Tempting Tatum (4 page)

I wake up with a jolt. I sit up on the couch and survey my surroundings. It takes me a minute to realize I’m on Leah and Brent’s couch. I place my hand over my racing heart, another nightmare.

“Hey, you, you okay?” I hear Leah’s voice. I turn and see that she and Brent are sitting together on the love seat. He’s eating leftover pizza.

“I’m so sorry; I dozed off. What time is it?” I ask.

Leah smiles softly. “Tate, it’s eleven thirty. You slept for four hours.”

“Wow,” is all I can say. Four hours seems like an eternity compared to what I have slept at one time in the last week.

“Tate, I’m glad you’re awake. We were actually just talking about you,” Brent says with a wink. Leah is damn lucky to have found such an amazing guy.

I scoot back on the couch and cross my legs. “Really, do tell,” I retort.

“Well, you see, my new job is going to require me to work a lot of hours. The practice that I’m joining takes on call shifts at the hospital as well as regular office hours.” He reaches for Leah’s hand and laces their fingers together. “My beautiful fiancée will not have to be in a rush to find work. I want her to focus on planning our wedding. She’s not going to know anyone, and I’m afraid she’s going to miss you terribly.”

Leah smiles at me and shakes her head yes. “So much, you don’t even know,” she pleads with a smile.

“So, I was wondering if you would please consider coming with us. We have the space, and I would feel better knowing Leah won’t be spending too much time alone. Besides, she needs her maid-of-honor to get these wedding plans rolling. I plan to make an honest woman out of her sooner than later,” Brent tries to convince me.

I watch him closely for any signs that Leah might have put him up to this. He seems sincere. I don’t say anything so he continues.

“You’re like a sister…to both of us. We want you to come with us. Please say you will.”

I can feel the tears that are wetting my cheeks. “I—I don’t know what to say.”

“Say that you’ll come. We can all use a fresh start. I even kinda sorta may have a job for you, or at least a lead,” he tells me, batting his eyelashes.

“What?” Leah turns to face him. “What about me? I need a job,” she huffs.

“You, my future wife, have a wedding to plan; then work, unless I can convince you to start having my babies,” he says as he wags his eyebrows at her.

Leah’s smile lights up her face. Instead of the anger she was trying to portray just seconds ago, she’s now putty in his hands. She leans in and kisses him on the cheek.

“What kind of job?” I ask, trying to let the idea really sink in.

“Well, I may have mentioned to my new office manager that my fiancée and her best friend would be coming with me.” He winks at me. I just shake my head and smile.

“She asked what each of you did, and she said she may have a job lead for you. Her sister works for the city of Murfreesboro, not sure in what capacity, but she said they are looking for a public relations person. Someone who can help represent all areas of the city such as police, fire, and even the hospital in some cases.”

“Wow, that actually sounds kind of perfect,” I say.

“Well, then say you’ll come with us, please, Tatum,” Leah pleads. “I need you with me to plan this wedding.” She lightly elbows Brent. “It also sounds like I may need a sitter in the very near future,” she says, laughing.

“Yeah, Leah, please…wait…what? D—did you just…?” Brent stutters unable to form a sentence.

Leah smiles and shakes her head. “Hell yeah!” Brent rejoices as he devours her in an all-consuming kiss.

I can feel the grin spread across my face. I’m so happy for both of them. They are starting their lives together.

We can all use a fresh start.
I think about going back to that house and being here all alone. I think about Josh and running into him. The life Brent has painted has much more appeal. I think a fresh start is what I need. Am I making a rash decision based on emotion? Maybe, but I will have my two best friends with me. How many people get the chance to start over and have people they know and love come along for the ride?

The lovebirds finally come up for air and smile at me. Neither one the least bit embarrassed of that fact I witnessed such a personal life changing decision between them. “When do we leave?” I ask.

“Really?” Leah jumps off the love seat and tackles me. “Holy shit, this is great. Thank you so much. I can’t believe you said yes.”

Brent joins us and wraps his arms around both of us. “To new beginnings,” he cheers and we all laugh.

I pull into the lot of Self Expressions; I see that Asher and Ember are already here. Today is the day that we give our baby sister her first tattoo. Ember has been bugging the hell out of us since she turned eighteen to ink her. We told her as soon as she found something she was sure she wanted on her body for the rest of her life that we would be more than happy to do the work. Asher and I have seen so many people come through our doors with spur of the moment tattoos. We spend just as much time doing cover-ups as we do first timers.

Asher and I opened Self Expressions about six years ago. As soon as we graduated high school, we trained at the academy to become volunteers on the department. We worked our asses off and saved every damn penny to see our dream take shape. Here we are six years later with a thriving business.

As soon as I walk in the shop, I see Ember bouncing on a stool at the reception desk. Today is Sunday and we’re closed, so it’ll just be the three of us.

“About damn time you got here; let’s do this,” Ember singsongs.

I smile at her; I can’t help it. Her enthusiasm is infectious. She has been waiting for this for the last four years. “All right, sis, what are we doing?” I ask her.

“Here,” she hands Asher and I both a piece of paper, “I want one from each of you.” She smiles sweetly.

I open the folded piece of paper and read, “Every journey begins with a single step.” I look up at Ember; she’s biting down on her smile. “I want that one on the outside of my right foot,” she tells me.

We both turn to face Asher; he opens his folded piece of paper and reads aloud, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” He looks up at Ember.

