Love So Tempting

by Marquita Valentine

  Tristan had run off with Lemon to live in Tahiti.

  Lemon had murdered Tristan and hid his body... in Tahiti.

  But Lemon didn’t care, not even as she packed her things and Tristan took each box down to his truck.

  Her mother stood to one side, wringing her hands and looking more than a little confused. “The two of you are married,” she said for the third time.

  Lemon held out her hand, displaying the antique ring Tristan had bought her while they explored Wilmington. “We are.”

  “And that’s why you didn’t come to dinner at the club Monday nightt.”

  “It is,” Lemon replied softly.

  “But I thought... I didn’t think the two of you get along very well.”

  Tristan raised a brow, and Lemon fought back a smile before he turned his attention to her mother.

  “We reconciled our differences, ma’am. To be frank, I’ve wanted to marry your beautiful daughter for years, but I understood tradition and didn’t want to get in the way of that... until I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I had to have her—I’m sure Mr. McCoy knows exactly how I feel.”

  Her mother melted at Tristan’s charming explanation. “Young love will do that.”

  “Give me a break,” Apple muttered from her side of the room. She stood like an Amazonian warrior, baring her teeth at the slightest provocation, which was any time Tristan looked her way. Or breathed. All she lacked was a spear and shield.

  Lord, her sister could be dramatic.

  As soon as Tristan took down the last of the boxes, Apple pounced, grabbing Lemon’s arm. “Are you out of your mind? He only married you because he, uh... he wants your money.”

  “I don’t have any money but what I make from my business.” Since Lemon had informed her mother Tristan wouldn’t be taking the McCoy name, she learned that her portion of the inheritance would go to her sisters, to be split evenly. Which was fine with her.

  “Then he wants your business.”

  “He wants to run a nail salon?” Lemon set her jaw. “If you can’t come up with a good reason as to why I can’t be married to Tristan Lawson, then don’t say another word against it.”

  Apple’s lips thinned for a moment. “You can’t blame me for attempting to keep my baby sister safe.”

  Lemon’s heart softened. “No, I can’t, but I can expect you to be happy for me.”

  “You have rather lofty expectations, Lemonade.”

  She leaned her head against Apple, and her sister smoothed her hair down. “Be happy for me, please.”

  “Those Lawsons... McCoys and Lawsons just don’t mix. You saw what happened between Cherry and Brody.”

  Her sister had a point. In the history of their town, McCoys and Lawsons had never married, but Cherry and Brody had never wanted to get married to one another in the first place.

  “Tristan and I are different people,” she pointed out.

  “Which is why it won’t work,” her sister countered. “There has to be another explanation for y’all’s marriage. This just doesn’t make sense.”

  “That’s enough, Apple,” their mother fussed. “Leave the poor girl alone. She’s chosen him and that’s that.”

  “Love doesn’t have to make sense,” Lemon heard herself say, right as Tristan walked in the room with a peculiar look on his face. “Anyway, we’re all done, so I’ll talk to you later.”

  Her mother hugged her tight, saying that Lemon’s father gave his blessing and was disappointed to be out of town when he had heard the news.

  “When he gets back we should have a get together—the Lawsons and McCoys.” She gave her sister a pointed look.

  Apple tossed her head and sniffed. “Sounds charming.”

  Lemon sighed, knowing there was nothing else she could say to change her sister’s mind. Maybe once they announced to everyone about the baby, she would warm up to the idea.

  With a last look around, she laced her fingers through Tristan’s and walked down to his truck.

  Once they were headed to his townhouse, she asked, “Are you sure you don’t know why Apple—”

  “Hates me,” he finished for her.

  She winced. “I don’t think she hates you exactly.”

  “As long as I don’t cause problems for y’all, I’m okay with her hating me.” Well, she wasn’t okay with Apple hating him. She squeezed his hand.

  “When do you want to tell everyone about the baby?” he asked.

