, a nervous tick Riley knew she had as she followed Nicole. Riley’s eyes narrowed when she realized what Nicole was doing.

  “Nicole,” she hissed. “Nicole.” But it was too late. Nicole had chosen the table right beside Ms. Harper and her brother.

  Riley had been in Brian Harper’s class in first year, taking Introduction to Statistics along with Algebra 1. With his salt and pepper hair, he looked much older than Lauren. Google had informed her that Lauren was thirty-nine, although she would never have guessed it. She was in great shape, and her skin was smooth. Only a few lines appeared in the corner of her eyes the rare times she smiled.

  “Is this table okay?” Nicole asked, and Riley could have killed her. “I feel like doing some people watching,” she said with her most innocent smile.

  “Sure,” Riley said, playing along. She couldn’t tell Nicole that she really didn’t want to sit there, and to make this situation even worse, Nicole took the seat beside Ms. Harper, leaving Riley with the seat opposite her. She was somehow not supposed to stare at Lauren Harper with her sitting just a few feet away.

  Both Nicole and Riley gave polite smiles to them as they left their bags at their feet and pulled in their chairs. Even though this was a small town, the campus was still big enough that there was no way lecturers could know and remember everyone’s name, but Mr. Harper had always been friendly, and Riley had liked him as a professor.

  “So,” Nicole said. “What’s the drama?”

  Riley stirred her drink, the ice rumbling in her plastic cup, as she stole a glance over at Ms. Harper who was in the middle of a conversation, her eyes focused on her brother.

  “Well,” Riley said, her voice a little unsteady. This was the first time she’d really said it out loud. “My parents kicked me out.”

  “What? Did you come out? Or did they find out?”

  “They found out. I don’t know what my mother was doing on Facebook, but she saw some photos of me at Pride in New York City in June, and she lost it. I know I should have come out to them by now, but this was exactly why I didn’t. I knew they’d have this kind of reaction. The bible comes first,” Riley said, rolling her eyes.

  “So, that’s it? They’ve essentially disowned you?”

  “Yep. Unless I change my ways, of course.”

  Nicole almost choked on her coffee. “Like that’s going to happen.”

  “Yeah. Well, it’s not, but I have debated putting on that kind of charade for the rest of the year.”

  “Oh,” Nicole said, “Because of the money.”

  “Yeah.” Riley left it at that, knowing this was a sensitive subject. She’d stuck her foot it in when they’d first met, not realizing how rare it was that her parents were covering all the costs of college. Nicole was paying her own way with student loans and weekends bartending at a local casino.

  “You wouldn’t really do it, though, would you?” Nicole asked.

  “No. I mean, I’m single now, so it wouldn’t be that difficult to pull off.” She took a drink, the icy coffee refreshing.

  “But what if you meet someone?”

  “In my final year of college? When I’m supposed to be concentrating on graduating and thinking about my future? I doubt it. Oh, um... I have a favor to ask you. It’s totally fine if you don’t think it would work.”

  “What is it?”

  “I think I need t
o downsize. My yearly lease is up at the end of the month, and if I’m trying to cut back and stretch my money, I really shouldn’t be living in an apartment within walking distance to campus. And well... You mentioned something about your new housemate moving in with her boyfriend so...”

  “Yeah, of course, Riley. Take it.”

  “Are you sure, though? Do you want to ask the other woman living with you first?”

  Nicole shook her head. “No. Becca won’t mind. We were kind of worried about who we’d get on such short notice. Most people have their accommodation sorted out by now, and we really didn’t want to cover the extra cost between us for a month or two until we found someone. You’d be doing us a favor, really.”

  Riley smiled, relief washing over her. This time when she let her eyes wander towards Lauren, she was looking right back at her, sending Riley’s pulse into overdrive. Riley darted her gaze away.

  “Thank you,” Riley said, sitting back in her chair. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “You have no idea. That’s one less thing to worry about.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Seriously. I could kiss you right now.”

  “Riley, if anyone was going to convince me to play for the other team, it’d be you, but-”

  “I know. I know. And you know I’m only joking, right?” Riley asked even though this was a long running joke.

  “Definitely.” Nicole took a sip of her coffee, the steam rising from her mug. “You’re not really thinking about going back in the closet, are you?”

  Riley sighed. “I mean, I have some savings left over from last year, and if my rent’s going to be less... I still need to pick up a few hours somewhere, but I don’t want to skip class either so, I don’t know. I guess, I should do a budget.”

  “I’ll keep a look out. Something might turn up at the casino. Becca works there too.”

  “Thanks, Nic.”

  “Are you okay? I know you didn’t always get along with your parents, but there’s no coming back from this, is there?”

  Riley shook her head. “No. They’re too religious. I’ve always thrown in comments, challenging their beliefs and trying to get them to see that being gay isn’t a choice or whatever the hell it is they think I’m doing, but it’s never worked. You know what, though? This could end up being good for me. I don’t have to pretend anymore. That’s why Melissa broke it off. She didn’t want to deal with all that. She could never come to my house for Thanksgiving or Christmas and be my girlfriend. Just my friend, and I don’t blame her. But I’m done with all that bullshit now.”

  “I would hope that my parents would still love me, but you just never know, do you?” Nicole asked, propping her chin up on her hand.

  “I’d like to think that it’s not them. It’s their church. They’re just scared.” Riley sighed. “It’s funny. They’re trying to ‘save’ me,” she said, using air quotes, “and at the same time I’m trying to save them. From their religion. Both of us think we’re doing the right thing.” She shook her head. “Oh well. I did my best.”

