Page 30 of Sweet Temptation (Love & Legacy #1)
LEXIE
She’s the phoenix forged in the flames.
Love her harder.
Hold her tighter.
Then watch her fly.
—Lexie’s Secret Thoughts
Lexie
Rome, are you still good to get Lucky to West End tonight?
Rome
I wasn’t in charge of that.
Ryker
That was me. But Linc said he’d do it.
Lexie
Linc was supposed to help me get the cake there.
Linc
Shit. I forgot.
Rome
I got you covered, sexy Lexie.
Caitlin
Uh-uh. Nope. Don’t call her that.
Rome
It’s a compliment.
Saylor
It’s not.
Dillan
This is why you’ve never had a girlfriend.
Rome
I thought that was because I was waiting for you.
Dillan
In your dreams, Beneventi.
Aurora
Is this foreplay?
Brea
If we have to explain to you what foreplay is, I think we have a bigger problem than getting a cake to the bar.
Jamie
I volunteer as tribute. I would be more than happy to offer my services as your test dummy.
Brea
Well, you got half of that right.
Lexie
So who is getting Lucky to the bar?
Ryker
Linc.
Rome
Linc.
Caitlin
I think Linc.
Linc
I guess I am.
Saylor
Then who is helping Lexie get the cake to the bar? I saw that thing today, and I think it weighs more than she does.
Lexie
Rome, I swear to God if you open your mouth, I will poison your next chocolate chip muffin. You’ll be so sick, you’ll live in the bathroom for a week.
Ryker
We need to work on your smack talk, Lex.
Lexie
What should I have said?
Brea
Tell him he’s going to be so sick, he’ll be shitting razor blades for a week.
Linc
What the fuck is wrong with you?
Brea
Fuck off, Lincoln.
Jamie
Oh, man. Trouble in paradise?
Brea
Nope.
Linc
Whatever she says. She doesn’t listen to anyone anyway.
Rome
Ouch. Okay. Skipping over this little domestic. Yeah, razor blades are worse.
Caitlin
I personally would have told him I’d cut off his balls.
Saylor
But you have the knife to back that up.
Aurora
She went to culinary school. Lexie has sharp knives too.
Elodie
Okay, I only know some of you, so hi, to the rest of you. Umm. I just picked up my phone and saw that I had seventy-two missed messages. I get that some of these are you insane people laughing at, thumbs-upping, hearting, and exclamation-pointing these texts, but holy shit, don’t you have jobs?
Rome
Okay. New girl sounds hot. Dibs.
Saylor
I told you dibs was a thing.
Dillan
You can’t dibs a person.
Elodie
You people are crazy. The band will be there tonight at eight p.m. Will Lucky be there by then?
Lexie
Hello... Linc. What time will you get Lucky to West End?
Linc
That’s tonight?
Lexie
I’m going to kill you.
Linc
I’m kidding. I’ll have him there at seven-thirty. I told him I needed to talk to him, and I didn’t want to do it at the house because I didn’t want you to overhear.
Brea
Great. He probably thinks it’s about me.
Linc
The world doesn’t revolve around you, princess.
Brea
I’m going to get Caitlin to cut off your balls, you dick.
Caitlin
I’ll bring my new knife.
Saylor
For the twenty-seventh time. Who. Is. Helping. Lexie. With. The. Cake?
Jamie
I will.
Ryker
I will.
Rome
Can I call you sexy Lexie?
Lexie
Jamie, can you meet me at Sweet Temptations at six?
Jamie
No problem.
Dillan
Jamie, can you hit Rome with a ball gag?
Jamie
What the fuck? Do I look like a dude who would have a ball gag?
Aurora
Yup.
Saylor
Kinda.
Lexie
Maybe.
Elodie
Okay, you just got more interesting. Do you have an Instagram account?
Rome
Hot girl isn’t hot anymore. Who the fuck is still on Instagram?
Lexie
Oh my God. This is like herding squirrels.
Caitlin
Maybe I’m going to think twice about you babysitting my kids again.
Lexie
Why?
Caitlin
You abuse animals.
Lexie
Says the woman whose three-year-old is so bougie she has a bubble bath routine that requires flashing lights, motorized ducks, pink-glitter bubbles, and a special Spotify playlist.
Rome
Dude, you turned your kids into Partysaurus Rex.
Caitlin
I did not.
Ryker
What’s a Partysaurus Rex?
Rome
Yeah, you did.
Saylor
Like from Toy Story?
Caitlin
My kid is not a toy dinosaur.
Rome
Yeah, she is.
Aurora
Which Toy Story?
Dillan
It was a short.
Brea
A what?
Elodie
Is this like a movie?
Ryker
You never saw Toy Story?
