Page 29 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
Cooper advances on her, “Goddamn it, that’s not what this is about. Jaxson and I know shit about him that you girls don’t.”
“Tell me where they went Kayla,” I try to say it calmly but it comes out demanding.
She scoffs, “As if I’m going to tell you. You think you can just roll back into town and dictate who she dates after what you did to her. Just who the hell do you think you are Jaxson? If you’re so worried about her then where the hell have you been for the last 6 years!?”
I try not to let the truth of her words cause guilt to overtake me.
“Easy Kayla, you don’t know the whole story,” Cooper pipes in.
“I don’t need to, I know enough. I was the one there for her when she cried her eyes out, because he fucked her then never saw her again!”
I tense and look at her in surprise.
“What? You think I didn’t know?”
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she told Kayla. Girls talk about shit like that. “I’ve made mistakes Kayla and I’m going to make it up to her, I swear. But you have to listen to me, Jennings is not right in the head. I’m dead serious when I say she’s in danger.”
Kayla starts looking more unsure now but she’s still too pissed to let it go. “What kind of danger are we talking about here? Danger as in having her heart broken? Because that’s no different than what you have done to her.”
“No goddamn it! I’m talking about physical danger. Coop and I have seen the bruises he’s left on girls. If you want to protect her like you say you do then you will stop picking a fight with me and tell me right now where the fuck they went!”
I can tell I’ve gotten through to her because she looks seriously shaken up. “He’s never laid a hand on her, I’m sure of it. Julia would never allow someone do that to her,” she whispers worriedly.
“How long has she been seeing him?” Cooper asks and I feel sick waiting to hear the answer.
“This is their third date.”
“Then it’s probably because he hasn’t gotten the chance yet.” I know he means it’s because they haven’t slept together… thank fuck for that.
“It’s still 3 dates too many. We are wasting time, tell me where the fuck they went!”
“Hold on, don’t answer that yet,” Coop says cutting in. I glare at him feeling ready to take him down again. “What the hell are you going to do Jaxson? I don’t like this anymore than you do, but you going and causing a scene isn’t going to help. It’s going to piss Julia off more and force me to arrest you. As pissed as I am for what you just pulled I really don’t want to have to do that.”
“I’m just going to go and keep an eye on her. I won’t cause a scene unless I have to. You can’t expect me to sit here and do nothing Cooper, we both know what he’s capable of.”
Cooper looks back to Kayla, “Where did they go baby?”
“They’re at the Oceanfront Tavern,” she whispers guiltily.
I start walking towards the door when Coop grabs my arm, “Hold up. I’ll come with you.”
“Me too,” Kayla pipes in.
Coop turns on her quickly, “No, you stay here.”
“No way. Julia’s going to know I told you where she is. If shit goes down I need to be there for her,” she says grabbing her purse.
“Dammit Kayla.”
“Save it Cooper, I’m going. So either I drive with you or I drive myself.” She takes off out the door then stands on the steps and looks at us impatiently, “Are you two coming or not?”
I look at Coop and shrug.
“That woman doesn’t listen to shit,” he says shaking his head in frustration.
I put my empty glass of beer down on the table and find myself feeling a little more relaxed. The Oceanfront Tavern is one of my favorite places to come in the summer: there are candle-lit ceramic tables scattered across the beach, tiki torches lit at dusk and soft background music. It all combines for a relaxing, romantic ambiance. Tonight is quieter than usual, which I’m thankful for. I’m not in the mood for a big crowd.
“Another one?” Wyatt asks charmingly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I really want to say no. I’m trying to be good company but my thoughts are consumed with Jaxson, which makes me mad. Over the year I’ve worked hard trying to dismiss him from my thoughts. I went from thinking about him every second of the day to only once or twice a day. Wyatt and I have only been here a half hour and I don’t want to be rude, “Sure, maybe one more. Thank you.” I’m hoping he catches on to the one more part.
Wyatt waves my empty glass at the waitress letting her know to bring another. “I have to say Julia, it surprised me to find out you’re a beer girl.” He doesn’t say it rudely, but something about the way he says it seems like he disapproves. If he only knew why I like it…
“So have you heard back about your interview yet?” he asks, pulling me from my traitorous thoughts.
“Not yet, I’m hoping soon though. I know summer vacation just started but if I don’t get in I’ll have to look into a different school. Which wouldn’t be so bad, I just have my hopes set on Foothills. I really enjoyed doing my practicum there and I want to teach elementary. I would really like to stay here in Sunset Bay.”
“I’ll get my dad to talk to the principal for you,” Wyatt says catching me off guard.
“Oh no! Really that’s not necessary, but thank you.”
“Why not? He’s in a position of power Julia, let him use it.”
I completely disagree with that statement but I tread carefully, not wanting to offend him. “No really Wyatt, it’s important to me that I get it on my own. I want them to hire me because they want me there, not because of your father.”