  “The party we’ll host at your parents’ home?”

  “We’re hosting a party?”

  She grinned at him. “I’m a Lawson now, so it’s only fitting that we have a party there and invite my family to come over.”

  He glanced at her, then turned his attention back to the road, but she didn’t miss the look of surprise on his face. She’d shocked him for once, and it wasn’t over a baby or asking him to marry her.

  “As the two founding families of Jessamine, it’s our duty to set aside our differences and come together as one to set a positive example for the community.” She bit back a laugh.

  “Ever give speech writing a thought?” he asked.

  “Who do you think writes all my dad’s speeches come election time?”

  “Used to think it was Apple, but I stand corrected.”

  “Not such a empty-headed beauty queen, am I?”

  He grimaced. “About that—I’d like to apologize for each and every time I called you stupid, even if I said every other word but that so I’d sound less like an asshole in public.”

  Warmth suffused her. “Thank you.”

  “Isn’t there anything you’d like to say?” he asked.

  “Not particularly.”

  He barked out a laugh. “Fair enough.”

  It was close to dinnertime when he and Lemon finished unpacking all her boxes. His once enormous closet was packed to the gills with regular clothes, pageant gowns, tiaras, and endless pairs of shoes.

  No damn wonder he never saw her wear the same outfit twice.

  “I didn’t realize I had so many things,” she said, standing beside him.

  “Looks like we’ll need to start house hunting sooner than later,” he said. “Any real estate agent in particular you want to use?”

  “Harper Bell,” she said firmly. “She could use the extra money, and we’ll make it so she doesn’t have to worry about scheduling showings while she’s teaching.”

  “I’ll give her a call, unless you want to do the honors?”

  Lemon gave him a blinding smile. “She’s coming in for a mani/pedi on Friday afternoon. If you’re okay to wait that long, I’ll ask her then.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Apparently, if marrying Lemon had been all he needed to do in order for her to be this sweet to him... he was so kicking his own ass for listening to her sister and leaving that night. And for letting his pride get in the way when Lemon had come to his parents’ house the next day.

  One day, he hoped to talk to Lemon about that time in their life, but right now... he didn’t want to spoil things. Lemon needed his undivided attention and time. She was carrying his child, and it was his job to care of her.

  Her stomach growled.

  “Hungry?”

  “Starving for once,” she said. “Maybe I should exercise more often to work up an appetite.”

  He ran his eyes over her exceptionally sexy body. “You look good to me.”

  She laughed. “That’s because I used to exercise every day, but my morning sickness has been so bad that I couldn’t bring myself to get up that early. By the time I felt better, I was bone-tired... from breathing.”

  “Making a human is hard work.”

  “I’m pretty sure your baby is extra hard work. He or she’s in there, using their big brain to concoct schemes for after they’re born.”

  The thought of a baby in his arms made his heart beat faster. Mason was confident in his ability as a dad, but not so much as a husband. Tristan couldn’t see how the t
wo weren’t related. In his opinion, a good dad was a good husband.

  “Can you eat Mexican or Italian?” he asked.

  “I can eat anything, except what I can’t.” At his confused expression, she continued, “Which means, we go wherever and I keep in mind what’s on my do-not-eat list.”

  He followed her outside, locking the door behind him. “It’s a nice evening. We can walk to La Fiesta if you feel like it?”

  “You can always carry me back home when I’m done eating,” she said with a twinkle in her hazel eyes.

  “I’d consider it an honor.” He held out his elbow and she placed her small hand on it.

  *

  As soon as the two of them hit Main Street, the stares started. Full on and without apology. One lady in particular almost ran into a light post.

  “We’re causing quite the stir,” Lemon said.

  “It’s not every day you see the lamb and the lion walking together.”

  She bumped him lightly with her hip. “Don’t worry, little lamb. I’m saving my appetite for fajitas.”

  “Then I’ll save my appetite for you.”

