Page 8 of Sweet Temptation
Then I walked out with her and Flynn; he’d had Brody’s driver bring Elle’s car around to the back exit for them. And as Flynn escorted us through the crowd, I took a good, long look at him. And I wondered… Why?
Why was I so drawn to him in the first place?
Flynn was straight-laced and stiff. Strong and protective, too, and sure, that was hot.
But he wasn’t really… my type.
I appreciated that he always seemed to be looking out for me, out of courtesy to Elle, to Brody. I really did.
Even though it was unnecessary.
But why couldn’t I read the signs that he was never into me?
Outside the restaurant, he turned to me and said, “I can get someone to walk you to your car—”
“No need.” I waved that off. “Just take care of the superstar.” I gave Elle a final hug, then headed off.
“Drive safe!” Elle called after me. “And enjoy your party!”
“Always do!” I called back.
As I headed through the parking lot to my car, I glanced into the shadows. It was early October, and it was a dark, cloudy night. There were people not far away, on the sidewalk, going in and out of the restaurant.
Elle’s car drove past as I was getting into mine, and Flynn tooted the horn. I waved good night.
And it occurred to me…
Maybe it was the instinct to want to be close to the safety Flynn provided and not him that I wanted. Maybe I liked that he was looking out for me, way more than I’d realized?
Again… Why?
It was a weird, nagging feeling, and it made no sense.
What was Flynn gonna do, protect me from having a bad day?
Chapter Two
Summer
I woke up in the dead of night.
It was an ugly wakeup, disturbing. The kind that tears you out of a deep dream. I was disoriented but wide awake, and I didn’t know why.
I just knew that something had woken me up.
My heartbeat slammed in my chest. I was alone in bed, in my bedroom, and it was dead silent. I realized I was holding my breath and exhaled, hard.
“Fuck,” I muttered, rubbing my face.
What the hell.
Maybe I was having a bad dream? But I couldn’t remember it.
All I could remember was… I was having a bad day.
And maybe it wasn’t quite done with me yet.
I threw back the covers and sat up. Everything felt creepy and wrong, like the lingering effects of a nightmare.