A Taste of Temptation

by Heather McGovern

  With quiet consideration, Trevor studied her. She could almost see him rolling the thought around in his mind. “I think we better head back.” He gave her leg a pat and slid off the rock, holding out his hand to help her down. “And if I were you, I wouldn’t wait too long to say how you feel. Trust me. If you put the best things in life on hold, you’ll live to regret it.”

  Chapter 20

  Wright didn’t get a moment alone with Sophie until late Thursday afternoon. They’d seen each other in passing the day before, texted in the wee hours of the night, but a few words and stolen glances weren’t enough. Not anymore.

  There was a time that a text string with her made his day and sent everything within him into high gear.

  Now the short bursts of communication barely tided him over.

  He finally found her downstairs, arranging planters to spruce up the patio. Her back was to him as he approached.

  She was alone, so he slid his hands around her waist, tugging her back against him, and pressed his lips to her temple.

  “Steve?” she teased, without looking back.

  He held her tighter as he laughed, their bodies flush together. “Steve better not.”

  “I think he’s got a thing for Vivian anyway. So you’re safe.” She turned in his arms, wrapping hers around his neck.

  “Good. Then you’re all mine.” The words were loaded and out of his mouth before he considered the repercussions.

  But she peered up at him, still smiling, her hazel eyes perhaps even a little warmer as she danced her fingers along the back of his neck. “Yep. All yours.”

  The small proclamation tightened his chest, made breathing hurt in the best possible way.

  What might seem like a casual side comment for some couples was a big damn deal for them.

  “But if you’re going to do something about it, you better do it quick. Trevor and Devlin are supposed to meet me down here and lend a hand.”

  “Trevor? Really?”

  “I know. Kind of surprising, but he keeps being really helpful, and turns out, he knows a lot about a lot. Now hurry. Kiss me before anyone else gets here.”

  Wright bent and pressed his lips to hers, listening for any approaching footsteps.

  The smell of flowers and freshly turned earth wafted up from all around them, a sweet and earthy scent that was perfect for Sophie.

  He moved his lips to her ear, a slow inhale as his nose brushed her soft hair. “Did you decide what to wear to the gala?”

  “I did.”

  “Tell me.”

  “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.”

  He leaned away, his gaze caught on the plump pinkness of her lips. “You want to surprise me, huh?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Good. Maybe I like surprises.”

  “Let me see if I can guess what you’re going to wear.” She closed her eyes and put her fingers to her temples as though a mind reader. “One of your fancy chef’s jackets.”

  While her eyes were still closed, he kissed her again.

  She opened her mouth to say something else, but someone was tromping down the stairs form the verandah.

  Wright released her as she stepped away.

  Trevor cleared the last step and rounded toward them. “Sorry, guys, but Dev is on his way too. Thought it might be a good idea to make a noisy entrance.”

  Wright’s gaze shot to Sophie’s. Trev’s tone was a little too in-the-know.

  She lifted her shoulders and mouthed, I’ll tell you later.

  Then Devlin reached the patio. “This looks great, guys.” He walked around the perimeter lined with topiaries and trees, a few planter boxes with flowers.

  The entire center of the patio was left empty for the dance floor and band to set up. “I think people will be lured this way after dinner, no problem,” he said.

  “Steve is going to set up the portable bar out here,” Wright offered. “That will solve any issues of people lingering upstairs instead of dancing.”

  “Perfect. The chairman of the Chamber said she’s saving the fund-raising pitch for later, down here, when everyone’s had drinks and is dancing. Loosens up the wallets.” Dev peered around the patio. “They’re going to love it, guys. Nice work.”

  Sophie put her finger in the air, calling the small group to attention. “I do have one special request for the night, though.”

  “Whatever you want. Name it.”

  “I think, since the menu is mostly small plates and we have Marco for back-up, Wright should have part of the evening to enjoy the gala with us. He’s worked as hard as anyone on this event and—”

  “I agree.” Dev was quick to answer. “We all deserve a little fun at the gala. Why not?”

  He shook Trevor and Wright’s hands and dragged Sophie in for a side hug. “Look. I know you all did more than originally planned for this event, what with my engagement stuff happening as well. Thanks for that too by the way. The other night was—” He caught himself, coughed, and began again. “The other night was perfect.”

  “You’re welcome, man. We’re happy for you. Don’t go getting mushy on us.” Wright pulled Dev in for a hug, even as guilt gnawed at his insides.

  But this time, his guilt wasn’t over sleeping with his best friend’s sister. This guilt came from keeping the best thing that’d ever happened to him from Dev. Not only was he shutting Dev out of the truth about his new career opportunities, but he was lying about his feelings for Sophie.

  Maybe Dev had kept his relationship with Anna quiet for a while, but that was then and this was now. That was Anna, and this was Sophie.

  How much longer could he go on hiding? Now that Sophie had let him in, now that he’d told his parents the truth, how much longer could they keep the truth from all of them?

  He had to come clean. Not only about him and Sophie, but about the very likely chance he could be leaving Honeywilde.

  His announcements—on both counts—would cause an uproar, but he was tired of carrying these secrets.

