His Temptation, Her Secret

TJ paid the parking charges and exited the lot.

It was a short drive to the highway, and there their speed increased.

The ride was smooth, and the sports car hugged the road. It was like floating on a cushion of air. It was so much better than the bus. She leaned her head back against the soft headrest and watched the strobe of streetlights above.

Too soon, they came to her exit.

She directed him to her neighborhood and pointed out the right house.

He pulled to the curb, setting the brake and shutting off the engine. He stared through the windshield. “Who are those guys?”

As she unbuckled her seat belt, Sage took in a group of teens and young adults in front of the corner market. There were six of them, scruffy-looking, all male. A couple of them were smoking, another couple were showing an interest in TJ’s car.

“They look worse than they are.” Sage had never been bothered by anyone.

“Are there a lot of drugs around here?”

“How would I know?”

He gave her a frown.

“No more and no less than in other parts of the city. I don’t pay that much attention.”

She was used to the neighborhood. She saw it every day. Sure, sometimes litter collected in the gutters. And the lawns weren’t exactly fine-trimmed. Some of them were barely lawns. But the MacAfees next door were a lovely retired couple, and Sage’s landlord, Hank Taylor, owned the bakery two blocks down. He was a hardworking, fiftysomething man who looked out for her and Eli.

TJ opened his door and got out, staring levelly at the group of boys.

Sage followed and got out her side.

“Ignore them,” she told TJ.

“They’re trying to decide if they can intimidate me.”

“If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.”

“I don’t want them to bother my car.”

“Don’t be paranoid.” She started across the sidewalk for the worn stepping stones that led to the basement entrance.

“How long have you lived here?” he asked, falling into step.

“Since Eli was two.”

“Has it always been like this?” His tone was clearly critical.

“You mean low-rent?”

“This is a little more than low-rent.”

She inserted her key into the doorknob and turned it open.

“No dead bolt?” he asked.

“It’s not exactly a high crime district.”

“Could have fooled me.”

Insulted and annoyed, she stepped into the doorway and turned. “Thanks for the ride, TJ.”

He looked confused. “You don’t want to talk?”

“About?”

“About our situation.” His gaze took in the room behind her.

It was clean. Maybe a little cluttered, since she’d spent so much time at the hospital the past two weeks. There were dishes in the drainer and a basket of clean laundry on the sofa. She’d been to the Laundromat but hadn’t had time to put everything away.

She realized he had to be used to far more opulent surroundings, but she wasn’t going to apologize. She had a limited budget. Eli had a safe, clean place to live. His school was basic, but the teachers were dedicated. And the park down the street was part of a city beautification project and was a perfectly nice place for him to play.

“I’m tired,” she said to TJ. “Can we talk tomorrow?”

He glanced at his watch. “I really don’t want to leave you here alone.”

“It’s my home. You’re being both ridiculous and insulting.”

She’d been aware of the neighborhood slipping in recent years. But it was still a perfectly fine place to live.

“There are thugs on the front sidewalk.”

“Those are kids.”

“Those kids have been shaving for more than a few years. They could be armed.”

She’d had enough. “Good night, TJ. Go back to your five-star hotel. Eat some twenty-dollar almonds from the minibar or something.”

“Come with me,” he said.

In exasperation, she dropped her purse on the bookshelf. “I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight. Just like I did last night and just like I’ll be doing tomorrow night.”

He opened his mouth.

“Stop,” she ordered. She pointed out the door. “Go. I’ll meet you at the hospital tomorrow.”

“I’ll pick you up.”

“No, you won’t. I already regret letting you drive me home.”

“No, you don’t.”

He was right. She didn’t. If he hadn’t driven her home, she’d still be standing at the downtown station.

“Why are you fighting me on this?” he asked.

It was a fair question. She wasn’t exactly sure. “I think mostly because you’re overbearing.”