His Temptation, Her Secret

“I’m good with spreadsheets.”

“Sold,” Tasha quickly said.

Jules’s phone chimed and she checked the message. “Apparently, Matt’s not going to cut it.” She rose to her feet. “I better take off.”

“I’ll go with you,” Tasha said. “Sage, the budget is coming your way first thing tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” Sage said.

Melissa laughed. “No, thank you. It’s the least popular job for the whole festival.”

“Way to talk her out of it,” Tasha said.

“I’m still in,” Sage said, feeling happy to be useful.

While Jules and Tasha left, Melissa rolled up the map of the park.

“Glass of wine?” Melissa asked Jules. “I didn’t want to offer while Tasha was here, since she can’t drink.”

“I’d love one.” Sage enjoyed Melissa’s company.

Eli and Heidi were well looked after, and TJ had said he’d be staying late to teleconference with someone in Australia.

“Noah will be bringing you guys the upstairs plans tomorrow,” Melissa said as she opened a cupboard filled with glasses.

Sage followed her into the big, bright, brand-new kitchen. She loved the hunter-green countertops, the sunshine lighting and all the wood accents. There were long banks of cupboards and what seemed like miles of usable countertops.

“I’m sure I’ll like it.” From what she’d seen of Melissa and Noah’s partially renovated house, she very much trusted Noah’s tastes.

“It’s an amazing thing you’re doing,” Melissa said as she poured.

“I’m not doing anything. It was TJ’s idea, and Noah is the one executing it.”

“I meant with Heidi.”

Sage mentally switched gears. “It’s not altruistic. She’s a wonderful little girl.”

“Still, TJ said to Noah that you didn’t hesitate for a second.”

“Neither did he.” Sage was still grateful for TJ’s quick acceptance of Heidi, and of Eli too, she realized.

He could have made things difficult for her, but he’d come up with a very creative solution. Few men would have opened up their lives that way TJ had done, even for their own son, and certainly not for the woman who’d kept a secret from him all these years.

“What?” Melissa prompted, holding out a glass of white wine.

“Nothing.”

“You’ve got an expression on your face.” She gazed closely at Sage. “Are you thinking about TJ?”

“Eli and Heidi.”

“You’re thinking about a man.”

Sage gave a nervous laugh. “Are you a mind reader?”

“I’m an expression reader. But I won’t press.” Melissa led the way back to the table and set the chilled bottle of wine between them while they sat.

“But I am curious,” Melissa said. “Are things going okay with the two of you? There have been some huge changes in both of your lives.”

“They’re going fine,” Sage said. “They’re going good.” She tried to stop a smile, but it came anyway.

“Okay, now I have to ask,” Melissa said, arching forward. “Don’t answer if you don’t want to, but is there something romantic going on in your marriage?”

“No,” Sage quickly answered. She took a bracing sip of the wine.

“Okay.” Melissa sat back.

“I’ve kissed him,” Sage admitted.

She wanted to be friends with Melissa, and being completely guarded about her personal life didn’t seem like a good way to start a friendship. And they were only kisses. One of them had been at their wedding. They didn’t mean a thing. Well, they didn’t mean much.

“Was it a kiss or a kiss?” Melissa asked.

“It was a kiss,” Sage said. “Okay, it was a good kiss.” She slipped her fingers along the stem of the glass. “Some might call it a great kiss.”

Melissa raised her glass in a mock toast.

“Am I being stupid? This isn’t a romance, far from it,” Sage said. “But he’s a really hot guy.”

“He is handsome,” Melissa said. “And he’s athletic and intelligent. And he’s the father of your child. And you’re living with him. I’d say there was something wrong with you if you weren’t attracted to him.”

“Well, then, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with me.”

Melissa chuckled. “Would it be so bad? If something were to happen between you two?”

“I don’t know,” Sage answered honestly. “We went into this with our eyes wide-open. It was for Eli. Neither of us was looking for a relationship, especially not TJ.” Her voice went lower. “Especially not TJ.”