Tempting Tatum (16 page)

I slowly step away as Brent and Leah pull in. Brent and I get to work moving all the furniture in first. Tatum instructs us on how she wants it. Once that’s done, it doesn’t take long to have everything in the apartment.

“Hey! Why don’t we throw some burgers on the grill?” Ember says, looking at me. “Maybe you and Brent can run out and pick up the necessities for a cookout while we girls get Tatum settled.”

Spending more time with Tatum.

I’m in.

I look over at Brent. He nods his head, then leans down and kisses Leah. My gaze travels to Tatum and I want more than anything to kiss her goodbye as well. I’ve never been that guy. In this moment, with Tatum…I want to be. Not only do I want to be, I’m good with it.

Ember and Leah are the best! By the time the guys are back from the store, we have all of the boxes unpacked and everything put away. We carry the boxes down to the dumpster and settle into the living room to take a break and soak up the air conditioning.

This is where the guys find us.

“Good help’s hard to find,” I hear Brent say, laughing at us.

I’m sure we’re a sight. We all three are sprawled out. Ember is on the floor, right by the vent. Leah is laying sideways in the recliner, and I’m kicked back on the couch. We worked our asses off getting everything organized and put away. We deserve a break.

I can hear Blaise and Brent laughing in the kitchen. I assume they’re putting everything away. I’m too hot and too tired to really care at the moment.

I hear a knock at the door, but don’t bother to move. Ember and Leah remain where they are as well. The guys will take care of whoever or whatever it is. I hear lots of male laughter and it’s getting closer.

“Ember, you have a guest,” I hear Blaise tell her. I can tell by the tone of his voice that he is still highly amused by our lack of interest.

I open my eyes to see Jackson sitting down beside Ember on the floor. He pulls her head onto his lap. “It’s so hot,” Ember whines, making Jackson laugh.

“I told you, man,” Brent says. “They’re beat. We were only gone for like an hour, and this is how we found them.”

“Hmph! We unpacked all the boxes and got everything organized. Then we hauled them down to the dumpster. Tate is officially a resident of this fine establishment,” Leah explains.

This causes another chuckle from all three guys. Although I can’t see him, I can hear him. It’s like my body is in tune with him, so I know Blaise is close. The next thing I know, I feel big strong hands on my ankles as he lifts my legs and plops his fine ass down on the couch. I try to move my legs and sit up, but Blaise has other plans. He pulls my feet into his lap and starts to massage gently. He continues his conversation with Brent and Jackson like it’s no big deal, like he’s not driving me freaking crazy right now.

“So who has the most talent on the grill?” Blaise asks. His hands continue to caress, and it takes everything in me not to moan at how great it feels. I’m overwhelmed. Is it the massage itself that has me feeling this way, or is it Blaise? Hell, maybe it’s both. Either way, I don’t want it to stop.

Jackson raises his hand. “I got this,” he says. He bends down and kisses Ember on top of the head before gently laying her head on a pillow he pulled off the chair. It must have fallen off when Leah plopped herself down.

Jackson seems like a great guy, and from what I can tell, he’s really into Ember. I can only assume I’ll be seeing a lot of him with my new living arrangements.

“It’s my night to cook. Burgers okay?” she asks us.

“Sure. I’ll help,” I say starting to get up.

Jackson raises his hand to stop me. “I got this. You just relax,” he says, pulling Ember from the floor and leading her to the kitchen.

Blaise leans his body toward me so that we are closer. I can’t help but stare at him. Today he’s sporting a five o’clock shadow. He’s scruffy and his hair is a mess; he is so damn sexy. Strong broad shoulders, and I can see his sculpted chest through his tight ass t-shirt. Blaise is a living breathing temptation. His silver eyes catch me checking him out. I don’t pretend otherwise. He knows what he’s got going on.

“Hey you,” he says with a soft smile, kissing my temple.

Melt. I could melt into a fucking puddle. Hell, my panties are proof of that. Blaise affects me like no other. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be with him. To have all those muscles above me. To feel the scrape of his five o’clock shadow between my legs. Lord help me!

Quickly, so I know Blaise won’t have time to stop me, I swing my legs off his lap and jump off the couch. “I’m gonna go see if Ember needs any help,” I say as I travel down the hall toward the kitchen.

I find Ember in the kitchen staring out the glass doors onto the small patio. She’s watching Jackson.

“Hey, need any help?” I ask, bringing her out of her Jackson trance.

“Uh, yeah you can cut up the tomatoes,” she says.

“So,” I motion my head toward the door, “you and Jackson?” I ask with a smile.

