Uncontrollable Temptations (Tempted #3)(13)

“You were pretty shaken up back there,” he probed, unscrewing the cap.

“You must think I’m crazy,” I said evasively.

He froze, piercing me with a sharp look. The ointment lost on his index finger.

“I don’t think you’re crazy,” he insisted, adamantly.

“You might be the only one,” I said, rolling my eyes, cringing as I remembered the way Johnny, the cook, had reacted to my outburst. I glanced down at Jack as he slowly rubbed the ointment in circles across my burn. So tender.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“You’re welcome,” he responded. “Do you want to cover it with some gauze or let it breathe a bit?”

“It's fine,” I said, knowing that if I covered the burn it would blister and the rawness would burn something fierce. “I’ll cover it up before I go to sleep.”

He nodded, wiping his hand on the dishtowel and covering the tube before he placed it on top of the counter. I watched him glance around my kitchen, stalk over to my kitchen table, pick up a pen and pull a napkin from the holder. I tried to look over his shoulder, but he was much taller than me, even hunched over the table the way he was I’d have to stand on tip toe.

He finished jotting down whatever it was and turned around. Taking my hand, he turned my palm upward and placed the napkin inside of it.

“You looked like you were going through something tonight, if you need to talk or even if you just want another ride, that’s my number and where you can find me,” he said, closing my palm over the napkin.

I stared at him blankly. This man was a stranger yet I was drawn to him. I couldn’t explain the overwhelming sense of safety his presence inflicted upon me. He was gentle and chivalrous despite the leather and tattoos. He looked hard, maybe even a little scary and still I was not afraid. I should ask him to leave, ask him to stay away from the diner but somewhere along the way I looked forward to hearing the engine of his bike roar to life, night after night. Serving Jack a cup of coffee had become a highlight in my otherwise dull life.

“Why do you come into the diner every night?” I blurted out.

He reached out and wrapped a strand of my blonde hair around his finger. My breath hitched as his eyes studied my hair as he unraveled the strands only to wind a thicker strip around his finger. He diverted his eyes back to mine and took a step closer. Alarms sounded inside my head, my heart rate picked up and I felt the butterflies take off in the pit of my stomach, just as I had when I rode blindly into the night on his bike.

I stepped closer, my feet betraying my conscience, and he raised his free hand to my cheek, his knuckles gently grazing my skin. I closed my eyes as I felt myself sink deeper and deeper into foreign territory. I felt more in one hour with this man than I had in the last ten months.

He leaned close, his breath tickling my lips, the smell of his cologne branding me.

“In a world as dark as the one I live in, sometimes I can’t help but crave sunshine,” he said huskily.

Sunshine.

Me.

His mouth touched the corner of mine and something inside of me snapped. I pressed my hands to his chest and pushed with all my might—only for him not to budge.

“What are you doing?” I asked, taking a step back, staring at him in shock, his hands frozen in the air from holding my hair and face.

“Answering your question,” he said, dropping his hands back to his sides. “I’m very expressive.”

“You need to leave,” I insisted. “Thank you for the ride and for helping me treat my burn, but this…” I pointed to the space between us, “is not going to happen. I’m not looking for a man, and if I was it wouldn’t be the likes of you,” I closed my eyes at my own rudeness. “I’m sorry, that sounded horrible.”

“I get it, Reina,” he bit out, his eyes narrowing at me as his features hardened. “Only straight-laced dicks get Sunshine’s pussy wet,” he sneered.

I cringed, his words assaulting me as he stepped around me.

“Jack, wait,” I cried out, as I turned around and watched him walk away from me.

He pulled open the door and looked over his shoulder at me.

“Lock the fucking door,” he growled, slamming it behind him.

I stared at the door hoping it would open and he’d walk back inside but knew that wasn’t likely. I glanced down at the napkin in my hand, taking a deep breath before walking toward the refrigerator and hanging it alongside Danny’s picture.

I wouldn’t call.





Chapter Six




“Reina, please come in,” Dr. Spiegel greeted, as she stood in front of her office door. She smiled warmly as she always did, but this time as her eyes traveled the length of me I saw the flicker of surprise. I tucked the magazine I was reading back into the rack and stood, looking everywhere but directly at her. I rubbed my sweaty palms against the tight denim that stretched over my thighs. I knew I shouldn’t have worn this outfit. I knew she would notice the change in attire and over analyze my choice in clothing. After all, she was a shrink. She was paid to over analyze everything.

I stepped inside her office, taking a seat on the leather sofa as she closed the door behind me.

“I’m sorry my last patient ran a bit over,” she apologized, taking the seat across from me, reaching for her notebook. She settled back against the chair, making herself comfortable, eyes firmly assessing me.