Tempt Me: A First Class Romance Collection

by Jessica Hawkins

It’s Friday before I get my wish to speak to Ruby alone.

  Dinners have leveled out to mundane chatter—the weather, preschool activities, the prospect of a fall harvest. Eleanor doesn’t have as many barbs to throw since Ruby started preparing healthier lunches, although the details of breakfast have been a bit sketchy.

  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say my daughter is trying to be sneaky, which only piques my curiosity even more. Naturally, I run interference when Eleanor gets too pushy.

  I floated the idea of my mother-in-law potentially finding her own place, to which she responded as I expected—shock, dismay, concern for Lillie, concern for her finances. I don’t really mind paying all of Eleanor’s expenses. I do mind her being in my house, hovering over Lillie, and meddling in my affairs.

  All of this is on my mind as I stand outside Ruby’s bedroom door. What am I doing here? After the way she’s acted since Monday, I decided she must need space. That kiss was amazing. It’s been on my mind all week, distracting me from my work, making me think about all the possible ways we might be able to act on these feelings.

  I’ve also been puzzling nonstop over what she said… You’ll ruin everything. What plans is she afraid I’ll ruin? Is she already thinking of leaving us after a month? It’s only been a week, and I can’t imagine this house without her in it.

  My muscles are tense as I take a deep breath and tap softly. Her room is quiet… no immediate response, so I knock again.

  On the other side of the door, I hear her hesitant voice. “Who is it?”

  “It’s me… Remi. I’d like to talk to you if that’s okay?”

  The door opens halfway, and I have to catch my breath. She’s wearing a silky green robe, and possibly nothing else. Her hair is down, hanging in long waves around her shoulders, and she’s fucking sexy as hell.

  My stomach tightens, and all I can think of is touching her, sliding my hands all over her skin, cupping her breasts and rolling her tight nipples between my fingers.

  “Is everything okay?” She’s speaking just above a whisper, and I’m reminded my daughter is down the hall.

  “Yeah, I wanted to… I…” What do I want?

  I want to pick up where we left off Monday night. I want to kiss her hard and back her into the room, lay her on the bed, and spread her thighs. I want to lose myself in her, tasting her, teasing her, then plunging deep, feeling her break around me as she comes apart, screaming my name.

  “Sorry. I’ve just been thinking.” Obsessing about you all week is more accurate. I clear my throat, passing a hand over my mouth. “Remember Monday, when we were talking, you said something about your dad—how he made you second-guess yourself?”

  “Oh.” Her shoulders drop. She seems to relax, taking a step back, into her room. “Yes, my father excelled at that. We have something in common. My dad was the first person to shelve my artistic aspirations.”

  Her wry tone makes me relax, and I step inside, closing the door and putting my back to it.

  So we don’t wake Lillie, of course.

  “You shouldn’t let that happen. You’re an amazing artist. I think you should do whatever you want. Trust your instincts.”

  The hint of a smile is on her lips. “I trusted my instincts coming here. Then I proceeded to showcase all my poor decision-making skills.”

  That makes me frown. “I haven’t seen you make a poor decision yet.”

  “I’ve made a couple. I made one Monday night.” Her eyes meet mine, and her voice is quiet. “I should never have kissed you. I’m so sorry. It was so unprofessional.”

  Now it’s my turn to smile. She says it like she’s confessing a major sin, not a simple kiss.

  Okay, that kiss was not simple.

  It was fucking hot as sin, and I want to do it again and again.

  If she’s onboard with all the kissing, of course.

  “I’m not holding it against you.” Pushing off the door, I close the space between us. “I was worried when you left that night. You said something about me ruining everything? What were you talking about?”

  “It wasn’t fair of me to say that. Especially since it’s all been me being irresponsible and acting inappropriately. You haven’t done anything.”

  I reach out to touch the side of her cheek. “What have you done that’s inappropriate?”

  She takes a step back, and she’s against the wall. “Nothing yet… It’s more the potential is there, and I can’t… mess this up. I have things I want to do, debts to pay, and I’d like to get my own place, maybe get recertified in a different field.”

