Page 36 of Sweet Temptation
You’d think that would be enough of a hint, but it’s not.
Brice follows me up the stairs, and we both startle as Lucky walks around the corner of the porch that wraps around the entire house. He looks between Brice and me, and I swear I’ve never been more grateful to see this man in my life.
The good manners Mom drilled into me my whole life kick in, and I force a smile as I turn back to Brice. “I had a nice night, Brice. Thank you.”
He reaches for me, but I step back and into Lucky’s side.
Immediately, Lucky moves in front of me, his thick arms crossing over his chest. “Have a nice night, Brice,” he practically growls, and I breathe a sigh of relief when the look ofannoyance on Brice’s face transforms to understanding and then disappointment.
“I’ll call you, Lexie.” He smiles and waits a minute for me to respond before finally giving up and walking to his car.
I sag against Lucky as Brice pulls away and sigh. “Thank you.”
“You okay, Lex?”
I turn and look up at this man I’ve known most of my life, and for a minute, I forget why I’m not supposed to want him.
His eyes glaze over, and I swear I think he might kiss me.
And crazier yet, I might let him.
Instead, Lucky throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him. “Come on, Lex. We’re playing poker, and Saylor’s running the table.”
I lean my head against his chest for a hot second and shake my head.
He’s giving me an out, and I’m taking it.
“Thanks, Lucky.”
“Remember, Lex, I’m the villain, not the hero,” he warns.
Maybe one day I’ll tell him I don’t need a hero.
Later that night, I find Lochlan sitting in the sand, the full moon lighting up the beach like a dull flashlight around us. “I was wondering where you went.”
He pats the sand next to him. “You found me.”
I drop down next to him and lean my head against his shoulder. “You good, Loch?”
“I’m golden, Lexicon. Spending the weekend with my favorite people. Seeing Mom and Dad Sunday. Getting some surfing in tomorrow. That’s a damn good weekend in my book.”
“You’ve got to be back Monday?” I know I can’t ask why or where he’s going. The SEALs have rules. Rules we’ve heard about our whole lives. Dad and a few of his closest friends were SEALs back in the day, and their stories are legendary.
He shouldn’t have been surprised when Lochlan decided he wanted to follow in his footsteps... none of us should have been. But we all were. And even now, four years later, I still hate it.
“Yeah. We’re wheels up Monday morning and won’t be back for three months.” He brushes his hands off on his jeans and tilts his head my way. “How are you doing, Lex? You feel okay?”
“I’ve been pretty good lately. I’m on a new medication. It’s a trial. You know, just one more to add to the thirty-three I already take every day.” And as if I needed a reminder, a cough rattles in my chest. “It’s not perfect, but I’m okay.”
“Sounds like it,” he laughs, but it’s forced as he pulls an envelope from his pocket. “Can you do me a favor?”
An eerie chill runs down my spine, setting my nerves on edge. “Anything.”
“Can you keep this for me?” He hands me the envelope withMom and Dadscribbled across the front in Lochlan’s chicken scratch. “Just... you know, in case.”
“Lochlan,” I whisper as I turn the heavy paper over in my hands.
“Don’t, Lex.” His sharp tone isn’t like him at all. “I don’t give you shit about the diary I know you keep or the letters I know are stuffed in there. We all do what we have to, to deal with the what-ifs of the world. You and I both know it.”
