Page 43 of Pure Temptation

She headed for the kitchen, and Kendall peeked inside the bag. A bottle of vodka, a jug of orange juice and a box of doughnuts. Hmm...temporary relief from her current mood?

Alana returned from the kitchen with plates, glasses and napkins. “I figured you could use a little breakfast.”

“I’m feeling more than a little pathetic, so I guess day drinking over this guy won’t be any worse. Or at least I’ll have more fun with it.”

“That’s the spirit,” said Alana, opening the doughnut box.

Kendall groaned as she looked inside. “Oh, yes. Guava.”

“I couldn’t remember if that was your favorite. Or was it lilikoi? I got both,” said Alana, reaching for the vodka. She poured generous shots into each tumbler and topped them off with a few splashes of orange juice. Then she grabbed an old-fashioned doughnut out of the box and held it up. “Cheers.”

Kendall tapped hers against Alana’s. “Breakfast of champions.”

She took a big bite of her doughnut and washed it down with a swig from her glass, wrinkling her nose. The last time she had drank vodka was in college. And even then, it hadn’t been in the morning.

Alana took a bite of her doughnut and they sat, staring at the blank screen. “Pretty fun, this not-watching party,” said Alana. “Want to know what would be even more fun?”

“A watching party?”

“Yep.” Alana smiled brightly.

“Fine.” Kendall grumbled. Not watching wasn’t really working for her anyway.

She grabbed the remote next to her and flipped on the screen, navigating to the YouTube app. She clicked on Daxon’s channel, and there he was, shirtless and beautiful, halfway up Moonlight Buttress. With no ropes. She took a long drink of her screwdriver.

“He’s still alive. Cheers to that,” said Alana, raising her glass.

Kendall clinked her glass with Alana’s and took another gulp.

“Damn, he’s hot,” said Alana.

She waved off the comment. “I know, I know.”

“What? It had to be said.”

Yes, he was hot, but she wasn’t thinking about how he looked. She was remembering what it felt like to lie on the lounge chair, her back against his hard chest, his arms around her. Or lying in her bed, half-asleep, the scent of him everywhere.

“He’s incredible,” she muttered.

“Plus he’s good in bed and ultra-attentive to you.”

“When he’s not climbing up a sheer mountain face with no ropes, and it’s only in preparation for an even riskier climb.”

“There’s plenty of time for good sex before that climb.”

“This is ridiculous,” said Kendall. “No amount of sex is worth watching him willingly take these risks. It’s just too much. I watched what living like that did to my mother. I’m not going to do that, too.”

“But your parents are still together, aren’t they?”

“Yes. That’s part of why it’s so painful. My mom loves him so much, so she put herself through that, over and over.”

“But your mom’s no pushover. I’ve met her,” said Alana, with a smirk. “Wasn’t she a firefighter a long time ago, too?”

“She was. She quit when she got pregnant with me. Too risky.”

“But your dad didn’t quit?”

“Not until his arm was crushed. Not until it became personal.”