Elodie
I’m not really a movie girl.
Rome
Hot girl’s not hot anymore.
Elodie
You people are deranged.
Rome
Thank you.
Lexie
I have to go put the final touches on the cake. I’ll see you all tonight.
I drop my head down into my hands and close my eyes for a minute as bone-deep exhaustion weighs heavy on my chest. This week has been rough, but I just need to get through tonight, and then I’ll rest.
“Hey, Lex.” Amelia walks in and stops in front of the cake. “Oh, honey. This is a work of art.”
I lift my head, refusing to let her see how shitty I feel. “Thanks. Your son has a chocolate addiction that rivals anyone I’ve ever met.”
She walks around it, smiling. “Death by chocolate?”
“Yes. I thought what’s better than a five-tier, naked, death by chocolate cake with a thick layer of chocolate buttercream. I accented with brownie bites, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries and raspberries, and some fresh mint for a pop of pretty color.”
“It’s perfect, Lexie. He’s going to love it.” She stops in front of me and narrows her eyes. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m just tired. But I’m not back on the schedule until Sunday morning, so I’m planning on sleeping for the next three days,” I admit, wishing Lucky could stay in bed with me.
“Let me know if you need more time off. I can play with the schedule, if we need to. It isn’t the end of the world.”
“Thank you.” I push up from the metal stool and grab my purse. “I’m going to go home and crash for a few hours before I meet Jamie back here to get the cake to West End.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
I nod and head through the back door to the small parking lot behind the building and collapse into my car, reaching for the stainless-steel cup I keep in here full of water.
I suck the cool liquid down and jump when Dillan knocks on my window.
The water goes down the wrong pipe, and I try to clear my throat, but it turns into a cough.
One I can’t control. One that hurts my chest and my lungs and my ribs.
I clear my throat again and spit phlegm into my tissue before I finally roll down my window, hating that Dillan had to see that. It wasn’t the first time, and I doubt it will be the last. But that doesn’t make it any better.
“You okay, Lex?” she asks, worried. Her phone in her hand. Probably ready to call the ambulance. Or worse, my mom.
“I’m good. Just exhausted.” Not a lie. I’m going to have to set an alarm to make sure I wake up for the party I planned. “I’m going to go catch a nap before I have to meet Jamie back here. Thank you so much for helping me wrangle everyone for the party, Dillan. I appreciate it.”
“Sounds like a plan. Call me if you think of anything you need, okay?” She shifts her weight and waits, looking at me, worried. I recognize the look. I’ve seen it before.
“You’re the best, Dillan. Thanks. See you tonight.” I fake excitement and wait for her to step back before I pull away.
I just need a few hours sleep, and I’ll feel much better.
Lucky
I pat my pocket, confirming I didn’t somehow lose the three-carat, colorless, flawless, diamond and platinum engagement ring I just picked up after practice.
Charles did a great fucking job. It’s exactly what I wanted.
Well, what Caitlin told me I wanted. Let’s face it.
We all have our strengths. Diamonds aren’t mine.
Nothing wrong with calling in heavy hitters. Even if it was Rome’s idea.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I fucking grin when I see a message from Lochlan.
Lochlan
Happy Birthday, Lucky.
Lucky
Thanks, man. You got a break from blowing shit up today?
Lochlan
Don’t knock it till you try it. You have big plans for your birthday?
Linc
I’m taking him for drinks.
Lucky
Yeah. But that’s not my big plans.
Lochlan
What’re you up to?
Lucky
Asking your sister to marry me.
Linc
Holy shit. Seriously?
Lochlan
That’s awesome.
Lucky
Yeah, it is.
Lochlan
Don’t fuck it up, Beneventi.
Lucky
I’ll try.
Lochlan
See you guys in a few weeks.
Lucky
Be safe, brother.
Linc
Don’t get blown up.
I pocket my phone as I let myself inside and take the steps two at a time.
Lexie’s car is in the driveway, and we’ve felt like ships passing in the fucking night this week.
I want to see my girl. I walk into my bedroom, and my chest puffs up like a fucking peacock.
She doesn’t even bother to act like she wants to sleep in her own bed anymore.
That’s going to be a permanent thing as soon as I get her awake and alone.
Maybe I’ll stop and get flowers after drinks with Linc.
Maybe I’ll make her an omelet.
I guess I was so worried about the ring, I didn’t give enough thought to the actual proposal. Fuck. I stop next to the bed and brush the hair away from my gorgeous girl’s face.
“Lucky,” she croaks like a fucking frog. She sounds awful.
“Yeah, baby.” I lean down and brush my lips over her forehead. She doesn’t have a fever. And now I’m acting like my ancient Italian grandmother. Who needs thermometers when we have lips? “Sleep, Lex. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
She smiles in her sleep. “Love you, Lucky.”
