Tempt Me: A First Class Romance Collection

by Jessica Hawkins

  Leaning forward, I rested my forearms on the table as I fiddled with a paper napkin. “He’s not an asshole.”

  Not even close.

  “He just . . . doesn’t normally let people get to know him.”

  Nikki’s brows rose. “And you know him?”

  “We’re . . .”

  “You’re what?” This from Lillith. She shifted forward. “Are you and Rex seeing each other?” Shock lined every syllable of the question.

  Uneasily, I glanced down the street, not sure how to describe what Rex and I were. What we had.

  Not when it felt like everything but still lacked a name. “We’ve been spending time together,” I settled on.

  Nikki smacked the table then pointed at me. “I knew it!”

  “You’re dating Rex Gunner?” Lillith drew in a sharp breath, totally taken aback.

  “Is that such a surprise?” I didn’t mean for it to come across as defensive. But it did. I was feeling protective of Rex and the misguided reputation he had. As if he wasn’t deserving of love. Or maybe there were those distorted doubts that I wasn’t good enough.

  Not to mention those specks of insecurity I felt at the mystery that remained hidden in his eyes, this needle of discomfort that poked and prodded and warned there was something he was keeping from me.

  I was right there and he was terrified to let me the rest of the way in.

  Lillith softened. “I am surprised, but not in a bad way. Rex deserves to find happiness. He’s had it rough. I couldn’t imagine a better person for him and that little girl than you.”

  My lips pursed, and I decided to go with blatant honesty. Because Lillith and Nikki made me feel that I could. “I’m sorry. Sometimes . . . there are times when an old defensiveness appears out of nowhere. High school wasn’t exactly easy for me, and trust comes hard sometimes.”

  Lillith glanced at Nikki. “I don’t think it was easy for any of us.”

  “Oh, Lillith and I are no strangers to the high school bitches, are we Lily Pad? Believe me, we get it, and I promise you, our circle is safe. We invited you into it because we like you. That’s it.”

  Gratitude throbbed, and a soft smile pulled to my mouth. “That really means a lot to me. I hope you know that.”

  “Of course we know it. We’re awesome.” Nikki capped it off with a wink.

  I laughed lightly. Truly loving that they had welcomed me into their circle.

  My phone buzzed on the table. Excitement pulled across my ribs. I was biting at my bottom lip as I grabbed it from where I’d placed it face down, beating back a smile when I saw the text from Rex on the screen.

  Rex: You still hanging out with your girls?

  He’d teased me this morning when I’d tried to leave my bed, which he’d been gloriously stretched out in the middle of. The best kind of topping for twisted sheets. Naked and perfect and turning my world upside down. He’d told me he could think of much better ways to keep me entertained. It’d taken about all I had to rip myself away and force myself into the shower.

  He’d just followed me in there.

  I tapped out a quick reply.

  Me: Finishing up soon. Will I see you later?

  I set it back down. Obviously, I hadn’t done that great of a job containing my grin.

  Nikki and Lillith stared back at me. Then Nikki howled. “Oh girl . . . you have it bad,” she drew out. “You should see your face right now. You are in so much trouble. Put a fork in that pie because you are done.”

  “Stop it,” I whispered, laughing at her reference to pie and trying to hide the emotion that pressed in. This shimmery pulse that throbbed and vibrated, stretching out spindly fingers to find purchase in those secret places. Those places that were reserved for when it was right.

  For when you just knew.

  “So are you two like, together, together?” Lillith asked.

  “Yeah.” As soon as I said it, those questions brimmed. Ones that hovered around the darkness that would dim his eyes.

  “What?” she pressed.

  Uneasy, I hesitated, hoping I wasn’t sharing something with them that would upset Rex. But I didn’t know who else to turn to. Because when I truly thought about it, it scared me.

  “His ex-wife . . .” I blinked, choked around the words. “I don’t know if he’s over her.”

  Just the thought gutted me.

  A hollow, vacant space that radiated pain. He said he hated her. But there was so much pain around it, it made me itch.

