Page 8 of Sweet Temptation (Love & Legacy #1)

LEXIE

And here we freaking go again . . .

I mean good morning.

—Lexie’s Secret Thoughts

“ S weetheart... Come here.” I walk into Mom’s arms and let her squeeze me for an extra minute as the guilt sets in. This is the first time I’ve stopped in Le Désir since I got home.

“Hey, Mom.” I step back as she drops her arms and look around at all the beautiful lingerie. “The shop looks great.”

“You didn’t come here to talk about the shop, Lexie.” She moves around me, grabbing a few pieces off the racks. “Is everything okay?”

My eyes scan the racks and shelves until I find what I’m looking for, and nod. “Yup. Just thought I could use a new bathing suit or two before summer ends.”

“Are you going to the beach with your brothers this weekend?” She pulls out a gorgeous silk nightgown, pink with tiny white flowers embroidered on it, and adds it to her growing pile.

“Yup. Have you talked to Lochlan?” I cross the shop and stop in front of the beautiful bathing suits. Mom and Chloe have the most incredible eye for pieces that make a woman feel beautiful, and I’ve rarely worn any other label for my lingerie or swimwear. Why would I when the best is my mom’s?

She disappears into a fitting room with her pile, then reappears empty-handed as I thumb through the rack. “He called yesterday. You’re all coming home for dinner Sunday night. No excuses. He’s leaving on Monday for three months. I want you all together while I can get it.”

“Oh.” He hadn’t mentioned that last part. I probably should have assumed, but I’ve learned not to assume where Lochlan is concerned. It just worries me. “Sunday works.”

“Good. Now...” She pushes a few pieces aside and pulls out a white bikini with a pretty cherry print on it. “This will look incredible on you.” She shoves it against my chest and motions for the dressing room. “Go try that on. And while you’re at it, try the other things I left in there too.”

“Mom,” I warn, but she shakes her head and pushes me toward the back of the shop. “Fine. But seriously, I don’t need all of that.”

“My baby girl is home, and I’m going to spoil her rotten. Besides... You could consider it a bribe if you really wanted to.”

I peek my head out from behind the velvet curtain. “What?”

Mom’s smile is sinister. “Let’s just say Chloe and I were talking, and I don’t think your fathers are going to be thrilled with our idea.”

Dad and Brea’s father, Dean, have always said Mom and Chloe were trouble together, and our moms have laughed it off for years.

But here’s the thing... they’re not wrong.

When we used to vacation together, Mom and Chloe got into more trouble than all the kids combined.

And that’s saying something because Brea’s brothers were always trouble.

“Am I going to hate it?” I ask as I slip out of my clothes and into the first bra.

Damn... She’s good. It fits like a glove.

A soft pink French silk demi-cup with an intricate white lace overlay that ties between my breasts and pushes them up, making it look like I’ve got way more than I actually do. This is the kind of confection that’s meant to be untied by a man.

“Mother...” I blurt out as I pop my head back through the curtain. “Exactly who do you think is going to see this bra on me?”

“I volunteer as tribute,” Ridley Beneventi, one of Brea’s older brothers, answers, and I want to crawl in a hole and hide. Thank God I only stuck my head out.

“Hi, Ridley.”

“Hey, Lex.”

Why do all the Beneventis have to be so hot?

Mom’s laugh echoes through the shop as I make my way through the rest of the stash she left me.

Each one prettier than the next. And when she eventually opens the curtain, the evil glint in her eye tells me she knew exactly what she was doing.

“Please tell me you’re not trying to set me up with Brea’s brother. ”

She crosses her heart with a wink. “Just take the lingerie, Lexie. You can thank me later.” She holds up a black bag with pale-pink strings and paler pink tissue paper and opens it, waiting for me to fill it with the silks, satins, and two bikinis, which I do appreciatively. “Love you, honey. I’ll see you Sunday.”

“And are you going to tell me what you’re scheming then?”

