More than Temptation (2 page)

“I’ll get you some Tasty Devil,” Storm said. “I also have a new candy with strawberry and coconut I want you to try.”

“I’m nothing but your guinea pig.” The man leaned against the counter.

“Yep. I know when I need a tester for strawberry and coconut I have a guinea pig in you.” Storm wagged his finger at the man. “I know your flavour weakness.”

“You do.” The man laughed. “Why are you still here? Get my candy.”

“I’m going.” Storm went to another case.

Bella waited until he did before she walked closer to the man. “Tasty Devil? I’ve never had it. What’s it taste like?”

“A devilish delight.” The man turned to her. “Strawberry and coconut heaven.”

“Hmmm… My favourite is the Angel Dream.” Bella opened her bag before she took out one of the wrapped candies then held it out. “Has coconut but not strawberry. It’s coconut with pecan, dipped in white chocolate. Tastes delicious.”

“Thank you.” The man took it. “I’ve never tried it. But I will.” He palmed it then held out his hand. “Morgan James.”

“Nice to meet you, Morgan.” Bella slid her hand into his.

Morgan held onto her hand and studied her. Bella didn’t try to get loose, instead waiting to see what he would do. She would be a willing participant in whatever he wanted.

“I have a good life. Nice, settled, and I don’t need any complications. And you have complication written all over you,” Morgan said.

“Really?” Bella glanced down at her orange T-shirt, black jeans and boots then back at him. She chuckled then smiled widely. “I don’t see it, but maybe you can see with your super sight. Well, Mr Morgan James, if you ever decide that you want to get to know complicated ole me, look me up at the supper club I work at.” She stroked her finger along the back of his then slowly disentangled from him. “Nice meeting you.”

She pivoted then walked away. Bella didn’t need to look to know he was watching her. She felt his gaze almost like a physical touch.
I hope he comes to find me. If not, I’ll be back here to see Storm to get more information on this Morgan James.
She paused then shrugged into her coat before opening the door to the shop and exiting. As she passed the glass with the stylised logo for the store, she looked inside and saw the man across the room. He was indeed watching her. She lifted her hand and waved before she went out of view of the window.

Morgan James stared after the woman as she disappeared from view. Something about her niggled at him as being familiar, although he was sure he’d never met her before. He could still hear that sweet, smoky voice in his head. What he’d told her was the truth. He didn’t want or need anything that would upset his life. Yet instead of being offended, the woman had been amused. Her laugh had made him wonder how she’d sound if she made noises because of pleasure. Morgan shook his head. He shouldn’t be thinking like that. It was best he left her alone and wrote this off as a chance meeting at the candy shop. He lifted the wrapped treat she’d given him, opened it then popped it into his mouth. The taste burst across his tongue and he imagined chasing the candy in her mouth as they kissed.

Snap out of it, Morgan. She is trouble. But, God, what a magnificent kind of trouble she would be.
Even dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, the woman had a regal air about her. A thought filled his mind then he scowled.

“Well, shit. I don’t even know her name, or the name of the club, even if I wanted to find her at her supper club.”

“Supper club?”

“It’s nothing.” He focused on his friend Storm.

“Okay.” Storm held up the bag. “You know the drill. Don’t just gulp down the candy I want you to try just because it has coconut and strawberry. I—”

“Yeah, yeah. You want me to taste it and let you know how it tastes, how the texture feels in my mouth and so on.” Morgan rolled his eyes. “I’ve been testing your candy before you even opened this place, so I know what to do.”

“You and my brother are my test tasters.” Storm handed him the bag. “Without the two of you, this place wouldn’t have started and you all keep me going by helping me test out new candy.”

“God, I remember when you first started trying flavour combinations. You better be glad I love you like a brother because some of the candy you had us try was awful.” Morgan grinned. “Went way beyond the duty of friendship.”

“Good thing we’re brothers by choice then. Brothers do things like try candy that is awful.” Storm lifted a tray and went to take it to the case.

Morgan followed him. “Humph. I don’t think that’s true. Why is it when you and your brother want to convince me to do something, it is always what brothers do?”

