Page 15 of Sweet Temptation (Love & Legacy #1)

“Maybe.” I smile at my cousin because that’s what she wants to see. It’s fake and forced, but it’s a smile. What I don’t bother saying is, even if Lucky does surprise me, I wouldn’t surprise him. Any relationship with me comes with an expiration date, and I don’t want to do that to someone I love.

The only way to control that is to not fall in love.

I watch the game with the girls that night and scream when they win. Lucky and Linc and all the guys play amazingly. New York didn’t stand a chance. Lucky got two interceptions, and we all lost our minds both times.

It was incredible.

I pull my phone out and shoot off a text to the guys.

Lexie

OMG guys! That game was great. You both played your hearts out. Way to go!

Lucky

Thanks, Lex. Don’t wait up. We won’t be home till late.

Linc hearts my text but doesn’t respond, and I run my thumb over Lucky’s name before I drop my phone down on the counter, tired but inexplicably wired. Replaying Dillan’s words from earlier but not sure what to do with them. So I do what I always do when I know I can’t sleep.

I cook.

I make the prettiest plate and snap a picture to upload to my Instagram but decide at the last minute to send it somewhere else instead.

Lexie

There’s a plate in the fridge for you.

I attach the pic of the omelet covered in cheese and shut off my phone.

Maybe tonight will be the night I get some sleep.

Lucky

I open my phone when the plane touches down on the private airstrip just outside Kroydon Hills and see a handful of missed texts.

Rome

Hey I ran into Sara and Kara at West End tonight. They want to know when we’re all going out again. You up for some fun? I could keep them both at the bar, and you could meet us here when you land.

I ignore my brother and skip through a few congrats on the win from some people who only text when it’s about football. Then I see the one from Lexie, and my fucking heart grows like the damn Grinch. It’s a picture of an omelet covered in cheese.

This girl doesn’t eat cheese. She doesn’t touch dairy. She made this for me.

I flip back to Rome’s text and smile as I respond.

Lucky

I’m good, man. Have fun.

Rome

This weekend?

Lucky

Nah. They’re all yours.

Rome

You sure? Sara said she misses you.

I don’t even have to think about it.

Lucky

Yeah, man. That’s all you.

I’ve got other plans.

“Hey, man.” Linc finds me in the parking lot as we all rush to our cars, trying to get out of the rain, a goofy-ass grin on his face as he holds his duffle over his head. “I’m not coming home tonight.”

I don’t ask where he’s sleeping, and he doesn’t offer.

“Have fun. Don’t be late for training tomorrow or Coach will ride your ass,” I warn him. I get it. The high of winning your first game. I may not be a rookie but felt like one tonight. And that win felt different from any win last year.

He fist-bumps me, and I almost feel bad for being relieved he’s not coming home. I’ve got a girl I kinda hope isn’t sleeping to talk to and an omelet she made for me to eat.

T he house is quiet when I get home, and I try to ignore the disappointment I feel when I realize Lexie must actually be sleeping.

Not that I expected her to be waiting up. But I kinda like our midnight kitchen meetups, even if it feels like she’s been avoiding me since we got back from the beach. She lets her guard down in the middle of the night in a way she doesn’t typically during the day.

It’s like she forgets she wants to not like me for some fucked up reason, and for those few minutes, it’s just us.

I slip off my wet suit jacket and roll up my sleeves, cursing Coach for requiring us to wear suits to and from all away games. I open the fridge, excited to find a tinfoil-covered plate with a bright pink sticky note on top.

Warm me for one minute, and I’ll melt in your mouth.

XO,

Lexie

The ways I’ve imagined this woman melting in my mouth definitely do not involve eggs. But for tonight, they’ll have to do. And a minute later, I realize she’s right.

“Is it good?”

I look up from where I’m bent over the counter, inhaling the food she made me, and nearly choke when I see her standing in the doorway.

Her long blonde hair is sleep-mussed and wild around her beautiful face, and the old Kroydon Prep t-shirt that’s hanging off her shoulder is barely covering her ass.

It’s also not doing a damn thing to hide her nipples that are peaked and pressing against the cotton.

“It’s delicious, Lex. Thanks.” I inhale another bite. “You didn’t have to do this, but I really appreciate it. The food on the plane is always shit.”

She moves into the kitchen and climbs up on a stool across from me. “So... how did it feel? Winning your first game as a starter and doing it with two interceptions? Pretty impressive, Beneventi. You keep throwing stats like that and you’ll be going to the pro bowl this January.”

“Have I ever told you how hot it is that you know football, Lex?”

She smiles like I’m kidding.

“What does it for you? Interception or pro bowl?”

I break off a piece of the eggs with no cheese and hold it up to her, then watch as her pouty pink lips wrap around the tines of the fork as my dick presses against the zipper of my pants.

“I’m pretty damn good, aren’t I?”

“So pretty, Lex.” I stare at the woman across from me, expecting a smart remark or a look of shock, but Lexie Sinclair never does what I expect.

“Have you ever wanted something you knew you shouldn’t have, Lucky? Wanted it so bad, even though you knew it was a bad idea?”

Well, damn... I move around the island until I’m standing in front of her, hoping like hell she’s feeling this too. “Yeah, Lex. I have.”

A crack of thunder practically shakes the house as the lights above the sink and on the clock both go out, but neither of us move. The energy pulling at us is too strong to fight.

“We’re a really bad idea, Lucky,” she whispers as she reaches for my shirt, her hands fisting the fabric.

“That’s the thing, baby. I don’t think we are,” I growl as I move my hands around her, planting them on the island and caging her in. “I think you want to believe we’re a bad idea. But I think we make perfect sense.”

She licks her lips and pulls me closer. “We make perfect sense tonight . That’s all I can promise you.”

“Tonight?” I question, not following what she’s saying.

Lexie leans in, taking advantage of the height the stool gives her and pressing her forehead to mine.

“I want you, Lucky. But I can’t do the whole relationship thing.

I can’t give you that, if that’s what you’re looking for, though I’m not even sure it’s what you’re looking for. But I can give you tonight.”

With anyone else, that would be music to my ears.

With anyone else, one night would be perfect.

But not with this girl.

One night with Lexie will never be enough.

A better man wouldn’t take what she’s offering. He’d demand to know why. He’d tell her she deserves more. But I’m not a better man. I’m fucking starving, and she’s the only thing I want.

“One night,” I growl before I crush my mouth to hers.