Page 27 of Sweet Temptation (Love & Legacy #1)

LUCKY

S eptember might have come in hot and humid, but by the beginning of October, the cool crisp air has kicked summer’s ass right out of there.

It’s also wreaking havoc on Lexie. She’s spent the majority of the past month on antibiotics without a whole lot of improvement.

But she hasn’t gotten worse, so I’m grateful for that.

What has gotten better is us.

We’re stronger now than we were before.

Now when my girl talks about a future, that includes me.

She still insists she’s being unfair, but I usually just shut her up with a kiss. It’s better than telling her she’s being stupid. I learned the hard way that pisses her off.

“Wish I wasn’t leaving, Lex.” I wrap my arms around her from behind as she swallows the last of her pills and grabs her inhaler from the bathroom counter. “I think today’s the first time I haven’t wanted to go to a game.”

She spins in my arms and kisses my cheek. “I’m fine, Lucky. This is normal. I have a follow-up this week.”

I push her hair away from her face and ignore Linc’s groan as he walks into my bedroom without knocking. “We’ve really got to start locking the door.”

Lexie laughs, and the sound goes straight to my dick. Her brother be damned. “Maybe you should try shutting the door.”

“Or maybe just keep your hands to yourself for five fucking minutes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for this whole thing, but maybe not tongue action before breakfast. I’m leaving in five, if you’re riding with me.”

“Bye, Linc. Have a good game.” Lexie grins and wraps her arms around my waist. “You too, thirty-three. Have a great game. I’ll be watching and waiting for you to get home.”

“What are you doing tonight?” I hang on to her for another minute, not ready to say goodbye. Not loving leaving her alone when she seems a little off this morning. “Have any good plans?”

The prettiest pink flush works its way up her cheeks, reminding me she’s okay. She’s not pale. She’s not having a hard time catching her breath or leaning on me because she’s tired. Both things she’s done over the past few weeks. She’s okay. “The girls are coming here for book club.”

“Is book club really code for Girls Gone Wild ?” I joke and drag my thumb over her cheek.

She shakes her head, and I pick her up and sit her on the counter, bringing her eye level with me. “If you say so, dolcezza . If you feel worse, you promise you’ll call your doctor?”

“I don’t take stupid chances with my health, Lucky. You should know that by now. I promise. Now go before you’re late.” Lexie presses her lips to mine, and I have to force myself to take a step back instead of taking her right back to bed. “Kick Seattle’s ass.”

“Yeah, baby. I will. Have fun tonight. I’ll call later.”

Fuck. I don’t want to leave, and when I climb into Linc’s Jeep, the dumbass is grinning like a fucking idiot. “You’re in love with my sister.”

He singsongs it like a fucking teenage girl, and I pull my sunglasses down and ignore his ass.

I’ve been in love with his sister. But he’s not going to get me to admit it before I tell her.

And even if Lexie’s trying, she’s still a flight risk.

I know it on a cellular level. It’s in the look in her eyes every time she coughs or takes her meds in front of me.

It’s in the sag of her shoulders if I walk in when she’s using her nebulizer.

Or the frustration in her voice when I ask her about her doctors.

Letting me into that area of her life scares her, and we both know it.

But no matter how hard she pushes, I’m not going anywhere.

I just need to get her to believe that.

“ W here you going, Beneventi?” Jamie asks from across the table at the hotel restaurant the team has closed down for us for the night. “You got a hot date?”

“You jealous, Murphy?” I joke as I push in my chair. “I mean, I guess when you’re old as shit and no one wants your wrinkly ass balls, it gets kinda lonely, right?”

“Watch it, you little shit. I’m not even thirty.” He grins, and I groan. Whatever he’s about to say, it’s not gonna be good. “At least I didn’t have to go for the one girl who couldn’t get away from me because she’s stuck living with me. But hey, if that’s what it takes, maybe I should try it.”

“When’s the last time you got laid by anyone other than yourself, Murph?” I throw money on the table for the tip and ignore whatever the hell he’s mumbling as I walk away, hoping to catch Lexie before she goes to bed.

When I get to my room, I pull out my phone and smile. Lex sent a picture of a plate of cookies. Not just any cookies either. Giant chocolate chip—my favorite.

Lexie

I may have saved a plate for you. It’s hidden away so Linc doesn’t find them when you get home tomorrow. Be nice to me, and I’ll tell you where to look.

Lucky

You still awake, baby?

Lexie

I never thought I’d like being called baby until the first time you said it.

I’m awake. Doing a neb treatment. Don’t call. Can’t talk.

Lucky

Did you have fun at book club?

Lexie

We did. Brea and Saylor drank too much, and Aurora brought brownies she convinced Dillan were laced with weed. They weren’t, but it was funny to see Dillan throw a fit. How was the flight?

Lucky

Good. Is the house locked and the alarm set?

Lexie

Yup. All set. Just doing this, then going to bed. Play hard tomorrow, Lucky. Kick ass.

I never thought I could want to be around someone so badly that I’d hate being away for a game.

For as much as I tried to ignore the pull this woman has had on me for years, I wasn’t expecting this.

I guess I wasn’t expecting her.

And now I can’t imagine my life without her.

It’s crazy how fast that happens.

Lucky

Hey, Lex. Any chance you’re wearing my jersey again tomorrow?

Lexie

Pretty good chance.

Lucky

Leave it on after and be in my bed when I get home tomorrow night, dolcezza.

Lexie

Elodie

Hey, babe. In town for the day. Any chance you can meet for lunch? I wanted to talk to you about something.

