Tempting Eden by Celia Aaron

Author:Celia Aaron [Aaron, Celia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celia Aaron
Published: 2016-09-26T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

JACK

THE WATER FLOWED OVER my head and down my body. I needed to cool off more than anything. Seeing Eden talking with Ms. Temple was a surprise. Eden volunteering to wait on me as I showered, an even bigger surprise.

I had no doubt they’d been discussing my past. I lathered up quickly, wondering what Eden must be thinking about me. Was she still afraid? When I’d dropped the bomb on her the night before, her thoughts seemed scattered and she withdrew, physically and mentally. She’d worked in her office and gave me only a cursory wave when I left for the night.

After rinsing off, I twisted the squeaky knobs to stop the spray and stepped out. I dried and dressed, donning a white t-shirt and some shorts. She rose quickly when I opened my bedroom door and walked into the living room.

“I really shouldn’t have made you rush or anything. I came over because Fairfax said I should talk to Maria. I was going to go, but she can be very, um—”

“Persuasive?” I’d had years to develop stratagems against Ms. Temple’s kind-hearted coercions. I still failed miserably. Eden, though formidable, didn’t stand a chance.

“Yes. I think she’s kind of badass. And,” she tapped her chin, “has she ever mentioned my mother to you?”

“Your mother? No, why?” What was she talking about?

Her face fell. “Oh, nothing, just something she said earlier.”

She fidgeted with the hem of her sweater, a V-neck in a light lavender color that cut down to the pale swells of her breasts. She wore tight jeans with tall brown boots that came to her knee. Pitch perfect for the fall, though I preferred her the way she was in the hotel room—naked, wanting.

“Well, anyway, I should be going. You’re probably worn out from cutting the lawn. You looked so hot… I mean you were sweating, so it was hot. Not that you weren’t hot, because you were…” She pinched the bridge of her nose.

I don’t think I’d ever seen her so rattled. Score one for Ms. Temple.

“Come on, sit down.” I sat on my worn but comfortable sofa and patted the cushion next to me.

She sat and crossed her legs at the knee. I let her get comfortable, gave her time to talk. One thing I’d learned about Eden was that she wanted to tell me things, almost seemed to need it. I didn’t know why she felt compelled to tell me so much about herself when she never told anyone else more than what was necessary. It pleased me, all the same.

She took a deep breath. “Well, Maria told me about how you were at first, when she met you. The things you did to drive her away.” She met my gaze, a question in her green eyes.

“That’s all true. I cussed her, threatened her. Anything horrible you can imagine, I said to her, more or less.”

“But Helen brought you back around?”

I nodded. Helen had become my patron saint. I still dreamed about her sometimes, her smile and the tinkling sound of her laugh.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.