Tempt Me: A First Class Romance Collection

by Jessica Hawkins

  Lots of little-girl chatter and good mornings and she runs out on the landing holding her puppy as he strains to lick every square inch of her face.

  She laughs so loud and squeal-ey, I start laughing, too.

  “Don’t drop him,” I call, heading for the kitchen. “I’m getting another cup of coffee. Hurry up before you’re late for school.”

  “Hey, Miss Ruby! I’ve got to get to school.” Matilda, the teen who lives next door gives me a wave before walking back to her house.

  “Thanks, May.” It’s interesting to me how relaxed and easy being here feels without Eleanor’s presence lurking around every corner. It almost feels like home to me.

  Silly thought. I shake it from my mind.

  A pounding of feet followed closely by the scuff of doggy toenails, and Lillie and Buddy are both in the kitchen. Lillie dances around in a sea-green skirt and matching mermaid tee. Her leggings have mermaid scales in the pattern.

  “Hey, butter bean, take Buddy out real quick and make him pee before we leave for school. I don’t want him going in my car.”

  She calls him and they both run across the living room for the patio door. I lean against the counter watching them go, wondering if puppies and preschoolers just naturally go together like peas and carrots—to quote Forrest Gump.

  We’re in the car, and I’m contemplating car line while Lillie plays with Buddy, who’s riding right beside her in his little puppy seat belt.

  “Can I bring Buddy in to show the class?” Lillie’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror.

  “No, baby, I’m not dressed to go inside today. Look at me.” I’ve been making a point to dress executive nanny for every pickup since that black Friday.

  “I think you look pretty.”

  I’m sure she’s being truthful. Lillie has no concept of fashion yet.

  “Yeah, but you’re biased. I’d rather look a little less ratty when I go inside.”

  “Because of the mean moms?”

  My jaw drops. “What are you talking about, Lil?”

  She only shrugs and goes back to singing to Buddy. He’s heard the entire soundtrack of Lady and the Tramp. I don’t force her to elaborate. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, little kids notice everything.

  I’m at the drive, the moment of truth, and Lillie looks out the window. “Please, Mommy?”

  Our eyes meet in the mirror, and I swear my heart stops beating.

  Lillie looks down, “I mean—”

  “Sure!” Affection tugs at my chest, and I think I might cry. “We can take Buddy to meet Ms. Terry.”

  I steer the car into the parking lot and help them both out of the backseat. Lillie holds my hand, swinging it as she skips, and Buddy rides happily tucked under her arm.

  When we get to the door, I catch a glimpse of myself in the window and cringe. I don’t look terrible, but I definitely look like I just rolled out of bed less than an hour ago.

  “Oh, well.” I exhale, squaring my shoulders. “Everybody has those days.”

  I pull the door open, and I see the Bitch Patrol in their little Gucci cluster gossiping outside Terry’s door, likely judging every parent who drops off his or her kid. I don’t care.

  Fixing my eyes on the door, I walk with purpose to Lillie’s class while she continues skipping, clutching Buddy to her side. The closer we get, the tighter the knot grows in my throat.

  Their conversation fades to silence, and I brace myself for Serena’s slicing remark. “Well, look who it is.” The sneer in her voice tenses my shoulders. “Late night at the office?”

  Somebody fakes a laugh, but Terry steps out at that moment.

  Lillie goes nuts, talking fast. “Ms. Terry! This is Buddy. He’s a Schnoodle. He lives at Ruby’s house, but she said he really belongs to me. I’m teaching him to do tricks, and it’s really important to take him out after he sleeps because he can’t pee in the house or Ruby goes, ‘Oh no! Oh no!’”

  She waves one hand over her head, dancing in place like I can only assume I did.

  One time.

  When Buddy started pooping on my favorite rug.

  Her teacher is delighted, holding up both hands and laughing at Lillie’s performance. I put my hand on my hip and grin. “Nice way to say thanks, Lil bean.”

  She’s still dancing around when her expression changes, and she yells out, “Daddy!”

  This time my heart really does stop in my chest. Turning, I see Remi striding up the hall in our direction looking hot as ever. He’s only in jeans, a maroon tee, and dark gray blazer, but he seriously rocks the casual look.

