Hello Temptation (Hello, #3)

by Kelsie Hoss

“Are you okay?”

“How did you know to come?”

“You texted me.”

“I—I meant to text my friends for a ride.”

“God, Tyler I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your evening.”

Ruin my evening? She’d been assaulted and she was worried about my Friday night? “Do you remember what I said earlier? If you ever need anything, that means a tire change, a rescue driver, a fucking pack of gum, you call me, okay?”

“I’m just so glad y...

“Do you want me to take you home?”

“Not like this,”

“My mom and grandma were so excited for me to go on this date. And I don't wa...

The fact that she was thinking about everyone else at a time like this just showed how selfless she really was. I got pissed all over again at this guy who ha...

“Where do you wan...

“I’ll take you wherever you w...

I walked her to my truck, keeping my arm around her shoulders to make me feel better about her safety. At least that’s what I told myself. Not that it felt good to have her tucked under my arm, her warmth against my side.

I opened the door for her and held her hand as she got inside. Once she was securely in, I grabbed the belt and reached around her to buckle her in.

“Let me have this,” I breathed. “I need to kn...

The belt latched in place, and I let my hands linger for a second. Fuck, seeing her like that, shoving that guy away and the laugh on that sick fuck...

“You must think I'm pathetic.”

“Why would I think that?” I asked, genuinely confused. I thought a lot of things about this girl—more than I should—and none of them included the word pathetic.

“You're always resc...

“What’s pathetic is how much ...

“Where’s this place you w...

“It's going to be a little loud in here.”

“How old do you think I am?”

“Fi...

“Minus tw...

“Henrietta and her friends don’t pay here.”

Do you have a secret life I don't know about?”

She laughed, the sound music to my ears.

“One of my best friend’s husbands owns the place.” She looked around. “He mi...

“Oh, nice,” I said, glad that I was wearing decent clothes. When I’d gotten Henrietta’s text, I hadn’t even thought, just got up from...

“I'm assuming you're here for a work meeting.”

I couldn't help but feel like I was taking my first girlfriend to prom and her dad was telling me to keep my hands to myself. I forced a chuckle and took a deep swig of my beer. I needed to calm all the rage that was still in my body. It was making me jumpy. If I ever came across that guy in a dark alley, I didn't know what I would do.

“Looks like it's time to learn.”

“I just needed someone good to lead.”

Good thing she couldn’t see my dopey fucking grin.

Her hand in mine, her flesh under my other hand, moving to the music... it was almost like the song had been made just for us. For this moment.

“Thank you for teaching me, but I think I could use some more practice.”

I grinned at her, more than will...

Confession: Sometimes, I wanted a hero to rescue me.

“Thank you for coming to the rescue,”

“I only wish you wouldn’t have to do that so often.”

“What if I said I enjoyed it?”

“I had fun. And maybe I enjoyed all the jealous looks I was getting too. Everyone wished they would have been on your arm.”

“Henrietta. Cohen is a married man.”

“Wait.”

“Let me get that for you.”

“That’s not necessary. It’s not like you ...

“I want you to see how you deserve to be treated.”

What the fuck… where can I find my Tyler

My heart was a puddle on his truck floor.

Mine too.