Dangerous Temptations

by Kelly Elliott

  “Seriously, after last night, leg-humping is likely in the foreseeable future.”

  I handed her my coffee and headed back out to the living room and up the stairs to my bedroom. I grabbed the first T-shirt I could find and slipped it on over my head. When I walked into the kitchen, Sydney stared at me like I had grown a second head.

  “No! Not the black Salem PD shirt. That’s just being mean.”

  I glanced down at the shirt. “What’s wrong with this shirt?”

  “Wrong?” she repeated with a laugh. “Oh, there is nothing wrong with it. There is really nothing wrong with it when you add in the lounge pants and the fact that I can see your… your… zucchini bulge.”

  She dropped her head and sighed. “Seriously. I need something to shock me before I open my mouth again.”

  Smiling, I took her into my arms. “My zucchini is happy to see you.”

  She blushed. “I’m glad to know that. Seriously, though, you have to change, Mike. I feel like my body is going to explode with all this…”

  I placed my finger against her lips. “I feel like there is another thought you’re trying to keep in your head that your mouth really wants to let loose.”

  This time she giggled, and it was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.

  “I’m going to go change.”

  After changing into jeans and a hideous, puke-green promotional T-shirt I got for free at some fundraiser, I walked back into the kitchen. Sydney was standing there, looking down at Maggie Maye’s food and water bowls.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  She looked back at me and grimaced at the shirt I had on.

  “Goodness, that thing is… not the black Salem PD shirt.”

  “Nope, I thought this one might be a safer choice,” I replied, taking my coffee and opening the lid. I noticed Sydney had already added the cream for me. For some strange reason, that made my chest tighten, and a lump formed in my throat.

  “Mike, we have a problem. Maggie Maye is eating and drinking out of your normal kitchen bowls.”

  “How is that a problem?”

  Her mouth fell open in shock. “What? Seriously? She can’t drink and eat from human bowls!”

  I tried not to smile, but I couldn’t help myself, and I felt the corner of my mouth lift. “Why not? A bowl’s a bowl, Syd.”

  She scoffed while picking up Maggie Maye. “A bowl’s a bowl? It’s okay, sweet girl. We will go right now to PetSmart and get you new bowls that are just yours.” She turned back to me with a frown. “Did you also know she had snuck in a stick and wanted me to throw it in the house?”

  “Oh, yeah. That’s her fetch toy.”

  This time her hand went to her hip while she cradled my dog in her other arm. “Her… her fetch toy?”

  I nodded.

  “You play fetch with her in the house… with a stick?”

  “I’m going to guess you’re not a fan of that idea,” I said with a wink.

  She rolled her eyes at me. “Mike, you have to play fetch outside. And you don’t want her chewing on a stick.”

  Sydney held Maggie Maye up to her face and put their noses together. “We don’t want her getting an ouchy from eating sticks. Do we? No, we don’t. No, ma’am.”

  Smiling, I took in the scene before me. I could get used to having Sydney here every morning.

  I stopped short on that thought.

  Holy shit, Murphy. Slow it down.

  “Want to go to PetSmart with us?” Sydney asked.

  “You don’t have any clients this morning?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. I’m all yours for the entire morning.” Then her eyebrows pulled in. “I mean, unless you have to work.”

  “I’m off today.”

  Once again, I was graced with her brilliant smile.

  “Then I say we see what sort of trouble we get into today.”

  Staring into her sky-blue eyes, I replied, “You’re on.”

  Sydney

  “Oh, you love your pretty bowls, don’t you, sweet Mags.” I petted Maggie Maye’s head while she drank from her new bowl on her paw-print mat. The pink glitter on the bowl sparkled in the light. It was perfect for this sweet puppy.

  I looked at Mike. “See? She loves it.”

  “Syd, I just spent three hundred and fifty dollars at the pet store on teething stuff, toys, bed, and treats. She better love it.”

