“I do want to say one thing, though.” She looked down at the table for a moment and seemed to be gathering the courage to say something difficult. “I had no idea how bad your drinking really was until you moved in. I get it. I know you’ve been through a lot with your parents splitting up and finding out Chad was cheating on you, but you really need to slow down.”
“Oh.” I stared at her blankly. “I see.”
“I’m not saying it to be hurtful, I promise. I just care about you and I’m worried this is going to end really badly.” She reached over and patted my hand. “Please consider it, and if you can’t slow down on your own, you really need to get some help.”
I didn’t know how to respond to Abby. I just gave her a blank stare for a while and nodded. We didn’t say much to each other after that. I got ready for work and took a change of clothes so I could go straight to the bar when my shift was over. Even with Abby’s heartfelt warning, the only thing it really did was make me want to have a drink. It wasn’t like I was getting drunk and going home with random guys or anything. I didn’t even have much to drink the night before. It wasn’t a problem, it was a solution that quelled the ache inside of me. Once I got off work, I changed clothes, and headed to the bar with enough cash in my purse to make sure I didn’t have to stop until I had my fill.
Is that… Harlan? Twice in two days?
“I think I owe you a couple of drinks.” I sat down beside him at the bar. “I have cash tonight, so I can actually pay for them.”
“You really are a regular.” He chuckled and looked over at me.
“Yeah, but you’re not, so why are you here again tonight?” I tilted my head inquisitively.
“The guy I normally hang out with is away on business and I didn’t really want to drink alone.” He lifted his glass and finished the whiskey.
“Well, you don’t have to drink alone tonight.” I smiled and reached for his glass. “I’ll get your next one. Should we get a table away from the crowd like last night?”
“I don’t know, are you going to start crying again?” His face twisted into a look of remorse the instant the words left his lips. “Sorry, that wasn’t very nice.”
“No tears tonight.” I blinked and swallowed hard. “Let’s just be two people who aren’t drinking alone.”
“All right.” He nodded and looked around the bar. “The one we had last night is open.”
It was hard to sit down across from Harlan without thinking about what I did the night before when I got back to Abby’s apartment. I probably wouldn’t have satisfied those urges if I realized I was going to run into him again the very next night. Once we started talking and the conversation wasn’t about the ones that cheated on us, I found him quite charming. Adding a heavy dose of charisma to the hot-as-sin fantasy in front of me wasn’t helping at all. All he had to do was make a move—hell, I would have settled for a suggestion. We talked for a couple of hours, and I barely touched my second drink. The need just wasn’t there. It was a strange feeling after having so much turmoil that I needed to numb for nearly two years.
“So, yeah—if you know of any good places that I can afford on a waitress salary, let me know.” I tilted my head and smiled after I told him about my latest catastrophe.
“I can’t believe your mom threw you out.” He exhaled sharply. “I guess I can understand it, though. I wouldn’t have even considered to buy you a drink last night if I realized you were a full-blown underage alcoholic.”
“I’m not an alcoholic.” I scoffed and shook my head. “Come on, you’ve never used alcohol to push through a tough day?”
“All the time, but I haven’t drank enough to literally pass out in a drunken stupor since college. There were some rough nights after I found out my wife was cheating on me, but nothing like what you just described.” Harlan lifted his drink, stared at it, and then put it back down without even taking a sip.
“I guess we handle things in our own way.” I sighed and looked down at the table.
“So, what did you do after you left here last night?” He tilted his head to the side.
Oh god—I can’t tell him the truth about that.
“I just went home.” I blinked and swallowed a lump that tried to form in my throat.
“So, you didn’t go to another bar or have a few drinks when you got back to your friend’s apartment?” His eyebrow raised inquisitively.
“No.” I shook my head back and forth.
“That seems unusual for someone who just described her last two years as a drunken blur.” He looked down at my glass. “You’re also letting the ice melt in that one.”
I guess I’ve painted myself into a corner now.
“Yeah, I don’t know.” I tried to think of something to say. “I guess it’s just nice to talk to someone. It feels… different.”
“How soon do you need to be out of your friend’s place?” Harlan leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.
“I’ve got a few weeks. She’s not going to kick me out like my mom did.” I shrugged and looked up at him. “Why?”
“I don’t want to get your hopes up here, but I might have an extra room at my place. Technically, it’s not my place, so I have to check with my buddy Gabe.” Harlan nodded as he spoke.
“Really?” I blinked in surprise. “That would be amazing. I don’t even know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything yet—like I said, I don’t want you to get your hopes up. I know we haven’t seen each other in a long time, but I know what kind of place you’ll be able to afford on a waitress' salary. It won’t be the best neighborhood by any means.” Harlan finally reached for his drink and took a sip.
Harlan was right. I knew it was going to be a struggle to find a place, and even if I picked up a second job, rent was out of control in the better neighborhoods. Most of the ones that were borderline affordable even had a waiting list. I didn’t want to be a burden to Harlan, but I definitely needed somewhere to stay. I couldn’t get the dirty thoughts out of my head when I looked at him, and I knew living in the same house was going to be fairly torturous, but it also might lead to something else. The fantasy I played out in my head when I was alone in Abby’s apartment the night before might just become reality.