“Wildly, Lex.”
“ S o you wanna tell me what was so important we needed to get drinks tonight without Lexie? You ready to talk about whatever the hell is going on with Brea?” I ask Linc as we walk up to the front doors of West End.
“I don’t know what your deal is with her, but seriously, you guys gotta either do something about it or move the fuck on. ”
“You think you’re the expert, now that you’re asking my sister to marry you?” the fucker pushes back, and I wonder for the millionth time today why the hell I’m getting drinks with Linc instead of spending the night in bed with Lexie.
“Nah, man. I’ve never done a fucking thing right with anyone besides your sister,” I admit as we push through the door?—
Just as the woman in question steps in front of me and yells, “Surprise!”
Everyone is yelling and moving in a blur, but I only see her.
Her gorgeous hair.
Her vibrant eyes.
Her pale skin.
It only takes me a minute to realize she doesn’t feel good, but it also sinks in all at once that she threw me a surprise party. Fuck, I love this woman.
I wrap my arms around her and lift her off her feet, pressing my lips against her ear. “You threw me a surprise party, Lex?”
“Even villains get to celebrate their birthdays, Lucky.”
“I fucking love you.” I set her back down and wrap an arm around her waist, anchoring her to me and taking some of her weight.
Her eyes fly to mine when she realizes what I’m doing, but she lets me, which tells me she really doesn’t feel good. And as people approach us and she starts coughing, I realize it might be worse than I thought. That cough sounds painful, but she does a good job of hiding it.
And after thirty minutes of greeting what I think might just be every person I’ve ever met and every teammate I’ve ever had, and holy fucking shit, listening to Six Day War sing me “Happy Birthday,” I pick my amazing girlfriend up and carry her into my brother’s office in the back of the bar, kicking the door shut behind us.
“Lucky... We can’t. Everyone is here for you,” she protests as I sit down on the couch with her on my lap. Her engagement ring burning a fiery hole in my pocket with how badly I want to put it on her finger. “You have to be out there.”
“It’s my birthday, dolcezza . I can cry or hide or fuck my gorgeous girlfriend if I want to,” I tease her. Not that I don’t want to fuck her senseless, but she looks like a stiff wind could knock her over, and I’m not that big of an asshole. “How bad do you feel?”
She likes things clinical and not sugarcoated. I usually hate it, but tonight, it works.
“Lucky . . .”
“Don’t, Lexie. You don’t sugarcoat, remember? How bad do you feel?” I take her face in my hands, just so I can hold her. Like a magnetic fucking force is drawing me to her. Like I need her to breathe.
“I feel like shit. But it’s nothing a little sleep won’t fix.” She presses her forehead to mine. “I promise to stay in bed all day tomorrow. And when you get home from practice, I’ll stay in bed with you. Naked.”
“Whatever you say, baby. I love you, Alexis Sinclair. I have a birthday wish, but I don’t want to make it in front of everyone,” I whisper against her skin.
“But you haven’t even seen the cake yet,” she protests. “There’s so much chocolate, Lucky.”
I run my thumbs over her cheeks. “Don’t you want to know what my wish is?”
“Will it come true if you tell me?” Her soft smile smooths out all my rough edges, and I can’t believe this is actually my life.
I take her hand in mine and press a kiss to her palm, then to her ring finger as I pull the black velvet box out of my pocket, so thankful that I was too paranoid to leave it home because I didn’t trust her not to find it when I thought she was going to be there without me.
Lexie gasps as she covers her mouth with her trembling hands.
“Alexis Sinclair... I’m not a man who’s good with words.
Actions are more my thing. But this is even harder because there are no words strong enough to describe how I feel about you.
Nothing I haven’t already said. But know this.
I promise to love you wildly every day for the rest of my life, Lex.
My life. My whole life. It’s yours. You are my heart.
You are my world. You are the air I breathe.
You talk about what-ifs, but I live in the right now.
And I’d marry you tonight if you’d let me. Marry me, Lexie.”
The breath I hold as she cries feels like a thousand pounds sitting on my chest until she moves her trembling hands away from her face and nods that beautiful head.
“You make me feel safe and loved in a way I never knew I could, Lucky. I can’t promise you a long lifetime, but I can promise you my lifetime. ”
Her trembling voice turns to tears as I slide the ring on her finger.
And her tears turn to coughing.
Coughing that won’t stop.
Coughing that doesn’t stop.
“Lex—baby, what do you need.” Fuck. “What do I do?”
She looks at me, scared for a single beat that feels like a lifetime before her eyes roll back into her head, and she’s dead weight in my arms.