Eyes sparkling, she says, “I want that one here, on my left side.” She points to the middle of her torso, right over her rib cage.

“You sure about this, Ember?” Asher questions. “This is permanent,” he reminds her.

“Ugh! Yes! I. Am. Sure. I’ve had four long years to decide what I want. I want this, no regrets,” she says, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“Well, all right then. Let’s do the foot first. Hop up in the chair,” I tell her, trying like hell not to laugh at how excited she is. It’s the little things.

“EEEKK!” she says as she skips to the chair and wiggles out of her flip-flops.

I sit down on my stool and sheath my hands in my gloves before preparing my gun and ink. “Ready?” I ask her.

“Yepper,” she replies.

I shake my head and smile. “So, how’s the apartment?” I ask her as my needle touches her skin. She winces, but stays still

“It’s amazing. I still get lonely at times, but I love being on my own. No worries, big brother,” she tells me her voice quivering.

I pull back my gun and watch her as she bites her lip. Asher and I tried to warn her. Instead of I told you so I say “Good. You know if you need anything, you can come to us, right?” I know I don’t need to remind her, but really I want to. It’s for my peace of mind as much as it is hers.

“Yes, Blaise. I’m fine, really,” she says.

“So when are you able to get into your classroom?” I ask as I place the needle back against her skin.

“Mrs. Smith asked if I would come and help her clean out. Since she is retiring, she is leaving most of her materials for me,” she replies, excitement in her voice.

“Don’t move, silly girl,” I laugh.

“Oops, sorry. I’m just excited I’m finally starting my career, living on my own, and getting my ink. Life is good.” She says through clenched teeth.

“Well, if you keep wiggling around, your ink is going to look like one of your students did it,” Asher chuckles from across the room.

“I know, sorry. I’m just so excited and it’s a little uncomfortable,” she mumbles.

“All right, you’re all set. Asher has his station set up for your other one,” I tell her as I hold a mirror out beside her foot so she can get a good look at it.

“Blaise, I love it. Thank you!” she says, wrapping me in a bear hug. I hug her back just as fiercely, and then help her off the table.

Ember hobbles over to Asher’s station and takes off her tank top. Underneath she is wearing a bikini, and I bite my tongue. She’s not a little girl anymore, but the thought of some asshole taking advantage of her still gets me riled up. I can tell by the look in Asher’s eyes that he’s thinking the same thing.

Ember notices as well. “Oh, hush you two. I’m twenty-two years old and I can wear a damn bikini if I want. This is actually the most modest one I have,” she tells us.

“Em, spare us the details, please,” Asher begs her. She flashes us both a cheesy grin and settles in on the table.

“Are you both going to make it to dinner tonight at Mom and Dad’s?” Ember asks.

“Never miss,” I say as I clean up my station. I watch as she closes her eyes and fights back the tears. The ribs are touchy even for someone who has had ink. She’s taking it like a champ.

“What about you, Ash? You and Grace coming?” she asks him taking deep even breaths.

“Yes, little sister, we’ll be there. We would be crazy to miss one of Mamma’s meals,” he says.

“Aunt Ruth and Uncle Tom are going to be there as well,” she informs us.

“How are they?” Asher asks.

Ember shrugs her shoulders. “Don’t move,” Asher tells her.

“Sorry, Mom says that Uncle Tom is getting around pretty well after the fall, but I haven’t seen them for a couple weeks, ahhh” she says wincing in pain.

Uncle Tom fell a few months ago on the ice. Broke his ankle in three separate places. He had to have reconstructive surgery and has been laid up.

“It’ll be good to see them,” I say.

“Okay, you’re all set,” Asher tells her. She immediately releases the breath she was holding. Asher offers his hand and helps her sit up and get off the table. She hobbles over to the wall that encases a floor to ceiling mirror to view our handiwork. She stares at her left side; then turns to check out her foot. She does this a couple of times, before she lifts her head to face us. When she does, there are tears in her eyes.

“Happy tears, I hope?” I ask, worried that we just inked our little sister and she hates it.

Ember nods her head. “Hell yes, these are happy tears. I love you both so much!” she says. She limps over and kisses each of us on the cheek. We both have to bend down from the height difference.

“Well, I’m off to pick up Grace. Meet you guys at the house?” Asher asks.

“Sure. Ember, you want to ride with me?” I ask her.

“Yes, hopefully the tingling in my foot will be gone by the time we’re done so I can drive.” She smiles.

I toss my keys at her. “Here, I’m just going to make sure everything is locked up. I’ll meet you in the car.”

I do a walk-through of the building, making sure the front door is pulled tight, and meet Ember in the car.

“All set?” she asks.

“Yep, just wanted to make sure everything was turned off.” Being a volunteer firefighter and the son of a fire chief makes you cautious. Never can be too careful.       

“I just talked to Mom; she’s made a ham and all the trimmings. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.”

I rub my stomach; I skipped breakfast this morning. “I plan on tearing it up myself. Nothing beats Mom’s cooking.”

“One day, when some lucky girl steals your heart, one that deserves your heart, you might think differently. Asher used to say the same thing, now all he can do is brag about Grace’s cooking,” she laughs.

“Yeah, you might be right, but it’s going to have to be someone special. I’m not exactly thrilled at the prospect of getting my heart trampled again anytime soon. So this girl you speak of, she needs to be one in a million,” I tell her.