  “Perfect.” I reach up and touch the mess that is my hair wishing the ground really did things like open up and swallow people. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see my favorite girls.” He gives me that signature grin, and I forget to care what I look like as I melt into a puddle.

  Stopping beside me, he puts a hand on my lower back, pulling me against his side.

  My body is hot all over, but I try to be cool. I’m acutely aware of the Bitch Patrol glaring daggers in our direction.

  “What was the emergency errand? Nothing on fire, I hope.”

  He nods at Lillie and she hops over, taking his hand and looking up at me. “I had to pick something up at the store.”

  He releases me, scooping Lillie into his arms. “Ruby, I know you said we needed time—”

  “Wait… What is this?” That knot has moved from my throat to my stomach, and it’s getting tighter and tighter.

  Remi presses on. “I learned the hard way how quickly life can change. We never know how much time we have, how much time we have with the people we love…”

  I’m having trouble breathing. “Remi, what are you doing?”

  “I talked to Lillie, and she said it was okay for me to say this…” My eyes heat. “We want to start sharing all our time with you.”

  He bends and puts his daughter down, whispering in her ear. She nods quickly then turns to me. “I’m going to class now, but Daddy wants to talk to you some more. You’d better take Buddy.”

  Kneeling, I pull her into a hug and take the puppy. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  Remi looks at the dog and his lips press into a funny smile. “Do you think he’ll hang out with us if you put him down for a second?”

  Blinking down to the little apricot face watching me, I nod, putting him at my feet. Sure enough. Buddy stands beside me looking up and down the hall. My eyes catch for a moment on the open mouths and wide eyes of Serena and her crew.

  “Ruby, I wanted to say this in front of witnesses.”

  Stepping forward, I speak low in his chest. “You can’t do this now. I’m not dressed for it.”

  “I think you look amazing.” Placing his finger under my chin, he lifts my face to his. His eyes are like golden-hot caramel. “I’ve wanted to say this so many times… I love you, Ruby Banks.”

  That does it. I’m crying.

  “Remi…” My voice is a high whisper.

  That gorgeous smile touches his lips. “I love how smart you are and how funny you are. I love the way the light shines off your hair and sparkles in your eyes when you laugh. I love the way you get on your knees, right at eye level with Lillie when she wants to tell you something. I love how you don’t back down when I say something you think is wrong… or when these bitches at school call you mean names…”

  Serena makes a huffy “I never” noise, and I put my hand over my mouth to cover my laugh. A hot tear rolls down my cheek, and he looks at it with so much care, gently wiping it away with his thumb as he cups my face.

  “You’re strong and fierce and loving.” He leans closer to whisper in my ear. “I especially love that sound you make when I kiss your pussy…”

  “Remi!” I whisper, pushing his arm.

  He only grins bigger, heat burning in his eyes. “I love that you’re passionate about art and music and your work. Your dad was wrong—you’re a strong woman. You’re amazing.
You’re everything I want.”

  With that he steps back and reaches into his jacket pocket. Then he carefully lowers onto one knee. “You can’t be Lillie’s nanny anymore, because I want you to be my wife. I want to marry you. Will you marry me, Ruby?”

  Blinking hard, I see he’s holding the most beautiful blue-velvet sapphire ring up to me. It’s set in white gold with small pear-shaped diamonds on each side. My heart is in my throat, and I don’t know how I’m still standing on two feet. Or maybe I’m floating off the ground.

  Taking the ring, I slide it on my finger as he slowly rises to standing. “Is that a yes?” He’s holding my hand. “I couldn’t ask your father, because he’s no longer with us. But I stopped by the church this morning and talked to your mom. She thinks it’s a good idea.”

  My eyes go wide. “You talked to my mom?”

  “It’s the traditional thing to do.” He does a shrug.

  “And she thinks it’s a good idea?” Her speech about him not being one of us is in my head, not that it makes one bit of difference. I’m a total goner for this man.

  “She says we’re a good match.”

  “Oh, Remi.” I jump forward, putting my arm around his neck. “You want to make me yours?”

