Page 1 of Tempt you…not!
Alysanne
“I don’t thinkthis is a good idea.” Slate’s eyes bore into mine as he tries to gain control over me.
It’s a warning, not a threat, but still just as insulting.
Without honoring him a glance, I continue packing my bags, offhandedly saying, “Well, it’s a good thing I don’t give a fuck what you think, baby bro.”
“Don’t be foolish.” He grabs my wrist. “This is a collaborative effort of government and private sectors. We can’t risk disparaging our reputation.”
I snatch my wrist away, maneuvering around his broad frame to fit my work shoes into their proper compartment.
“Quit being such a sexist jerk,” Rachel snaps at my brother.
Rachel and I have been best friends since my father hired her mother as our nanny. She’s brave, reckless to a fault, and I love her for it.
“Alyce, just let me handle this,” Slate pleads.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Why, because you’re a man?”
“No—”
“I’m older, graduated top of my class, and have two years’ more experience, so what, pray tell, makes you more qualified to present than me?”
Unfortunately, I already know what he’s about to say.
“Because half the world hasn’t seen my bare ass. Among other body parts.”
I feign shock. “What other body parts, Slate?”
His cheeks flush pink as they do when he’s faced with anything that makes him remotely uncomfortable. Once, during a company meeting, he was forced to acknowledge the word menstruation, and he turned paper white and almost fainted.
“Please, tell me, what other parts of my body have offended the good Bastion name?”
His jaw shifts as he shakes his head from side to side. “I can’t believe you—both of you,” he emphasizes, darting his eyes to Rachel.
“You can’t believe that I’m not embarrassed? I was twenty-one years old on spring break. Why should I be ashamed that I was one of thousands of adult women flashing their boobs?”
“It was a lot more than just boobs.”
“Don’t act like you’re above anything, dear brother.”
“Somehow, though, I’ve managed to keep my entanglements and all of my body parts out of the press.”
Rachel rolls her eyes. “Shaming women for their bodies is so last year.”
He points to me. “The second you step onto that stage, they’re going to be imagining you naked as beer cascades down your vagina intoheropen mouth.” His finger moves to Rachel.
God, here he goes again…
“Wow—did you just say the word vagina? That must have been a really traumatizing three syllables for you.” I smirk. “And anatomically incorrect. Her mouth was nowhere near my vagina.”
His nostrils flare outward as his lips thin.
There aren’t many people willing to risk my brother’s wrath. He’s not the hot-headed type that will yell and curse up a storm.
He’s cold. Stoic. Immovable. Judgmental.
A complete and total asshole.
