Fulfillment (Book 3 in The Temptation Series) by K.M. Golland Page A

ate three.
    Jake—mouth
full and all—voiced his appreciation of Mum’s new style of roast
chicken. “Good chook Mum. What’d ya do, buy it from the shop
already cooked?” He gave her a teasing smile.
    “No,” she
defensively snapped. “It’s Bryce’s recipe thank you very much. He
showed me how to do it.”
    Jake stopped
his fork midway to his open mouth. “You cook?” he addressed Bryce,
a hint of a mocking smile creeping across his face.
    “Yes, he
does,” I interjected before Bryce could answer, “and he’s very good
at it. Maybe you should get a lesson. You might actually succeed in
keeping a girlfriend if you too, possessed such a skill.”
    Steve, Jen and
Dad burst into laughter.
    Mum gave Jake
the ‘your sister has a point’ look.
    Livy threw
another piece of broccoli on the floor; thinking we were laughing
at her.
    “Olivia. No,
naughty girl.” Jen scolded.
    And, the twins
began to cry again.
    ***
    Not too long
after dinner, Jen and Steve took the kids to bed, clearly wanting
to get all three of their children safely to the land of nod.
    “See you in
the morning,” she called from the bedroom door. “Don’t forget to
set an alarm.”
    “I don’t need
to,” I answered. Then, registering her baffled look, I pointed to
my tummy, indicating that Baby Clark and my frequent toilet visits
were the reason why.
    “Ah yes, baby
bladder,” she smiled.
    “Jen!” I
whisper-growled.
    “Sorry,” she
whispered back, then happy-danced and quickly closed the door.
    I shook my
head and headed to my room.
    Our family
home had three spare bedrooms, all of which belonged to us kids
when we had lived here. So Jen, Steve, and their kids slept in the
room that was once Jen’s, Jake slept in his old bedroom, and Nate,
Charli, Bryce and I accommodated mine. Bryce and I had been sharing
a room for quite some time now, so it was no longer awkward for
Nate and Charli to see us share a bed.
    While the kids
brushed their teeth, Bryce and I got changed into our sleepwear, me
in my usual long satin nightie and Bryce in a pair of boxer
shorts.
    “So, this was
your bedroom when you were young?”
    “Yes,” I
replied, smiling after registering his adorably sneaky grin.
    He looked
around, scanning the area and seemingly taking in every surface. “I
wish I’d known you when you were young. I would’ve snuck into your
room and had my fucking way with you.”
    I heated at
that thought of it. “I’m not sure my dad would’ve liked that.”
    “No...he
wouldn’t have.” Bryce winked at me just as Nate and Charli entered
the room.
    “This is just
so cool,” Charli squealed, while jumping onto her makeshift bed on
the floor. “We are having a slumber party. I know, I know! Let’s
play truth or dare!”
    “No. That’s
for you and your friends to play,” I answered while smiling at her
attempt.
    “No it’s not,”
Bryce said with a smirk. “I’ll play.” He had an elated smile on his
face which was infectious.
    “It’s your
funeral then,” I warned him.
    Charli
happy-clapped and sat crossed-legged. Nate, who was now lying in
his bed, propped his head on his hand with an amused look on his
face.
    “Well?” I
gestured to Bryce, “What will it be, truth or dare?”
    “Dare,” he
said confidently, standing beside the bed in all his boxer short
glory.
    Nate scoffed
and put his hand over his eyes. “You’re nuts, Bryce.”
    Charli
happy-clapped again.
    “Slap yourself
across the face,” I commanded, smiling with the knowledge that he
would do it.
    He smiled back
and obliged, giving himself a decent whack. I burst into laughter
and fell back on the bed as he raised his eyebrow satisfactorily
then pulled back the bed covers, climbing in beside me.
    “It’s your
turn, Mum.” Nate said, sitting up and crossing his legs like his
sister. Crap! How did I get roped into this again?
    “Fine,” I
contemplated my choice for a split second then decided I would
follow Bryce, not wanting to be outdone, of