Hello Temptation (Hello, #3)

by Kelsie Hoss

I studied her for a moment, hating anything and everyone that had made her feel like that. “I’ve never seen you that way.” “How do you see me?” she asked. I took her in, and only one word came to mind. “Beautiful.”

When in reality, I’d just been missing out on an incredible guy, all so my boss could call dibs on him, like a child licking a cookie to make it their own.

Tyler was only here for nine months, and I’d missed so much of it just by following the “rules.” Well, I was done wasting time, especially when it came to Tyler. I unbuckled my seat belt and leaned closer. His eyes flicked from mine to my lips. A question. I nodded. A promise. My eyelids slid closed, and I felt his lips against mine, felt the slight stubble on his chin as our skin brushed. Electricity, lust, desire, longing, it all swept through me as I got lost in our kiss, tasting the mint on his tongue, feeling his hand grip the base of my neck, holding me in place so he could deepen the kiss.

Tyler was a gentleman, but the way he was holding me, his hand dancing up my hip, barely touching the side of my breast, he was holding himself back. Every part of me wanted to find out what more he could do, discover the ways he wanted to touch me.

Moisture soaked my panties, and even though I’d never had sex before, my body knew I wanted it. Was ready for it. With him.

His voice was husky as he said, “I should get you inside.” “What if I don’t want to go?” I whispered. A heated grin hit his lips. “Does this mean I get a second date?” My smile came all on its own. I nodded.

and I don’t want to drag you along to it if...” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence. It was too much too soon. But Tyler said, “If what?” “If this wasn’t something that’s going to last.” His expression grew serious as he took my hand in his. “I can’t predict the future, Hen, but until we figure out what this is...” He gestured between us. “I’m in. All in.”

“In that case, will you be my date to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding?” He cupped my cheek with his hand and kissed me again, softer this time, only stirring the embers instead of lighting a flame.

This could be it, I realized. The guy I lost my virginity to. The guy I loved. But I couldn’t get ahead of myself right now. Instead, I let him open the door for me. We walked together down the sidewalk, and he kissed me on the cheek at the house, an unspoken promise in the air. The best was yet to come.

“I am in a good mood,” I admitted. It’s not like I could deny it. I’d worn a smile on my face since my first date with Henrietta, and the thought of going to a wedding with her as her date... It meant we were moving forward. Together.

Tyler’s voice was warm over the receiver. “Am I happy to hear from you.” My lips cracked a smile before quickly falling. I’d hoped calling him would cheer me up, but now it was taking all I had not to cry.

“Tyler, that’s too much.” “It’s the least I could do,” he said. “I can get supplies cheap, and I’ve installed hundreds of floors before. Done. What else do you need?” I racked my mind, wondering what else there was to do. The list had seemed so insurmountable before this call. “We need a rail installed in the bathroom and another rail and a seat in the shower.” “Easy. What else?”

was supposed to be going away to an overnight spa with Mara tomorrow, but someone needs to take care of Mom’s garden.” “I can hoe with the best of them.” The smile in his voice made me laugh for the first time all day. “You’re amazing.” “I’m here,” he said.

prepped already. Was there an emergency at the apartments?” It would be just my luck. “I suspect she wanted to make another pass at me without you around. Which, she has, and trust me, it’s not working. Although she has been poking around the office.”

“I need to get back to the office. Can you stall Janessa?” “Not a problem. I have a feeling she’ll be dragging this out as long as possible.” “My hero,” I said, a slight smile on my lips. “Thanks for letting me rescue you for once.”

I told her about Tyler’s offer, and his insistence to follow through on it. Mom put her hands over her heart. “He is one of the good ones.” “I think so,” I agreed.

“Actually,” Tyler said, “I need to get back to the job site. Henrietta, can you give me a ride? I know Janessa is so busy with work. That’s one of the things I admire about you, J. So dedicated to your role.” Janessa barely concealed her giddy smile at his compliment and the nickname. “Are you sure? I don’t mind taking some extra time. So Hen can have her day off.” “It’s on my way,” I offered. “No big deal.” Before Janessa could argue, Tyler said, “Thanks, Hen. Janessa, thanks for lunch. Hope you have a great day.”

He reached across the console and grabbed my hand. “I still feel like I win for getting an extra few minutes with you today.” Butterfly wings tickled my insides.

“Although selfishly, I do wish you could stay so I could take you out before the wedding.” My cheeks warmed. “I’d like that too.” He glanced toward the clock. “I do have a few minutes before I have to be back...” “What did you have in mind?”

