Tempting Tristian by Sasha Hibbs

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Bailey Brothers, 1

Tristian Bailey had the perfect life, a woman he loved, a home, a solid mechanic business with his brothers until his fiancé cheated on him, breaking his heart. Now all he’s left with is resentment.

Jessica Johnson just graduated from college. Returning home for the summer before moving away for good, she’s forced to face what she’d been running from all along…Tristian Bailey. She’s loved him for so long, she can’t remember a time she didn’t. The problem? Tristian never knew.

When the two collide after all these years, Tristian, now jaded, isn’t the same man she remembers. And Jess, well, she’s all grown up and Tristian is discovering her for the first time. Will the past stand between them or can they confront the feelings burning inside them both long enough to close the distance separating them?

 

Excerpt:

“Be careful.” A deep, familiar voice carried my gaze up into the eyes of the very man that seemed to penetrate my every waking moment since returning home. It was so much easier with distance between us, but God, this close, being home, running into him at every turn, I didn’t know how much longer I could resist these repressed feelings.

“You have to stop scaring me every chance you get.”

“I’d like to do other things besides scare you.” Tristian locked gazes with me. There was no humor in his voice, nothing but absolute gravity, almost a plea in his eyes. I was speechless, I was helpless, I was in serious danger. In less than three days the defensive wall I’d built over four years was beginning to crumble, brick by brick. The realization of this was something I was being forced to confront. How could I otherwise, with the flesh and blood of Tristian Bailey in front of me like this?

I was transported to another time, on another August night, a long, long time ago when under the stars I’d made a wish.

“I’ll be right back. I just need some air.” I put on a pair of flip-flops and slipped outside. We’d just finished binging the last few seasons of The Vampire Diaries. Trinity and Haley were always going on about Stefan this and Stefan that. But the real hero and victim was Damon Salvatore. Damon with his darkness that was really a cover for the goodness deep down. I hugged myself tight, closing my eyes and dreaming of my own Damon, I dreamed of Tristian.

I knew he never took any real notice of me, but maybe someday. Maybe someday he’d see me. I loved binge-watching romance series, and helping others, volunteering at the animal shelter, dreaming of one day being Mrs. Tristian Bailey, listening to Miles Davis while riding around in his truck … I just wanted him to see me. The real me. Not his kid sister’s friend. One day I’d grow up and make him see, make him mine. I could wait patiently.

“Be careful. It’s dark out.”

“Aghhh!” I screamed, jerking toward the sounds of the familiar deep voice of the boy I’d crushed on forever, who also broke my reverie while scaring the living daylights out of me. I mean, I did just watch back-to-back episodes about vampires and it was nighttime. “You scared me.”

“Sorry, Jessica. I didn’t mean to.” He was sweet, polite. Not because it was me, but because that was Tristian.

“That’s okay.” I smiled nervously. I became aware I was wearing a Degrassi pajama set and acute embarrassment set in. Why, why, why couldn’t I look like Elena in The Vampire Diaries?

“Can you see to get back in? I think the front porch light is on.” He looked behind me to said light.

“Oh, yeah. I’m good. Thank you.”

“Well, good night.”

“Night,” I said, and then bit my tongue, wanting to say so much more. I watched long past him going through the front door. “One day, Tristian Bailey, I’m going to make you mine.” I whispered this under my breath so that only the night stars could hear and hopefully they’d take my wish into safekeeping and send him back to me one day. I walked back inside and wondered what the future would hold.

That was years ago but as I looked into the dark pools of Tristian’s eyes, that memory came flooding back to me. I was an awkward teenage girl then with silly dreams and fantasies. But I stood in the very same driveway as I did all those nights ago, and broke away from his gaze long enough to look up into the same stars I’d hoped to have kept my wish. Was this the day they were finally granting my wish? Was this the time they were, after years, sending Tristian to me?

I lowered my gaze from those stars and felt there was stardust surrounding us. I was no longer that girl. I was a woman. And Tristian had lived an entire life between that girl and this woman. We were both different. And I had to wonder, maybe he didn’t come back to me the way that girl all those years had imagined, but who was I to turn my back on serendipity? I would take him now, if even for one night and not waste the wish granted as the universe saw fit to bestow. I raised my hand, and he met mine, intertwining fingers, both of us looking at our hands locked together before holding each other’s gaze. There was a silent choice being made between the two of us. I stepped into him. No words were needed. Only the August whispers against the wind ushering me to Tristian at long last. He dipped his head. I parted my lips, and within seconds his crashed into mine.

I was helpless to do anything. If this was the one night the stars sent Tristian to me, I planned on making the most of it.

I managed a breathy whisper in-between long, hot kisses. “Take me.”

Series:
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