  I whispered to Mags, “What your daddy meant to say was that he is so glad no one has claimed you, and he gladly spent all that money.”

  So far, we had been lucky and no one had come forward. I had several people in line who wanted her, but if the prior owners weren’t found, Maggie Maye already had a forever home.

  Mike grinned at me. “That works, too.”

  Oink. Oink. Oink.

  “Tell me that is not the noise of a toy we bought my dog?” Mike looked horrified.

  I giggled as Maggie Maye squeaked her blue pig toy. “It’s cute. It’ll teach her to understand animal sounds. Pigs go oink. Cows go moo.” The song had played over and over again at the pet store, so I’d added the toy to aggravate Mike. “But what does the fox say? I don’t really know. That song never really cleared that up for me. Don’t you agree? Or should I play it again?”

  Mike touched my face and stared into my eyes.

  Oink. Oink. Oink.

  Maggie Maye pranced about, squeaking her blue pig.

  Oink. Oink. Oink.

  His finger brushed against my lips, and I wanted to feel his lips against mine again. I wanted—no, I needed more.

  In that moment, nothing else mattered except for him and me. He leaned in closer. “Will you come over the day after tomorrow? I want to cook dinner for you.”

  When Mike greeted me at the door, shirtless, I’d nearly had a spaz attack. Watching him cook dinner for me might make me combust on the spot. “I’d love that.”

  Hopefully we’re having zucchini for dinner.

  I froze, waiting to see if I’d said that out loud. Lately, things slipped out of my mouth without any sort of warning. Normally, I had some sort of self-control. But not with Officer McHotty.

  Crinkles formed at the corners of Mike’s eyes while he smiled, which meant he was laughing at something silently. Is it me? Maybe I had a booger. Gross. But if that was the case, he would probably have a look of disgust because, yeah, gross… boogers. Instead, the smile lines deepened.

  “What are you laughing at?”

  “What were you just thinking?”

  Phew. I hadn’t said it out loud. I shrugged. “Nothing, really.”

  Success! I had maintained control.

  “I know you were thinking something. Your eyes got really wide like you were wondering if you’d said it out loud. Then they got even wider, and I’m guessing you probably thought of something else and went off on a tangent.”

  Shit. Think. Think. Think.

  Discussing zucchinis and accidental bats in the cave—aka boogers—probably wasn’t a good idea, so I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Well I was going chirt, chirt, chirt, chirt, chirt in my head, thinking that might be what the fox said.”

  Mike gave a deep laugh. “I don’t think that was it.”

  I grinned. “Maybe not, but I have successfully filtered something from even you.”

  Once again, we got lost in each other’s eyes. I felt like I was on cloud nine. Mike stared at my lips, and I licked them without thinking, feeling the heat begin to rise within my core. He leaned in closer, his breath tickling my skin. “I wish it was the day after tomorrow already, Syd.”

  “Me, too.”

  He closed the gap and brushed his lips against mine. They were so firm and commanding. I could feel his hunger for me. And I wanted him to devour me. Mike Murphy was becoming a need.

  Ding. Ding. Ding.

  My noon reminder was going off. I groaned at my alarm and put my head against his chest. “Why do we always get interrupted?”

  His chest rose and fel
l as he sighed. “I don’t know. I wish you didn’t have to go to the clinic.”

  It was so tempting to stay with Mike, but I had afternoon appointments. “Me, too, but I have to.”

  “I know. What are you doing later?” He took my hand, lacing our fingers together.

  “After the clinic, I thought I might go see Beatrice at the welcome center, see if she had any information. She knows so much of the town’s history. I thought she might be able to give us some insight.”

  “I want to go with you.”

  My heart sped up. Mike was actively trying to find ways to spend time with me. The feeling, of course, was mutual, and I loved every minute we had together. “Really? All my crazy slips don’t drive you insane?”

  “Really. No, they don’t. What time can I pick you up?”

  For the first time, I felt like a man had accepted me for who I was. I usually said stupid, awkward things that weren’t overly sexual. With Mike, I’d taken my slips to a whole new level. “How does three work?”

