Tempted - First & Forever Stories

He tossed a duffle bag into the back seat and smiled at me as he said, “Good morning.”

Once he was settled in the passenger seat, I handed him a cup and a white paper bag. “I thought you could use the biggest coffee I could find this morning. Also, the breakfast sandwich isn’t healthy at all, but we all need a little fat and grease now and then.” He thanked me, then peeled the lid off his cup and took a sip as I asked, “Is George home?”

“No, he spent the night at his girlfriend’s again.”

As I pulled away from the curb, I said, “That’s what I figured, so you and I can split his breakfast sandwich. I bought one for him just in case.”

“He and Flora are getting pretty serious, and I don’t know what to think about that. They’ve known each other such a short time, but my granddad’s already talking about marriage.”

“Just be happy for him. That’s all he needs from you, Eden.”

He took another sip of coffee before saying, “You’re right. That never comes easily for me, though. I always get so caught up in the what-ifs—what if it doesn’t work out? What if he gets hurt?”

“Then at least he gave it a shot. I think it’s wonderful and amazing that he’s taking a chance on love at seventy-three. We could all take a page from George’s book.”

We took some time to eat as I drove through the city, and after a while Eden muttered, “I wish I wasn’t so cautious all the time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just look at you, for example. You can be happy for George and see his high-speed relationship as a good thing, while all I see are red flags that aren’t actually there. Why can’t I just be happy for him?”

“There’s nothing wrong with being cautious,” I said. “But I happen to know you were impulsive once in your life, so there’s hope for you.” I shot him a grin, and he got my meaning and grinned, too. We both knew giving in to his attraction to me was the most impulsive thing he’d ever done.

As I merged onto the Bay Bridge, he leaned over and rested his head on my shoulder. After a minute, he started to fall asleep. No wonder. He had to be exhausted, after just doing this drive the day before. But then he jerked his head up and blinked a few times.

I said softly, “Don’t fight it, Eden. I’ve got everything under control, so you can just go ahead and sleep.” He returned his head to my shoulder and let himself relax, and fell asleep soon after.

It occurred to me that our usual roles were reversed. I was being the caretaker for a change, and it actually felt really good.

It was almost nine p.m. when we reached the cabin. We’d made a couple of quick stops along the way, including a liquor store in Nevada and a grocery store in Salt Lake City, so we were totally stocked up for the next few days.

We found my brother sitting on the deck of the Webbers’ cabin, sipping tea with them while a fire crackled in their fire pit. That figured. Casey was extremely social, so of course he befriended everyone he could find.

I waved hello to all three of them, and Casey eyed us suspiciously and called, “What are you doing back here?”

“Keeping you company,” Eden answered.

I grinned and added, “Whether you like it or not.”

“We brought groceries, and we’re starving so we’re going to make a late dinner. All of you are more than welcome to join us,” Eden said.

The Webbers thanked us and told us they’d eaten, and Casey muttered, “I’m not hungry.”

Eden called him on it. “You’re always hungry, so I don’t believe you. Dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes.”

I continued on to the last cabin in the row, and as we climbed out of the car and grabbed the grocery sacks, I said, “Casey certainly didn’t look thrilled to see us. Do you think he’ll end up getting his own cabin?”

Eden considered that as we carried the bags inside. Then he said, “He probably would if he wasn’t so cheap. Even though he’s still upset with me, he’d never spend money if he didn’t have to.” He had a point.

While Eden put away the groceries and started dinner, I got a fire going in the fireplace, then brought in our luggage and put it in my room. Casey’s stuff was in Eden’s former bedroom, the one we’d barely used.

I wondered if my brother would balk at the idea of Eden and me sharing a bed. We obviously weren’t going to be having loads of noisy sex or anything, because that would have been embarrassing for all involved. But it still might bother him.