  Lemon’s cheeks grew rosy. “Men,” she huffed. “Always bringing it back to sex.”

  “You don’t like sex?”

  “No.”

  “Ouch. Low blow.”

  “You didn’t let me finish,” she said as he opened the door of La Fiesta for her.

  “By all means...”

  She rose up on tiptoe and whispered into his ear, “I love sex with you.” Nibbling on his lobe, she bit down just enough to make his breath catch. Then she stepped back and gazed up at him with the most guileless expression he’d ever scene.

  Damn if that didn’t make his dick hard.

  The hostess called out Lemon’s name, and he pulled himself out of the sexual spell she was casting over him. It was obvious she came here all the time by the way everyone started to fuss over her.

  “You coming?” Lemon asked, glancing over her shoulder.

  As soon as he could walk straight. “Yes.”

  Positioning himself behind her, he willed his inconvenient to subside. Thankfully, the sight of her sister walking toward did the trick. She didn’t say a word to either of them, merely smiled and waved her fingers in their general direction while some lovesick fool trotted after her.

  “So that’s the way of it,” Lemon said as she watched her sister leave the restaurant.

  “Did you need to go talk to her?” he asked, trying to be supportive.

  “Nope.”

  The hostess led them to a corner both and handed him a menu. “As soon as your date figures out what he wants, the server will put both of your orders in.”

  “Thank you, Kim.” Lemon smiled as she plucked a tortilla chip from the basket.

  “Come here a lot, huh?” he asked, grinning.

  “You don’t.” Which in the not-too-distant past explained why she would pick this place over any other in town. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Mexican food, he loved it, but he’d avoided La Fiesta as soon as he saw how much Lemon frequented it.

  “Favorite place?”

  “Especially now.” She plucked another chip from the basket and held it out to him. “Try these. They’re exceptionally good.”

  He ate the chip right out of her hand, nipping her fingers as he did. This time her breath caught. Male satisfaction roared inside of him.

  “I swear Tristan, you’ve put a spell on me,” she said in a low voice.

  “Sometimes the opposite of hate is love...I mean want. Our bodies have no problems at all with wanting one another.”

  The light in her eyes dimmed a little, but she smiled at him like nothing bothered her. “Maybe our brains will catch up one day.”

  What about their hearts, he wanted to ask, but didn’t. He would feel like Jessamine’s biggest fool if he did. “I’m sure they will.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The next day, despite her almost weeklong absence, there wasn’t much for Lemon to do at Hammered & Polished. She spent the rest of the afternoon doing busywork, reading through bills and signing virtual checks, then going over the inventory of nail polish, cleaning supplies, and ingredients for the drinks they served... as well as going to the ladies’ room every five seconds.

  Since she started the business two years ago, it had become a well-oiled machine. Her office manager, who also helped run the salon, was trustworthy and amazing. The ladies who worked for her, with only a couple of exceptions, were the same ones who started out with her when she first opened.

  Apparently, she could inspire loyalty in her fellow woman—as long as she treated them with respect and paid them well. Honestly, who wouldn’t want that in a boss?

  Juanita, her manager, walked into Lemon’s office, drink in hand, and she almost wept with gratitude.

  “Grandmother McCoy’s concoctions still okay for you?” the older woman asked.

  “They’re the only sure thing I can keep down,” Lemon said, taking the cup from her. The mint aftertaste immediately soothed her, unlike the several crackers she’d attempted to down earlier.

  Last night, after eating her entire dinner and a portion of Tristan’s, she had thought that the morning sickness was behind her, but like clockwork, as soon as she woke up, off she sprinted to the bathroom.

  Except this time, Tristan was beside her, literally beside her while he held her hair back. Then he’d waited until after she brushed her teeth to sweep her off her feet and put her back to bed.

  He hadn’t stayed with her very long though because he had to be at work thirty minutes earlier than the library’s nine a.m. opening, but it felt really nice to be held by him.

