Page 45 of Tempted

“Thank you.”

I lift her face toward me and kiss herforehead. “Ron will take you home later. I’ll pick you up at yourplace.”

“’Kay.”

She buries her face in my chest, inhalesdeeply, then moans and releases her breath slowly.

“Me encanta tu aroma.”

I don’t need to speak Spanish to understandwhat she said. She’s always smelling me. She smiles and sauntersoff back into the diner.

Two weeks. Let the countdown begin.

CHAPTER 10

***Raven***

Ed Sheeran’s voice sounds from my phone justas I’m going through the door. A text from Lonnie…huh.That’snew.

L: Forgot to give Mr. Glenn the rent checkand it’s due today. Could you just run it next door? It’s on thekitchen table.

Sure, I have nothing better to do. She’slucky he just lives next door. I grab the envelope on the table andsend a quick reply.

R: Ok.

As I approach the Bimmer, the passenger dooropens and I stick my head inside.Baby Jesus in the manger. Iswear this man gets sexier every time I see him.I realize I’mstaring when he smirks and motions for me to get in.

“Uh…gotta run next door for a sec and see thelandlord.”

“Okay.”

I close the door and he drives alongside me,stopping in front of Mr. Glenn’s house. I have to knock three timesbefore he answers.

“Yes?”

Ugh…the man reeks of beer and B.O. His tanktop is struggling to cover his belly, and his boxer shorts looklike they’re about to rip at any minute. He looks me up and down ashe scratches the bald area at the top of his head.

“Hi. Lonnie asked me to drop this off.”

He takes the envelope and gives me a creepysmile. A chill runs through my body and everything in me isscreaming “RUN”.

“You’re the sister. I’ve seen youaround.”

“Yes.”

“Come on in. Let me get you the receipt.”

“I’ll just wait here, thanks.”

He smiles at me like I said exactly what hewanted to hear. Weird. He’s weird and he seriously creeps meout.

“Nonsense. Come in.” He waves me inside.

I look back at the car, knowing Gage is rightthere if I need him. I step inside carefully and push the door butdon’t close it.

“Come on. It’s right in here.”

Why won’t he just go get it? I don’t need tofollow him. Shit. He disappears and when he returns, he’s holding apiece of paper and the creepy smile has multiplied by a hundred. Iswallow hard.