Page 19 of Sweet Temptation
Linc
How long you home for?
Lochlan
I should be able to meet you at the beach by noon-ish. I’ve got to be back in Virginia Beach by 0800 Monday morning.
Lucky
Leaving at midnight?
Lochlan
Fuck yes, brother.
Lexie
Love you, Loch. Be safe.
Lochlan
Always. See you soon.
My mouth waters with the delicious smell coming from the kitchen as I make my way down the stairs.
Something sweet... and I swear to God... bacon. Not like bacon and eggs. Like bacon and sugar. Strange as hell, but also probably pretty good, based on the way my stomach rumbles.
I know before I set foot in the kitchen who I’m going to find. Of course I do. It’s not like Linc cooks, so that just leaves her. She’s invaded my space, my texts, my every fucking thought since she moved in, but none as much as she’s invaded thefucking kitchen. Most guys don’t cook, but most guys didn’t grow up in my house. Nonna had wooden spoons in our hands as soon as we were tall enough to stand on stools and stir whatever was in her mixing bowls on the counter. Pretty sure there’s a picture of me making meatballs in a diaper on the island.
But have I cooked since Lexie moved in?
Nope. Because she’s been in the kitchen every time I’ve considered it.
You know the best way to avoid temptation?
Fucking avoid that shit like the plague.
But there’s no avoiding this woman. Not when she’s in tiny gray cutoff shorts and a loose black and pink cropped Philly Kings shirt that’s falling off her shoulder. Herbareshoulder, because why would Lexie wear a bra when she can torture me without one...
I’m not a guy who likes to deny himself.
Not of the things I want in life.
Money isn’t an issue. Never has been.
Women aren’t an issue. I’ve had my share and then some.
Even my career isn’t the issue. I wasn’t like my cousin Ryker, who was throwing a football before he could run without falling on his long-ass legs. I didn’t pick up a ball until I was ten and Linc threw a ball at me at a party. I knew Loch and him. I was a grade above them. But we weren’t close. Not until that day. Not until that ball. That fucking ball changed everything. By the end of that day, I knew I wanted to play football forever. I also knew I wanted to marry Lexie Sinclair.
She’s the only thing I’ve ever denied myself.
And I did it for her, whether she knows it or not.
“That smells fucking fantastic.” I step up behind an oblivious Lexie, who’s singing along to whatever she’s got playing in her AirPods until she catches sight of me and screams as she spins around, dropping the piping bag in her hands.
Her chest heaves with each deep breath as she points her finger at me with creamy icing clinging to it. “Shit, Lucky. Warn a girl.”
Not an ounce of makeup on.