  Juanita’s dark eyes assessed her. “Mighty long time to have the stomach flu.”

  “We both know I don’t have the stomach flu.”

  “It’s not my place to pry, but please tell me what I can do to help.”

  “Bringing me these are the most helpful thing ever,” Lemon said with a small smile. “I don’t how I could get through each day, otherwise.”

  “Why don’t you go home, honey? Take a few more days off. The salon won’t implode without you.”

  “I’m a working woman, and working women don’t have that luxury. It’s bad enough I took a last-minute vacation.”

  “To go on your honeymoon,” Juanita pointed out. “You gave Krissy and Bev the flexibility to change their schedules around when they were expecting.”

  Lemon closed her eyes for a moment. “It was the right thing to do.”

  “If it’s right for the people who work for you, then it sure as hell has to be right for the owner.” Juanita gave her a lopsided smile. “Go home. Get some rest. Get that man of yours to help you.”

  Lemon suddenly realized she had no idea what Tristan’s schedule was in a given week. Most likely, he didn’t know hers either.

  “I’ll take it easy this weekend, but I need to talk to Harper Bell when she gets here.” She glanced at the clock. “School’s over, so she should be walking inside any minute now.”

  “Harper’s already here.”

  Lemon rose to her feet, taking her drink with her as she strode to the main area of the salon.

  Harper Bell sat in a massage chair, her feet immersed in bubbling water while a look of pure pleasure covered her face.

  “Harper Bell, just the woman I wanted to see today,” Lemon said, smiling.

  Harper smiled shyly. “What could my favorite cousin want with me?”

  The two hugged, Lemon carefully avoiding spilling the contents of her mug into Harper’s lap.

  “I need you to help Tristan and me find a house.”

  Her cousin’s eyes widened at Lemon’s request. “I’d love to, but I don’t work during the school year.”

  “I know, but Tristan and I can work around your schedule. Do some showings after school hours? Whatever works for you.”

  Krissy took Harper’s hand and set it in a bowl of nail polish remover. “Are
you sure? I mean, I’m happy to help y’all, but there are bigger realtors out there than me.”

  “Maybe so, but none of them are better.” Lemon took another sip of her drink. “We’re not looking at anything in my old neighborhood. A nice, little house on the outskirts of town will do. As long as it has a yard and—”

  She frowned. She had no idea what Tristan wanted. He’d never told her, not even while they wrote to one another. “Tristan will have to fill you in on what he wants.”

  “I’ll text him and see what he says, then make a list and start searching.”

  A smile curved the corners of Lemon’s mouth. “I knew I could count on you.”

  With her free hand, Harper touched her hair. “Maybe you could give me some beauty pointers sometime?”

  “You have your eye on someone?”

  “Not hardly.” Harper blushed, then tipped up her chin. “I want to do it for myself.”

  For a moment, Lemon felt sorry for her cousin’s lack of male attention, then she gave herself a mental shake. How dared she judge Harper? Wasn’t making yourself pretty because it was what you wanted the very best reason of all?

  “I’d love to help you in any way I can, but you have to know I already think you’re very pretty.” Lemon meant every word. With Harper’s fair skin, auburn hair, and light grey eyes, she was an understated beauty. The kind of beauty that a man would have to take the time to notice.

  Unfortunately, very few men like that existed. Perhaps only Tristan would fit that description and since he was hers, she had no mind to test that theory out on him with her cousin.

  “Not a beauty queen like you,” Harper replied.

  “Harper Bell.”

  “Lemon Lawson.”

  Hearing her name spoken like that almost made her forget what she planned to say next, but she took another drink of her grandmother’s concoction. “Say thank you when you’re given a compliment. That’s your first pointer.”

  Twin dimples creased Harper’s cheeks. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You’re only a year younger than me,” Lemon pointed out.

  “A year and five months younger, but who’s counting?” Harper winked.

  “When you do decide to catch a man’s eyes, be sure to give him some of that sass.”