Tempting God (The Defiant God Brotherhood #3)

1. Then

1

THEN

Greer

Age 8

“Greer Arwen Blanc! Put that fork down this instant!” Momma hisses at me.

When I look up, she’s scowling at me, making her pretty face wrinkly.

“Nanny said I could have a piece before the party.”

As soon as the words leave my lips, I know it’s a mistake. I flinch, knowing what’s coming, but it’s too late.

She strikes faster than I expect, slapping me across the cheek with a flat palm. My skin stings and hot tears fill my eyes.

It takes everything in my power not to cry.

Crying is never good.

It only makes everything worse.

“I’m…” I have to clear my throat before I can speak. “I’m sorry, Momma.” I set the plate on the table, clasping my hands behind my back. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

A vein on Momma’s forehead stands out as she looks down at me. “You did make me sad, Greer. You made Momma so sad she needs a drink. Now, get up to your room and don’t come down until I say you can. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I hurry away before she can change her mind and decide that I need to be punished for real. My bottom still has bruises on it from the other day, but at least I can sit without it hurting.

When I reach the safety of my room, I close the door softly behind me so it doesn’t make a sound. Momma doesn’t like sounds, which is why she probably doesn’t like me. I like to sing, and sometimes I get too loud.

My cheek is still stinging as I cross the hardwood floor, going to the pink tent in the corner of my room. It was a birthday gift from Grandfather Blanc. Grandfather Blanc might be my favorite person in the entire world—next to Nanny— but I don’t get to see him much because he’s always busy. He always brings me a present, which is nice.

The flap on the side of the tent is fastened back so I can enter quickly, closing it behind me. Nanny helped me set up my tent, so there’s a blanket to keep me warm and a pillow if I get tired. Nanny says this house is older than all get out, and that’s why we’re always cold in the winter. I shiver, as if I’ve summoned a phantom wind through the hardwood floor. Scooting further into the tent, I straighten my skirt before laying back. The top of the tent has pink stars that almost seem to glow. I like it. It makes me happy.

My cheek throbs, and I touch the skin. Seeing my momma sad doesn’t make me happy, though.

I asked Nanny why Momma’s always sad. Nanny got a funny look on her face, and said I wouldn’t understand. I hate when people say that. I just turned eight. I understand a lot of things. Like, I know Momma wants me to have a baby brother. I heard her telling Aunt Rose that a brother would make Dad happy. It would make me happy, too. It gets lonely being here all by myself. Aunt Rose also said that it would make the Brotherhood happy. Just like they were happy when she had my older cousin, Charles.

Rolling to my side, I trace the design on my fluffy blanket. Dad is in the Brotherhood. So is Grandfather. Aunt Rose and Momma aren’t, but Charles is. I asked Dad why I’m not in the Brotherhood. He laughed and patted my head, saying it was for boys only. So, if Momma does have a baby boy, then he’ll be in the Brotherhood, but I won’t be.

It’s not fair, which is why I’m going to start my own club.

The idea feels like lightning shooting across my brain.

Scurrying from the tent, I go to my desk, pulling open the drawer. I grab a piece of paper and a pink crayon, writing as fast as I can.

Greer’s Fairy Club

Girls Only!!!

NO BOYS!!!

I bite my bottom lip as I look it over. Nope, it needs something else. Something like a fairy. I pick out a few more colors and then get to work. I love fairies so much. I’m certain that there are some here in Texas. The bluebonnets that grow all around our house would be the perfect place for fairies to live, too. See, I’m pretty smart for an eight-year-old.

By the time I’m finished, my stomach is rumbling. I know Momma said she would come and get me, but sometimes she forgets about me after she has a drink, and I really don’t want to go to bed hungry again.

After taping my sign to the front of my door, I run into my closet and put on my fairy wings. I mean, I can’t very well be the President of Greer’s Fairy Club if I’m not wearing wings! The wings are blue with lots of glitter that catch the light and look so pretty when they sparkle. It doesn’t match my pink dress, but I don’t think Momma will mind. She’ll be too busy talking to all of Dad’s friends to even notice me. Sometimes I catch her smiling at one of the men. He likes to smile back at her and sometimes comes over when Dad is at work just to see Momma. They must be good friends.

I can hear loud laughter and people talking as I go downstairs. It smells so good down here that I pick up my pace. We have the best Chef in the world. My stomach growls as I peek around the corner. Everyone is eating, and there’s not a seat for me between Momma and Dad. I frown.

Did they forget about me?

There’s a funny feeling deep inside of my chest, and I move before I can think. Dad says I don’t think enough before I act. Maybe he’s right.

A man calls out, “Blanc, it looks like someone is up past their bedtime.”

Dad’s steely gaze lands on me, making me pause for a moment.

“Young lady, what are you doing out of bed?”

“Momma was supposed to get me for dinner.”

Momma’s laugh rings out like little bells. “Greer, you already had your dinner. Remember?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Momma stands. “Please excuse me while I take this little one to bed. She has quite the appetite and likes to sneak food after bedtime.”

There are chuckles throughout the room, which makes my face feel hot. She’s acting like I’m a baby, and I’m not. And I know I didn’t have dinner!

“I didn’t eat, Momma.”

The vein on Momma’s forehead is back, but she doesn’t hit me. She never does when there are other people around, but I have a feeling I’m going to be in trouble later.

The smile is still on her face. “Greer, return to your room. I’ll have Nanny bring you a snack.”

But I don’t want a snack. I’m hungry and want to eat in here.

“Momma, please, can I stay?”

“No.”

Hot tears fill my eyes as I look around. No one is paying us any attention. Don’t they know that I won’t get to eat if I leave?

