Page 9 of Tempt My Heart

It felt like her body was out of her control. She wanted to smile, to touch Christopher’s arm and tell him thatof courseshe was fine and definitely not considering an imminent betrayal of his trust and friendship.

Instead, her back slid down the wall until her ass hit the thin blue carpet. It was an odd choice for a bar lobby, she couldn’t help thinking—clearly all that time working for a company that designed business interiors and office spaces was rubbing off on her.

Christopher sat down beside her and reclaimed her hand, propping it up on his knee as they stared at the gray wall opposite them.

“I didn’t think my speech wasthatbad,” he said and her lips twitched. “Ah, there you are. Do you want to tell me what’s going on? You’ve seemed kind of out of it since Friday afternoon.”

He was too damned perceptive for his own good. How could anyone expect her to trick this man? He was so much more than an admittedly-pretty face.

“Just a lot going on,” she managed to murmur and he nodded slightly like he knew there was more that she wasn’t saying but was being nice enough not to push her.

She turned her head and their gazes met and held. His breath was warm and smelled like champagne as it ghosted across her mouth. She hadn’t realized how closely they’d been sitting until that moment, when her lips could have met his with barely any effort on her part.

So you’re going to do to him what Jared did to you?

Ali looked away, sucking in another deep breath. No. She was better than Jared. She cared about Christopher, she didn’t want to hurt him. How could she try and seduce him when she knew just how awful it felt to have that happen to you?

“You know you can tell me anything,” Christopher said and then tilted his head, reconsidering, “except that Blake is more handsome than me. There are some things a man can’t take, bruising his ego irreparably.” Another weak laugh fell out of her mouth and he smiled like the sound was something precious. “Is it your mom?”

She shook her head. “No, she’s fine. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong. I don’t know why I freaked out like that just then.”

Christopher nodded, unconvinced. “Well, I’m here if you need to talk.”

“Thank you,” she whispered and when he gently tugged her down to rest her head on his shoulder she didn’t resist, letting his scent wrap around her like it alone could protect her from all the decisions she had to make. She could easily have fallen asleep right then and there, but when the door to the bar swung open and a blast of music flooded out, she knew it wasn’t right of her to take comfort in the arms of someone she might be destined to hurt. “I’m going to head out, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.”

She smiled slightly and let him help her to her feet, both loving and hating the way her hair smelled faintly like his cologne, like he’d sunk into the essence of her.

“And Ali, if you need me… call.”

She nodded, knowing that she wouldn’t, and the tightness to her boss’ jaw told her he knew it too.

ChapterFive

Her body felt like jelly.

"My legs are literally wobbling right now," Ali said with a snort. "It's clearly been too long since I had a massage that good."

"You know you can use my pass anytime you want," Freya said, raising a dark eyebrow at her and Ali smiled. "Pool?"

"Ugh, yes, finally," Jesse grumbled, stomping ahead of them in a way that was ridiculous considering the white flip-flops she was wearing, alongside a robe and swimsuit. The pool was probably the only part of the spa that Jesse liked—but for Ali, the massage was where it was at.

The smell of chlorine mixed with a floral, fruity scent as they walked in that made her take in a deep breath. Jasmine, maybe? The pool in the spa wasn't the kind you would do laps in—this one was round, surrounded by marble tiles with pink and beige veins. Water continuously flowed from hidden sockets in the walls, making a ripple of foam drift across the surface of the clear blue water.

They left their robes under a copse of trees that dropped fragrant blossoms onto the ground and into the water before they headed into the pool. It wasn't freezing but it wasn't hot either, perfect for dipping into after the steam rooms or the massage area.

Ali let her back rest against the cool tiled wall as she settled onto a seat carved into the edge of the pool. She'd remembered to tie her hair up this time—her red hair was volatile when provoked, and something about the pool water had made it go wild for almost an entire week the last time Freya had brought her. When she was younger, she'd often wished her hair wasn't so different from everyone else's. Less bright. Less intense. Eventually she'd fallen in love with it, even if seeing Jesse's close-shaved head did sometimes tempt her. She wasn't sure she could ever actually bear to cut it shorter than her shoulders.

Ali tilted her head back, letting loose a sigh as she inhaled the fragrant moisture in the air. "Thanks for doing this, Frey."

"Anything for my favorite people," she said, her bronzed skin still pleasantly flushed from the steam room, and Ali smiled slightly because she knew it was true. They all earned decent salaries, but they chose to live together because they enjoyed it. Jesse and Freya were her people, and she was theirs.

Soft chatter floated over to them as more people entered the pool area. Ali didn't look up, not until the voice fully registered, and then her eyes flew open as she whipped around to look.

Fuck.

She'd heard that voice a dozen times, smooth and elegant, the kind of femininity that felt sensual without appearing unprofessional. She'd never really spoken to her before, only seen her in passing at the office or work functions like the bar last night, but it was a voice that commanded attention in much the same way as the woman it was attached to.

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