The Temptation of a Good Man by Delaney Diamond
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from Delaney Diamond.
Chapter One
“You’re young. It’s okay to have fun every once in a while.”
Those were the words Celeste Burton’s mother had spoken about thirty minutes ago as she pushed her through the front door of their two-bedroom apartment.
Celeste knew that on a cerebral level, but it didn’t lessen the guilt, even if she did have reason to celebrate. Tonight she turned thirty, and her mother had stuffed some cash from her secret stash into her palm and pushed her through the door with a “Now get out of here and have some fun for a change!”
Celeste scanned the crowded space of Avery’s Juke Joint. Weekend nights always brought out an eclectic crowd of professionals. Customers dined at the bistro tables, hovered around the bar talking, and a number of them had created their own dance floor in front of the stage where a live band played popular funk and blues hits.
Despite its name, the establishment bore little resemblance to the ramshackle structures African-Americans used to visit to relax and socialize after a hard week of work. The renovated building had once been a retail store. It boasted high ceilings, flat-screen televisions, and framed contemporary paintings in a kaleidoscope of colors and geometric shapes. The large paneled windows faced Peachtree Street, one of Atlanta’s busiest roadways. Gyrating bodies moved in time to the music, and all around her people laughed, sipped on colorful drinks, and looked like they were having a good time. Her eyes searched the room for the familiar faces of her friends, Janet and Gwen.
Someone jostled her from behind. “Excuse me,” a contrite male said.
Instantly attracted to the whiskey-warm tone, Celeste turned her head to see if the face matched the sexy voice. A pair of espresso-colored eyes captured hers, sending a jolt of awareness through her body. A neatly trimmed beard, sideburns, and a mustache shadowed his face.
“No problem,” Celeste mumbled.
His warm gaze raked her from head to toe, lingering for a couple of heartbeats on her bare shoulders. The muscles in her belly clenched in reaction, and her heart skipped a beat at his bold perusal.
Surprised by her intense, immediate attraction to a complete stranger, she took a deep breath as another bump captured her attention and forced her to face forward. When she righted herself and looked back over her shoulder toward the sexy-voiced man, all she could see was his retreating back. She stifled a confusing sense of disappointment.
Craning her neck, Celeste finally spotted her girlfriends and two men standing at a table across the room, near one of the windows. Janet waved wildly, and Celeste grinned, waving back. She began to wind her way through the crowded dining area.
As she neared where her friends sat on stools around one of the bistro tables, she couldn’t help but notice they’d hit the jackpot tonight. Both men were good-looking and well dressed.
Janet gave her a big hug. “Happy birthday, Celeste!”
She was always in a good mood and seldom without a smile. Celeste bent down to her petite friend for a hug.
“Happy birthday,” Gwen repeated, only she didn’t offer a hug. She remained seated and with one gulp drained the martini glass filled with green liquid.