Page 17 of Tempting Me (The Asher Family #3)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHAY

The Marina is my focus.

The Marina is my focus.

The Marina is my focus.

This is the phrase I’ve repeated all day long. And it was a lot, too, because today was slow and I hated every minute of it. It only reminded me that this is all the more reason why whatever happened with Luca last night can’t happen again.

Even if every single part of my body is crying for it.

Shit.

I’ve never felt like this over someone.

No one has ever kissed me like that before.

It’s all so … so … perfect.

“Shay, hey,” a voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I spot Ruby Asher walking toward me, holding her son, Max’s, hand. They are both in swimwear and look ready for a day in the sun.

“Ruby!” I beam and then move to the other side of the counter to hug her. I ruffle Max’s hair, and he swats me away .

I chuckle when he smiles up at me.

“I didn’t know you were back in town,” I say.

“We actually moved back yesterday. Only my dad knows right now.”

“Oh” is all I say. I start to say more, but her eyes flash to her son—a hint not to ask more questions. She’d been visiting a lot this summer, but moving back after all these years is huge.

Fun fact about me and Ruby…while I was away at college, Ruby and Max’s father were living in the same town as me because she attended the same college.

We saw each other weekly, but never told anyone because of our family situation.

It was nice to hang out where we didn’t have to worry about the town gossip.

That said, I'm still beyond thrilled that she’s back. I did miss her.

“Well, it sounds like you two could use a moving break to have some fun today.”

“That’s the plan.” Ruby grins. “Any chance you have a paddleboard for rent today?”

“I do!”

She’s being modest. This place is like a ghost town today.

I quickly ring her up. Then I signal to Carl to take over for me as I walk her outside.

Max runs ahead of us.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

She nods. “Colter and I just finally agreed we are better off as friends. The moment I suggested moving back to raise Max here, he didn’t even argue.”

“Oh. Are you okay with that?”

“Of course. I think we are on good terms, but I do feel like I should be annoyed that he didn’t fight harder to keep Max close to him. It’s like, I would have been furious if he objected, because this is where Max and I belong, but at the same time, why didn’t he argue to keep his son closer?”

I can't even begin to understand how she feels.

“That would be hard,” I say, “ but I think you both being here is the best.”

“Me too. And his dad already has plans to visit, so I think it’ll be great.”

“Good.”

“And I missed you and everyone here, and everything already feels right, so I don’t know why I’m complaining.”

“Stop, don’t ever feel guilty for worrying.”

She hugs me. “This is what I missed. Okay, remind me how to do this.”

I run her through some basic instructions then wave as she and Max get going. His laughter is all I hear as I head back to The Marina.

But then I see a familiar truck drive by toward the cabins, and I pick up my steps.

“He wouldn't,” I whisper to no one.

I practically sprint past all the cabins until I get to the last one.

Sure enough, there is Luca’s truck backed between two trees. Yeah, okay, you'd have to be standing right where I am to see it, but that’s not the point.

I march up to the door and storm in, slamming it shut.

“Shit.” Luca spins around, his hand flying to his chest. “You scared me.”

“I told you not to come here during the day.”

He sighs. “I’m just trying to get some things done. ”

“Well, do it later.”

“I’ll be like fifteen minutes.”

“No.”

“Damnit, Shay, just let me do this real quick.”

“Why?”

“Because I fucking want to make you happy. Jesus. And having these cabins finished will do that, so just let me do my job.”

I pull back as if he slapped me.

Oh.

“Okay” is all I can think to say.

“Okay.”

Then I rush out so I don’t do something stupid like kiss him again, because after a comment like that, how could I not want to jump into his arms?

This is bad. So, so bad.

Kissing Luca Asher is a recipe for disaster, and I can’t afford to do anything that could jeopardize finishing this place.

I want to make you happy.

Ugh.

Swoon.

Shit.

Luca!

True to his word, Luca finished whatever he needed in the cabin and left for the day. Now, the sun has gone down, leaving only its scorching heat as any sign that it was here today .

I glance out the back windows of The Marina, pulling my hair into a messy bun to keep it from sticking to my neck as I watch Luca’s truck pull into the parking lot.

He gets out, takes a deep breath, then grabs a bag and makes his way toward the cabins again.

Last I knew, we were still working inside the main dining room tonight.

It’s possible he’s trying to avoid me.

