Welcome to Temptation: A Romantic Comedy

by Hughes, Charlotte

  “Gee, Mic, I didn’t realize—” He paused and his look sobered. “I don’t do it on purpose. I’ll admit I sometimes lose my train of thought when I’m with you, and my mind sort of goes off in another direction. Sometimes my thoughts get a little X- rated. Maybe that’s what makes me smile.” He shrugged. “I just can’t think straight when you’re around. You make me edgy.”

  “I make you edgy?” she echoed in disbelief.

  He nodded. “Hell yeah, you make me edgy. Here I am trying to concentrate on getting this town put back together, and you’re flittin’ around in those tight shorts of yours and that blouse that shows your cute little belly button every time you raise your arms. How’m I suppose to get any work done, for Pete’s sake?”

  For a moment, she merely stared at him. It was nice to believe she tempted him just a little. And it was flattering to know she could make Gator Landry want her after all these years. It gave her a feeling of confidence that she hadn’t known in a long time. She raised her hand to Gator’s magnificent chest. “So I’m a distraction to you, huh?” she teased.

  “You might say that. And it’s annoying as hell sometimes. It’s sort of like having an itch you can’t reach.” He shot her a devilish grin and captured her hand with his. He squeezed it once and raised it to his face then kissed her palm. She thought lovemaking was overrated, did she? Well, he would show her just how important healthy sex was between a man and a woman. He would make love to her till her toes curled, until her hair stood on end. And when he was finished with her, she would know she’d been made love to by Gator Landry.

  Their lovemaking was slow and leisurely, and when Gator pulled Michelle on top of him, he filled her completely, loving the way she fit around him so intimately. He moved against her slowly, torturing her—every time she came close to climax, he went completely still. Finally, she cried out, pleading with him not to stop. He gave her what she wanted, thrusting into her with a vengeance that surprised even him. She would not forget him soon, he promised her silently. By the time his groan of pleasure drifted upward, she was totally spent from several releases.

  Afterward, he kissed her deeply, unable to tear his lips away from hers. He thought it odd because he’d never been much for kissing, other than the few obligatory kisses before and after sex. But he wanted to kiss Michelle, he realized. In fact, he enjoyed it immensely.

  They fell into an exhausted sleep in each other’s arms.

  Chapter Seven

  When Gator opened his eyes the following morning, he found Michelle watching him from her pillow. He smiled and stretched, then reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “G’morning, Beautiful. How’d you sleep?”

  “We have to talk.”

  Gator blinked at the seriousness of her voice. “Is something wrong?”

  “Something is very wrong,” she said. “We didn’t practice safe sex last night.”

  He blinked again. “You mean you might be pregnant?”

  She rolled her eyes and rose up. “Of course not, but we didn’t do anything to prevent… well … you know.”

  He shook his head, looking suddenly amused. “No, I don’t know. You tell me.”

  “We could have passed something on; a disease. Neither of us was protected.”

  The smile faded as he sat up. “Oh, I get it. You’re afraid I gave you something, right?” He was surprised how much the idea stung. He swung his legs off the bed and stood, planting a hand on one outthrust hip as though totally unaware of his nakedness. Michelle thought he had never looked more magnificent, with the early-morning light bathing his skin. “I’ll bet you didn’t stop and ask your good doctor if he was free from cooties before you let him make love with you.”

  “You’re wrong about that.”

  He ignored her comment. Damn, but she knew how to get the morning off to a crappy start. He felt as if she’d just poured ice water over his head. “But I’m not a hotshot doctor, so I’m not good enough for you, right? I’m okay for cleaning up your grandmother’s property and running you all over town in my truck, but I’m not safe to go to bed with. Is that the way it is, Mic?” For the first time Gator realized he was shouting, and he lowered his voice. “You don’t have anything to worry about, princess. I’m clean.” He grabbed his robe and slammed out of the room, literally shaking the house.

  Michelle followed, her chest filling with anger. She threw open the bedroom door and ran to the top of the stairs. “Gator Landry, don’t you just walk out on me and slam the door in my face. Who do you think you are?”

  Gator paused near the middle of the stairs. He turned around slowly and made his way back up, his head hitched high, his black eyes cool. “Who do you think you are?”

  “I’m a grown woman,” she said, “who usually gives more thought to simply falling into bed with a man. But last night—” She paused. “I don’t know what got into me. I wasn’t thinking.” He didn’t understand. She could see that he was offended. “I’ve traveled all over the state with other nurses speaking to young men and women about using caution where sex is concerned. I keep a supply of condoms in my purse at all times.”

  He looked surprised. “You keep rubbers in your purse?”

  “I certainly do. It’s a habit I suggest other women pick up as well.”

  He cocked his head to the side and regarded her. “How long does it take you to go through a box of, say, a dozen?” he asked. He wasn’t sure he felt comfortable with the thought that she was always prepared for sex.

  “That’s not important.”

  He arched one brow. “It is to me.”

  “The point is I’m always protected. I can’t afford to take risks, and neither can you.”