  “That bitch didn’t deserve either of them.” Nearly every word that came from Nikki’s mouth was light, filled with a tease and the easy way she looked at life. Not this. It was hard. A little bit bitter.

  I hated the idea of crossing a line. Invading his privacy by asking for details he hadn’t offered.

  But there was an ugly part of me that was shrouded in doubt. Turned out, old insecurities were hard to ditch. “What was she like?” I’d barely managed the choppy question when my attention caught on a big white truck that passed us, did a U-Turn, and pulled to a rumbling stop at the curb beside us.

  “Holy shit,” Nikki mouthed, laughing under her breath. “Is that actually Rex Gunner? Looks like you’re not the only one who’s done for.”

  My heart surged to my throat when both passenger side windows glided down. Rex slanted me an almost shy smile that was every kind of sexy from the driver’s seat, that expression alone seeping into my spirit and finding a home.

  From the backseat, Frankie waved frantically. Milo on her lap, yipping as he tried to paw his way out the window to get to me.

  “We’s goin’ on a picnic, Rynna! You wants to come?” Frankie shouted.

  Rex had offered to keep an eye on Milo for me when I was getting ready to leave this morning, claiming Frankie would love to see him when he picked her up this morning from her grandma’s.

  Wasn’t that a sign? It had to be. I soared on it.

  “It was all Frankie’s idea,” Rex said, voice gruff. The sound raked my skin and brought up chills. “She wants to spend the day at the lake, and we thought maybe you and Milo might want to join us.”

  “We gots all the food, Rynna, but we ain’t gots no Pepper Pies. Is that okay?”

  Oh my heart. That little girl was undoing me. Just as quickly as her dad. Affection thrummed, fluttery and thick and somehow light.

  “That’s just fine, Sweet Pea,” I told her.

  “Hey there, Rex,” Nikki sang, grinning as she rocked back in her chair. Leave it to Nikki to put him in the hot seat. “Tell Ollie hi for me.”

  An exasperated, “Nikki,” was the only response she got.

  His gaze shifted to Lillith for the flash of a second, his chin lifting in a subdued hello, discomfort ridging the lines of his expression.

  But still, there was something significant about him sitting there, all rough and burly in his huge truck.

  Something sweet in his offer.

  Because this?

  This was an offering.

  “I would love to go.” I glanced back at Lillith and Nikki. “You don’t mind me cutting this a little short, do you?”

  Nikki waved me off. “Get out of here. The lake sounds way more fun. Besides, Lily Pad over there is getting antsy to get back to Brody. It’s totally fine. You know, just leave me here all by myself. I don’t mind. Not at all.”

  Lillith laughed. “So dramatic.”

  Nikki’s eyes widened. “And how else would I get any attention around here? Seems everyone has all their attention trained somewhere else.” Her widened eyes slid back to me, all a meaningful tease.

  I dropped the peck of a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you. Next time we get together, I’ll make you dinner. How’s that sound? I need all the practice I can get if I’m going to make the restaurant a success.”

  Her eyes rolled back in her head. “Girl, don’t tease me. Tomorrow? I’ll be at your house at seven.”

  I chuckled. “It’s a date.” I shifted my gaze to Lillith. “Are you in?”


  “Wouldn’t miss it. Have fun.”

  I hopped into the front seat of Rex’s truck.

  He threaded our fingers together, clutched them tight on the seat between us.

  It felt like a claim.

  A statement.

  I peeked back at Frankie and down to our hands, before I looked up at his gorgeous face, mouthing the words, “Is this fine?”

  He squeezed my hand tighter. Like I was his and he was mine.

  “This is more than fine, Rynna.”

  Joy.

  I’d never known the full truth of it.

  Not until then.

  We’d swung by my house, and I’d pulled on a swimsuit, sliding on a pair of shorts and a tank over it, and changed into more appropriate shoes.

  Twenty-minutes later, Rex’s truck jostled on the dirt road that was nothing more than a worn path carved by the vehicles that traveled the winding road. It curved as it climbed deeper into the forest that lined the lake, which was tucked at the base of the mountain on the outskirts of town.