“Because it’s our way of suckering you into it.” Storm chuckled as he set down the tray. “You do the same. You’ve got us into loads of trouble pulling the ‘we are brothers’ card.”

“That’s not true.”

Storm gave him a look.

“Much,” Morgan amended. “Please, your brother is the one who got us in the most trouble.”

“Yeah. He was a little hooligan. But we never were malicious about it.”

“Good thing we weren’t.” Morgan laughed. “He was always the decision maker then too.”

“Yes and he was fair too. Makes him a good judge now.”

“It does.” Morgan glanced at his watch. “Are we still on for dinner next Sunday?”

“Yes.”

“Is it still at your brother’s place?”

“Yep,” Storm said absently as he fixed the candy.

“Who was the lady you gave candy to before me, and where is the supper club she works at?” Morgan asked before he could think not to.

“Who?” Storm focused on him “Oh, you mean Bella. I’ve told you about her before. We’re good friends. Wait—I just realised you’ve never met her before.” Storm rested his hand on the counter, watching him across the surface. “She’s the one I told you was there for me when—”

“Storm—” Morgan interrupted, not needing him to continue. He knew what he was referring to and didn’t need Storm to have to talk about it again.

“Her place is Bella’s, on Duquesne Place,” Storm interjected.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“Come to think of it, I’m surprised you don’t know her. She’s related to Julianne.”

When he said that, Morgan immediately knew what it was about her that had struck a chord in him. It was her eyes—she had the golden eyes that he’d come to equate with the Locke family. He thought briefly of Julianne Locke, the woman he had saved many years ago. She’d been pregnant when she and her husband had been in a devastating crash that had taken his life and had left Julianne hurt. Julianne and her daughter had survived because of him. It wasn’t something Morgan wanted credit or their gratitude for—although Julianne as well as many of her family and friends conveyed both sentiments. He’d only recently reconnected with Julianne, when his friend and co-worker had become involved with her. She and her daughter had wanted to show their appreciation, but it had become much more. They had taken him into the fold of their family, and he’d become very friendly with many of the Lockes. Although he’d heard of Bella, a retired singer who owned a popular business that kept her very busy, he’d never met her. Her busyness was one of the reasons why they hadn’t seen each other before. He’d attended various things she had been supposed to be at, but she hadn’t shown up. As far as he recalled, no one had mentioned that it was a supper club.

“Oh.” Morgan shrugged. “We’ve never crossed paths. I’ve got to get back to the station.”

“Okay,” Storm replied.

Morgan left and once he was on the sidewalk, he stopped, putting on his jacket. Now that he knew who she was, Morgan wondered if her interest in him was gratitude for saving Julianne.
It doesn’t matter. I won’t see her again. At least, nothing beyond interaction with her family.
With that decided, he strode down the sidewalk to his vehicle. As he got in, he thought of her laugh and smile again. Morgan pushed them away and returned to work.

A half an hour later he strode into the Singleton Fire Department on Delko Street, where he worked. Inside, he waved at the other people working as he headed to the office he shared with some of the other fire investigators. Immediately he noticed that Keenan Callaghan—who was engaged to Julianne—was at his desk on the phone. He lifted his hand, acknowledging him, and Morgan returned the gesture.

He went to his own desk, shrugging out of his coat before placing it on the back of his chair, then pulled out a file for a case he was working on and sat. Morgan started to work, but his thoughts throughout the day kept going to the golden-eyed woman who had captured his attention with her exuberance.

Later when he was at home, he still couldn’t get her out of his mind. Pacing back and forth in his living room, Morgan stared out at the darkened night, debating with himself.

“Fuck it.” Finally, he headed for the door and to his blue Dodge Durango.

Soon he was in his vehicle and headed out of his driveway. He tapped his finger on the wheel as he whistled along with the CD that had been cued up from earlier. While he drove, the time passed quickly and almost an hour later, he parked in the lot before turning off the vehicle then getting out. He strode across the lot and glanced at the line waiting to be let in. He stopped on the sidewalk in front of the entrance and debated if he should leave. It was obviously a busy night, and this really hadn’t been a good idea to come here. He turned to leave.

