Page 40 of Tempt
He laughed. “You okay?”
“I think so.”
“But you’re not sure?”
I exhaled. “I’m trying to decide how terrible I should feel about this.”
“Like on a scale of one to ten?”
“Sure.”
“One,” he said.
“No way. It’s got to be more than that. I’m the one who texted you.”
“But I told you to call.”
“And then Idid.”
“I told you to take your clothes off.”
“True.” I had to laugh. “Thatwaspretty early in the conversation. If we even had a conversation.”
“There was some talking. I’m almost sure of it.” He paused. “Although I had a hand in my pants the whole time. So I’m thinking I’m definitely a ten, and you’re maybe a three.”
“The whole time, huh?”
“I was thinking about you even before you texted. Which is probably why things escalated so quickly. The whiskey also played a role.”
“So did the wine I consumed tonight.” I leaned back against the headboard. “I was trying to drown my shame.”
“I don’t want you to be ashamed, Millie.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Not for what happened in New York. We didn’t know about the connection. It was not an informed decision.”
“And tonight?” I asked quietly.
“Tonight.” He exhaled. “Yeah, tonight’s a little different.”
“I could say I only texted you to say goodnight, but I’d be lying,” I told him. “Deep down, I wanted what happened to happen.”
“I did too. Actually, I wanted it in person, but this was a close second.”
I laughed, but it was tinged with regret. Then I forced myself to say the truth. “But I think we’d better draw the line right here and now, and we need to mean it this time. This can’t happen again, not even over the phone.”
“I agree.”
“So I’m—I’m going to delete your number, okay? And you delete mine. That way we won’t even be tempted.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.” I hesitated. “So I guess I’ll say goodnight for real. And I’ll see you at the wedding.”
“The wedding. Right.”
“And I’m going to be cool and professional tomorrow, even though that’s not how I’ll feel on the inside. Don’t take it the wrong way.”