As far as I could tell, it was an empty lot, and right now, I couldn’t stop thinking of kissing Henrietta senseless. Of helping her forget her worries for the day, if only for a few stolen moments.

Her dark eyes were on me as she nodded, her breasts moving up and down with her breath. It was sexy as hell, especially with the lacy dress she had on over a swimsuit. I trailed my finger from her shoulder to the spot where her suit began to dip into her cleavage. “I like this.” Her voice was quiet as she said, “I meant to wear it to the beach.” “I’d like to see that,” I said, coming closer, pressing my lips to hers.

Already turned on, I kissed her cheek, tipped her chin back and kissed along her jaw, her neck, the top of her breasts where they began to swell. She kept her hands in my hair, her breath coming in a gasp as I gently bit down. “Tyler,” she breathed. It was enough to spur me on, to drive me wild.

I pulled back on her top, sliding her black suit back until I could see the dark, puckered skin of her areola, the full, hard tip of her nipple. I took it in my mouth, sucking and licking in tandem with my other thumb, swiping over her other nipple. She let out a moan that made my cock harden. I covered her lips with mine, kissing her deeply, tangling my tongue with hers. I wanted more, these clothes out of the way, her skin against mine. But I had to back off before I couldn’t stop myself. She deserves more than me taking it further in the car. Our first time together was going to be something she’d remember as perfect.

“You are irresistible.” “Irresistible?” she asked, a slight smile on her lips. They were so kissable, I kissed them again. “Irresistible, incredible, the whole damn package,” I said. “And this weekend is going to be amazing. For you and your friends. And yo...

But the best was yet to come, and damn, was I looking forward to it.

“Text me if you need anything while you’re out of town,” I said. She nodded, biting her lip. “And call, if you want to talk.” Now she smiled.

There was awe in her eyes as she looked at me. “I can’t believe you’re interested in me.” But the words sounded so wrong. I took her face in my hands, not caring if any of the workers saw me. She needed to hear this. “Hen, there are billions of women on the planet, and none of them have ever amazed me the way you continue to do. Please, believe me.” Her eyes softened as she took in the words, and I couldn’t stop from kissing her one more time.

“I’ll be the one in the purple dress, walking down the aisle.” “And I’ll be the guy sitting there, wondering how in the hell he got lucky enough to be your date.”

Can you believe you’re getting married Saturday? One penis for the rest of your life?” Mara giggled, swinging her feet through the water. “One amazing penis. You forgot that word.” Tess covered her ears and started humming, and I giggled so hard my stomach hurt. Okay, so maybe we were getting a little tipsy.

“Settling down is not the same as settling for less. It’s resting where you know you belong. Not needing to run and chase and search anymore. It’s the best feeling ever.”

“The sex is still hot. And let me tell you, there’s something to experimenting with someone who makes you feel safe.” Safe? With Tyler, I felt terrified. Terrified of not being enough. Of being disappointing. Exhilarated. Electrified by his touch and the words he spoke about me. and then there was the fear—that all of it was too good to be true. None of that felt safe.

Not seeming to mind, Mara asked, “Do you think Tyler could be the one to pop that cherry? Take your v-card. Deflower that perfect little pus—” “Mara!” I cried, laughing through my horror. Birdie and Tess were laughing too, the sound blending with the hot tub jets. But they quieted, and the question was still there. Could Tyler be the one to take my virginity? And I nodded, because I had a feeling he could be more than my first time. He could be the one. Birdie’s eyes widened at a spot behind me, and she muttered, “Finally!”

I wished Henrietta could see this with me. “We should take the girls next time,” I said. “They’d love this.” Cohen splashed me with his paddle. Wiping saltwater from my face, I said, “What the hell was that for?” Wearing a grin that looked like one of Rhett’s, he said, “You’re in trouble! Already thinking of her when you’re on a guys’ trip?”

I shook my head at the three. I may have been the only ‘single’ one here, but I couldn’t deny all those thoughts had been on my mind. “Shit, you’re right.” Cohen rested his paddle in his lap. “Nothin’ wrong with that.” I didn’t know if I agreed. Because it meant six months from now, I’d have an impossible choice to make.

And as I watched Mara get eyeshadow patted on and lipstick painted across her lips, I couldn’t help but hope it would be me soon. Me next. Because I was ready for that feeling she described. I wanted to settle. I wanted peace. I wanted my own family for Saturday afternoon barbeques and sports games on the weekends and home-cooked dinners on weeknights. And most of all, I loved the idea of writing my future with a partner at my side. Someone who would lift me up when I was weak and someone I could provide shelter to in any storm.

