His Temptation, Her Secret

“Kids get off all right?” Melissa asked.

“They couldn’t wait to leave.”

“That’s the spirit.”

“We’ll see if the novelty lasts.” It was a lot to hope that they’d love school every morning all year long.

“I didn’t mind school,” Melissa said, her glance going to the shirt in Sage’s hand.

“Laundry,” Sage said, hooking the shirt over the back of one chair, wondering why she felt flustered. “I was about to make tea.”

“Love some.”

Sage headed for the kitchen, and Melissa followed.

“When do your classes start?” Melissa asked.

“Thursday. I decided to just stick with the two. I don’t want to shortchange the philanthropic work for Tide Rush. There are a lot of requests coming in.”

“Free money is popular. Who could have guessed?”

Sage gave an eye roll to Melissa’s sarcasm as she began filling the kettle.

Melissa laughed. “I say that as the person who asked you first.”

“That’s true. You did. Do you need a contribution for next year?”

“Not yet. I’ll hit you up in the spring.”

“I’ll be here.” As she spoke, Sage realized her future looked bright.

Her future with TJ felt good. Maybe it felt too good. She found herself glancing at his shirt again. Before Melissa interrupted, Sage had been cuddling his shirt, smiling and musing on his perfection.

That couldn’t be good.

“Sage?” Melissa asked.

“Hmm?”

“The kettle’s overflowing.”

Sage glanced down. “Oops.” She quickly shut off the tap.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong.”

Melissa moved up beside her at the sink, concern in her tone. “Is it TJ? Are there…problems?”

Melissa knew about their unorthodox sex life. It had been her idea in the first place.

“It’s good,” Sage assured her. “Really good.”

Melissa’s gaze sharpened. “Too good.”

Sage opened her mouth to lie but then changed her mind. “He’s… Yeah. Maybe too good is the right way to describe it. He’s so incredible. He’s great with the kids. Eli adores him. He’s patient and gentle with Heidi. She’s gaining confidence by the day.”

“And with you?”

Sage paused. “He’s off the charts. In every way you can imagine. I… We…”

Melissa’s arm went around Sage’s shoulders. “You’re in love with him.”

Sage closed her eyes, anxiety and relief washing through her in equal measures. “I can’t believe I let it happen.”

“Do you know how he feels?”

“He seems happy. He’s attentive. He’s relaxed. Our conversations are fun and funny. He trusts me with his money. Our sex life is terrific.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

Sage immediately shook her head. She backed away from Melissa, holding up her palms. “No. Oh, no, no. That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“The deal can change.”

“Not this deal. We’re co-parenting.”

“And you’re living together. And you’re sleeping together. And you’re sharing a bank account. That sounds a whole lot like marriage to me.”

“The marriage part isn’t the problem.” Sage stepped back and removed the kettle from the sink, drying it off with a towel before setting it on the stove.

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Melissa said.

“That’s lust.” Sage knew TJ desired her.

“I bet it’s something more.”

“You can’t read his mind.” Sage set the burner to high.

“I can see love in his eyes.”

Sage swallowed. She wanted to hope, but she didn’t dare. “It’s not going to end that way.”

“You have no idea how it’s going to end.”

“Lauren,” she said simply.

“People get over their losses. They move on.”

“Do you think?” Sage turned to look Melissa in the eyes. She wanted to hope. She very desperately wanted to hope that TJ could love her. “Do you actually think it’s possible?”

“I do think it’s possible. I think it’s likely.”

“I don’t know…”

“Just consider telling him,” Melissa said while the kettle began to boil.

Sage nodded.

She did think about telling him. It circled through her mind through their tea and conversation. What would happen if she told TJ she loved him? She pictured him looking confused. Then she pictured him looking horrified. Then she pictured him looking delighted. She let her fantasy TJ say he loved her back.