Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family Book 4)

Fallon woke up the next morning and immediately realized she hadn’t checked in with Noah when she got home. He thought she’d gone to her dad’s and had asked her to let him know she was home safe.

“Shit.” Picking up her cell, she sent off a brief text apologizing, explaining she’d had a headache and was planning to go home but Brooke had called so she’d gone out with her instead, and had forgotten to call him when she got home.

After stopping in the bathroom, she pulled on her robe and walked into the kitchen and made herself a cup of much-needed caffeine. She and Brooke had ordered another drink and this one had been much heavier on the vodka. They’d ordered some fried appetizers but the food hadn’t done much to soak up the alcohol. She had a slight headache this morning. Taking a long sip of coffee, she moaned at the rich flavor. Exactly what she needed.

She took a cup of Greek yogurt from the fridge and sat at her small table by the window overlooking the city and ate a light breakfast. Today was her first day to herself in a week and she debated what she wanted to do with it.

She’d spend some time painting, for sure, but first she wanted to visit with Clara. She wouldn’t call first because she did not want to argue and end up being talked out of going over. Her day decided, she picked up her mug and empty yogurt cup and cleaned up.

She returned to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and was about take a shower when the intercom app from the downstairs doorman buzzed on her phone. “Hello?”

“Ms. Sterling, you have a Mr. Powers here to visit.”

“Oh!” What was Noah doing there? “Send him up, please.” Tugging her robe tighter, she headed to the door to meet him.

Hearing the elevator ding in the hall, she cracked the door ajar, opening it when she heard his footsteps approach. “Noah! What are you doing here?”

“When I didn’t hear from you last night, I was worried.”

“I texted—”

“While I was already on my way over.” He grasped her hand and led her inside.

“Why didn’t you just call me?”

Once inside and the door closed, he took off his jacket, hanging it in the coat closet before spinning her around until her back was against the wall and he crowded in close. “Because I wanted to see you,” he said and captured her mouth in a kiss.

Her lips parted in surprise and he was ready, sliding his tongue inside. She didn’t know what had brought on this sudden visit but despite all the warnings in her head, she wasn’t complaining. He was everything she wanted in a man, sexy, caring, and protective in the best way.

Kissing him back came naturally and soon things got more heated. She slid her hands beneath his hunter green T-shirt and together they pulled it over his head. He tossed it onto the floor and she splayed her hands over his warm, bare chest, her thumbs grazing his nipples.

With a groan, he slipped his hands between them and tugged on the sash of her robe, easily releasing the silk tie. She shrugged her shoulders and the robe fell from her shoulders and she lowered her arms so the garment slid to the floor.

She shivered and he covered her breasts with both hands, warming her body and arousing her with the touch of his palms. Dipping his head, he pressed long, slow kisses down her neck, along her collarbone until her knees trembled and desire consumed her.

“I need you,” he said, undoing the button on his jeans and shoving them over his hips, snagging his boxer briefs as he pulled them down, then kicked them off.

Before she could blink he’d lifted her off the floor and she wrapped her legs around his waist, clasping her ankles at the small of his back just as he entered her with one smooth thrust.

He held her aloft with the strength of his body and the support of the wall behind her, his hips jerking upward with powerful drives she felt deep in her core. She locked her arms around his neck, looking into his hazel eyes, watching as they darkened, his jaw locked, and need filled his expression.

Every pump of his hips drove her higher, her own desire rising. One more shift of his lower body sent her soaring, her climax overtaking her.

“Noah!” She cried out his name, moaning through her explosive orgasm, which seemed to never end.

Three more thrusts and he slammed into her once more, stilling as he filled her over and over.

By the time he pulled out, her legs would not hold her and he scooped her into his arms, taking steady strides to the bathroom. He lowered her onto the closed toilet seat and she stared vacantly ahead, uncaring what came next, she felt so deliciously sated.

After turning on the shower, he lifted her into the stall and took over. He soaped her legs and thighs, working his way upward as he gently cleaned her, helping her wash and condition her hair, before he turned his attention to himself.

A little while later, she lay in bed, her head on his chest, her hair still damp. Neither cared. Silence took over and she was grateful. Her body still felt like Jell-O, but her breaths had finally smoothed out. So had her mind. She wasn’t giving up this man unless and until she had to.

Don’t go looking for trouble, her mother used to tell her, and she heard her mom’s voice speaking to her now. The future loomed and it was scary, but it wasn’t in her face yet. So, for the moment, she wasn’t going anywhere.

Fallon spent the weekend with Noah. Somehow, he’d convinced his sister to give him twenty-four hours of free time and they made the most of it. Holed up in her apartment, ordering in food, and having sex. Lots and lots of amazing sex.

