Tempting (Red Lips & White Lies Book 1)

Sometimes, I add a task that I’ve already completed to my to-do list, just so I can enjoy little dopamine boost that comes with crossing it off. Now that’s my version of satisfaction. Not sure what that says about me . . .

—Kenzie’s Secret Thoughts

Nixon

Hey, you want me to pick you up for dinner?

It’s the first thing Nixon has said to me since last night when he deposited me at my front door. No kiss. No talk about lesson two. He waited until I walked through my door, then told me to lock myself in before he left. Then he just . . . left.

No discussion. No fanfare. Hell, no talk about anything at all. Just lock up.

I stare at the message on my phone from the bed in the on-call room.

After giving up on getting any decent amount of sleep last night, I decided to stop by and check on the practice’s patients early this morning. Since then, I’ve had two go into active labor and another two come in who are still hours away from delivery. Everything is quiet at the moment, but admitting that is typically the kiss of death.

Nixon

You’ve gotta eat, Mac. Might as well make my mom happy while you’re doing it.

My pager goes off, as if my thought of quiet was all it took to piss fate off, and I admittedly breathe a sigh of relief.

Everything doesn’t always look better in the light of day. And last night . . . well, let’s just say I’m thinking it might be better if last night stayed buried in the dark. I can’t believe I admitted I’ve only had sex twice. How am I supposed to face him now? He didn’t even want to kiss me last night.

Kenzie

Sorry. At the hospital. Already been a long day. Please tell Belles I appreciate the offer.

Nixon

Okay. Have fun.

I sit there, staring at my phone.

Was I expecting him to guilt me because I have to work?

Maybe I was.

When my mom was still alive, she used to say she was single because no one would ever understand her schedule, and hers wasn’t half as hectic as mine is.

Three hours, one emergency c-section, and a healthy ten-pound baby boy later, I finally glance down at my phone again. This time, it’s two other Sinclairs texting me.

Everly

Hey! Missed you at dinner tonight. Mom said you were coming but got caught at the hospital. How was last night? Nix said Dr. Dick left you alone.

Gracie

Mom sent Nix home with a doggie bag for you. It’s from Nonna’s, and we all know no one can pass up Nonna’s chicken parm. I think there’s some salad and maybe a strawberry cupcake in there too.

Everly

Guess you’re knee deep in someone’s amniotic fluid right about now and that’s why you’re not answering. Ohhh . . . Or you’re getting it on with a hot doc in a broom closet. That always looks like fun on TV.

Gracie

I’d be scared something would fall on me.

Everly

Ehh . . . That’s half the fun. Fingers crossed he looks like McSteamy. He was hotter.

Gracie

You watch too much TV, Evie.

Everly

Listen, Grey’s Anatomy is my comfort show.

Gracie

People die in every episode.

Everly

I’m there for the hot docs, not the dead bodies. Don’t be picky, Gracie.

For identical twins, the girls couldn’t be more different in most other ways if they tried. And I’m not gonna lie, chicken parm from Nonna’s sounds absolutely delicious right about now. But it’s ten o’clock at night. I can’t knock on Nixon’s door and ask him for food this late. Can I?

I wrestle with that thought as I drive home from the hospital, freshly showered because tonight was a messy one, and I’m dreaming of soft clothes and softer pillows.

I’ll eat tomorrow.

However, once I make it home and change into my softest cream sleep shorts and the matching slouchy sweatshirt, which are basically my version of comfort clothing, my stomach is still growling for that chicken parm. I can practically taste the garlic on my tongue when I look at my phone and debate whether I should call Nixon or maybe just shoot off a text. Seriously . . . I stare at my phone long enough to want to kick my own ass for being silly and overthinking on a whole new level, even for me.

As Brynnie would tell me—Time to woman up, buttercup.

There’s chicken parm at stake.

I can do this.

It wouldn’t have been a big deal two nights ago.

Why should it be a big deal now?

I let myself out of my condo and pad down the hall to Nixon and Leo’s place and knock on their door. See? Not a big deal. I’ve got this.

Leo swings the door open with a goofy grin on his face. “Kenzie Hayes . . . fancy meeting you here.”

I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest as he drags his eyes down the length of me. “Don’t be a perv, Leo.”

I walk past him into the condo, already more comfortable than I was five minutes ago, because this . . . this I can deal with. Leo has always been a bit of a goof and maybe a touch of a perv—but in a funny way. “I heard you guys brought home a doggy bag I’m supposed to pick up.”

A bedroom door opens, and Gordie comes barreling out, nearly knocking me on my ass before I have time to squat down and love on him. “Take it easy there, big guy.” I scratch behind his ears, and the tubby puppy rolls over onto his back, letting me know he wants some belly scratching. “I got’cha.”

“Hey, Mac. I thought you were at the hospital.” Oh, wow. Gordie might not have managed to knock me on my ass, but his owner certainly just did. Tonight’s sweats are black with the red, white, and blue Revolution logo going down the leg. His hair is wet, and his shirt is blessedly off.

And oh my . . . That’s a lot of abs.