  I’d thought I was prepared. That it didn’t matter anymore. That I could keep them at bay. But memories kept breaking loose the deeper we trekked into the forest. The closer we got, the harder the betrayal churned my stomach.

  The louder the phantom laughter became. Even eleven years later, I could hear Janel’s words floating through the forest.

  “You’re such a fool. Did you really think he wanted you?”

  I swallowed back the tingle of tears that burned my throat and threatened my eyes. It was a long time ago, and I wasn’t that same girl who’d run barefoot through these trees. Sobbing. Hurting in a way she’d never known existed until she’d been taught the harsh realities of this world in the cruelest of ways.

  None of that mattered.

  Not now.

  Not with Rex running his thumb over the back of my hand, Frankie belting out the silliest song I’d ever heard from the backseat, and my little puppy secure on my lap.

  “Sorry this is so far off the beaten path. Frankie and I kind of like the place to ourselves when we come to the lake, don’t we, Frankie Leigh?”

  “Yup! We gots our own secret spot that no one knows about. Juss for us.”

  Rex tossed me a small wink.

  My heart, already filled too full, gave an extra wayward beat.

  God, he was gorgeous with the sun shining through his opened window. Rays of light speared through the leaves of the trees, sending bright flashes of light against his face as we wound through the thicket. The longer pieces of his dark blond hair were lit up like a blaze of white fire, the hard curve of his jaw and scruff defined by the glowing outline, those earthy eyes a perfect match to the trees.

  “Here we go,” he said. He pulled to a stop where the path came to a dead end. We climbed out, and I helped Frankie down while Rex grabbed the cooler from the bed of the truck. I kept ahold of Milo’s leash and Frankie’s hand as we followed him down a narrow trail.

  Lush bushes and towering trees lined the twisty path. A gentle breeze rustled through, dragging with it a fragrant bough of wildflowers and leaves and earth.

  In the distance, a trickle from a stream cascading down from the mountain could be heard, and birds chirped overhead.

  Tranquility and peace.

  I inhaled, breathing all of it in, struck with the memory of why I’d always loved this place so much.

  Two minutes later, the trees opened up in front of us, revealing the lake.

  A glassy expanse of blue.

  Calm.

  Craggy rocks made up the low cliffs the area was well known for, and the trail weaved down around them, guiding us to a secluded cove and beach.

  Awe stoked that fire that continued to grow in my spirit.

  “This is gorgeous.”

  I’d almost forgotten the draw of this place. The stark beauty that gave Gingham Lakes its name.

  Frankie jumped up and down at my side, yanking at my hand to lead me closer to the water. “It’s our super special secret place. And nows you know! You can’t tell any ones! Promise?”

  Releasing her hand, I ruffled my fingers through the unruly mess of hair on her head. “I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone you and your daddy’s secret.”

  She grinned up at me, flashing me a row of tiny teeth and so much belief. “It’s your secret now, too, silly. Right, Daddy?”

  She looked to Rex for confirmation. He was setting the cooler down beside the small ring of rocks that had been made for a fire.

  He looked over at me.

  Meaningfully.

  Powerfully.

  “Yeah, Frankie Leigh. Now it’s Rynna’s secret, too.”

  A shiver rocked me. A different kind than the flood of old memories that had threatened to dim this day.

  This was a river of hope.

  He was letting me in. Letting me be a part of them.

  I looked down at Frankie, who was still grinning at me. “This is exactly the kind of secret I like to keep.” I said it to her, but I think I was making that promise to Rex. A promise that I wanted more. That like I’d told him outside their house the other night, I wanted this.

  Them.

  Us.

  That I would protect it just as fiercely as he protected Frankie.

  Milo barked his tiny bark, jumping all around, chasing after a butterfly that flitted by.

  “Can we go swimmin’?” Frankie asked. She pranced over to her dad, wearing that hot pink tutu over a one-piece bathing suit. The little girl so adorable she caused that secret place to ache.