  “I think all of that sounds great, except the part about getting your own place.” My chest feels tight, and I wonder again if she’s leaving us after a month. “Don’t you like it here?”

  “Of course! It’s a beautiful house, and this room is gorgeous.” She motions around the beige bedroom, which I notice she has not decorated. “You’ve been so generous to me. I hope I’m meeting your expectations. As a nanny, I mean.”

  Is she kidding me? Doesn’t she see how amazing she is? How much Lillie loves her?

  “You’ve exceeded my expectations. You’re an amazing nanny. I don’t know how I could’ve found someone any better.”

  A genuine smile curls her lips. “Thanks. I’m kind of still learning, but Lillie makes it easy.” Her chin drops and she glances up at me with those eyes. “So do you. You’re a great boss.”

  The way she looks up at me, standing there in that robe with her pretty hair all around her shoulders, her pink lips making me remember how soft they are when I take them… I slide my hand in my pocket, doing my best to ease the rising pressure in my dick.

  “Good.” I focus on her words—I’m her boss. “I should go.”

  “Remi, wait…” She places a hand on my arm, speaking softly. “Was that all you wanted to say? You could have said all that downstairs after dinner. Or any time, really.”

  I put my hand over hers, lifting it, holding it in mine. It’s so delicate and fine, her nails perfectly trimmed and painted soft pink. She feels very precious to me, and I want to protect her. I want to keep her all to myself.

  “I confess, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that night.” Lifting her hand, I kiss her fingers then release her. “I’m sorry. I wanted to kiss you again.”

  She steps closer and reaches up, lightly putting her hand against my scruffy cheek. “Why are you sorry?”

  “I only ever want you to feel safe here.”

  Our eyes meet, and there’s so much between us. I don’t understand this pull or how fast it’s grown, yet we share so much common ground. I want to hold her, but I’ll never push her. “So I guess this is goodnight.”

  I walk to the door, but it feels like my insides are being ripped out and left behind at her feet. God, I want her so much. At the same time, I know sex will only complicate everything.

  “Wait.” I’m at the door when I feel her hand on me. Turning, I see her pretty pink lip is caught under her teeth. She blinks quickly before speaking fast. “A kiss goodnight is probably okay.”

  “Is it?”

  Her shoulders rise, and her worry melts into a grin. “Probably not, but we can try one more time just to be sure, right?”

  I think it’s safe to say we’re playing with fire, but there’s no way in hell I’m saying no.

  Pulling her closer, my gaze travels from her cat eyes down her soft cheeks, to her pillow lips. Reaching up, I touch my thumb to her chin, then higher, pulling her bottom lip down. “I might like kissing you too much.”

  Her chin lifts, and she shivers in my arms. It’s sexy as fuck.

  “That goes double for me.”

  In one fluid movement, our lips seal together then part, tongues finding each other, mouths moving in time. It’s fiery and electric, currents sizzling through each of us. She whimpers, her fingers curling on my arms, and my cock is a steel rod in my jeans, begging for satisfaction.

  With a groan, I chase her mouth, pulling h
er lips with mine, kissing her fast and deep. My hand slides over her breast, and I feel a taut nipple through the silk fabric. I want it in my mouth, and another groan rumbles from my throat.

  She sighs into my mouth, lifting her hands to my hair where her fingers curl and pull. I’m on fire, drowning in this rising tide of lust and need. My hands slide to her ass, and I lift her off the floor, placing her back to the wall. Her hips rock, and her core is right at my aching erection.

  Another groan, another soft whimper. We break apart, gasping. I feel her lightly kissing my neck, then raking her teeth across my skin. Fuck, it feels so good. Glancing down, and I see her robe is loose. I see the curve of her small breasts, the points of her dark nipples.

  “God, I want you,” I groan. “So much.”

  “Oh, shit,” she gasps. “I want you, too.”

  It’s fire and fever and heat burning my skin. She moves, and it’s pressure on my cock. I’m about to explode. Lowering my head, I claim her lips again, pulling them to mine and sucking her tongue.

