Playing With Temptation. Reese Ryan
that’s what I’m talking about. If this is going to work, you have to take me seriously.”
“Oh, I took what we did very seriously.” He raised an eyebrow and resumed eating his meal.
She let out a frustrated sigh and settled back in her seat. “This is your career we’re talking about here, Nate. I need to maintain my focus, and I can’t stay focused on cleaning up your rep if I’m thinking about...” Her words trailed off and there was a deep flush in her cheeks beneath her smooth brown skin. She shook her head, as if trying to shake off the memories. “Neither of us can afford the distraction.”
“Agreed.” He adjusted in his chair, his own body reacting to the memories. Her scent. Her taste. The sound of her soft pleas. “Though it worries me that my media consultant can’t multitask.”
They dissolved into laughter, and for a moment, it felt like old times. It was the first time either of them seemed relaxed since he’d arrived.
Nate smiled, relishing the sound of her laughter. One of the countless details about her he missed. “Okay, Ms. Media Consultant, where do we begin?”
“This sounds like a great opportunity.” Maya Alvarez, Kendra’s half sister, sipped her mocha latte as they sat at the breakfast bar in the gorgeous penthouse Maya shared with her fiancé, hotelier Liam Westbrook. “So why aren’t you excited about it?”
Kendra took a sip of the frothy peppermint mocha her sister made for her and let out an appreciative moan. “I am, but what if I’m jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire?”
“It’s a tricky situation. I certainly couldn’t work with the girls’ dad. Not for all the money in the world.” Maya placed a hand on Kendra’s in response to her fallen expression. “But it’s different with you and Nate.”
“How? Carlos walked out on you, just like I walked out on Nate. The only difference was you and Carlos were married.” Kendra drank more of her coffee. “He feels the same way you do. Honestly, I can’t blame him.”
“You’ve maintained an amicable relationship. Friendly enough that you two hooked up.” Maya peered over her coffee cup, her dark eyes dancing with amusement.
“Shut. Up.” Kendra pointed a finger at her giggling sister. “I shouldn’t have told you that. I still can’t believe it happened. Twice.”
“Are we talking instances or the actual amount of times you guys—”
“Stop it, Maya!” Kendra’s face and neck warmed. “Everyone knows you’re not supposed to hold the things your sister says when she’s drunk against her.”
“All right, fine.” Maya was still giggling. “I’m just saying, things can’t be that bad between you. Besides, Nate’s a terrific guy, and we both know you still have feelings for him.”
“Of course I care about him. That doesn’t mean we should be together.” It was too quiet without the children around. Nothing to distract her from a conversation she’d rather not have. Liam had taken them to see the aquariums he’d just had installed at his family’s luxury resort so she and Maya could talk. “Things between us are...complicated.”
“Things were complicated for us, too. Every day I’m grateful Liam recognized that what we have was worth fighting for, despite the complications.” Maya’s face glowed when she spoke of Liam.
Kendra missed that feeling—the infinite joy of being in love with a man who adored her. She ignored the growing sense of envy that felt like a boulder tethered to her ankle, threatening to drown her in a sea of self-pity. She forced a smile. “I’m happy for you. You’re perfect together, and Liam is so good with the kids.”
“Sofie and Ella adore him.”
“So does Kai. He talks about his Uncle Liam all the time. You’d think he was a superhero or something. He’s making the Johnston men jealous.”
“Liam has really taken to Kai, too.” A warm smile lit Maya’s eyes like a candle lighting a paper lantern from within.
No matter how many times Kendra saw that smile—and it was often in the weeks since Liam and Maya had gotten engaged—she couldn’t stop her reaction to it. Intense joy for her sister, followed by deep sorrow for herself.
Maya seemed to recognize her pain. Her brows furrowed with concern. “I’m glad you accepted the offer, but I’m a little worried, too. Are you sure you’re going to be okay with this? Six months is a long time.”
“This is my shot to finally build the kind of clientele I’ve always wanted. I’m not going to blow it. Besides, Nate needs my help. I know it won’t make up for how I hurt him, but at least it’s something.”
“When is your first meeting?”
“Tomorrow, so I’d better get it together.”
Maya’s smile was reassuring. “Everything will be fine, and who knows? Maybe you two will make up.”
“Don’t even go there, and please don’t give Kai false hope about me and his dad getting back together. I don’t think he could bear that. He misses him so much when he’s away during the season. Now that the girls have Liam in their lives, Kai is more aware of his father’s absence.”
“I didn’t realize—”
Kendra squeezed her sister’s forearm. “I’m thankful Liam’s in his life. What he’s feeling now...it would’ve come up eventually. We’ll deal with it. He’ll be fine.”
“Either way, I know this is going to work out for the best. You have to believe that.”
“It has to. If Nate ends up with a West Coast team, Kai will see him even less. He’d be heartbroken.” Kendra’s voice wavered. She sipped her coffee, hoping her sister didn’t notice. “If I can prevent that from happening, I have to at least try.”
Kendra avoided Maya’s gaze and the pity she knew she’d see there. They both turned toward the front door in response to the jangling of keys that signaled Liam and the children’s arrival.
Kai practically jumped into her arms. He was a sweet, affectionate boy. She kissed her son’s forehead, dreading the days when he got older and would think it uncool to give her a big hug and a sloppy kiss.
She took in her handsome, smiling child. Wide, round eyes. Nate’s nose—a narrow bridge with slightly flared nostrils. A wide smile stretched his Cupid’s bow mouth—a near duplicate of hers. His thick ringlets were cut into a frohawk. He was only six, but his long arms and legs indicated he would be tall—like his father.
Kai was the perfect mélange of her and Nate’s features, and he’d inherited an ideal mix of their personalities. He was truly the best of them.
Kendra smiled, warmth spreading through her chest as she choked back tears. Maybe she didn’t get their relationship right, but she would always have the best part of Nate.
For that she was grateful.
Nate fluffed the pillows on the sofa in his office for the third time, then readjusted the chain on his neck again.
This isn’t a date. It’s business. Be cool.
He eased onto the sofa and drummed his fingers on his knee. Kendra would arrive shortly for their first official meeting.
She and Marcus had met before the ink dried so she could lay out her ideas and they could come to consensus on a plan. Marcus had thought it was best for him to sit out that meeting.
Fine by him.
He