The woman looking at me in the mirror wasn’t the funny fat friend. She was beautiful. She was happy. And she smiled. Because now I knew when Tyler looked at me and saw something beautiful, I wouldn’t disagree.

Our eyes met, and her smile grew, deepened, and for a moment, all the air was gone from the room. All the people had vanished. It was her and me and the sound of the pounding in my chest.

Shit, my girl looked like a million bucks. My stomach dropped. My girl. She wasn’t my girl. Not officially. I’d never asked her to be. And I needed to fix that. Immediately.

“Did you see that hottie in the boots?” one said. I smirked in the mirror. I only knew one guy who’d arrived in cowboy boots. “Think he’s single?” “Didn’t see a ring,” the other replied. I zipped my clutch shut. “He’s here with someone,” I told them, smiling to myself as they groaned before leaving the restroom.

Instead, I felt a calloused hand grab my wrist and pull me backward into a dark room. I was about to scream when another hand covered my mouth. “It’s me, Hen.” Tyler’s warm voice mixed with his rough grip already had my skin tingling. “What are we doing in here?” I looked around, my eyes adjusting to the dim lighting.

“You were great up there,” he said. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

“But there was one issue,” he said, his fingers toying with the thin strap of my dress. “And what was that?” He brushed his nose over my neck, making me catch my breath, and said, “I wanted everyone to know you were mine, and we haven’t had that talk yet.” “Oh,” was all I could manage to say with his lips trailing kisses and nips down my neck. “Any objections?” “None.” To anything he was doing. “None at all.”

leaned into his kisses, working my fingers through his hair and tugging. He palmed my ass, pressing us together, and—oh my—I felt something hard at his waist. He was turned on by me. Me. Feeling bold, I reached down, rubbing it with my hand, and he moaned in my ear. Heat pooled between my legs, readying me for him. “Fuck, Hen, if you keep this up, I’ll have to take you right here.” I froze, realizing he was ready for that step. And I was too, but I didn’t want to lose my virginity in a closet.

“That’s not it,” I said, stepping closer and placing a kiss on his jaw. On his chin. “What are you doing tonight?” I already knew the answer. He smiled underneath my lips. “Any ideas?” “I’d like to check on your apartment, make sure it’s still in good shape—you know, for my job.” “For your job,” he repeated, kissing my cheek, nipping the shell of my ear. I let out a shaky breath. “We should get back...”

Weddings might be my new favorite date with Henrietta. Although she sat at the bridal party’s table for the meal, I loved watching her, seeing her smile, meeting her eyes across the room. And knowing she was officially mine... it made it that much better.

I extended my hand, and she slipped hers in mine. The perfect fit. As we walked away from the table, I spun her twice, and she giggled, her dress flaring around her. On the third spin, she fell into my chest, breathless and smiling. “I wasn’t ready for that,” she said with a laugh. “Well you looked damn good doing it,” I said, two-stepping with her. We fell into rhythm together, just like we had that first night I taught her to dance. She leaned her head close. “Thank you for coming. I know weddings aren’t for everyone.” I kissed her crown. “I love being here with you. And you might be surprised—I think weddings are fun.” “Yeah? What do you like about them?” “Other than the leap of faith it takes to commit in front of everyone you know?” She chuckled. “Yeah, other than that.” “Hmm.” I thought it over for a moment, letting the music wash over us. “I like the cake cutting, and not just because I inherited my grandpa’s sweet tooth.” Smiling, she said, “What is it then?” “You know how they hold the knife together? It’s ridiculous and adorable at the same time. And then you get to see their personalities on full display by the way they feed each other.” “What do you think of shoving cake in each other’s face?” she asked. “A waste of perfectly good cake.” I winked. “Unless you get to lick it off.”

I tightened my grip around Hen’s waist, and she smiled up at me, that ever-present light in her brown eyes. Feeling like my heart couldn’t get any bigger, any fuller, I bent my neck and placed a kiss on her lips. She smiled up at me, and it was good. It was so fucking good.

“Did you drive here?” I asked. She nodded. “I can follow you to your place?” I kissed her, hard. “I’ll see you soon.”

As I drove to Tyler’s place, all I could think was... I’m about to lose my virginity. My heart was beating fast and my hands were shaky on the steering wheel, but when I saw him standing against his truck in the parking lot, my worries faded. He’d been the dream guy since I met him—sex wouldn’t change that.

His gaze wasn’t greedy or hungry... It was... appreciative. And oh so sexy.