  If he could convince Sophie that it was time to talk to her brothers, then he could tell her about Asheville and Charleston.

  “I’m going to go call the chairman and let her know we’re all set for tomorrow night.” Dev gave him one last clap on the back and headed up the stairs, leaving him and Sophie to stare at Trevor.

  Wright shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her as he waited for Trevor to make his exit. Exiting didn’t happen, and the awkward tension grew with every second.

  Sophie frowned at him before glancing at Trev, a light dawning in her eyes. “Oh! You can relax, Wright. Trevor knows about us.”

  He jerked his hands from his pockets. “Since when?”

  “I don’t know. Sometime before I told him the truth? He called me out yesterday.”

  Of the whole family, leave it to the quiet one to have them figured out.

  Trev nodded, not a trace of smugness or judgment. “I thought something was up a while ago; back when you two weren’t talking to each other, when normally you talk all the time. There was a lot of sexual tension too, so . . .” He shrugged. “I know I was gone for almost a year, but you two have always been thick as thieves, then suddenly there’s all this intensity and silent treatment? Not rocket science. Figured one of you screwed up, but hey, looks like y’all got things figured out now, so congrats.”

  Wright’s mouth fell open.

  “Don’t worry, though.” Trev gave him a good-natured punch in the arm. “I’m not going to say a word to anyone. Not my job. That’s on you two.”

  He turned to go and climbed the stairs, two at a time.

  Wright trailed the movement, trying to comprehend what happened. “He told you he knew?”

  “Yeah.” Sophie moved closer, taking his hand.

  His heart gave a little kick every time she initiated contact, each time she was the one to reach for him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I wanted to wait until I had tim
e with you, in person.” She turned so they faced each other. “He was surprisingly supportive. And insightful.”

  “Yeah, you said he knew more than you thought, about a lot of things. I didn’t guess we were one of those things.”

  “He told me I shouldn’t hide the truth about us, and . . . and I think maybe he has a point.”

  “You do?” His heart rate surged as he tried to remain completely composed on the outside.

  “I don’t like lying. About us. I don’t want to hide forever.”

  Forever. Wright went from fighting for composure, to losing the battle in a split second. His mouth suddenly dry, he blinked and tried to get a grip. “I . . . okay, I’m with you. I don’t want to hide either.”

  “I know. But I still don’t know how to tell Dev and Roark, and the time has to be right. You know the news won’t roll over them as lightly as Trevor.”

  He knew all about timing announcements right, and no, Dev and Roark wouldn’t be as easy as Trevor. But he was still ready to take that step.

  Sophie needed to be ready as well, and he wanted her to get there on her on. Pressuring her would backfire, and besides, he didn’t want to push. Faith and experience told him she’d arrive at that step on her own.

  Who would’ve ever guessed Trev, of all people, could help her get there.

  “And I don’t want to do anything until after the gala is over.” She tangled her fingers in his. “Let’s get through this, make sure everything goes off without a hitch, and then you and I can talk about how to tell my brothers.”

  Wright nodded, a fluttering in his chest. They could talk about his job opportunities too, discuss what they wanted to do with their lives, because they’d be living them together. They’d decide how to tell her family.

  Sophie was the one. He knew it, all the way down to his bones. She’d always been the one.

  Chapter 21

  For the Midsummer Gala, Sophie bought a sleeveless silk chiffon dress in deep purple, cinched in at the waist, with a V-neckline a little deeper than she’d ever worn before.

  She smiled at her reflection, feeling like a Greek goddess.

  If the dress revealed a lot of those freckles Wright was so wild about, all the better.

  On the rare occasion she wore a dress, it was never for such a high-end event. Tonight there would be a band and dancing. Dinner jackets and semiformal dresses.

  The crowd that came to these parties always did so in style. And while the Chamber’s gala was not about her, she still felt like the belle of the ball.

  A pretty dress and a date.

  How long had it been? Had it ever been? Dates in Windamere normally meant a meal in town and a movie. Not this.

  With monumental effort, she managed not to twirl off the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

  Then she saw Wright.

  “Wow.” His mouth fell open.

  He’d been waiting on her in the lobby, and the sight of him, all dressed up in a formal black chef’s jacket and looking at her like she was a sky full of stars on a clear summer night, sent her heart skipping from her chest.

  Unable to resist the urge, she twirled toward him.

  “Wow,” he said again, catching her in his arms.

  “Right back at you.” She took a quick glance around before smoothing her hands down the buttons of his jacket. The cut accentuated his broad shoulders and lean waist. This close, the material was clearly a midnight navy, not black. The subtle difference suited his golden coloring, making him glow.

  “You like?”

  She stopped feeling him up and met his gaze. “I sure do.”

  Wright cleared his throat and turned, offering her his arm. “Come on. We’re going to end up groping one another if I don’t escort you to the verandah immediately.”

  A smile spread across her face. Later they could grope one another. Right now he could escort her to the verandah, and no one would bat an eye.

  They’d look like Sophie and Wright, relying on each other as stand-ins because they didn’t have dates. No one would know they were each other’s dates.

  Her hand in Wright’s, they were about to go to fancy dinner together, dance, and have drinks, exactly like a real couple.