  “Perfect. I’ll be there.” Mike gave me one last kiss before I left.

  I was giddy with excitement. He asked me for another impromptu date! I couldn’t help myself, and I started fist pumping. Yes! Yes! Yes! Then I abruptly stopped, remembering I hadn’t made it very far and was still on the sidewalk in front of his house.

  Do not turn around. With my head held high, I kept walking.

  Five seconds later, my phone vibrated with a text.

  Mike: What were you fist pumping about?

  Oh no, he saw. I typed out the first thing that came to me.

  Me: There was a bee.

  Mike: A bee.

  Me: Yeah, you might have an infestation. I’d check it out with an exterminator. Bees can sting and that’s no good at all. Ya know?

  Mike: I’ll get on that. I wouldn’t want my girl getting hurt.

  I squealed. My girl. I wanted to be his in every way.

  Then I got another text.

  Mike: I’m just as excited, Syd.

  I turned around and saw him standing at the window, staring at me. I blew him a kiss and he caught it.

  The entire way to work, I couldn’t stop smiling.

  Mike Murphy had stolen my heart.

  Sydney

  After my last appointment of the afternoon, I updated the patient charts and put the files away. I’d heard from the families of the pets that had been diagnosed with terminal conditions the day before. Both families had decided to not euthanize their beloved pet until their quality of life deteriorated. I felt a sense of temporary relief; I hated this part of the job. But it came with the territory. And things would be busier next week as I increased my hours.

  Whiz.

  Grr.

  Glrp.

  What in the hell? My eyes grew wide at what sounded like a dinosaur coming to life. I spun around in my chair and moved toward the sound. Behind a box, there was a fax machine. How long has that been here? I thought Grandpa had gotten rid of that thing forever ago. Who still faxed?

  As I watched with growing fascination, one sheet of paper, and then another, and then another slid into the receiving tray. I picked up the cover sheet.

  To: Mike Murphy c/o Sydney Burch

  From: Dex Murphy

  Re: Correspondence on upcoming trip

  Pages: 4 (including cover)

  Is this from Mike’s dad? How did he get my fax number? I picked up the next sheet to read the handwritten note. Each letter was precise and neat. Impressive.

  Dear Sydney Burch,

  I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Dex Murphy. I am Michael Murphy’s father. Paula mentioned that Mike had become friends with a vet named Sydney. After some research on the internet with my son Darrin, he happened upon your site, and lo and behold, I noticed you had a fax number.

  You, sir, most likely agree with me about all this new technology stuff coming our way. Sometimes I think going back to the telegraph and steam engine would be best, but I find I’m in the minority. Even though most people my age are more technically inclined, I never jumped on that bandwagon.

  Have you tried this texting letter program? It’s quite cumbersome.

  My children bought me one of those newfangled phones with the tiny keyboard to send what they call a text on, but the tiny keys are quite frustrating at times when I hit the letter F instead of the G or the L instead of the K. I guess my fingers are too fat for texting.

  Anyway, I hope you don’t mind me intruding by faxing my son. We’re coming to visit soon, and I thought I would send some of the highlights of Salem I would like to see. Mike’s mother has convinced me that we need to visit our son together and make sure he’s settling down. We divorced many years ago, but remain the best of friends.

  I’m glad he’s found a mentor who he can look up to. These young folks can be quite impressionable as I’m sure you know.

  Thank you kindly for passing along to Mike.

  Best regards,

  Dex Murphy

  I giggled at the most adorable letter from Mike’s dad. Then realization hit. He must have thought I was my grandpa. That brought on another round of giggles. We still hadn’t updated the website since Grandpa had died, and it had his photo and full name: Sydney Virgil Burch. I had been named after him, which always made me feel special.

  The next page was a letter to Mike.