  Her fingers curl at my neck, and she leans into me with another moan. I want to kiss her everywhere. I want to bury my face in her breasts, in her pussy… I’m lost in a haze of everything I want to do to her when I feel pressure against my shoulders.

  She’s pushing against me, and I lift my head to find her eyes. “What is it?”

  “I’m sorry…” She gasps, and it’s more of a groan. “I’m so sorry, Remi, but we have to stop. We can’t do this. You know we can’t.”

  We’re standing in front of each other breathing hard. Her chest rises fast, and I can see the swell of her breasts beneath the silk fabric as she tightens it again. She’s absolutely mouthwatering.

  I place one hand on the wall beside her face. “Tell me… What’s on your mind? What are you thinking about?”

  She shakes her head, putting her hands on her cheeks. “It’s everything we both know. I can’t live here and be Lillie’s nanny if we’re having sex.”

  My body is on fire, and I’m not sure I can walk away. “You can. It’ll be our secret.”

  “Things like that never stay a secret.” Her eyes dart side to side. “Someone will find out, and it’ll most likely be Eleanor. Then she’ll have a field day making me look like… some kind of geisha girl.”

  “The geisha were Japanese. You’re Korean.”

  “Remi—” Her chin rises, and I see the pleading in her eyes.

  Still, I can’t resist. I lean forward, inhaling her sweet scent, brushing her soft lips with mine.

  It’s not a kiss until she exhales a little groan and catches my face, pulling my mouth to hers again. It turns fast and our tongues curl and slide, but with another little groan, she pulls away from me.

  “No, I can’t. You have to go, Remi.” Her back is to me, and she’s holding her robe closed. “You have to go… or I will.”

  Those words change everything. They’re a splash of cold water right in my face. It might be dangerous having her living here, but I can’t bear the thought of this house without her.

  “No… I’ll go. We won’t do it again.”

  She doesn’t turn to face me, and with a heavy sigh, I open the door, taking one more look at the beautiful creature I just held in my arms before I leave.

  I can’t lose her. I don’t know what that means, but I’m going to find out. Solving problems is what I do.

  13

  Ruby

  “Kissing him sober is even hotter than kissing him slightly drunk.” I’m at an open-air mall in Timmons, the slightly larger suburb to the north of us.

  Drew likes it because she can look for wedding dresses without all of Oakville knowing her business. I like it because it has a carousel for Lillie.

  “Kissing your boss…” Drew teases as we watch the ride go around. “You’ll be sleeping with him soon.”

  “I will not… although, he is packing some serious meat in those jeans. I swear to God.”

  I want to see it. I want to touch it. I can’t stop thinking about it.

  “So just get your own place and date him. You can still be Lillie’s nanny.”

  “Can I?” I tilt my head to the side, trying to decide how I feel about that arrangement. “It seems weird for him to be paying me while I’m sleeping with him.”

  “Get your paychecks direct deposited.” She laughs, and I crack a smile.

  Then I sigh, remembering his hands on me, how easily he lifted me against the wall and devoured my mouth. How hard and massive his erection felt against my stomach. A little shiver passes through me.

  “It’s not a bad idea.” I think about the check I deposited this morning on my way to Drew’s, thirty-five hundred dollars. It appeared in a business envelope on my dresser yesterday evening, while I was out avoiding him.

  Holy shit.

  “I can tell he doesn’t want me to move out. I kind of suggested it, but he shut it down right away. Me living with them was part of our original deal, I guess.”

  “How come? Does Lillie have night terrors?”

  “No… I don’t know… Maybe he likes having me close?” I try to think back to our first conversation, but my thoughts have gotten so muddled when it comes to Remi now.

  All I can think about are his amazing biceps, his firm chest, those sensual lips, and that massive cock I want to ride.

  “He said I would be there if Lillie needed anything in the night. It makes sense, I guess. He sleeps on a whole different floor. But so far she sleeps soundly all night.”

