Tempt the Hookup (Tempt 3)

“What?” I yell, sitting up from my spot on the couch. “Why the fuck would you tell them that?”

“God,” he groans. “Don’t you know anything?” he says. “The minute they think you’re playing hard to get, the stakes go higher. It’s like who is going to break him down. Women are fucking ruthless.”

“This all makes sense now,” I tell him. “Last time I was there, Susan asked me if I wanted to go couch shopping with her.”

“Anyway, what if she thinks you’re gay?” he asks me. “What if you put out the wrong message with the whole I haven’t dated in seven years?”

I can’t believe I’m going to admit this, but what if I did put that out there, and she thinks I am gay now? “I was trying to tell her that I didn’t want anyone else.”

“Well, what if it came across as your vagina broke my dick, and now I don’t like vaginas anymore?” he says, and I put my head back on the couch and close my eyes.

“How did you ever get Mona to go out with you, let alone marry you?” I ask him.

“It’s my charm,” he says and then laughs. “That and I begged and pleaded for her to give me a chance.”

I laugh out loud. “That sounds more like it.”

“So what’s the story? Do you still want her?” he asks the million-dollar question. A question I am not ready to answer myself.

“If I thought she was beautiful before, I was wrong,” I tell him honestly.

“Then you know what you gotta do,” he says.

“Yeah,” I say, “and what is that?”

“You need to tempt your hookup or baby mama.” He laughs. “Tempt her so hard she won’t want to look elsewhere.”

I rub my face. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“You need to woo her,” he says. “Show her that you’re a good catch.”

“I am a good catch,” I counter at him.

“I know that, and you know that, but she doesn’t,” he tells me. “All she really knows is that you spent four days banging her.” I sit up now, all the ideas rushing to me at once. “We have to start at square one.”

“Yes,” I agree. “But what is square one?” I ask him.

“Show her you’re interested,” he says, and I hear him snapping his fingers as he comes up with stuff. “Tell her she looks pretty. Tell her you like the way her hair bounces.”

“Her hair bounces?” I ask him.

“Women love that shit,” he says, and I hear him snap his fingers again. “Oh, oh, and her smell. Tell her she smells good.”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure about this.”

“Trust me. It’s going to work,” he says, and I hang up, tossing my phone to the side. I get back to work and finally fall into bed close to midnight.

The next day when I’m slipping on my gray suit jacket, Eliahn texts.

Eli: He’s ready and by the door. Warning: he is super excited.

I smile and then text her back

Me: On my way!

Slipping the phone in my pocket, I grab my briefcase and drop it in the car before walking over to Eliahn’s house. I don’t even have to ring the doorbell before Aiden swings the door open and comes bouncing out in blue pants and a white oxford top with a blue jacket. His backpack is on his back.

“Daddy, you’re late,” he says, smiling up at me, and I bend to kiss his cheek. Every single time he calls me daddy, I have this sense of pride that takes over me, and I swear I would give him anything he asks for.

“Did you sleep okay?” I ask him, and he nods his head. I look up, and I see Eliahn walking toward us, and I swear I sigh. If Nick was here, he would smack me upside the head. She’s wearing black pants that are tight and a white top with a necklace. She slips on her light pink jacket when she comes to the door and smiles at me.

“He’s been up since six,” she tells me. “He should be ready for bed at seven tonight.” She smiles and then squats down in front of him. “Have a great day, mon amour,” My love, she calls him, then stands up and picks up a beige legal envelope.

“I filled out all my info, and they are just missing yours.” I nod at her, grabbing the envelope from her. I want to go over and tell her to have a great first day at work, but I also want to do it with my hands buried in her hair and with her naked.

“I’ll fill it out before I drop him off.” I nod at her. “You look pretty,” I say, and the minute the words come out of my mouth, I want to take them back because she doesn’t just look pretty she looks beautiful, breathtaking even.