Gordie decides while I’m distracted is the perfect time to pop up and lick at my face, and this time, he actually does knock me down. “Hey, Nix.”

Nixon

“Gordie, come,” I give my ornery dog the order just like the trainer said to, only he couldn’t give two shits about me. He’s planted himself between Mac’s legs and is licking her face. Can’t say I blame him. I’d rather be there too.

Yeah . . . Best keep that thought to myself.

At least for now.

Instead, I offer her a hand up, then smack the back of Leo’s head as he laughs like a dumb fuck. “You okay, Mac?”

She dusts off her perfect ass, encased in teeny, little shorts, barely a shade darker than her sun-kissed skin. And oh yeah, my mouth fucking waters, and my dick definitely thinks it’s time to start those damn lessons now.

When she said she’d never enjoyed sex and admitted she’d only ever been with one man, I may have seen red last night. Even in college, I knew to take care of her first before I took care of myself. Whoever the her was. And I played hockey for the top team in the nation. Let’s just say there were plenty of chances.

Getting her off was always half the fun.

I want to fucking kill whoever it was that didn’t bother to take care of Mackenzie the way she deserved to be taken care of.

Lesson one may have been reminding her that not everything needs to be so damn serious and thought-out all the time, but lesson two will be where the real fun starts. And now that she’s here, it’s going to start tonight.

“You okay?” I ask as the sleeve of her top slides off her bare shoulder, giving me a tantalizing glimpse of creamy skin dotted with freckles the color of her hair.

She arches a perfectly shaped brow and smiles. “I heard a rumor there’s chicken parm from Nonna’s with my name on it in your fridge. Maybe even a cupcake too. Any chance it’s still there?”

“Damn. The girls told you . . . I thought I had lunch tomorrow,” Leo chimes in.

“Like your sisters weren’t going to tell me.” She flashes him a dazzling smile and man, she’s a fucking vision when she’s comfortable in her skin. I knew right away last night when she tensed up that something was wrong, but I had no clue what it was. And I never want her to feel that way with me.

“Ignore him. He’s full of shit. We leave tomorrow morning for a three-day away-game stretch. He doesn’t even need lunch.” I palm the small of her back and guide her into the kitchen where the bag Mom sent home with me sits in the fridge. “How was the hospital?” I run my hand through my wet hair and push it off my face, tracking the way her eyes widen as she stares at my chest. “My eyes are up here, Hayes.”

Mac rolls her eyes. “I told you before, Sinclair. Steroids aren’t good for you.”

She pulls herself up to sit on my counter, bringing her almost to my height. I wonder how this confident woman in front of me can be the same woman who was so unsure of herself last night. “What are you doing with Gordie while you guys are gone?”

“My parents are gonna watch him for me.” I pull her bag out of the fridge and drop it on her lap. “Why? You wanna watch the little terror for me?”

“Maybe.” She shrugs and peeks in the bag. “Man, that smells good.”

“A little late for chicken parm, isn’t it?” I tease her, wishing I had more food to stuff in the damn bag. Mac looks like a stiff wind would blow her away.

“Listen, Sinclair, one of us worked all day, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t you. Don’t judge me.” She closes the bag back up and beams. “I’ll be sure to stop by the studio and thank your mom later this week. This was incredibly thoughtful.”

Her pink tongue peeks out and wets her lips. “So . . . you’re leaving tomorrow for a few days. Are you excited for preseason to kick off? Or are you just ready for the season to kick in? Easton always used to complain he just wanted to get the season started. He hates preseason. He always has.”

“The team’s been gelling pretty good in practice. I want to see how we do in an actual game. We’re rookie heavy this season, so tomorrow night is gonna be a good first test.” I plant my hands on her thighs and love the way she shivers right away. “I’ve been thinking about the homework I want to give you to do while I’m gone.” My cock throbs at the thought.

Mac looks around, probably checking for Leo, who I heard head into his bedroom earlier.

“Homework?” she squeaks, and it’s sexy and kind of adorable.

Never thought those words would go hand in hand.

“Yeah, Mac. Homework. My first game is tomorrow at two. Half our team will play then. The rest of the team will play at six. I should be back in the hotel room by ten. Are you on call tomorrow night?” My need for this woman grows with just the fucking thoughts I’m having when she shakes her head. “Good. I want you to be naked in bed when I call you. Can you do that for me?”

“I feel like we’ve skipped a few lessons, Nixon.” Her words are soft and sexy. Hesitant, but also intrigued. And I’m here for all of it.

“We haven’t skipped any lessons, beautiful. I promise. I’ll tutor you through every single one. You’ve just got to trust me. Do you trust me, Mac?”

“Yes,” she tells me, and that one fucking word makes me feel like the king of the goddamn world.

Fuck . . . Does that make me Leonardo DiCaprio before the fucking ship sinks?

Hockey season is upon us, and preseason or not, I’m here for it. Bring me this season’s newest hockey hotties, puck pack members, and all the drama that goes with these hockey gods. The town of Kroydon Hills bows down to you and all your beautifully delicious season-long shenanigans. Let the games begin and may they be ever in your favor.

XOXO – Kroydon Kronicles

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