Page 55 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

“Give me a damn minute, Earl!” she hollers, then turns back around with an eye roll. She checks the watch on her wrist like she doesn’t believe him and sighs. “Well, shit. Guess he’s right. I’d better get back before the old fart has a coronary.”

I chuckle because there’s no way that man isn’t roughly the same age as her.

She pats my hand again. “You’ll figure it out, sweetie. I know you will.”

“Thanks, Darlene.”

“No problem. I’m always here when you need me. Just say the word.”

She gives me a warm smile, then ambles her way back to the front counter to a glaring Earl.

“Oh quit your bitchin’, old man. You know I’m your best employee.”

I snicker at her rebelliousness, wishing I could be that brave.

But I guess I was with my father.

I was brave and I took a chance. Risked everything for that feeling in my gut that was telling me to do it.

It’s the same feeling I have when I think about Sutton.

Sleeping with him would be reckless and probably the dumbest decision ever…but I can’t deny how tempting it sounds.

Because Sutton makes me feelthatgood.

I’m just not sure I’m ready to admit it.

Sutton’s sittingin the chair when I walk through the door at nearly ten o’clock.

I pause in the doorway when our eyes meet.

He waited up.

Ignoring the way my heart skips a beat, I turn my attention to Artemis, who jumps down from her perch on the couch the moment she catches sight of me.

I close the door, ignoring Sutton’s heated stare, and drop my keys into the bowl on the counter before reaching down for the cat rubbing against my legs.

“Hey, badass,” I murmur, snuggling her close. “You miss me?”

I walk into the kitchen with her tucked into my side and reach into the cabinet for her food.

“I already fed her,” Sutton says, eyes tracking my every movement.

“Thanks,” I mumble, putting the food back and grabbing her treats.

I set her down, then put two extra treats in front of her to make up for leaving her alone so long. She scarfs them down in record time, struts away, and slumps onto her cat bed in the corner of the living room right under her favorite window.

The whole time I watch her, Sutton watches me.

I can feel it.

His eyes on my legs. On my chest. On my face.

The tension in the air is thick, and I have no idea what to say to ease it.

So I decide to say nothing at all.

Instead, I pad down the hall to my bedroom, ready to lock myself away for the night.

---