Page 85 of Provocation (Temptation 3)

Julia

The second the front door opened, I jumped up from the couch and bolted toward the foyer, eyes on fire. I’d never been so angry at Imogene in my life.

She’d lied to me. Rode her bike five miles through the busy Atlanta streets. Intruded on Lachlan.

I could only imagine what he must have thought when Imogene showed up on his doorstep without my knowledge.

Then again, he did offer to feed her dinner since he thought I could use a break.

And I could. I just didn’t know from what.

As Imogene’s eyes met mine, I opened my mouth, about to chastise her behavior and ground her until she turned eighteen. But when Lachlan stepped up behind her, a plastic storage container in his hands, I snapped my jaw shut. I knew he was driving her home. He’d said as much when he’d called to inform me she was at his house.

I just hadn’t anticipated he’d walk her into the house.

Didn’t think he’d want to see me after everything.

But as I studied his face, there wasn’t so much as a hint of the anger that consumed him earlier. Instead, his eyes were awash with remorse.

“Don’t be mad at him,” Imogene said before I could utter a word. “You can’t be mad. Not right now. Not about this. See.” She yanked the container from his hand and tilted it toward me. “He made you cupcakes. Remember what you always say…”

I pushed out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “It’s impossible to be angry when holding a cupcake.”

“Exactly.”

She proceeded into the house, setting it onto the kitchen island, while we remained in the foyer, neither of us saying anything. I wasn’t sure what to say, my mind still processing not only everything I’d admitted at the prison earlier today, but also what Naomi told me this afternoon.

When Imogene returned, she grabbed my hand and placed a cupcake in it, then did the same to Lachlan.

“Now you’re both holding cupcakes. So you can’t be angry.” She pointed at me. “You can’t be angry at him for what he said.” She spun, shoving her finger into Lachlan’s chest. “And you can’t be mad at her for what she said.”

I floated my gaze down to the treat in my hand, the familiar scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar invading my senses. A smile tugged on my lips from the memories this tasty treat conjured. At one time, it would only evoke memories of spending time in Meemaw’s kitchen.

Now all I could think of as I stared at the cupcake version of my hummingbird cake was Lachlan and our first night together in Hawaii.

“You made me hummingbird cupcakes?”

He gave me a sheepish smile. “I did.”

Imogene cleared her throat dramatically.

“Imogene helped,” Lachlan said with a proud gleam. “She’s really quite remarkable.”

I looked her way, eyes filling with affection. “She truly is.”

“Okay.” Imogene glanced between the two of us. “Now that you both have cupcakes, you can talk about all this nonsense like two civilized, un-angry human beings. Right?”

We both nodded simultaneously.

“Right,” I agreed.

“Of course,” Lachlan said, his gaze not straying from mine, a thousand apologies written within.

“Good. I’m going to hold you both to that.” She pinned us with a stare. Then she spun on her heels, darting up the stairs.

“You’re not off the hook, young lady!” I called after her.

“Yes, I am!” she sang back.