Tempting Perfection

Kurt looked my way and smiled. We’d be going on the road for the last time in a few months. After that, the band was going to cut back on their tours, restricting time on the road to only one month in the summer. The venues were bigger and the ticket sales higher than ever before. Reverence had broken all sorts of records.

But Kurt wanted to be here with his family. Sykes and Harlem had both gotten married in the last few years. The band would continue, and I was glad. It was an intrinsic part of Kurt.

“Mommy’s home!” Dylan yelled.

All three kids ran my way, and I knelt, hugging them to me. “I missed you guys.”

Dylan flexed his muscles. “I’m getting strong like Daddy. I can hold him down.”

“Me, too, Mommy. Look.” Waylon flexed his muscles.

“Mommy, too.” Maddie held her arms straight out to the side.

“Wow, you guys are getting strong. That’s why we have to eat our vegetables every day.”

The boys made weird faces, and Maddie tried to copy them.

“Mom, can Adaline come over tomorrow?” Dylan asked.

“Yes, I spoke to Aunt Knoah and she said sure.” He jumped in the air and then started running around the room. Oh, Garrick refused to admit it, but one day, those two were going to get married. I knew it.

The kids started playing tag. Well, Maddie just kind of ran around after them, not fully understanding what they were doing. My two boys were like Kurt in almost every way. Thank goodness, Maddie seemed to be a neat freak like me.

Kurt put his hands on my waist. “Welcome home, baby. I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

He touched his lips to mine, and I melted into him. I would never tire of this life. Together, we’d made perfection.

Enjoy an exclusive sneak peek from the upcoming title,

Intoxicated by You

Chapter One

Alexa

“Pick up your phone,” I whispered, peering into the window. The entire town of Skagway was in the Red Onion Saloon celebrating Mayor Richmond’s reelection. I’d arrived in Skagway two days earlier and so far had managed to go unnoticed, which was quite a feat for such a small town. But I wasn’t going to go unnoticed today. Oh no, Teagan had insisted I meet her here to get the keys for the property I’d bought. And I needed to start cleaning up the place.

Inside the bar, people cheered while the mayor stood on a chair in the middle of the room. Drake was inside—I could feel it. Whenever he was near, my body came alive and excitement danced along my skin.

But I wasn’t ready to see him. I’d hoped these feelings would have disappeared over the last two years. But if my current state of awareness was any indication, they hadn’t in the slightest. Which sucked. Drake Foster was the one person I couldn’t be with. It had been my father’s last piece of advice before he died.

Teagan knew this. She knew it. She just thought it was bullshit that I would make myself miserable. Drake had probably moved on, but I’d refused to ask. If he’d found someone else, I didn’t know if I could face it. The thought caused my chest to ache. I knew at some point it would be necessary to see him. Face what I had done. But not today. Not today. I needed to get myself grounded and face other demons from my past.

Facing Drake would happen, of course. I’d returned to my hometown to open a clinic with my friend Hollis. Well, technically, he’s Dr. Hollis Fritz. Skagway didn’t have its own doctor. For major medical crises, the injured had to be airlifted to another town with a doctor. With a minimum fee of ten thousand dollars after insurance, that alone could put severe financial stress on a family here. Plus, waiting for the chopper delayed treatment for critical cases. That was the reason my father had died two years ago after a logging incident. The chopper couldn’t make it in time. With a focus I’d never had before, I’d gone back to college my sophomore year and buried myself in my studies to finish my nursing degree in record time.

My phone vibrated, and I crouched down lower to answer Hollis.

Hollis: Decided to come up a day early. I’ll be there later today.

Me: Want me to pick you up?

Hollis: Nah, my car is being delivered to the airport. I’ll get settled. We can meet up tomorrow. You still going to the clinic?

Hollis had always been a bit of a loner. That was why we’d clicked two years ago. He was a trust-fund baby who wanted a break from the leisurely life of the rich and famous. Our little town of Skagway, Alaska would provide that escape.

I hunkered down a little lower to ensure my head wasn’t visible above the windowsill.