“Morgan,” someone called.

He glanced towards the sound and smiled as he saw a familiar face. He walked over and the woman enveloped him in her arms.

“Khandi, it’s nice to see you. What are you doing here?”

Khandi Locke pulled back but kept her hands on his waist. “Nice to see you too.” She studied him. “You forgot that I work here?”

“Yeah.” Morgan nodded. “I did. With so many of you Lockes running around, I can’t keep it straight who works where or owns what.”

“Don’t worry.” Khandi changed her hold, sliding her arm into the crook of his, then patted his forearm. “You’ll get used to it. Come, let me take you to Bella. Did you want to check your coat?”

“How’d you know I was here to see her?” Morgan frowned and shook his head. “No, I’ll keep my jacket.” He figured that what he had to find out wouldn’t take long and he could leave quicker if he had it instead of waiting for it to be retrieved from the coat check.

“She mentioned you might come by.” Khandi studied him again. “Although she didn’t try to show it, I could tell there was something she wasn’t telling me. So I got curious and told the door to keep an eye out for you. One of our laser tag buddies is manning the door tonight so they know how you look.”

Morgan wasn’t sure what to make of Khandi manoeuvring it so if he came he would see Bella. She led him inside, past the line waiting.

“You all seem busy. Maybe I should come back another time.” Morgan glanced around the club.

Bella’s was a classy yet comfortable-looking place. There were patrons eating and the set-up was so they had space that was private from the others close by.

“This is a slow night.” Khandi led him on. “Even if it wasn’t, Bella would see you. When you come again, just give your name at the door and you’ll be let in.” Khandi stopped. “There’s Bella.”

“Who said I’ll be here again?” Morgan stared at her.

“I know Bella. She’s a smart lady.” Khandi squeezed his arm and winked. “Also determined, so she wouldn’t let you get away, since you came to her.”

Khandi walked away. Morgan stared after her a moment then finally looked towards where Khandi had pointed. His breath caught as he spotted Bella. Earlier she’d been casually dressed and had looked sexy as hell. Dressed up, she was as sexy as she’d been previously and Morgan had a hard time remembering to breathe. Her red dress fell in soft waves around her curvaceous body to just below her knees, while her white accessories offset the colour. Her hair, which earlier had been in ponytail, was now loose around her, framing her captivating sienna face with kinky wild curls that went to below her hips. All he could think was that she was definitely a complication, and him deciding to come here had been a bad idea, because he wasn’t going to walk away. Bella stopped before him, a hair’s breadth between them. Morgan’s gaze was drawn to her knee-high,
white, high-heeled boots, which had jewels that twinkled on the strap that crisscrossed up to the top of her footwear.

He lifted his head and met her golden gaze. “At the candy store, did you show interest in me because of gratitude?”

“It wasn’t until after I was at my third stop after I left you at the candy shop that I realised who you were. So no, I didn’t show interest because of gratitude.” Bella’s gaze was steady. “Even if I had known who you were when we met, I wouldn’t have been interested because of gratitude.” She stepped closer, her clothing brushing against his. “We’re both blunt and let’s continue in that same vein. I’m interested in you, Morgan James. The man who, when I saw him, made me think of all manner of things—none of which had to do with gratitude. Things that I can’t even articulate yet. I want us to see where this attraction can possibly go. I know you’re attracted to me too.” She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them, the desire in them made Morgan’s heart race. “However, my question to you is this. Are you willing to take a chance?”

Chapter Two

Morgan stared into her eyes. Bella smiled a slow, sultry smile then stepped back and held out her hand. He put his into hers then she led him to a booth close to the stage.

“Give me your jacket.”

He took it off and handed it to her.

“I’ll be back.” She left him.

Morgan slid into the booth and watched as she strolled away. The sway of her hair just below her ass made his hand ache to touch the strands that he knew would be soft. Soon, Bella went out of view. He turned his attention to the club and he watched the waitresses and waiters easily navigating the tables as they took orders, delivered food and efficiently did whatever was needed to make people comfortable. As he observed the area, he saw a pattern of how they worked and wondered who was in charge of the wait staff because they had them well trained.