Hello Temptation (Hello, #3)

by Kelsie Hoss

“If you ever get in trouble like that again, you can call me.”

“Can I have your phone?”

“...

“So you can call me next time you’re stopped on the s...

“I like the emoji.”

“Just in case there are any other Tylers in your life.”

“You're the on...

“We better go or you’ll be late.”

“I think I was right on time.”

As I pulled onto the highway, I could not get the image of Henrietta bent in front of her car out of my mind. How the fuck had no one stopped to help her? Where I was from, if you saw a lady on the side of the road, you stopped. You helped. You made sure she didn’t get so much as a finger dirty.

My mind drifted to my new colleague, the one who had occupied far too many of my thoughts as of late.

“So when do we get to meet her?”

“I don’t date girls when I’m on location,”

“especially not ones I w...

“You work wit...

“You dirt...

“I do. And even if I didn’t, I don't think she's the kind who would move back to Texas with me, and there’s no way I’d fit in out here. There was a girl on the side of the road this morning changing...

“Remember to book your flights for Thanksgiving before prices go up on them.”

“Good. And hey, maybe buy an extra ticket for that girl.”

Confession: I’ve gone so long without a relationship that sometimes I have a hard time believing anyone would want to date me.

I knew it would go—he’d see me, look disappointed, suffer through an awkward meal with my family, then he’d go home and I’d never have to see him again. (Hopefully.)

“Why would you say that? I want to go out with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Your body is bangin’, girl. Of course I want to take you out on the town.”

Flustered didn’t even begin to cover it. No one had ever told me that my body was “bangin’” or even acted like they wanted to show me off. The couple of boyfriends I’d had when I was younger only took me to dark movie theaters or secluded restaurants. It didn’t ...

I realized I’d been about to say “a truck.” More specifically, a truck like the one Tyler drove. I’d only ridden in it once, but I liked the way it sat high off the ground and I could feel the power of the engine as we drove. But Tyler was off limits, and I had a perfectly decent guy coming to pick me up tomorrow night.

“If you need to fill it with sugar and cream, the coffee must not be very good.”

“Should I get an ice machine on site for injuries?”

“I don’t have an appointment for a tour until eleven, so I’m yours until then.”

A strange silvery feeling filled my chest at those words, and I found myself searching for a reason to keep her around. I wanted to know her better, understand what this strange draw was all about.

“I have a date tonight,”

“Yeah?”

“Another one of my grandma’s setups.”

That fact made breathing only slightly...

Even I knew she deserved more than “nice enough.” But if I wasn’t willing or able to give it to her, what more was there to say? “I hope you have a good time.” Lies. Right through my clenched teeth.

But it had nothing on the thoughts raging in my head.

Confession: I had no idea how I’d react to this kind of guy until I encountered him in real life...

“You look beautiful, baby girl. But please,” he whispered in my hair, “wear a jacket with that dress.”

Houston didn’t seem to notice as we got to the car. He didn't open the door for me, which I realized I've been coming to expect after only a week with Tyler. And we weren't even dating.

No excitement like there had been when Tyler gripped my hand on the table.

Oh god. Did I have a complex? Was I only attracted to unavailable men?

“Playing hard to get?”

I closed my eyes, wishing I could be anywhere but here when I felt his body pull away from me. I snapped my gaze up, wondering why he would give me space for the first time all night.

And then I saw hi...

He had Houston pushed up against a wall, his hands clenched into Houston’s silvery shirt. Even though Houston outweighed Tyler by at least ...

“If you touch her again, y...

“I don't want her anyway.”

“Get the hell out of here.”

He watched Houston stumble away, out of the bar past everyone who acted like this was just another night. And t...

White-hot rage slowly dissipated from my body as I turned to face Henrietta. The sight of that bastard with his hands all over her—I could have fucking killed him. It took all I had to let him leave the bar, sprinting away like the worthless son of a bitch he was.