I wouldn't fault him for that. Our last two interactions have been hotter than this day, but still, I want to stick to a schedule. The dining room is more important to me than the cabins right now.

I head for the door, only for it to swing open, Luca stepping through like a man on a mission.

He freezes when he sees me, and I do the same.

“I was going to start in the cabin because I’ve thought of nothing but you all day and I wanted a little space to figure it out. But I know this room is important, so here I am.”

My lips twitch.

Has he always been this cute?

It’s scary how attuned he is to my brain.

Is that a sign?

A sign for what, Shay?

“That’s a good plan,” I say, because, oh my gosh, why do I not know how to act around him right now?

I spin for the dining room, feeling his eyes on me as he follows, sending goose bumps all over my skin.

We both get to work without another word.

Luca turns on some music, and I’m thankful for it. The silence in the room was putting me on edge, which is crazy considering the words we’ve left unspoken have created tension thick enough to soundproof these walls.

Oh my god.

What am I saying?

My brain has officially tripped a wire.

“Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone comes on, and of course, of course , Luca starts to sing along to it. Now, I’m not saying that he has the voice of an angel by any means, but it’s deep and smooth and soothing.

One kiss and I’m just completely gone for him.

This is nuts.

“I’m going out to the truck to grab the paint sprayer so you can start in the hallway if you want.”

“Great. Thanks,” I say quickly and then just stand there.

I’m making this more weird between us.

Can he sense that I just want to jump him?

Oh.

My.

God.

Why is my brain like this right now?

As soon as he returns, he helps me get the sprayer all set up.

“Just go slow. Like this.” He shows me just how slow I need to go and then hands me the sprayer. I start, but it isn’t what I’m expecting, and I mess up right away, leaving a splotch on the wall.

“Shoot,” I say, and he chuckles.

“Here, I’ll show you again.”

He steps up behind me and gently places his hands on mine .

With his front flush to my back, I close my eyes. I know this isn’t supposed to be romantic, but the moment his arms wrap around me, my body instantly relaxes and I let out a breath.

“Shay.” His breath wisps across the skin of my neck, causing my nipples to alert me to his presence. As if I didn’t know where he was already.

“Pay attention.”

“I am.”

“From the way your ass is pushing into my cock right now, I’d be confident to argue that.”

I moan. His sultry voice is hypnotizing.

The moment his lips touch my neck, I snap my eyes open and duck out of his arms.

“I …”

The words don’t come to me, but after a few seconds, Luca nods as if he gets it.

“It’s stupid hot in here. I need to cool down.”

He walks away from me and out to the deck that’s blocked off from guests so that they don’t mess up his markings for new boards. Next week is our goal to finish that project, but that’s not the point right now. Right now, the point is that I’ve never seen Luca this flustered.

And the most shocking part of it? He’s quiet.

I watch him pace the deck.

He pauses with his back to me as he runs his hand through his hair.

It was one kiss.

How can we both be so worked up about it?

I mean, sure, it was soft and sexy at the same time. It was captivating and took my breath away. It was mind-blowing and addicting .

And, as Luca clearly wants, I want it to happen again.

I do.

But it can’t.

Things are complicated enough with him working here and me keeping that a secret. If we start anything more, it would just be a fire.

And I do not doubt that everything would go up in flames. I can’t afford for The Marina to suffer once more because of a choice I made.

I turn my gaze away from the windows and fail to find something in the room to focus on.

I glance back to where Luca is standing, He’s watching me.

That look—ohhhh, that look.

I’ve never had someone look at me like that before.

Like he can’t look away even if he tried.

Like he’s never wanted anything more than what’s standing in front of him.

And for Luca, that something is me.

I give my head a small shake and shrug.

This only fuels his frustration even more.

He quickly moves to the steps that lead to the beach.

It’s after ten, so the beach is closed right now, but that doesn't stop him.

“Where are you going?” I yell from the deck.

“To cool off.”

“Where?”

He pauses, turns, and then reaches behind him to pull his shirt off.

“In the water, Shay. I think we both need it. I’d ask you to join me, but we both know the answer. ”

He can’t be serious. Swimming, now? And what does that mean, we know the answer. One kiss doesn't mean he knows me. Yet … he sort of does.

I have control, but I am a woman with needs, and that right there would be testing it to its ma—oh my gracious goodness golly, there go his pants.

He’s in his underwear.

Boxer briefs.

I should have known.

Look how they hug his hips. How they hug his thick thighs and how?—