“Momma, please…”

A deep voice from the other side of the room says, “Come now, Blanc. Let the girl stay up and have a bit of food. Why, there’s even a spot next to me.”

Dad laughs. “You’re a good man, Carter.” To me, Dad says, “You may sit next to Mr. Carter until your dessert is gone. Then off to bed. Understand?”

I nod, backing away from the two before Momma can say no. She has that mean look in her eyes. The one that scares me. I bump into the table and mumble my apology as I get away from her as fast as I can.

A tall man stands. “Over here, little one.”

I round the table, going to the empty seat at the end of the table. The man helps me scoot in my chair.

“Nice wings. Are you a bird?”

I shake my head as I put my napkin in my lap. “A fairy.”

“Ah, I see. Do you like fairies?”

“They’re the best! One day I’m going to become one and fly away from here.”

“You are? Won’t you miss your parents?”

“A little. They won’t miss me, though, so it’s fine.”

“And why won’t they miss you?”

I don’t answer because it’s hard to put the hurting deep inside my chest into words.

Besides, grown-ups don’t ever believe kids.

I peer at the man. “How old are you?”

He snorts. “Twenty-two. Why? Do I look that old?”

Twenty-two means he’s still an adult, but I look him over. He has light brown hair and brown eyes. His beard isn’t as long as Dad’s and looks nice. He’s wearing a black suit, like most of the men in the room. My gaze narrows.

“Are you in the Brotherhood?”

“I am. Why? Does that mean we can’t be friends?”

I weigh my options, but finally say, “We can be friends.”

“Good. Now I’m going to need some help to finish my chicken.” He looks down at me. “You do like chicken, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Excellent.” He cuts his chicken breast in two, putting my half on my plate. “Veggies?”

“It’s vegetables, and no, thank you.”

His lips twitch. “So polite.”

“Thank you. Momma says a lady has to be polite.”

He cuts into his chicken, so I do the same. We’re both silent as we eat, even though I can’t help bouncing in my seat. We really do have the best chef in the world.

“Does your Momma send you off to bed without feeding you a lot?”

I glance at the man, who’s still eating.

“Sometimes.”

“I had a mom like that, too.”

“What happened to her?”

“She passed away.”

“I’m sorry.”

He doesn’t answer, but I don’t have to, either, because the last course is brought out. It’s chocolate cake. The same cake I got in trouble for eating earlier. My stomach feels heavy, like I’m going to be sick.

“Don’t like chocolate cake?”

He’s looking at me with his kind brown eyes.

I make sure Momma isn’t watching me before answering, “I had a piece of cake earlier. I’m not supposed to have more than one.”

“But your dad said you could, remember?”

Sometimes Dad says one thing while Momma says another. Momma is always right.

I push the plate away from me.

“You’re breaking my heart, friend. Everyone knows chocolate cake is the best.”

“I like confetti cake better. Ever have it?”

“A long time ago.”

Right. Because he’s old.

“Momma says cake is going to make me fatter than I already am,” I say. “But it’d be worth if it was confetti cake.”

“You’re not fat, Little Fae.”

I try the word out in my head a few times before I ask, “What’s a fae?”

“You don’t know what a fae is, and you’re going to become a fairy one day?” His eyebrows are lifted, like he’s shocked. After a beat, he says, “A fae is a fairy. It’s just another word for it.”

“Oh.” I smile. “Well, now I’ve learned something new.”

“That you did.”

At the other end of the room, I spot servers picking up plates. I glance at the cake in front of me. I really want some…

“Tell you what. Why don’t we split your cake? That way you’re not eating it all. It can be a race to see who finishes first before the server gets here.”

I nod. “Okay.”

He splits the slice of cake with his fork, leaving me with the bigger side.

I point to the plate. “I have more than you.”

“Well, I already had an entire piece, so this makes it fair. Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Go!”

I dig in, eating as fast as I can. Even though it’s not confetti cake, it’s still really good. By the time the server reaches us, I’m done, and he’s not.

“You didn’t finish.”

He leans back, rubbing his stomach. “I was full. Now, I have to leave, but it was very nice meeting you, Little Fae.”

“My name is Greer,” I say. “Greer Arwen Blanc. What’s your name?”

“Grant. Grant Carter.” He stands. “Goodbye, Greer.”

He leaves, but so do most of the men in the room. Must be another Brotherhood meeting.

Momma scowls at me, so I drop my napkin and rush up to my room before she can say anything. As I pass through my door, I pull down the sign I made and crumple it. Going to my desk, I pull out a new piece of paper and get to work on my new sign.

Nanny comes in just as I’m finishing and looks it over.

Greer’s Fae Club

Girls Only!

Some Boys Allowed…

“What a lovely drawing, Greer.”

“Thank you, Nanny.”

“Well, then. Let’s get you ready for bed.”

I hang the sign on my door and follow her to the bathroom.

“Did you have fun tonight?” she asks.

“I did. I made a new friend. His name is Grant.”

I love Nanny. She lets me talk until I don’t have any words left. By the time I’ve had my bath, and she puts me in bed, I have nothing left to say.

“Night, Nanny.”

“Good night, Greer. Sweet dreams.”

A few days later, Nanny comes to my room, smiling.

“Your new friend sent you something.”

“He did?”

“Yes. Your father brought it when he came in just now. Come and see.”

I go to her side and grin when she opens the white box.

Inside is a small piece of cake with purple icing.

Not just any cake, though.

Confetti cake—the best cake in the world.

My day immediately gets better. It doesn’t matter that Momma left bruises on my arm and stomach from when she got mad. It doesn’t matter that I broke my favorite doll trying to get away from her. No, I have a friend who remembered my favorite cake.

That was the moment I fell in love with Grant Carter.