Page 46 of His Southern Temptation

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“Thanks for stopping by to visit me on my house arrest.”

Taylor laughed and dodged the swat Lucky aimed at her ass, but didn’t resist when he pulled her back against him as he leaned against the Elliott House kitchen island. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she snuggled back into the comfort of his warm, hard body.

Michaela and Jack sat on the barstools, the remains of the meal they’d brought over from the Southern Comfort scattered on the counter. Taylor had been on the verge of a hissy fit when they’d shown up, offering conversation and laughs with good friends. She was going a little stir-crazy in this house and needed the diversion.

“Stop bitching, Tay,” Lucky growled, emphasizing his admonition with a nip at her earlobe. “It’s been two days. You act like you’re serving a life sentence at Alcatraz.”

“Easy for you to say. You get to leave the house and see people.”

Lucky cupped her jaw in his hand, turning her head so she had to make eye contact. His lips were curved in a sexy smile, but his eyes burned with a heat that usually led to activities not appropriate for company.

“I always make it up to you at night, don’t I?” He kissed her mouth, a soft brush of their lips, a quick swipe of his tongue. Her hands involuntarily rose, grabbing his hair and drawing his mouth back down to hers. “I didn’t hear you complaining last night when I—”

“Whoa. Okay. Down boy.” Jack stood up and grabbed his beer off the counter with one hand and Lucky’s arm with the other. “Michaela promised me I’d get to watch the game if I came over here tonight and let her get in some girl talk with Taylor. Let’s go.”

Taylor laughed as she watched the two friends walk down the hallway, joking and shoving as they made their way to the family room.

“I hope they don’t break anything. Mother will arrange for both of them to be killed.” Taylor sat down next her new friend, enjoying the easy way between the two of them. They’d talked often since the pedicure date, and Taylor admired the gentle, quiet way Michaela approached her life. She seemed so sure of everything.

“I don’t know how they both lived long enough to grow into adulthood. All four of the boys seemed hell-bent on getting into trouble.” Michaela smiled as she sipped her wine.

“Yeah, but they made growing up here a lot of fun.”

“I know I loved it at first sight.” Michaela paused, “So, will you stay and go into business with Sissy?”

“Maybe.” Taylor wasn’t sure how to explain all the crap swirling around in her head. Pros. Cons. All valid and equally important. It came down to whether she was going to follow her head or her heart. “I’ve seen Sissy’s plans and they’re wonderful. The new place will be open, modern, and luxurious, but not too over-the-top for Elliott. My research shows the market is ripe for this kind of business.”

“But…?”

“But the business part is the easy decision. I just need to get smart on the business climate, run my numbers, and get a hefty loan. The hard part is Lucky.”

With Lucky in the equation, staying wasn’t the only option, but it sure was becoming a damn appealing one.

“He really wants you to stay.” Taylor was surprised at Michaela’s observation. “He hasn’t said anything outright, at least not to me, but you can tell. I only know a little that Jack has told me about the two of you, but I think this is something Lucky has wanted for a long time. He hides a lot behind the jokes, but not this. He lives and breathes for you.”

“I don’t have the best track record when it comes to men. I don’t want to make a mistake when so much is on the line.”

“My love life was a disaster”—Michaela looked over to where Jack and Lucky had disappeared, her eyes turning a little misty with her memories—“until I met Jack. And while it wasn’t perfect from the moment we met, when I finally figured out he was the one, it made every other choice secondary to being with him.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. It was like coming home.” Michaela stood, clearing the dishes and loading the dishwasher.

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