  Dear Mike,

  I found your friend Sydney’s vet clinic and invaded his fax. I hope he doesn’t mind. It’s wonderful you have found a mentor to help guide you. As you explore the next phase of your life (take your time), I think it’s always best to get many a perspective.

  I’m looking forward to visiting you and seeing the new home you’ve made for yourself. Your mother states your place is “adorable.” I’m sure that is what you were striving for. (chuckle out loud) Darrin has been trying to teach me how emotions are communicated through texting. I figured I would try it in letters. Slowly but surely, I’m getting the hang of it. (chuckle out loud again)

  On the next page you’ll see a list of historical sites I think would be nice to visit as a family. I’ve ranked them in what I think is historical importance.

  Looking forward to it. Be safe, son.

  Love, Dad.

  This man was adorable—I just had to write him back. For some reason, I pictured him sitting at his fax machine, waiting for some sort of response. Thank goodness I’d been at the clinic when the fax had come through or we might never have seen these letters from Dex.

  I wrote a letter, trying to keep my penmanship neat, and faxed it back.

  Dear Dex,

  This is Sydney Burch. I’m the granddaughter of the man you found on the internet and was named after him. He recently passed away, and I took over his veterinary clinic. It’s nice to meet you via the fax system. I had no idea my grandfather still had the fax machine but will be sure to keep it going so you are able to have another way to communicate with Mike.

  I know exactly what you mean about the tiny keys for texting. I am always pushing the wrong button. It gets irritating.

  I have enjoyed getting to know your son. While I was away, he helped watch the clinic for me. It was how we met. He’s quite a fine young man, and I hope I’m able to meet you and the rest of your family when you come to visit.

  Before moving here permanently, I’d been coming to Salem since I was a little girl, and the places you have listed to visit will be amazing, and I believe you’ve listed them in a great order. If you have any questions or would like dining suggestions, don’t hesitate to ask.

  All the best,

  Sydney

  I giggled at the idea that I was waiting for Dex to send back a reply. I was faxing my kind-of boyfriend’s dad. I doubted anyone these days even knew what a fax was. I had about twenty-five minutes until Mike arrived. I was ready to see him. This morning had been nice, but I was ready to see how things progressed. I needed an orgasm. My cheeks flushed at the thought of his mouth on my nipple and I
fanned myself.

  Good grief.

  As I waited, I walked up to the fish tank and tapped on the glass. “Hey, Ragnor. You hungry?”

  I gave him a small pinch of fish food. The fax machine came to life, and I dashed over to it, anxious to see what Dex had written back.

  Dear Sydney,

  My deepest apologies for assuming you were a man with a few years under his belt. No wonder Paula was excited about Mike befriending you. I had wondered what all the squealing was about when I saw the picture of your grandfather. (wink face)

  I very much appreciate you lending me your fax machine. It’s very kind of you.

  While we are in town, it would be wonderful to meet you. However, I understand you are a busy woman. It’s very admirable what you’ve accomplished. If you are free, it would be wonderful to have you join us on our excursions. I’m quite sure Mike would enjoy it, too.

  For dining, I was wondering if there was a place that serves cheesecake. I’m especially fond of it, but I try to limit my Cheesecake Factory visits as Mike’s mom seems to know every time I visit. It has me quite alarmed, so I limit my going, especially since I’m supposed to be watching my weight.

  Looking forward to meeting you.

  Best Regards,

  Dex Murphy

  I wanted to squeeze him. I’d seen a couple of pictures of Mike’s family, but I would never have guessed how fun his father would be. I wrote another letter and fed it into the fax machine.

  Dear Dex,

  Oh, I would love to tag along some if my schedule permits. You have a wonderful son and I have enjoyed getting to know him. There are a couple of places that I would recommend their cheesecake so you should be all set. I’ll even try to sneak you some on the side. Haha!

  I’ll be leaving the clinic shortly. If you send another fax, it might be tomorrow until you hear back. When Mike comes and picks me up, I’ll be sure to give him your messages.

  Looking forward to meeting you, as well.