She shrugs. “Have fun this weekend.”

I kiss her cheek. “Are you going to the game tonight?”

“No. Your brother and the boys aren’t even playing. Declan never plays his starters this close to the season. We’ll be there in two weeks for the first game. I hope you’re planning on being there too.”

“I wouldn’t miss Linc’s first game,” I promise and make a mental note to get a new Sinclair jersey with Linc’s number on the back. “Love you.”

“With my whole heart, sweetheart.”

She takes an extra second before she lets go, and I let her.

This is what Mom does. But she’s Mom, and she’s amazing, so I let her.

And she basically just gave me lingerie to do filthy things in.

So there’s that... Now I just have to find a man worthy of it.

.. One willing to accept what I’m willing to give.

A thick humidity clings to the air as the clouds overhead threaten to open at any moment and drench us all.

I love this weather. There’s something about a storm.

I love the sound of the rain. The electricity in the air.

Some people hate them. I find them relaxing.

And my favorite weatherperson was just saying the next few weeks look like they’re shaping up to be the wettest September we’ve had in years.

Linc and Lucky step outside as I shut the door of the brand-new, baby-blue Mini Cooper Dad had dropped off at the house two days after I moved in. “Hey. You guys headed to the stadium?”

“Yup. You skipping the game?” Linc asks as Lucky throws his bag in the back of his G-Wagon and watches from a distance. He’s avoided me since the other night, and I’ve let him. I might have done the same thing, given the chance, but he hasn’t given me that. Very mature. I’m so proud.

“Yeah. If none of you guys are playing, I’m not going.” I grab my Le Désir bag, and Linc shakes his head. “I saw Mom. She said dinner Sunday night.” Thunder rumbles in the distance. These guys are going to get soaked on the sidelines tonight.

At least it’ll be warm.

“I think we’re going to West End after the game. You coming?” Linc turns to toss his bag in Lucky’s car. “Come on, Lex. It’ll be fun.”

My eyes track Lucky as he gets in the car, and anger gets the best of me. What the hell does he have to be annoyed about? He’s the ass who licked my damn finger.

Screw that.

“Yeah. I’ll stop by. I’ll check with the girls to see if they want to come too.”

Linc’s lopsided smile cracks me up.

I might as well expect to see Brea walking downstairs in his clothes tomorrow.

“Good. Now get inside before you get drenched and get sick,” he orders, and my hackles raise.

“Yes, dad.” I salute him, and he shakes his head.

“Whatever. You know I’m right. See you tonight.”

“Have fun,” I call out as I walk away.

“It’s football, Lex. The greatest game in the world. It’s always fun.”

It’s my turn to shake my head.

My family loves football. We eat, breathe, and sleep it.

My grandfather played and eventually coached. My Uncle Declan is a hall of fame quarterback and now the Kings coach. Two other uncles are former pro players, and one coaches with Declan now. And I have one cousin and one brother playing now. Football is life.

We have a few cousins who play pro hockey too.

We like to tease that football is the superior sport.

But is it really teasing if we all know it’s the truth?

Lexie

Anyone up for West End tonight after the game?

Brea

Works for me.

Saylor

Me too.

Aurora

I’m teaching sunrise yoga tomorrow at five a.m.

Brea

I thought Lexie was the old lady.

Lexie

Hey!

Saylor

Is she wrong?

Lexie

Whatever. Why is Dillan’s phone on do not disturb?

Aurora

No clue. Where’s Elodie?

Brea

I saw her this morning. She’s going into the studio to work with her uncle on her album. She’ll be at his house for the month.

Saylor

I can’t believe she’s finally doing it.

Lexie

I can’t believe her mom is letting her.

Brea

I can’t believe her uncle is still super hot.

Saylor

That man aged like a fine wine.

Aurora

Yeah, he did.

Lexie

Okay. We got it. You guys are hot for Elodie’s uncle. Who’s driving tonight?

