Morgan stood at the top of the landing with her large serving tray balanced ever so daintily on her hand.
Temperance’s gaze fell upon the man who had filled her thoughts all evening. The lights of the dance floor flashed a rainbow of colors across his suit—what she wouldn’t give to be one of those rays of light roaming up and down his body. He’d captivated her thoughts in a way she’d been warding off for many years. The years she’d worked so hard to live up to her name, her family, her faith—but trying to merge two very different practices had been difficult. Her father did not always agree with her mother’s ways, even though it was meant to do good. And because she wanted to keep the peace within the family, her mother had stepped away but still had strong ties to the local coven.
“You okay?” Candi’s warm hand tapped her shoulder, disrupting her thoughts before they soared out of control.
“Yeah, fine. I’m just a little tired. I hadn't expected to be hired and behind the bar at the snap of a finger.” Temperance nervously laughed and continued wiping down the bar with the damp rag.
“It’s slowed down. Why don’t you wrap it up and go home?” She met Temperance’s eyes and nodded. “It won’t get any busier.”
“You sure? I mean, it’s one-thirty, only a half hour until we close and clean up, right?” Temperance’s eyes shifted from Candi to the stairwell. “And what about the private party? Won’t you need help later on?”
“Technically, yes to all the above, but we have enough staff. So, go ahead, go,” she urged gently. “Just be back around five this afternoon.”
Temperance hesitated. “Maybe I should ask Raiden—”
“You’re fine, trust me. I’m in charge of this, and I say go.” Candi’s expression was stern, her hands on her hips. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Temperance sighed. “All right, I’m going.”
Raiden’s stormy blue eyes greeted Temperance’s as she turned to retrieve her purse from the locked cabinet underneath the back bar. He kept his focus poised on her as he descended the staircase.
“Before you go, please come to my office and sign your contract.” A hint of danger colored his words, but she couldn’t help but feel the surge of energy bursting through every nerve as he stood before her.
Henry nodded at them as they strolled past his desk with the low lamp light just above the tall podium ledge. Her nerves flared when Raiden’s hand gently landed on her lower back, guiding her up the staircase. Her heart raced and her feet floated on each step, as if all gravity had temporarily lost its hold on her body.
Raiden reached for the door, pushed it open and gently guided her through, all the while his hand continued to feed the heat welling up within her.
“Please, sit. I’ll pull the contract out of the printer.” His easy tone was in direct conflict with the excitement building up in Temperance as each hard pound of her heart knocked in her rib cage.
“Thank you for this opportunity.”
“No need for thanks. You clearly deserve the position.” He grabbed the papers and seated himself across from her. “I’m really glad you came.”
“Candi said to come back tonight at five. Is that correct?” She blinked long and slow, despite her nerves racing along each connection and firing like the Fourth of July.
She fought a strong internal battle to stay seated and not jump the desk to land in his lap. She’d never been struck with such unrestrained desire.
“Yes, five is fine. And I hope you make more of your coffee tonight. The folks in the playr—” He paused and cleared his throat before continuing. “Party room enjoyed it. Appeared to soothe things for them.” He pushed a pen and the contract across his desk toward Temperance.
“I’m glad.” She took both, gripping the pen and signing without reviewing it. Her eyes lifted from the contract to meet the intense blues nailing her down.
“I’ve heard who your parents are.” His stare continued as he placed his index finger under his chin. “Do they approve of your lifestyle?”
Once again, his question caught her off guard; but, then again, everyone knew she was the minister’s daughter. Bartending wasn’t exactly a recommendation of a stellar life choice in the Bible. She shrugged. “My dad’s very old fashioned and set in his ways…so sometimes we butt heads. Mom, well, she’s always felt like it was all meant to be when she met Dad. Her aspirations became his in some ways.”
“And what do you aspire to?” He leaned back in his leather chair, his entire attention on her as though nothing else mattered but talking to her.
It was flattering, since she sensed Raiden had a purpose in everything he did. “Making dreams and happiness for others—for now.”
But he was already shaking his head. “No, I asked what your dreams are Temperance—not someone else’s, and strangers at that. What is your inner most desire?” He leaned forward gently sliding his hand underneath hers. She inhaled sharply, taken by surprise—but in a good way.
The attraction she’d felt since meeting him felt like it might consume her. She couldn’t speak as the power of his touch heated up every indecent idea she’d ever had and had repented for on Sundays.
“Well?” he prompted, still holding her hand and massaging lightly with his thumb along the edge.
“I—I’m not sure I’ve ever thought about dreaming for myself,” she whispered, and lowered her eyes to her lap. “I was always taught by both my parents to help others before myself.”
“Then it’s time we change that.” His hands released their hold. “Be ready when you return this evening. And don’t forget, no skirt this time.”
He maneuvered his way around the edge of the desk and reached out to help her up onto her feet. Her legs shook and were unsteady as she rose. Her face was inches from Raiden’s powerful chest, the magnetic pull increasing each silent second that ticked between them. Again, he kept her close; and again, she had the urge to do more, to take it further.
“Temperance, look at me,” he commanded gently.
She did but with trepidation—not at what he might do, but what she herself was tempted to do.
His head turned and bowed in and her heart doubled its pace as his mouth slid past her lips, her jaw, and met her ear as he whispered, “Lock your doors and be safe. I hear there’s a little splash of lasciviousness wandering through this town and I’d hate for it to nip at your toes in the night.”
She tilted her head in agreement, backed away from his intoxicating aura, and threw her purse over her shoulder. She wobbled with each step as she walked away, leaving the tension of the office behind her.