Tempting Tatum Read Free

parents has become a tradition. Asher and I moved out when we were twenty-one, and recently our little sister Ember, well she’s twenty-two, but still little to me, has moved out as well. I worry about her living on her own. Living alone doesn’t seem to faze her, except she complains of boredom. Ember is a social butterfly; that’s what my mom calls her. Asher and I were four when she was born, and we have always gone out of our way to protect her. Hell, Dad beat that into our heads from the time she was born. Not just for Ember, for women in general. Always treat them with respect and never lay a mean hand on them. That philosophy was born and bred into us.
    My mom is the administrative assistant to the mayor of Murfreesboro. She and my father have been married for twenty-eight years. She, and I quote, “Just wants her babies to be as happy as she is.” In Mom terms, that means get hitched and have me some grandbabies. Of course, Asher and I are first on the hit list, with Ember just graduating from college. She graduates in a few weeks with her degree in elementary education. She wants to teach kindergarten. Ember has always loved kids.
    At one time, I thought I would be the first to make my parents grandparents. My ex, Beth, and I dated for two years. I was ready to ask her to marry me. The day I had planned to ask her, she showed up on my doorstep. She had news for me. Apparently, she had been sleeping around behind my back. She was six weeks pregnant and the baby wasn’t mine. It had been longer than that since we had slept together. The department was short-staffed due to an injured man. With the hours I picked up there as well as my time at the shop, there was not much time for anything else. I was trying to make the shop a success so I could buy a house. Asher and I were living in an apartment at the time. It didn’t seem to bother Beth; I guess that should have tipped me off. I was blinded by…well, a lot of things. I was preoccupied with the shop, picking up at the department whenever I could, and things between us were…fine. I assumed that proposing was the next step. She talked about it often and I was willing to give that to her. That day on my doorstep, she came clean. She had been seeing this guy for over a year behind my back. That was three years ago, and I haven’t been in a relationship since. Sure, I date, hook up here and there. I’m selective though. I don’t like the thought of using women for sex and, well, Beth pretty much ruined me ever being in another relationship. Why chance the heartache? I put all of my focus into the shop and volunteering for the department.
    As I pull up to my parents’ house, I spot Asher and his girlfriend Grace. He informed me earlier in the week that he was going to propose, and that if things went well, he and Grace would be finding a place of their own. I’m happy for them. Maybe someday, I might have a change of heart and be where he is. I wanted that life with Beth: marriage, kids, all of it. Hell, if I’m honest, I want it now. I just haven’t found anyone who I’m willing to risk my heart for.
    I climb the steps to the front porch and reach for Grace. I throw my arm over her shoulder and kiss her cheek. “Hey, beautiful, thanks for meeting me here,” I say with a wink.
    Grace giggles.
    Asher growls, “Hands off my woman!”
    I throw my head back in laughter. Fucking with him never gets old. Grace is the one and only girl I’ve seen him this way with. He loves her; even a blind man can see it. I give Grace another squeeze and then release her. Asher pulls her into his chest and kisses her temple.
    As soon as I’m through the door, I smell Mom’s cooking and my stomach growls. I can hear Mom and Ember talking as they finish lunch. Asher and Grace are still out on the front porch and Dad is sitting in his recliner watching ESPN. I hand out my fist for him to bump and he shakes his head with a smile as we bump fists. “Smells good,” I