Aurora

You.

Saylor

You.

Brea

You.

Lexie

I hate you all!

Lucky

I ’m two beers deep, sitting on a bar stool with a jersey chaser standing between my legs, playing with the collar of my shirt, when the hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and I look over to the door of West End, where the bouncer is letting only a handful of people in.

My oldest brother bought this place close to ten years ago, and it’s the hottest spot in Kroydon Hills.

We love to come here after games because he locks this place down.

So when Lexie walks through the door, I’m not surprised to see her.

But when she comes in wearing a tiny sundress that looks like it could be a fucking nightgown, I am fucking surprised.

The flowy little thing barely covers her ass, and she has a fantastic ass.

It clings to her chest with skinny straps holding it up.

What does this girl have against a bra?

And since when do I want a girl to wear a bra?

My cousins are all with her as they make their way to the bar. Linc immediately pushes away from the girl he was talking to and brings his sister and the girls into our circle. “Ladies.”

Lexie rolls her eyes when he wraps an arm around Brea.

These two need to decide what they’re playing at because it’s been like this for years. They’re together. Then they’re not. Then they’re fighting. Then they’re fucking. I’m exhausted watching it.

The hot redhead between my legs takes my face in her hand and turns it back to her. “Am I losing your attention, number thirty-three?”

Is she?

Guess that’s not really a question when Lexie just walked in the place, but I’m not about to admit that. I can’t act on it, so I sure as hell need to get better about controlling it. “Nah. I’m here, aren’t I?”

Lexie’s eyes lock with mine for a hot second before she leans over the bar and asks the bartender for a beer. This girl rarely drinks. It fucks with her system. She smiles at the dude behind the bar when he hands her a bottle and passes out shots to all the girls.

I look at Linc, waiting for him to say something, but he’s too busy talking to Brea to notice. Son of a bitch. I’m going to regret this. “You sure that’s a good idea, little Sinclair?”

She lifts the shot glass, and her eyes lock on mine over the rim before she turns back to the girls. “Cheers, ladies.”

There’s a round of laughter as shots are thrown back, and they head to the dance floor, with Linc in tow. I look over at Jamie and Ryker, but the two of them are talking to women, not paying any attention to anything else.

Motherfucker.

It’s going to be a long night.

“You know, it’s not nice to look at another girl when you already have one between your legs, thirty-three.

” I shouldn’t care that she’s calling me by my number, not my name.

This woman doesn’t give a shit who I am.

She cares that I’m a baller with a big dick she’s already felt through my pants. Normally, that would be enough.

Tonight, it’s not.

“Sorry, darlin’. Guess I’m a little preoccupied,” I admit as the song changes, and Lexie shakes her ass to Kid Rock.

“How about you let me help you with that...” When I don’t answer her, she tugs my hand, trying but failing to pull me to my feet.

I’m nearly six foot four, two hundred and twenty-five pounds of pure muscle.

She’s not moving me unless I let her, and I don’t let her.

“Nah...” I drop her hand and swivel away on the stool. Probably a dick move, but all things considered, I don’t really care. I never said I was a nice guy. “Not tonight.”

With her hand on her cocked hip, she smiles a sultry smile. “Your loss, thirty-three. I’ve got moves you’ve never seen.”

Pretty fucking sure at least ten guys on the team have seen those moves.

I’m not missing much.

And as I stand and turn back to the dance floor, I see fucking red.

Lexie’s still shaking her ass, and there’s a guy behind her with a death wish because his hands are on her hips. Linc better kill him before I have to.

I walk over to where Ryker and Jamie stand, the women from a few moments ago gone and a few teammates in their place, still watching the scene play out in front of me.

Jamie looks from me to the dance floor and fucking laughs. “Careful, Beneventi. Your give-a-fuck’s showing.”

Lexie spins in the asshole’s arms, a beautiful smile stretched across her face.

Son of a bitch.

I’ve got to get this girl out of my head.