Page 53 of Tempt My Heart

“How are we getting there? Where are we staying?”

“We’ll fly in with Blake, Rose, Maia and Denver.”

“Flying private,” she mused.

He shrugged, watching her carefully. “Is that okay?”

“Sure, I’ve just never done it before.”

“Well, hopefully you like it. And we’re staying in the villa where the ceremony is being

held. My room should be big enough for the two of us.”

“Sounds good,” she said, nerves starting to stir in her stomach even though she still

had a little over a week until the wedding. “If it’s okay with you, I want to go and check out my mom’s place and see how bad the damage is.”

“Of course. Can I come with you?” His voice was soft and when the anxiety inside her relaxed she realized how much she’d been hoping he would say that.

“Yes, please.” She cleared her throat, hoping to ease some of the tension that had fallen over them, hanging in the atmosphere. “So, is there anything I need to know about the wedding? Any exes attending?”

“Probably,” he said with a low chuckle that made her stomach swoop. “I think my parents will be there too, but it’s hard to know for sure. I can never keep up with wherever they’re traveling now.”

“Do you miss them?” She’d grown so close to her mom she couldn’t imagine not even knowing what country she was in. That didn’t even touch on how strange it felt not to be able to call up her dad whenever she wanted, or that she didn’t need to buy him a birthday gift any more. It was the small things that still took her aback.

“A little.” He shrugged and gave a small laugh without much humor. “I’m kind of used to it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said, smiling slightly. “I made my own family. That’s what Blake is to me—more of a brother than a friend.”

“He’ll forgive you, you know.”

Christopher nodded, his eyes going far away as he looked out at the trees. “I know.”

ChapterTwenty-Six

Other than the one time he’d been arrested, Ali had to admit that she quite liked being driven about by Christopher. Something about it felt luxurious, like he was taking care of her.

The traffic was awful so the drive to her mom’s house took a lot longer than it should have, but she didn’t mind too much—it meant she had more time to prepare for seeing the destruction of the home she’d grown up in. Plus, Christopher had a fascinating playlist with a surprising amount of Charlie Puth and she was enjoying this insight into his tastes.

“I wouldn’t have taken you for a pop guy,” she mused as Dua Lipa queued up.

“Not manly enough?” he teased. “What were you imagining?”

She hummed in thought before trying to hide a grin. “Definitely punk rock.”

He laughed, and she was glad for the distraction as they grew closer to the turning that led to her mom’s place.

The scent of smoke was still heavy in the air as they slowed to park. Christopher didn’t even need to ask which house was her mom’s—it was still slightly smoking, and the exterior had two blown-out windows as well as blatant fire damage.

“Fuck,” Christopher said and she couldn’t help but agree.

“Bastard,” she whispered and as soon as the car stopped she got out for a closer look. Hazard tape was strung up, marking the house as unsafe to go inside. Ali got as close as she dared, nose wrinkled against the smell of burning and ash.

According to her mom, the firemen had reported that they’d found an accelerant at the scene spread throughout all of the rooms. It had been deliberate, which Ali already knew, but they caught it in time for most of the damage to be aesthetic rather than structural.

The bay window that looked into the living room had cracked and shattered in some places, and she didn’t even realize she was shaking as she peered in until Christopher wrapped his arms around her. This wasn’t fear or adrenaline though, no. This wasanger.

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