Welcome to Temptation: A Romantic Comedy Read Free Page A

the distance between herself and Gator. She had never forgotten those onyx eyes. They could pierce a stone wall and turn a woman’s knees to gelatin at the same time.
    “You can’t force her to go with you,” Michelle said, “and all the threats in the world aren’t going to change her mind.”
    Despite his ever-souring mood, Gator looked amused. “Aw, Reba knows I won’t really shoot her,” he said. “I could just give her a good pistol whipping.”
    “I’ll stay with her.”
    His look turned to disbelief. Michelle Thurston hadn’t lost her spunk, thank goodness, but what she was suggesting was shear lunacy. “ You’re going to ride out the storm with Reba?” he asked.
    “We’ve ridden out more than one storm in this old house.”
    “Perhaps you haven’t heard how big this thing is,” Gator replied.
    “I’ve been listening to weather reports.”
    He looked about. “Well, then, I take it you have all the supplies you need?”
    Michelle did not respond. She had not brought supplies because she’d had no intention of staying. She had planned to help her grandmother pack a few things and hit the road. “I was in the process of getting things together when you showed up.” Michelle preferred lying to him than appearing foolish. “I’m sure we’ll be fine,” she said. “In the meantime, you’re probably needed in town.”
    “Are you trying to get rid of me?” He did not wait for her to reply. “You know, if I weren’t such a nice guy, I could handcuff the two of you and haul you to jail for not following evacuation orders.”
    “Really?” Michelle folded her arms in front of her. “And I could probably call this attorney I know and have you kicked out of office.”
    “You would do that for me?” Gator asked, sounding delighted. “That’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time.”
    “Now, now, children,” Reba admonished gently. “Let’s don’t bicker. We’re just tense because of the storm.” She pulled herself out of her rocker. “Come on in the kitchen, Gator, and let me give you something to eat. You look awful. You must’ve had a late night.”
    “Don’t go trying to change the subject on me, Reba.” He followed her into the next room. “But I will take a glass of tomato juice if you have it. And a couple of aspirin,” he added.
    Michelle stood there dumbfounded. She followed them and watched from the kitchen door as Gator accepted the aspirin and washed it down with a tall glass of tomato juice.
    “I don’t believe this,” she said. “You have a hangover. No wonder your eyes are so bloodshot. You look as though you just crawled out of some woman’s bed. Is that a hickey on your neck, for heaven’s sake?”
    “Michelle!” Reba said. “That is no way to treat a guest.”
    Gator set his empty glass on the kitchen table and faced Michelle, clearly annoyed. “It’s nobody’s business how I spend my Saturday nights. Now, could we stop harping on my personal life and get the hell out of here? I don’t have all day.”
    When Reba spoke, she was adamant. “This is the last time I’m going to tell you, Gator: I ain’t going.”
    He regarded the older woman for a moment. “If you won’t think about yourself, think about your granddaughter. Are you willing to put her life in danger as well?”
    Reba was clearly shaken at the thought. She had obviously been so wrapped up in saving the lives of her pets that she hadn’t considered Michelle or herself. Her face crumpled and sudden tears filled her eyes. “Then make her go with you, Gator.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Grand,” Michelle said. “I’m not leaving you.” She took one spindly hand in her own. “We’ll be okay,” she told the woman, sounding a lot braver than she felt; but she had to admit, in all honesty, if the tables were turned and someone told her she would have to leave her pets behind, she wouldn’t have been able to do it either.
    Gator looked from one woman to the other. It was obvious