Chasing Temptation by Payton Lane

you up to speed, because by the time we're through, Valley City will have its claws in you.”
    “I'm not staying once I'm done.”
    A pang went through her. Lynne waved away his comment, though she knew it was the truth. Her store was a pit stop in his grand schemes. He wouldn't care about the history or meaning.
    Or the people he'd leave behind.
    She cleared her throat and hoped the emotions wouldn't show in her voice. “It's going to take a few hours to bake those cookies. Let's call a truce. I won't mention you losing and you won't pout about it.”
    He shook his head as he laughed. “Truce.”
    “Okay, over there.” She pointed to the shop next to the Grannies storefront. “That store sells hardware tools, but in the back is where they have a massive amount of porn.”
    He stopped. “How do you know this? And why?”
    “It's the worst kept secret in town. It's the rite of passage for the local teen boys to sneak back there. Archie acts like it doesn't exist. So does his wife.”
    His laughter filled the empty streets again. “No, why are you telling me?”
    His laughter had filled her too. She shrugged. “I'm giving you the tour of Valley City you won't get elsewhere.”
    They turned the corner of Main and N Street. A park took up the right side of the block.
    The sound of kids laughing made Lynne smile. “Anyway, this is where the weird becomes picture perfect. The next few blocks are houses with picket fences. The 2.5 kids, soccer moms, and dads bringing home the bacon.”
    “You want that.”
    It wasn't a question so she didn't answer, but it reminded her of the home she’d left. A two-parent home with upper-middle-class income should have been the perfect upbringing. People rarely understood perfection took its toll. Knowing she would never live up to that image of perfection took a bigger one.
    No, Lynne wasn’t capable of being perfect or even pretending she could be. So, she let out a silent breath and stopped in front of the grocery store.
    Facing him, she spread her hands out. “Brace yourself for the attack on your personal life.”
    He reached for the door before she could and held it open for her. She passed him and waved to Annabel behind the cash register. The woman’s eyes widened. Lynne winked at her.
    “Flour and stuff is this way.” She pointed to the third aisle.
    “You're serious about making cookies from scratch. Can't we use cookie dough?”
    She shuddered. “Ready-made cookie dough? Have you ever tasted a cookie that’s not store bought?”
    “I have.”
    Lynne's inner people-watcher sat up, but she ignored it. They had called a truce. She wasn't going to dig for information. “And yet you still prefer ready-made cookie dough?”
    “It'll be easier,” he pointed out.
    Her mind refused to move past the fact someone had made him cookies from scratch, but she forced herself to say, “My way will be tastier, and there might be leftovers.”
    He grabbed a stray basket and paused for a moment. “You're dying to ask me a question.”
    She pffted and waved her hand at him. “I'm wondering where the cookie cutters are.”
    “Liar.”
    “Stooping to insults now.” She sighed in false disappointment.
    She waited a moment, but he didn't open up the floodgates of information. She sighed again, and then perked up. They had hours of alone time ahead. She'd get him chatting whether he wanted to or not.
    “Nope,” he said.
    “What?” She spread out her hands. “I didn't say anything.”
    He leaned forward and placed his finger under her chin. “As I told you before, your face tells me everything I need to know.”
    She wanted to move in closer. She wanted him to keep right on touching her for no other reason than that he could. Nate slid his hand down her neck and she had to swallow the moan wanting to escape.
    “Lead the way,” he murmured.
    Ah, yes, that's why they couldn't have sex. The truce changed nothing. Biting her tongue got easier. The less she knew the better because