  Some of his anger abated when he realized she wasn’t attacking him personally. Not that he blamed her, of course. His reputation wasn’t the best. And in this day and age, she had every right to be cautious. He shouldn’t have blown his stack so quickly and taken offense. Gator climbed the stairs slowly and paused one step below her. She had thrown on her robe carelessly, without tying it. He let his eyes take in the vertical slit of skin that peeked through.

  “I always protect myself, Mic,” he finally said. “I just didn’t feel I had to with you.” His eyes locked with hers. “You’re safe with me, honey, I swear, but if you want me to get tested for STDs, I’ll do it immediately. Today.”

  For some reason, she believed him. Gator Landry might have his faults, but she could not imagine him taking chances with her health or life. “I’m sorry I had to bring it up.”

  He fingered the tie on her robe. “You were right to,” he said. “I shouldn’t have gotten so riled up over it.” He paused and smiled. “You think maybe I could borrow from your stash?” he asked, his eyes full of mischief. “I seem to be short at the moment. Unless, of course, you’ve used them all.”

  She slapped him playfully. “It’s a brand-new box, silly. I haven’t even used the first one.”

  “Mind if I ask how long you’ve had that box?”

  She regarded him. “Why?”

  “‘Cause I’m a selfish bastard with double standards, that’s why.”

  She smiled softly. There was something to be said for honesty. “I’ve had it for almost six months now.”

  He was pleased with her answer, and it showed. “I didn’t have any right to ask.”

  “I know.”

  “Why’d you tell me?”

  She shrugged. “Because I have nothing to hide. But I would have expected you to accept an alternative answer as well.”

  He nodded. “I’d like to think I would have accepted it, Mic, but I can’t swear to it. I’m jealous and selfish, and I know it. I prefer to think you’ve been sitting around all these years waiting for me.”

  “I’d like to think the same of you, Gator, but I know that’s not likely.’’

  He reached for her, slipping his big hands inside her robe, where she was still warm from sleep. Her long hair was tousled about her head. “I want to make love to
you again, Michelle Thurston,” he said simply.

  She smiled softly. “And I want you to make love to me, Matthieu Landry.”

  He gazed at her for a moment, liking the way she said his name. It sounded low and sexy on Michelle’s lips. They could not get up the stairs quickly enough.

  #

  Reba Kenner and Fiona Landry sat on the cozy, fern-filled front porch and sipped their coffee while Mae West warmed herself in a pool of early morning sun. Reba drained her coffee cup and set it on the little wicker table nearby.

  “You reckon we should send someone after them?”

  Fiona shrugged. “No need to rush.”

  “What if they kill each other? They fight like cats and dogs sometimes.”

  Fiona laughed. “Michelle’s a nurse, isn’t she? If either of them gets hurt, she should be able to take care of it.”

  “What do you think they’re doing?”

  “Who knows? A man and woman all alone out there in the bayou …” She paused, and her face took on a dreamy-eyed expression. “So romantic.”

  Reba crossed her arms. “It won’t be romantic if they find out we paid someone five dollars to add a little water to that gas tank.”

  Fiona waved the statement aside. “They won’t find out. Besides, we did them a favor. Those two have been crazy about each other for years, but they’re too blasted stubborn to do anything about it. We just gave them a gentle nudge. They’ll thank us in the end. And one day we’ll all look back on it and laugh.”

  “Does that mean one day you’ll tell ‘em what we did?”

  “No. This secret is going with me to the grave. “

  “So what time should we send someone after them?”

  “Let’s not rush things.”

  #

  Gator removed the sizzling meat from the frying pan and placed it on the plate Michelle held in her hand. “Breakfast is served, ma’am,” he announced with a flourish. He then moved the frying pain from his camp fire and put on a pan of water to boil so they could have instant coffee.

  Michelle gazed at the fried Spam dully. Oh, what she’d give for a stack of buttermilk pancakes dripping with butter and syrup, and a tall glass of cold milk, she thought. “I’ll carry this inside,” she said, trying to muster a little enthusiasm over their meager breakfast. “I found half a loaf of bread in the pantry that’s still good.”

  Gator followed her into the house and to the kitchen, where Michelle had laid out plates and silverware on the small table. He waited for her to sit down, then took the chair across from her. She forked the meat onto their plates and handed him the package of bread. He took it, but his gaze was trained on her. She’d combed her hair, and it lay against her shoulders like a silken curtain. He still remembered how it had felt between his fingers as he’d rinsed the shampoo from it the night before, how it had felt against his shoulder. After the lovemaking they’d shared, it was impossible for him to look at her without wanting her.

  Michelle glanced up from her plate and caught him staring. She smiled. “What are you thinking?”

  He shrugged. “I’m thinking how much I’d like to take you to a nice steak restaurant.”

  “Steak?” She said the word reverently. “Do you think we’ll ever eat fresh meat and vegetables again?”

  He grinned. “I’m counting on it.”

  She sighed wistfully. “Do you think life will ever return to normal after this?”

  He met her gaze. “Not for me.”

  She knew he spoke the truth. They could repair the power lines and get the town back on its feet after the storm, but life would never be the same. In the past few days, especially in the last twelve hours, her life had changed dramatically. No, things would never be the same after Gator Landry.