  He laughs, lifting me off the ground, holding me under my butt as my legs wrap around his waist. “More than anything. Be my wife, Ruby. Be my lover for life. Help me take care of Lillie. I can’t stand another minute of my life without you in it.”

  Hugging my arms around his neck, I study the gorgeous ring on my finger. “Yes… I will. Yes.” I’m hugging him so close. His warm lips press against my neck, rising higher to my chin, igniting my panties, and before I lose all ability to reason, I quickly add, “In a year.”

  Remi draws back, frowning. “A year?”

  His arms relax, and my feet slide to the floor as I try to explain. “We’ve only known each other a month, Remington. I can’t just marry you like that. We have to at least be engaged a little while to be sure.”

  His brow lowers, and determination glows in his eyes. “I’m more sure of this than I’ve been of anything in a long, long time.” His words are heat and warmth, and lightning in my veins. “But if it makes you happy, we can be engaged for a little while.” His thumb is on my chin and his eyes focus hot on my lips. “As long as I get to kiss you.”

  “Definitely.” Leaning forward, I peck his soft mouth. “Lots of kissing.”

  He presses my back to the wall as he cups my face in his hands. “I intend to kiss you everywhere, any time I want.”

  His mouth covers mine, moving my lips apart, and when our tongues meet, I ignite. My hands go around his neck, pulling him closer. His hands go to my waist, sliding beneath my crop top, over the bare skin of my back, pulling me even closer.

  Everything is forgotten as I’m lost in the heaven of his arms, the love on his lips, the strength of his words, the satisfaction of his love. Lifting my head, our eyes meet in a moment so heavy with promise.

  “I love you, Remington Key.” He grins, and I know he’s the love of my life.

  I almost jump out of my skin when the hall erupts into cheers of teachers, children, and Lillie running to hug our legs, Buddy snug under her arm. Not even Serena North’s sour-grapes face can rain on this parade.

  I’m in the arms of my family, and even in a messy bun and sweat pants, it doesn’t get any better than this.

  Epilogue

  Remi

  Ruby didn’t actually make me wait a whole year to get married.

  I have my daughter and her best friend to thank for speeding up the timeline. After three months, she started looking at dresses. At four months, when she completed her art therapy licensure and returned to working at the clinic with Drew, I convinced her to let her small rental house go and move back into the McMansion with Lillie and me.

  By six months, we were talking locations. I wanted a destination wedding, something like renting all of Cuixmala for a weekend and taking our family and closest friends.

  Ruby decided that would be a better honeymoon destination, just the two of us. I couldn’t even begin to argue.

  Eleanor was a situation Ruby insisted she had to resolve.

  After we were engaged, the two of them went to lunch. They returned to the house afterwards and continued an on-again, off-again heated conversation. Until, by the end of the day, they had become allies.

  I was skeptical, but their friendship remains strong. Ruby said it took all her training as a therapist, but basically it amounted to Eleanor’s fear that once Ruby became my wife, she would be out of Lillie’s life for good.

  “I never wanted that,” Ruby says, wrapped in my arms in the large, whirlpool bathtub in my master suite. “She said once we were married, there would be no place for her. Ma would be your mother-in-law, and she would be nothing.”

  The jets swirl foam from the bath salts around us, and a relaxing, lavender scent is in the air. It’s soothing, but my hands are on Ruby’s breasts, and the sensation of her in my arms, her hardening nipples, is giving me a semi.

  “Eleanor will always be Lillie’s grandmother. Nothing will change that.” My lips press against the side of her neck, rising to behind her ear, and she shivers. “I would never dream of taking her family away.”

  Ruby nods, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “I also told her if she stopped pushing Lillie so hard, she’d never have to worry about losing her. Maybe she’ll listen.”

  “In my experience, Eleanor does what she wants, regardless of what anybody says.” Palming her breasts, I pinch her tight little nipples. “Now, the last thing I want to do in this moment is talk about my mothers-in-law.”

  My beautiful bride-to-be starts to laugh, and I slide my hands lower, over her flat stomach, until I’m cupping the space between her thighs, massaging her clit. Her head rocks back against my shoulder and she moans. “Remi…”

  “What, beautiful?” I kiss her ear, pulling the shell between my teeth. “Are you wet for me?”