  In her heart, that’s what they’d become.

  Even if no one knew, even if finding out hurt the people she loved, she was Wright’s and he was hers. And this was real.

  The truth settled into her soul.

  As they crossed the great room, she caught their reflection in the mirror above the fireplace, in the floor-to-ceiling windows and doors across the back of the inn.

  They made a beautiful pair. Even she could see that. The smile on her face was the happiest she’d ever seen.

  “You took my breath away stepping off the elevator,” Wright whispered. “And I don’t think I’ve caught it yet.”

  Sophie squeezed his arm. “You’re going to dance with me tonight, right?”

  “Of course. We always have before. It’d look strange if I didn’t.”

  “Promise?”

  He put his hand over hers, giving it a squeeze. “I promise.”

  They reached the French doors and found Devlin and Anna waiting on the other side.

  Wright took her to them.

  “My goodness, look at you two.” Anna gushed over Sophie’s dress. “Who knew everyone cleaned up so well? Please look at this. Dev is wearing a tie.” She pointed to Dev’s black tie, teasing him as she straightened the knot.

  “Only for you would I wear this much starch.” He winked.

  Anna’s neck blushed and she touched the waist of her red dress. “I told him, if I have to wear Spanx all night because he thinks this dress is hot, then he has to wear a full suit. Fair is fair, right?”

  They both looked gorgeous.

  With their dark hair and striking features, Anna and Devlin might be the most elegant couple at the gala, but tonight, they had some competition when it came to being the happiest.

  Wright gave her a subtle wink that only she could see. “Duty calls. I’ll be back once dinner is served and Marco can manage without me.”

  He returned, along with dessert, bringing Sophie an extra crème brulee.

  They sat with Dev and Anna, laughing and discussing wedding ideas. A casual wedding by the lake was what they had decided on, and it fit them.

  After dessert was served, people began to wander downstairs, to the bar and the band. Exactly as planned.

  Once they were alone, Sophie turned to Wright, her hand over his. She needed to hold on to say this. “Tomorrow.”

  “What about it?” Wright set his wine glass aside.

  “I want to sit my brothers down tomorrow and tell them that we . . . that you and I are . . .”

  “Together?” he offered.

  “Yes.” She laughed, rolling her eyes at her timidity. “Are you sure you want to be with me? I can’t even say that we’re dating or that you’re my boyfriend without getting vertigo.”

  “Ooh, I like the sound of that. Say it again?”

  “You’re my boyfriend?”

  He grinned, a hum of satisfaction in his throat, making her laugh.

  “Why on earth do you want to be with me?”

  Wright leaned on the table, his arm casually draped across the edge so he could brush his fingers against her elbow. “Why wouldn’t I? I’m crazy about you. I think I always have been.”

  “But I can be a lot of work sometimes. And being with me and dealing with my family won’t be easy.”

  “Soph. I want to be with you. Trust me, I know. I’ve had my whole life to figure it out. Nothing worth having is ever easy. We’ll manage.”

  She moved the tiniest bit closer to him. “I was so mad at you after you kissed me in the kitchen that night. But being mad and not talking to you for weeks, hurt. Now I’m glad you kissed me and caused us to fight, and everything else. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”

  “Wasn’t easy, but worth it.” He tapped his glass against hers.


  With a quick glance around, she counted five Chamber members still loitering upstairs and her entire family gone downstairs, where the music had already started.

  She faced Wright, and the knowing look in his eyes unfurled a ribbon of heat that tickled her core.

  “Come here and let me kiss you,” he whispered.

  Sophie went to him, eager for the day they could do this whenever and wherever. There would soon be a day when she was able to say, out loud, that she and Wright were together and know, in her heart, that he’d never leave her.

  Wright kissed her, soft and seeking, gentle pulls at her lips as he slid his arm around her waist.

  They kissed until there was no space between them, heating up until she shivered.

  With a groan, Wright pulled himself away. “We better go downstairs.”

  “I think so.” She stood and fluffed her dress, trying to get an updraft to cool down. “Besides, you owe me a dance. You promised.”

  “That I did.” He pointed at her before offering her his arm for the second time that night. “Shall we?”

  Sophie took his arm and floated toward the stairs. The evening was perfect. Tomorrow they’d tell her family the truth, and happiness would truly be hers. She could have love and everything life had to offer, without the fear of losing it.

  “Oh my—” Sophie clung tighter to Wright’s arm to keep from falling over.

  In a heartbeat, those grand notions and intentions fell away.

  Standing right outside the verandah’s French doors was Sue Bradley, her adoptive mother.

  “Holy sh—” Wright clamped his mouth shut before finishing the statement.

  “Hello.” Sue lifted her hand.

  Sophie faltered, but Wright kept her standing.

  “What . . .” She shook her head, certain this was a hallucination. “What are you doing here?”

  Her mother blanched and studied the stone flooring at her feet. “I came to see you, all of you, and the place, and congratulate Devlin. I didn’t know you had an event tonight. You look lovely.”

  Sophie shook her head, a million panicked thoughts racing through her mind, vying for first place.

  How? Why?

  Congratulate Devlin? Dev hadn’t spoken to her in years.