By the time he was ready to leave on Sunday morning, she was even more in love with the man. And she hoped the possible pain in the end was worth the beauty of now.

* * *

After Noah went home to the girls, Fallon dressed and headed to visit Clara. When she arrived, the doorman let her up and she stood knocking for a good five minutes before she grew worried and headed back downstairs, coming up to the concierge desk.

“Excuse me, but did you see Clara this morning?” she asked the doorman.

He shook his head. “No. Her son left a couple of hours ago but as far as I know, she’s home. Why?”

“She’s not answering and I’m worried. Do you have a spare key?”

“I’m not sure I should go in,” he said, hesitating.

Fallon curled a hand into a frustrated fist at her side. “Clara hasn’t been well and there’s silence from inside. Please? I’ll take full responsibility if she’s upset with you. Please,” she said again, more urgently this time.

He nodded. “Fine.” He walked into the room behind him, shutting the door, then returned with a set of keys in his hand. “Let’s go up.”

Once outside the apartment door again, the doorman knocked hard, ringing the bell while Fallon shifted anxiously from foot to foot.

“I told you, nobody’s answering. Open the door?”

He inserted the key in the lock, turned, and let them inside.

“Clara?” Fallon called out. She made her way through the apartment, checking the kitchen, the sitting room and then the family room, before walking into the bedroom where she found the older woman lying on the floor, unresponsive.

“Clara!” Fallon knelt down, picking up her weathered hand and feeling for a pulse. Finding one, she yelled, “Call 911!” to the doorman who’d waited at the entrance to the apartment.

“Clara?” Fallon asked in a soothing voice. She spoke to her in low tones for what felt like forever until the paramedics finally arrived.

She stepped back to let the professionals do their job and when they told her what hospital they’d be taking Clara to, Fallon rushed downstairs to hail a taxi.

Hours passed as Fallon paced the floor in the hospital waiting room. She’d told the paramedics about Clara’s heart condition but beyond that she felt useless. Not only that, she had visions of the night her mom died, nobody letting her into the room, the explanation given by her dad, that someone had hurt her mommy and she was in heaven now. And that overwhelming feeling and pit of pain, anguish, and fear.

She glanced around at the sterile, beige walls and down at the empty table in the center of the room. There were no magazines to read, not that she could concentrate, nobody to talk to, and by the time noon passed, she was scared and lonely. She wanted someone to keep her company but she needed Noah. She knew he had the girls to care for but she couldn’t stop herself from picking up her phone and dialing his number.

He arrived not long after and she rushed to him, allowing him to wrap her in his comforting arms.

“Any news?” he asked.

She stepped back and shook her head. “Not a word.”

Together they sat back down to wait but she felt better with Noah by her side. She wasn’t up to explaining the feelings that this experience brought back, feeling if she talked about her mom, she’d cry and not stop.

“I can stay until early evening. Then I need to go home to the girls so Shannon can leave,” he said, regret in his tone as she threaded his fingers through hers.

“I’m just grateful you came.”

“Family of Mrs. Clara Morganville?” A female nurse stepped into the room and glanced around.

Finally. She popped up from her seat and Noah rose, standing beside her. “That’s me.” Fallon raised a hand uselessly.

“And you’re her…?”

“Daughter,” she automatically said, knowing if she didn’t claim a familial relationship not only wouldn’t they give her information but they wouldn’t allow her to see Clara.

“Your mother is stable.”

“Oh, thank God.” For the first time since finding Clara on the floor, Fallon’s heartbeat began to slow to a normal rate. This wasn’t a repeat of the past. Clara was okay. “Can I see her?”

The other woman nodded. “Of course. But she’s asleep. You can check on her now and come back tomorrow. Follow me.”

“Was it her heart?” she asked.

“The doctor ran tests. We should have the results in a few hours.”

Noah clasped her hand. “I need to get back to the girls. You’re okay now that you have news?”

She looked at him, seeing in his taut expression that he was upset by the need to leave her.

“I’m good. Promise.” She rose to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming. I appreciate it so much.”

He nodded. “I’d stay but—”

“You’re needed at home. Go.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m fine.”

After saying goodbye to Noah, Fallon sat by Clara’s bedside. Her skin was pale and paper-thin but her breathing was steady and that’s all Fallon cared about for now. She stayed until the nurse returned and encouraged her to go home and return tomorrow, when hopefully Clara would be more alert.

Worried but relieved at the prognosis, Fallon agreed.

But Clara’s scare had her taking the first LIRR train to Old Brookville to visit her father. Canceling last night had been one thing but she’d seen firsthand how quickly a person’s health could turn and she wanted to see her dad in person and make sure he was okay.

