Page 52 of Tempt Me

“It’s fine.” She clutches my arm. “They were fine with it. Okay, they weren’t fine, fine with it. But they’re good with us being together. I just thought you should know there’s that out there also.”

“Okay.” I inhale and straighten my shoulders. “That explains why Jake’s mom was waving at me when I drove by and looking like she knew a secret.”

“It’s a small town.” Bella smiles weakly. “Everyone knows everything.”

Bang. Bang. Bang. The cab of my pickup shakes under Sam’s attack once again. “Then, let’s shout it to the world.” I wink while yanking open the door and sliding out. Sam stands in front of me with his hands on his hips.

“What do you think you’re doing?

“That should be fairly obvious.” I roll my shoulders back, slam the door shut to protect Bella from whatever fallout ensues, and pull up to my full 6’2” height.

“Listen, asshole.” He grips the front of my T-shirt. “My sister is not someone you bang and drop. That’s been the deal all along.”

“I don’t intend to bang her and drop her.” I shove him backward as the passenger side door slams shut. Shit. I jerk my gaze over the cab of my pickup as the rest of the guys eat up the distance between the parking lot and my pickup. “Do not come over here.”

“While I happen to have found that I love it when you tell me what to do, this is not the time.” She hustles around the front of my truck in her attempt to get to us.

“Bella,” Sam barks as he drops his arms to his sides. I’m not out of the woods yet, his hands are still balled into fists. “Get back. This is between Dominic and me.”

“Bullshit.” She marches up to us and slaps her hands on her hips. “I’m an adult.” She taps the toe of her tennis shoe on the grass. “And I can see whoever I want.”

“Apparently, you saw a lot of Dominic at the house last night because the word is all over town.” He clasps a fisted hand into the palm of the other, cracking his knuckles one at a time.

“Bella, please, let me handle this.” I step between them, putting myself in the line of fire. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“What’re you talking about?” Bella scrunches her face as she studies him.

“Jake stopped me on the way home this afternoon with some not-so veiled references to Dominic dropping you off last night and questioned me about your relationship status. Apparently, Mom called Jake’s mom first thing this morning.”

Bella laughs and shakes her head. “You’ve got to love a small town.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her to me and whispering, “Not as much as I love you. If he tries to punch me, I’m going to kick his ass.” I keep an eye on Sam as I speak to her while my other friends join the party.

“You couldn’t kick my ass,” Sam growls but rocks back on his heels. “So, this is something serious?”

“Of course.” I tighten my hold on her as she snuggles against me. “You don’t think I’d disrespect you, Ben, or your parents if Bella wasn’t my endgame, do you?”

“No.” He rotates his shoulders and neck, making a popping sound.

“This is great.” Xavier beams and slaps me on the back. “I feel like a proud papa sending his two baby birds off to soar in the clouds.”

“Jesus,” Ben groans and punches Xavier in the chest. “You sound like an idiot.” He eyes me up and down as he catches up on what he missed. “So, does this mean you’re going back on skins now? Because I’m tired of being stuck with my brother as part of my team.”

“What’re you talking about?” Sam asks.

“Dominic has been obsessed with Bella for years. He got her name tattooed on his chest three years ago and pretended itwasn’t there by avoiding being on skins. And then those portraits of her that line the walls of his old bedroom. It’s fucking creepy.”

Clearly, I wasn’t as slick as I thought I was. If Ben had questioned me at the time, would I have told him the truth? Maybe not. I was still young at the time. Too young to settle down. But now? Now, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than settle down with Bella and start a family in the future.

“Romantic.” Bella waggles her eyebrows and stands on her tiptoes, kissing my jaw.

“Certifiably creepy,” Ben says.

“Sexy.” Her eyes twinkle as they catch mine.

“Darlin’.” I turn her toward me and run my hands along her back. “I apparently was only keeping secrets from you and Sam.”

Bella smirks. “My brother is stupid, and I was too afraid you’d never notice me to see past the front you put on.”

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