Ember blushes and shrugs her shoulders. “No…I mean, yes…hell, I don’t know. Jackson has been friends with my brothers for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always kind of had a thing for him. I’m afraid to get my hopes up.”

“He seems like a great guy. He’s into you,” I say, voicing my observation.

Ember smirks. “Oh, yeah? Well, I know a great guy,” she raises her eyebrows, “and he’s into you,” she says sweetly.

Shaking my head, I’m ready to debate the “he’s into you” statement. I know Blaise is a great guy. He’s proven that. He may also be “into me” as Ember says, but guys like Blaise don’t get into relationships. They play the field, and that doesn’t work for me. Guys like Blaise are flings. Even if he was the settling-down type, after what happened with Josh, I’m better off single. “He’s—” I stop when Blaise, Leah, and Brent enter the room.

Blaise walks toward me. He places one hand on my hip while he reaches up with the other and grabs plates out of the cabinet over my head. His strong muscular body is pressed up against me. The smell of his cologne surrounds me. He gives my hip a gentle squeeze before releasing me and taking the plates to the table.

Ember clears her throat, which draws my attention. When I look up at her, she winks at me. I roll my eyes and continue slicing the tomatoes. I want more than anything to seek out Blaise, to ask him what all of these small caresses are for. Instead, I focus on slicing so I don’t cut off a finger.

I quickly step away from Tatum and busy myself setting the table. The main reason is so I can hide what she does to me. I’m in a constant state of arousal when she’s within fifty feet. It’s the spell, I’m sure. When I leaned over her, I had to touch her. It couldn’t be prevented. One touch and I’m granite. Any other time, I would have pushed the evidence into the girl’s back so she knows the score, but not with Tatum. I want her to be mine. I don’t want the “wham bam thank you ma’am” with her.

I want it all.

My grand plan is to touch her whenever I can, let her know I’m here, and I want her. Obviously, I didn’t think the plan through like I should have. Turns out I’m torturing myself. I had to dig down deep for the will power to not take her there on the couch in front of everyone during her foot massage. Her silky smooth skin…
Fuck!

Jackson strolls in carrying a plate full of grilled meat. My mouth waters. The stars must be in alignment because once everyone takes their place around the table, Tatum has to sit next to me. Everyone must be starving, not much is said as we all fill our plates and scarf down the food.

“I’m stuffed,” Brent says.

“Well, we’re not done yet. I made strawberry shortcake last night,” Ember says as she stands up.

Jackson reaches over and touches her hand gently. “I’ll get it.” He leans over and kisses her cheek before retrieving dessert. I smile. I’m glad my longtime friend is treating her right. I warned him if he didn’t, he would be answering to me. Maybe I should have done more, like punched him or something? Asher and I have always taken a laid back approach with Ember. We warn the men who sniff around her that we are her big brothers. It helps that we are both well over six feet tall and pack around two hundred and forty pounds of muscle. We want her to have a life, but at the same time, whomever she’s involved with, and anyone who is interested, needs to know who we are and where we stand if they fuck with her. Jackson is a good guy and he obviously likes her. She could do worse, that’s for sure.

I glance at Tatum watching Leah and Brent who are sharing an intimate moment. I can’t describe the look in her eyes, longing maybe? Before I can decipher the meaning, Jackson is back with the dessert.

Tatum hands her plate to Ember. “This is my favorite.” She smiles.

Ember laughs. “I know. You mentioned it at the picnic. It’s kind of a welcome treat for moving in day,” she says cheerily. My sister, such a good heart.

After dessert, we all pitch in to clean up. Jackson settles in on the chair in the living room with Ember on his lap. Leah and Brent announce it’s time for them to head home. I watch as Tatum’s eyes fill with tears. I want to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything will be fine. I’ve never had that desire before well, unless you count Ember. As her brother, that’s my job. Even then, this is different. I slip quietly into the living room, giving the three of them some privacy. Besides, if the tears start to fall, I don’t think I could stay away from her. The pull now just at the thought of her being upset causes an ache deep in my chest.

I sit down on the couch.

Ember smiles softly. “How’s she holding up?”

I shake my head no. I can’t talk about it or I will march right back in there and wrap my arms around her.

“Hey!” Ember yells into the kitchen. She stands up dragging Jackson with her.

“Yeah?” Tatum calls back. I can hear the emotion in her voice.

“Why don’t we all meet up at Backwoods tonight for a drink?” I hear Ember ask.

“Sounds good,” Brent replies.

“Great. We’ll meet you guys there around eight,” Ember tells them.