  I guessed maybe I held secrets close, too.

  “What do you say we eat first, and then we’ll go? Rynna might like to take a hike to our super, super special place.”

  “Our secret, secret place?” she whispered through barely contained excitement.

  He nodded.

  Her attention whipped over to me, the child dancing back my direction. “You wanna, Rynna? You wanna go to the super, super special place? Daddy said we could!”

  His expression was tender when he tore his gaze from me and turned it on his daughter, a smile fluttering around his full, full lips.

  I wondered if he had the first clue the kind of father he was. Amazing, wonderful, and kind.

  “I’d be honored to go to your super, super special place,” I told her, and Frankie did a twirl, spinning me up tighter. My heart winding up in the fibers of this sweet child. Knitting and weaving and uniting.

  I could feel it.

  The impact of Rex’s daughter becoming a permanent part of me. “Let’s go!”

  “Give me just a second to get things organized, Sweet Pea,” Rex said, tossing a few sticks into the ring of rocks.

  I walked over and knelt down beside him. “Anything I can do to help?”

  A smirk pulled at the corner of his sexy mouth, voice a rough, muted whisper. “Could you do me a favor and lean in closer?”

  I was confused before I followed his line of sight to where my shirt was drooped open, cleavage on full display.

  I smacked his shoulder. “Rex.” I chuckled beneath my breath.

  He laughed from his belly and into the air. It bounded against the cliffs.

  Ricocheting back.

  Boom after boom that rocked my heart.

  “This way.” Frankie raced ahead of me, hauling me along, her excitement infectious. There was no stopping the permanent smile on my face.

  We followed an even narrower, isolated trail than the one we’d taken to get to their picnic spot. Sunlight poured in through the super high trees that towered over us, their trunks slender and their bark gray. Dense branches covered us overhead and soft dirt padded our feet.

  We hiked higher, my legs burning from the exertion as we climbed. Five minutes later, we shifted course, the trail guiding us back around to where there was a break in the forest.

  My breath caught.

  A thundering roar filled my ears, and a cooling spray brushed my skin. We stood on an
overhang of rocks that jutted over the lake. Just to the right of us was a rushing waterfall fed from a stream running from the mountain.

  It poured over the cliffs and pounded into the lake twenty feet below. Farther away, the cliffs rose in height, fifty or sixty feet high, three more rivulets cascading over the side.

  “Whats you fink?” Hope framed Frankie’s features when she grinned up at me.

  “I think this might be the most beautiful spot I’ve ever seen.”

  “Me, too! You fink Milo likes it? I fink he does. Look at him sniffin’.”

  I laughed. “I’m sure Milo loves it. How could he not?”

  She tugged at his leash, taking him from my hold. She took off with him down another trail that wound down closer to the lake.

  “Be careful, Frankie Leigh,” Rex warned, that voice hitting me from behind. “Stay up here away from the water.”

  “’kay, Daddy. I knows all the rules. You don’t have to keep tellin’ me. Sheesh.”

  I laughed again. But the sound was stolen when I shifted to look over my shoulder to where Rex stood.

  He was watching me.

  That gaze piercing.

  Penetrating.

  Hungry.

  He slowly edged forward, shards of loosened rock crunching beneath his boots. Power radiated from each predatory step.

  Chills flashed across my flesh when he edged up behind me, erupting like a storm, a current of electricity. His callused palms just grazed the surface of my arms from the caps of my shoulders gliding all the way down to my hands.

  He laced our fingers together, wound his arms around my waist, and pulled my back against his chest. His hold possessive where he had our hands fisted at my shaking belly.

  Leaning down, he planted a soft kiss at the side of my jaw, right over my pulse point that thrummed like the wild, before he released a contented breath and hooked his chin over my shoulder.

  Bliss.

  It was the first time he’d pulled me into a full embrace out in the open.

  Where Frankie could see.

  Frankie blushed through a giggle. “You two a huggin’? Grammy said Daddy gots it bad. You gots it bad, Daddy?”