  Another pass, and Lillie waves so hard, her little arm looks like it might fly off. Today she picked out a purple tutu with black and white striped knee-high socks and a long-sleeved tee with Elphaba from Wicked on it. She’s so adorable, and every time she passes, we smile and wave back.

  Warm fuzzies are in my stomach, and no matter how heavy my thoughts, she makes me smile. I’m so fucking conflicted.

  “I don’t want to stop being Lillie’s nanny. It’s not just the money. I really like that little butter bean.”

  I look over at my friend, and she’s giving me a funny little smile. “You’ve gotten yourself in a real jam, my friend.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate your input.” I shove her arm, and she starts to laugh.

  “It’s going to work out. It always does.” Her eyes are dancing, and despite my mental distress, I love seeing her so happy. “What do you really want, Ruby Banks? You’re a grown woman. Now’s your time to decide.”

  I think about her question. “I want to be able to take care of myself. I want to be confident in my choices.” The carousel slows to a stop, and we stroll to find Lillie running to meet us. “Maybe I do want to be a part of their life, but I want to be independent first. I want to make the choice.”

  Drew’s lips press into a half-smile. “I think that’s perfect.”

  “Well, stop it. I don’t like all this mushy stuff. Aren’t we supposed to be shopping for a wedding dress?”

  “Oh! I found one I really like online. I think they have something like it at Second Acts.”

  “Second Acts?” Lillie is holding my hand, skipping while we walk toward the pre-owned wedding dress shop. “I know you’re not making celebrity-nanny money, but why are you looking at used wedding dresses? That’s got to be bad luck.”

  We walk into the store filled with racks of ivory and white gowns, along with a rainbow assortment of bridesmaids’ dresses.

  “Princesses!” Lillie tosses my hand, and she’s across the store burying her face in sparkly satin and tulle.

  “Stop acting like your mother all of a sudden,” Drew snarks.

  “Bitch, you did not just say that to me,” I tease right back.

  “Just, no more bad luck juju.” She catches my hand and pulls me close. “The markup on all this wedding crap is outrageous. I honestly can’t believe some of these prices.”

  “Like that’s some kind of state secret.” I do my best to adjust my attitude and start sliding hangers across racks.


  I’ll admit, there are some interesting options in here. Some don’t even look like they’ve been worn. Lillie is in heaven twirling around the colorful bridesmaids’ section, and I keep my eye on her as we shop.

  “You need to do something casual with him.” Drew comes from behind a rack with three dresses over her arm. “To take the pressure off and see each other in a more friend-type way.”

  “I’m not sure we can get much friendlier.”

  A sales associate appears, reaching for Drew’s armload of dresses. “Would you like a room? Let me take these.”

  Drew follows the woman, and I’m right behind her. “I mean more as friends, less as roommates who can’t keep their hands off each other.”

  I shrug. “Sounds reasonable. What did you have in mind?”

  She goes in the room, stopping me before I can follow her. “Stay out here so you can get the full effect once it’s on.”

  Going to the door, I watch as Lillie ducks under veils and holds her hands out. She’s going to dream about this tonight.

  “Gray said karaoke starts Tuesday at the Red Cat. Why don’t we do that together?” The door opens, and she steps out in a fitted, sleeveless white gown. “Like old friends.”

  “Oh!” My breath catches, and my eyes get hot. “You’re beautiful! I’m going to cry.”

  Fanning my face quickly, I shake my head.

  “Stop it! You’re going to make me cry, and I have two more dresses to try on!”

  My bestie tries on two more gowns, but the first one’s the winner. We’re driving back to Oakville by dinner time, and Lillie’s crashed out in her booster chair in my backseat.

  “So you’re still coming to the wedding next month, right?” Drew’s got her phone out, and I panic slightly—which my bestie doesn’t miss. “Ruby! You’re my maid of honor. You have to be there.”

  “It’s just a weekend thing?” I’m really panicking because of all the parties and showers I need to get scheduled for her. If she’s pregnant we can’t go too crazy. Maybe a lunch?

  “It’s Thursday to Sunday.” She shows me a wedding planner app on her phone. “Or Saturday night, I guess.”