Page 57 of Tempt Me

“That fucker.” Sam pops his fist into his open hand. “We need to take care of this asshole.”

“Exactly.” Ben crosses his arms over his chest. “Clearly Dominic punches like a girl, or he wouldn’t have contacted Bella again.”

“Kiss my ass.”

“Boys.” Kim claps her hands together. “I realize everyone in this house has the same ‘insulting each other’ love language, but this is serious.” Her eyes are haunted as she studies Bella. “I don’t understand why he’s still contacting you.”

Sam laughs and claps his mom’s shoulder. “Good one.”

“Stop.” She glares daggers at him. “I’m serious. Bella broke up with him. She’s changed phones. He stopped, then all of a sudden, it picked up again. Why?”

Bella clears her throat. “Brock was jealous of Dominic.”

I arch my eyebrows. “Why?”

“Because he knew I liked you and he couldn’t stand you. Every time we were around you, he started in again about how I mooned over you.” She smiles sheepishly. “And he was right. I compared everyone to you. Especially Brock. He didn’t fair very well.”

Despite the severity of the situation, it makes me happy to know that she pined as hard for me as I did her.

“Between you messaging him to leave me alone, and then you punching him, it must’ve clicked that maybe you bought me a phone, and he found it that way.”

“That was sweet of me,” I smirk. “Both things were pretty sweet.”

“Yes, they were.” When she bites her bottom lip, the rest of the room disappears. I wrap my arms around her as she slides her hands up my chest and then into my hair.

Well, they don’t exactly disappear, or I’d take her right here.

“Jesus,” Sam sputters. “I can’t believe we’re going to be subjected to this horror.”

“Kiss my ass.” Bella stands on her tiptoes and kisses me. Her lips are warm, soft, and perfect against mine. Down boy. I pull back before I forget we’re in the middle of her parents’ kitchen.

“They’re so perfect together.” Kim smacks Lee on the chest. “I told you they were in love with each other.”

“Yes, dear.” He marches across the floor and stops in front of us. My face fills with heat as I drop my arms to my sides. “That’s better. Now, what’re we going to do about this jerk?”

“We’re going to go to his job and kick his ass,” Ben says while popping his knuckles.

“Yes.” Sam nods in agreement with his brother’s declaration.

“I third that.” I nod, loving that Bella’s family has her back.

“Lee, you and the boys go to Silas’s office and tell him that we’re done with his son’s childish maneuvers.” She grabs her cell phone. “And Bella and I are going to the police station to file a protection order against Brock.” She meets Lee’s gaze. “You tell Silas his taxes will be due in a few months, and if he doesn’t want a new accountant, he needs to put that boy on a leash. He knows we’re the best accountants in town.”

“Listen to your mom, we’ll take care of Brock.” Lee squeezes my shoulder. “Right, son?’

“Right.” I was stupid to think they wouldn’t welcome me with open arms. They’ve been a part of my life since I was nine years old, when I came over for the first time after school and played catch with the boys in the backyard.

They didn’t care then that my dad was in prison or that my mom was a cook at the school. They shoved a plate of food in front of my face and told me to eat. I cradle Bella against my chest and inhale her scent. Why did I wait so long? I could’ve lost my chance with her.

As if she senses where my thoughts are traveling, she turns in my arms and cups my face. The love in her eyes makes my chest hurt. I don’t deserve that level of adoration. Or at least, I never thought I did.

She rubs her thumbs over the stubble on my jaw. “I love you.”

“Move on!” Sam shoves my back.

“Let’s go take care of our girl so you two can focus on what’s important.” Lee motions to the door.

“Yes, weddings and grandbabies.” Kim slaps the phone to her ear.

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