  Michelle took a bite of her sandwich and chewed, but she was uncomfortably aware that Gator was watching her. “What are you going to do when this is over?” she asked. “When things are as normal as they’re going to get.”

  Gator pondered her question. “Well, first I’m going to clean up this one area in town where we have a lot of trouble. I’d already started doing it, but the storm sort of put matters on hold. There’s a couple of kids who are real troublemakers and—” He stopped. “‘Course there’s not much for a kid to do in this town. You know? We only have one theater, and it plays the same movie for weeks at a time. This place is really hard up for entertainment. It’s no surprise the kids get into trouble.”

  “Don’t you have a YMCA?”

  “Yeah, but there’s not much to it. We don’t have the funds.”

  “You should ask for volunteers. And more money so you can start a youth program,” she added. “If the crime rate here among kids has picked up, then you have every right to go to City Hall and ask for help with the problem. The program I’m involved with is strictly on a volunteer basis. We travel throughout the state and speak on issues concerning young people. Not just diseases, mind you. We talk about alcohol and drugs, bullying, and the importance of a good education. And it’s all done on a voluntary basis. I could check on the possibility of having your parish included in our tour.”

  “That’s all fine and dandy, Mic, but I don’t want the responsibility.” At her look of surprise, he went on. “Not that I don’t want the best for this town,” he said, “but I don’t want to be the one to do it. I have other plans for my life.”

  She nodded. “I know. Have you got someone in mind to take over?”

  “There are a couple of good deputies who might be interested. I didn’t really have a chance to discuss it with them before the storm hit and everything went to hell around here. Before that, I was mainly concerned about finding out who’d robbed my mother. You see, I had planned to use my badge to get back at him. Throw him in jail for ninety days with only bread and water, that sort of thing.”

  “I don’t think you can legally do that.”

  “Yeah, I know. And it’s not a reason to take a job you don’t want in the first place. I was more interested in revenge at the time, I suppose. But my mother is all I have left in this world.”

  “How come you never married and had children?” She knew she was being nosy, but couldn’t help it. She wanted to know more about the man, had to know more. She should have known that sleeping with him would bring out this curious, involved and caring side of her.

  “I never had anything to offer a woman. And when I worked the sugar cane fields … well, there wasn’t room in my life for anything else.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  He shrugged. “I was just traveling through when I came upon this place, all run-down. The old man who owned it laughed in my face when I asked for a job. He said he hadn’t had a decent crop in years. We were both in bad shape. He couldn’t keep good help, and I couldn’t find a job ‘cause of my bad record with juvenile justice. So I offered to help him out in exchange for room and board. It took a long time to get the place on its feet again. I would have left long before, had I not gotten attached to the old guy. He became a father figure to me. The place started making money, lots of it. He made me a full partner.”

  “Do you ever hear from him?”

  “He passed away while I was still there. Left everything to me, including his house. I didn’t feel like staying after he died so I sold everything and hit the road.”

  “Are you rich?”

  Gator grinned. “I’m set up nicely.”

  “So when do you plan to marry and start a family?” she asked.

  “I haven’t thought much about it,” he said. “You?”

  “I was almost engaged, but it didn’t work out.”

  “To Jeffrey?”

  “How did you guess?”

  “What happened?”

  She shrugged. “He had the ring and everything, but I told him I needed more time, even though we had been dating exclusively for almost a year.”

  “Is that why he cheated?”

  “That was the excuse he used, but who knows, he could have been see
ing other women all along. Behind my back,” she added.

  Gator frowned. “And you’re still friends with this Yahoo?”

  “I forgave him.”

  “So what happens after the baby comes and he wants out of his so-called unhappy marriage?”

  “That’s none of my business.” Michelle decided a change of subject was in order. “You’ve heard my story. What’s yours?”

  “I’ve never been engaged. I’ve never even dated steadily.” He shrugged. “To be honest, I don’t like the idea of changing and rearranging my life to meet someone else’s needs. See, I told you I was selfish. I’ve always done exactly what I wanted. A wife and family would complicate matters.”

  “You’re right,” she said. “That’s what happens when you allow another person into your world.” Michelle picked up her saucer and carried it to the sink.

  Gator’s chair scraped the floor as he shoved away from the table. Picking up his own cup and saucer, he crossed the room, closing the distance between them. He stood behind Michelle for a moment, his body only inches from hers. She felt him there, he knew. He could tell by the way she held herself so still. He took another step and reached around her to set the dishes in the sink. She jumped when the plate made contact with the porcelain.

  Michelle could feel the heat of his body, feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She closed her eyes when he pressed himself against her. “What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly. She could hear the laughter in his voice when he spoke, could feel his need pressing into her hips.

  “I’m trying to seduce you. How am I doing?”

  She could not help but smile. “I think you’re turning yourself on at my expense.”

  “Turn around, Mic,” he said softly. When she didn’t budge, he rolled his eyes heavenward. “Please,” he added.

  Michelle faced him, and then wished she hadn’t. He was so close, so uncomfortably close, she could see the stubble on his unshaven face. She tried to take a step back, but her hips met the cabinet. Gator placed his hands on the countertop on each side of her, leaning forward slightly, his breath fanning her cheek.