  “Yes…”

  Her hips slowly rock as I massage her, firm and steady. I’m patient, watching my girl’s breath grow faster. I feel her muscles tense, and I slide her thighs apart with my knee.

  I position her so I’m right at her entrance. A thrust of my hips sends my tip into her clenching pussy. “Oh, fuck,” I groan.

  She’s so wet and hot. It’s delicious torture, but I do it again, just giving her the hypersensitive tip of my dick, teasing us both.

  “Remi…” Her moves grow faster. She turns in my arms, slippery as a bar of soap, until she’s facing me.

  Now we’re chest to chest, her small breasts floating in the water. Our mouths meet, tongues caressing, chasing, driving the heat between us higher as she straddles my lap.

  Her hands grip the tub behind me, and I position my cock at her entrance. Then, with a swift drop, I’m sheathed inside her. We both moan at the incredible sensation, the clenching satisfaction of complete connection.

  “My beautiful girl,” I moan, sliding my hands from her hips up to her waist as she rides me. She’s such a great rider. I’m trying to stay here with her and not get lost in the heaven between her thighs.

  Grinding her body against mine, she bites her lip to keep from crying out. Her breasts rise out of the water, and she’s moving fast. She’s gorgeous to watch, the flush covering her breasts and rising to her neck.

  My orgasm is tightening in my lower stomach, but I’m doing my best to hold out. It’s hard with her luscious insides pulling me, milking me. Leaning forward, I give her nipple a hard suck, a little bite.

  “Remi!” It’s a high whimper followed by a cascade of spasms through her core as she comes on my cock.

  Her body breaks into shudders, and I let go, pulsing and filling her, bucking up into her, groaning through the final waves of orgasm.

  She collapses with her arms around my neck, and she’s relaxed and smiling. “I love doing that.”

  “I love doing that
with you.”

  Our lips meet, sweeter this time. I hold her to me so I can kiss her shoulder, nibble her neck, pull her lips with mine again as our tongues caress gently, languorously.

  I’m so in love with this woman…

  It brings us to today, to this lavish wedding ceremony right here in Oakville.

  Stephen is in town as my best man, and Drew is Ruby’s matron of honor. We have Ruby’s mom, Eleanor, Dottie, Gray, Dagwood, a few people I don’t know very well, and even Ms. Terry taking a role in the festivities.

  We erected an arch and chairs in the town park square in front of the gazebo. It’s spring, so flowers are blooming. Azalea bushes are giant masses of magenta, and wisteria hangs over our heads like lavender grapes on vines.

  Drew and Mrs. B, as I’ve learned everyone calls Ruby’s mom, added more flowers to the already bursting scenery. They let me know the wisteria, lilies, and camellias were added. I’m not an expert on flowers, but I think it looks like a technicolor rainbow straight out of any one of my daughter’s favorite Disney movies.

  I stand before the arch with Pastor Hibbert behind me and Stephen, Dag, and Gray at my side, and as much as I’ve counted down the days to this moment, my stomach is in knots as the music changes and everyone shifts in their seats.

  First comes Lillie, the little show-stopper. She’s wearing a floor-length blue gown to match Ruby’s engagement ring. It’s designed to look like a princess with a full tulle skirt, and she has Buddy on a long leash as she drops petals down the aisle. When she gets to the front, she steps beside me, holding my hand.

  Ruby wanted to be sure she was included, so she’s taking part in the unity ceremony, lighting a candle to show our union as a family.

  Dottie comes next, followed by Drew, also dressed in sapphire blue. They line up across from my groomsmen.

  The music changes, and everyone stands. The Bridal Chorus begins, and when I see the white of her veil, I have to swallow the ache in my throat.

  “Don’t cry, man.” Stephen is at my shoulder, and I exhale a laugh.

  Ruby is utterly gorgeous. Her dress is fitted to her body, sleeveless, and floor-length, ending in waves of white satin. The veil hangs over her face and hair, but through the mesh, I see the light glistening off the tears in her eyes.