  “You know you’ve got me,” Nicole said, her hand on Riley’s on the table, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  Riley gave her a smile. “Yeah.” And she did. She really hoped that they wouldn’t drift apart after college. Riley couldn’t have asked for a better friend. “Enough of my problems. What about you? What’s new?”

  Riley spent almost an hour with Nicole, catching up, and she was proud of herself for only glancing at Ms. Harper twice. Unless, of course, she’d done it without realizing it.

  Their conversation had flowed, both of them eager to catch up, so Riley didn’t eavesdrop on the conversation going on at the table beside them, as much as she wanted to, but even hearing Ms. Harper’s voice in the background made her heart flutter. Riley was going to be in Ms. Harper’s Ethics in Business class that afternoon. Her voice was so smooth, sultry even, and Riley had no idea how she was going to take anything in.

  2

  Lauren Harper entered the campus coffee shop, her eyes scanning the room in search of her brother. He had a seat by the windows and a flat white waiting for her.

  “Good morning,” Brian said, running a hand through his thick hair. There were more gray streaks than black now, and Lauren never understood why he didn’t dye it. The second she saw a gray hair, she would be getting rid of it.

  “Morning and thanks for this.” Lauren sat down and took a sip. The perfect temperature.

  “You’re welcome. I knew I had to bribe you.”

  “I just don’t like coming here,” she said, glancing behind her. “It’s always full of students, and I don’t particularly want to meet them outside of class.”

  Brian chuckled. “Well, I like getting out of my office and running in to students isn’t all the bad. There’s two of my former students.” He smiled and said hello to the two young women who sat down at the table beside them.

  Brian had only ever been a teacher, and in fairness, he was good at what he did. He had a way of teaching math that wasn’t boring, and his students seemed to love him. He was the one who had convinced Lauren to leave her stressful job at an accountancy firm and come teach as his college.

  This was the start of her sixth year here. She didn’t always love it, but she appreciated the relaxed atmosphere. She’d almost thrown it all away though when she had an affair with a nineteen-year-old student in her first year lecturing here. What had started out as a fun little fling quickly turned in to a complete disaster when she decided she would start blackmailing Lauren. It was only when she’d graduated that Lauren could stop living in fear.

  That was a mistake she would not be making again.

  When Lauren took this job, she sold her place in the city, buying a two-bedroom apartment that was about a fifteen-minute drive to college. She was still getting used to that small-town feel. She couldn’t go to a bar or a restaurant around here without running in to someone she knew, and all the professors were friendly with one another. At the firm where she’d worked, everyone just put their heads down and met their deadlines. There was no socializing. People couldn’t wait to get out of the office at six, and Lauren was no exception.

  “So,” Brian said, leaning forward to rest his arms on the table. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we have a new lecturer in the math department. Taylor Lloyd.”

  Lauren shook her head. “No. I hadn’t heard. Aren’t there new hires every year?”

  “Yeah, but they’re not usually single lesbians.”

  “Brian, no. Seriously. I don’t want to be set up.” Lauren drummed her fingers against her mug. “You know that.”

  “Okay, yeah. I know that, and for the record, I didn’t set you up, but I did mention the Friday night poker tournaments down at the casino.”

  That was Lauren’s idea of a good Friday night. Cards and a few whiskeys. “And why would you tell her that? That’s a bit random.”

  “She recognized me from TV and asked where I normally play, and I told her that I retired a few years ago, but that there’s a tournament every Friday. She’ll probably be there.” He picked up his phone and flicked through it, bringing up the college’s website, and passed it to her. “Here. Look.”

  Lauren took the phone and looked at the photo of Taylor Lloyd. She was an attractive woman with blond hair, and she looked like she was about Lauren’s age, in her mid to late thirties. “Okay,” she said, returning his phone.

  “Well, if you’re not interested, at least be nice. She’s new in town, and from what I gathered, she doesn’t know anyone.”

  “Alright,” Lauren said. “I can be nice.”

  “Exactly.”

  “So, she plays poker?”

  Brian brought his mug to his lips. “Yeah, and she said something about her ex-wife.”

  “I hope you didn’t mention me.”

  “No. I didn’t. I’m just relaying this interesting bit of information.”

  “I don’t need to be set up,” Lauren said, her v
oice dropping to a whisper.

  “I know you don’t which is why you should go out on dates. I know there isn’t a gay bar or club, but there’s this new app everyone’s talking about.”

  “Should I be worried?” Lauren asked. “I thought you were happily married.”

  “I’m talking about you, and I am happily married. Even Katherine has someone she wants to set you up with.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “Is this an intervention? Because I don’t need one. I’m happy being single.”

  “Look, I know what happened before has you acting a little more cautiously than you used to, but maybe-”

  Lauren cut him off. “This has nothing to do with that.” She was not talking about her very secretive affair in the middle of the campus coffee shop. Brian was the only one who knew about it, and that was only because Lauren had needed advice. She’d been so blindsided. She didn’t know what to do, and her brother had helped her weigh up her options. Lauren ended up choosing to pay the girl off, and thankfully that had been the end of it.

  “Alright,” Brian said, backing off. “I’m just saying that you deserve to be happy.” He shrugged. “I know you don’t want kids and all that.”

  “Hmm.” Lauren finished her coffee. She wasn’t in the mood for this today. It was their first week back, and she just wanted to get into her new routine. Students were always a little too excitable this time of year, but thankfully, that seemed to wear off by the end of September. Half-empty lectures were normal by October, and Lauren knew not to take it personally. It was just the way things went, and she didn’t care. She was still doing her job.