She showed up without calling first and knocked on the front door.

Lizzie greeted her, her eyes wide with surprise. “Fallon! I wasn’t expecting you today.”

Stepping into the house, Fallon pulled the woman into a hug she desperately needed, inhaling her familiar scent that said family to Fallon. Once they’d moved into this home after her mom died, Lizzie had become like a second mother to her and Brooklyn like a sister. She’d listened to Fallon’s teenage angst and dried her tears.

“I’m sorry I canceled last night,” Fallon said, feeling suddenly emotional. A lump rose to her throat and stayed there.

“Honey, you’re allowed. What’s going on?” Lizzie ushered her inside and took her jacket, hanging it in the hall closet.

“Is Dad home?”

“He’s napping in the study but come into the kitchen. Let me make you a cup of tea and we can talk until he wakes up.”

She nodded and swiped at her eyes. “Sorry. I’m all verklempt.” She laughed as she used the Yiddish word for emotional that Lizzie had taught her growing up. Lizzie and Brooklyn were Jewish and she’d learned many fun words with Brooke’s mom around.

“I see that and I want to know why.”

Once in the kitchen, Fallon sat on a barstool and let Lizzie bustle around the large room with state-of-the-art stainless appliances and granite countertops. Her father had said the kitchen was old and needed a remodel but Fallon suspected he was giving Lizzie a place to make her own inside the main house. No doubt her father wanted Lizzie to give up the guesthouse and move in but nobody had mentioned it out loud. Yet.

Lizzie made two cups of tea and placed their vanilla chamomile drink on the counter, followed by milk and sugar, knowing Fallon liked her drink sweet. Though tea was a trigger, with Lizzie she found it soothing, as having Lizzie around lessened the pain of her mother’s passing in some small way. “So. What has you so worked up?” Lizzie asked.

Fallon drew a deep breath and explained what had happened with Clara this morning. “Seeing her lying on the floor, I thought she was dead. And while I waited to hear something in the hospital, I had all these memories of the night Mom died. It was awful.”

“Oh, honey.” Lizzie placed a hand over Fallon’s briefly. “But she’s okay? Your boss?”

Nodding, Fallon forced herself to take a steadying breath. “She is. I still don’t know exactly what happened. Her son should have been with her and wasn’t. She’s been so sick lately. Now they’ll find out what’s wrong.” And hopefully put her on the road to recovery.

She made her tea the way she liked it, adding a healthy drop of milk and two sugars, then took a sip and sighed. “So good. Reminds me of the times you’d make us this same tea when Brooke or I were upset.”

Lizzie smiled. “So much teenage drama with you two.”

They both laughed.

“How’s Dad?” Fallon asked. “When I left the hospital, all I wanted to do was come see him for myself.”

“Oh, Alexander is well behaved at home. It’s the office where I worry. But he looks well. He’s still working too many hours despite Aiden and Jared being there to shoulder the workload.” She lifted her shoulder. “But he wouldn’t be the Alexander we know if he wasn’t trying to do more and act like he’s still a thirty-year-old man.” She shook her head, then lifted her teacup and took a sip.

“Anything else? You still seem so… heavy hearted.”

“Nothing I want to talk about. Brooke and I had a good heart-to-heart last night. I ended up having a drink with her before I went home. And she gave me some good advice. I just need time to figure some things out.”

Lizzie nodded. “You have a good head on your shoulders. You’ll do what’s best.”

“Well, this is a nice surprise!”

At the sound of her father’s voice, Fallon turned. He stood in the entry to the kitchen and she jumped up and hugged him tight. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, princess. Are you feeling better?”

She nodded, not wanting to give him anything to worry about. “I just wasn’t up to the trip yesterday. But I’m here now. How are you feeling?” He looked a little tired, definitely thinner, though that was what the doctor ordered. Better eating, better health.

“I’m good. Don’t worry about your old man,” he said.

Laughing, she hit his shoulder. “Don’t call my dad old!”

She spent the rest of the evening with her family, soaking up the goodness and being grateful for what she did have. A call to the hospital told her Clara was improving. And though part of her still thought pulling back from Noah was the smart thing to do, he’d been so kind, rushing out and leaving the girls with his sister to come sit with her at the hospital, she couldn’t do it. Nor did she want to.noveldrama

So she texted him and let him know where she was and that she might sleep here and go straight to the hospital to visit Clara in the morning. In the afternoon, she thought maybe she’d stop by the closed gallery and do some painting. She’d been working on two special pieces there, one for each of the twins, recreating what they’d each liked about the original canvas that had been destroyed.

Fallon might be good at painting but she was the worst at protecting her heart.