Lexie

Sure. I should be done by one. Want to meet at The Busy Bee?

Elodie

Works for me. I’ll see you then.

T hankfully, Amelia hasn’t needed me in the front of the bakery in weeks.

Once I started baking and taking on special orders, my work has been strictly behind the kitchen doors.

This means disgustingly early mornings most of the week, but it also means I’m done early too.

Which for today means I can meet Elodie for lunch before the game.

This girl... she’s been the closest thing I’ve had to a big sister for most of my life.

“Elodie—” We run at each other outside of the Bee and hug like it’s been... well, like it’s been over a year since we’ve seen each other. “Oh my God, look at you.”

She pulls back and runs her hands over the dark purple streaks in her blonde hair and smiles. “Do you like it? I was in the mood for something different.”

“I love it.” I grab her arm as we walk into the Bee and take a table in the back and out of the way. “I want to hear all about your album. Is it done? Do you love it? What was it like working with your uncle?”

“Hey, ladies,” the server hands us menus and pulls out her pad. “Can I get you all drinks while you look over the menus?”

Elodie and I smile at each other and hand her our menus. “Can I have a cheeseburger and fries with ranch on the side, a glass of water, and a large strawberry milkshake, please?” Elodie asks.

“Sure can. And what about you, hon?” she asks me.

“Chicken Caesar wrap, no cheese, with onion rings, and a glass of iced tea, please?”

“No problem, ladies. I’ll be back in a jiff with those drinks.” She takes the menus and shoves her pad in her apron as she goes, and I settle in, wanting to hear everything.

“So. What was it like?” I push her.

“It was rough. I thought after all these years, I knew what to expect, but when it’s your music, it’s all different. Uncle Jack was great to work with, but I had no idea he could be such a hard-ass. He was always the fun one.”

“I have a hard time picturing Jack Madden, lead singer of Six Day War, as a hard-ass. Whenever I’ve been around him, he’s been a big softie.

” They’re one of the biggest bands in the world and have been for two decades.

And Jack Madden is one of my mom’s closest friends.

Elodie’s mom and mine were roommates in college before her mom dropped out to manage Six Day War.

The rest of the world might see Jack Madden, the rock star, but to me, he’ll always just be Elodie’s uncle. The guy who brought me backstage at my first concert when I was ten.

“That’s because he is a softie about everything other than music. He says this industry is hard, and you have to be harder.” She bites down on her bottom lip and winces. “And I think he’s right. So I decided to do something crazy.”

The waitress reappears with our drinks and drops them on the table, but I don’t touch mine. I don’t move, while I wait for Elodie to tell me what she’s talking about. She’s probably the least dramatic person I’ve ever known, so my heart sinks as I wait to hear what she says.

“I decided to shop around for a label and not use Uncle Jack’s. If this industry is as cutthroat as they say, the last thing I want is for the world to think I got my deal because of who I am.”

My jaw drops. Literally hangs open. “Are you crazy? First, you’re amazing. You’ve been writing music as far back as I can remember. Why do you care what people think? Half my family plays football for my uncle’s team. Do you think they care what people said about them?”

“Lex, most places aren’t like this town.

And to be honest, yeah, I do think they cared.

How could they not? They might have acted like it didn’t bother them, but I bet it did.

I don’t want anyone to think my career was handed to me when I’ve been working my ass off for as long as I can remember, trying to get here. ”

“Okay, so what’s your next move then?” I ask, and my mouth waters as our food is placed in front of us. Elodie hands me the ketchup before I even ask, and I push the salt and pepper her way, years of friendship showing in every move.

“I want to get out of the city for a while. I want to write different music. I basically want to scrap everything I just did and start over fresh,” she tells me as she drags a fry through her ranch. “And I want to do it here, in Kroydon Hills.”

“Wow. That’s a big move for you.” Elodie has always been a city girl.

She and her mother have had a penthouse in Philadelphia for years.

And while she’s always driven into Kroydon Hills to see me and hang out with the girls, she’s never lived here.

This town is a little too slow-paced for someone who was homeschooled her whole life and traveled the world with Six Day War.

She’s always liked the excitement she liked to tease we’d never have here. “You don’t think you’d be bored?”

“I’m kinda hoping I am. I want to change things up. My music. My life. Myself. Reinvent myself, I think. I thought this could be a good start.” She steals an onion ring from my plate and tears it in half. “So, will you help me?”

“Of course I’ll help. I’m not sure how though,” I admit, a little thrown.

“I need a place to live.”

Oh. Well, that’s not what I was expecting. “I mean, Lochlan’s room is empty.”

“I mean will you come with me to meet with my realtor? She’s going to show me a few houses.” She hands me a fry and smiles. “Please?”

“That I can do. When?” I ask, a little relieved she doesn’t want to move in. I love her, but Elodie has never picked up after herself a single day in her life.

“Today. In an hour.” She winces. “Please don’t say no. I promise to have you home before the game starts.”

“Sure. Why not?” I tear off a bite of my wrap and drag it through the extra dressing lining the plate. “But I have to be home by four.”

“Promise. I think we’ve got four to look at today, and they’re not far. Now that that’s settled, your turn. I want to hear everything I’ve missed while I was in the studio. How are things going with your new living arrangements?”

I catch my lip between my teeth and look at my honorary big sister, thinking about everything that’s changed. How I’ve changed. How Lucky has helped me change. “I’ve got so much to catch you up on.”

Five hours later, we sit side by side on my couch, cheering on Lucky and the guys as I tell Elodie all about her new neighbors.