It’s foolish to consider that, right? I don’t want to get my heart broken again, but he’s so fucking irresistible.
Chapter Five
Harlan
I couldn’t help but worry about Kacey when I heard how bad things truly were. I didn’t know how I would have handled it if I went through a breakup like she dealt with when I was her age. I barely maintained my sanity as it was, and I could see myself going down the same dark path she went down if I was in her shoes. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and tell her things would get better, but I had no way to guarantee that. She was on a spiral that would lead her into the abyss if she didn’t find a way out soon. I hoped Gabe would be receptive to the idea of letting her stay with us. If nothing else, I could make sure she didn’t wake up in the hospital or do something incredibly stupid before she saw the light again.
“Wow, you have been busy while I’ve been away.” Gabe chuckled when I told him about Kacey. “I leave you alone for a few days and you get a girlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” I scoffed and shook my head. “I’ve known her since she was a kid. I just feel bad for her.”
“Is she hot?” Gabe narrowed his eyes and grinned.
“Hotter than any of the girls you’ve brought back—not that I’m complaining.” I walked over and took a seat on the couch. “So, what do you think? There’s plenty of room.”
“You had me at hot.” Gabe sat down across from me and nodded. “So, like—is she off limits? Is this someone you want to try and date seriously, or do we get to share her?”
“I’m not saying she’s off limits, exactly. I don’t know.” I exhaled sharply. “She used to have a crush on me when she was younger. Obviously, I wasn’t interested back
then.”
“But now?” Gabe tilted his head to the side and grinned again.
“She’s pretty fucking hot, even if she is young enough to be our daughter.” I leaned back and let my head rest against the couch cushion. “I don’t think I could get involved with someone like that. It would complicated as fuck. What would we talk about?”
“If she’s hot, you don’t do much talking.” Gabe chuckled and smacked his lips together.
“It’s a damn good thing you’ve never tried to have a serious relationship with anyone.” I rolled my eyes and sighed.
“So, final verdict man. This is your call. If you tell me she’s off limits, I won’t even look at her.” Gabe folded his arms across his chest and lifted his eyebrows inquisitively.
“No, she’s not off limits.” I shrugged and shook my head.
My attraction to Kacey got stronger after seeing her for the second time, but I couldn’t bring myself to make a move. The little girl she used to be was replaced by a woman that needed my help. That was my primary focus. The devil on my shoulder wanted more, and I knew it would be damn near impossible to keep my hands off her once she moved in. I was dancing with temptation and trouble at the same time. The primal lust fought against my primal need to protect her. I knew Gabe would have the same desires and I wasn’t going to compete with him for Kacey. He had been more than generous with the girls he brought home and claiming the first one I brought home for myself would have been a dick move.
“Hey, Kacey?” I walked out on the deck and put the phone to my ear. “I talked with Gabe, and he says you can stay with us.”
“Seriously? Oh my god, that’s amazing!” There was a lot of excitement in Kacey’s voice when she spoke.
“When do you want to move in? We could come get your stuff this weekend.” I leaned against the rail and stared down at the pool.
“Yeah, actually—that would be great.” Her tone echoed even more excitement.
“Great! I’ll see you then.” I hung up on the phone and walked back into the house.
Chapter Six
Gabe
I learned to be protective of my heart at a young age. My father wasn’t in the picture and my mother went through an endless cycle of true love trying to find the one. Her bedroom might as well have been a revolving door. All of the men she dated were the same. They would whisper promises in her ear, buy me a present to show that they’d be a good stepdad, and then she would fall for them. She always fell hard, too. When the relationship eventually ended, she was a broken mess that I had to put back together again. Instead of learning about love from her, I learned my lesson from the men she brought home. It was easy for them. They got what they wanted and then they were gone. That was the life I decided to pursue—I didn’t want to feel the pain of loss. I felt it enough vicariously through my mother’s tears to last a lifetime.
Since I didn’t have the distraction of most men my age who were focused on settling down and starting a family, I dove headfirst into my career. I put in long hours at the office, got promoted, and when the company needed someone to lead them through the tough times, they named me CEO. I rarely slept alone unless I was just too tired from working all day to pursue companionship for the evening. My friends had all moved on to start their own lives, and I didn’t harbor any resentment. My goals just didn’t align with theirs. While they were planning family vacations, I was sailing my yacht down the coast to load it up with every hot girl I could find. There were all the distraction I needed and after a week of making them my personal harem of sin, I always returned refreshed.
The one thing money couldn’t buy was loyalty. If there was ever a man that was truly loyal to me, it was my college roommate, Harlan. We got each other out of more jams than we ever should have been able to. We drank to excess, partied like rock stars, and woke up with a new tattoo on more than one occasion. There was one morning when we woke up with a girl between us and no memories of the night before. We could only assume we shared her since all three of us were naked. Our interest was piqued, and the next night, we decided to actually remember the experience. We liked it so much that we started looking for girls that were open to being shared. It practically became a requirement. I could have lived in that moment forever, but eventually we graduated and life took us in different directions.
Harlan got married to an annoying bitch named Maria. She was hot as fuck, but she was a tyrant. I watched a man who was once as alpha as me lose his dignity. She seemed to take pleasure in emasculating him, but he was in love. He was completely blind to the fool she turned him into. The shit was poisonous from the start, but it wasn’t my place to tell him how to live his life. We grew distant as the years went on, but I wasn’t surprised when he told me she cheated on him. I had my suspicions before they were even married, but I never had any way to prove it. When his darkest hour came, I opened my home to him without even thinking about it. There was nothing in the world that would have made me turn my back on him when he needed me most, especially if it meant we got to revisit a few of the college experiences I had been missing since the old days.
“Gabe, this is Kacey.” Harlan motioned towards the gorgeous woman in front of me with his hand. “Kacey—Gabe.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Kacey extended her hand.
“Likewise.” I took her hand and lifted it to my lips for a kiss instead of shaking it. “Let’s get your stuff.”
“I really appreciate it.” She motioned for us to follow her onto the porch. “My mom is at work, so we should be able to get everything without running into her.”
“You don’t want us to meet your mom?” I caught up with her as we ascended the steps.
“Things are a little difficult between us right now.” She sighed and pushed her key into the door.
Harlan had described Kacy to me, but he didn’t tell me she was literally a work of art. Her curves were enough to make my jaw hang open. When she bent over to get something from the bottom drawer of her dresser, I thought I was going to ejaculate in my pants. I hadn’t felt that kind of lust since I was a teenager. There was no way I was going to be able to keep my hands off that delicious body. If Harlan had claimed her for himself and said she was off limits, I would have been ready to renegotiate with him on the spot. She was too hot for either of us—she needed to be shared. She might have been younger than me, but I didn’t give a fuck. I didn’t have the same hesitation that seemed to be holding Harlan back. I didn’t know the little girl she used to be—I just knew the woman in front of me, and I had to have a taste.
“Okay, make yourself at home.” I opened the front door and motioned for Kacey to enter. “Feel free to head upstairs and pick a bedroom.”
“I have a choice?” She looked back at me in surprise.
“Yeah, there are a few options.” I chuckled and when she was out of earshot, I lowered my voice. “Unless you just want to stay in my room.”
“Hey.” Harlan hushed me with an quick elbow in my ribs.
“Come on man, you’re telling me you don’t want to fuck her?” I grabbed his arm and watched as she walked up the stairs. “Look at that ass—oh my god.”
“Do you really want to complicate things that much? None of the girls you hook up with stay for breakfast. She’s going to be here for a while.” Harlan looked at me and exhaled sharply.
“Yeah, I don’t give a shit, I’ll serve her breakfast in bed and my dick for dessert.” I bit down on my lip and felt my shoulders slump forward when she was out of sight.
“Wow, you’d let her stay for dessert? You might be in trouble here, brother.” Harlan chuckled and motioned for me to follow him. “Let’s unload her stuff.”
No, I’m not in trouble. I don’t do love, but I certainly do lust. God, do I ever do lust.
One week later
I laid it on thick from the moment Kacey walked in the door and I saw interest in her eyes, but her lips always echoed hesitation when I tried to flirt. I wanted her in the worst kind of way.
I tried to go out a few times to find a distraction, but none of the girls at the bars compared to the one at home. It was infuriating to watch her walk down the stairs in clothes so tight I could see every detail of her curves except the ones I wanted to see most. She was interested in Harlan—that much was clear. He just didn’t seem to reciprocate. I would have stepped in his shoes and traded places with him in an instant. I would have done anything to have her. It wasn’t just a want—it was a need. I had never felt anything like it in my entire life, and I had no idea how to get her out of my head.
Okay, now I really am in trouble. A lot of fucking trouble.
Chapter Seven
Kacey
One month later
There was finally something in my life that I wanted more than a drink—Harlan. I couldn’t pour him in a glass and satisfy the urge like I could with alcohol. It was like holding the bottle with no way to open it. His gaze was enough to make me buzz. A conversation was enough to leave me intoxicated. The problem, however, was that it appeared to be one sided. There were times when I thought I caught him staring, but his eyes didn’t remain long enough for me to verify what I saw. I even tried to entice him with tighter clothes and more revealing attire, but I might as well have been parading around in front of a statue. He was the one man I had dared to trust since my breakup with Chad, and he seemed to be totally uninterested.
On the other hand, there was Gabe. Gabe didn’t even attempt to hide his interest. He looked at me with eyes that clearly said he wanted to fuck me. I couldn’t even walk through a room without drawing his attention. As I faced down the realization of Harlan’s disinterest, I found myself wondering if I should allow temptation to take over. Gabe was rich, hot-as-hell, and clearly wanted me to be more than the roommate at the end of the hall. He was everything I wanted to avoid—yet I found myself thinking about him more as the days went by. He would hurt me if I fell for him. He made it clear that his interest was purely sexual. The things he said he wanted to do to me were vulgar—and I had no idea why they made me quiver.
Temptation & Trouble: A MFM Romance Page 3