Page 46 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
Cooper lets out a frustrated breath and pinches the bridge of his nose, something he always does when he’s stressed. “Nothing, just some shit I found on someone’s past I wish I didn’t know.”
“Anyone I know?”
“No, but you will probably meet her. She’s a friend of the girls. Now shut up and don’t ask me anymore questions because I can’t answer them.”
“Is it something Julia can get hurt from.”
“No lover boy, so calm down.”
I glare at his ‘lover boy’ comment.
“So what brings you back here? Don’t tell me you’re turning yourself in for murdering Jennings.”
I grunt, “I wouldn’t turn myself in, I would know exactly what to do with that prick’s body so he was never found.”
“Fuck Jaxson, don’t say shit like that to me.”
I chuckle, love getting a rise out of him. “I’m wondering if you can help me drive Julia’s car home for her. It’s still at the beach, I gave her a ride home earlier.”
He grins, “So you finally found her… I was right, wasn’t I? She was hiding from you.”
“No asshole she wasn’t. I found her sleeping on the fucking beach.”
Coop loses his smirk, “Seriously? What the hell is wrong with her?”
“Believe me I said the same thing… a little more pissed off. It didn’t go over well at the beginning.”
“Ya I bet not.”
“Speaking of which, what have you been teaching your girlfriend?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“She’s been constantly threatening to kick my ass and she seems to think she can do some serious damage to me. She says you have been showing her stuff. Whatever the hell you’re doing tone it down.”
“Jesus!” Cooper shakes his head, “I showed her how to get out of a few holds if someone ever tried to attack her. She seems to think she’s Rocky now or some shit.”
“Ya well I swear she’s more pissed at me than Julia is.”
“Ignore her. I think she’s PMS-ing or something. She seems pissed at me lately for something too and I don’t have a fucking clue why. I don’t know what’s going on in that head of hers.”
I can tell Coop seems bothered. “Everything ok with you guys?”
He shrugs, “It will be. Let’s go, I’ll help you take Julia’s car home.”
“Thanks.”
As we walk out of Coop’s office the receptionist stands up quickly again shoving her tits out for us to notice.
“I’m gone for the night Jenny, you can transfer calls to my cell.”
“You betcha darling. See ya around Jaxson,” she winks at me as I walk out.
“Jesus, that’s quite the receptionist you have there. Has Kayla met her yet? Maybe that’s why she isn’t talking to you,” I chuckle.
Cooper grunts, “Ya she’s met her. Trust me Kayla put the gears to her when she started, the girl barely made eye contact with me for the first month and honestly I liked that better. Be careful with her, she’s a persistent one. And she’s been banged more times than a snooze button on a Monday morning,” Coop looks over at me with a smirk before we both burst out laughing.
Damn! It’s kind of good to be back!
I wake up the next morning feeling almost like myself again. My ribs look really terrible but thankfully don’t feel as bad as they look. After my shower I put on a pair of black capri leggings and an off-the-shoulder hot pink shirt that’s loose and comfortable, then throw my natural curly waves into a high messy bun. I have no idea what time Jaxson’s coming, all he said was morning, so I don’t want to take too long getting ready. My stomach does a little flip at the thought of getting to see him again so soon.
I begin making my usual green smoothie when my doorbell rings. I expect it to be Jaxson so I’m surprised when I open it that it’s Grace.
“Grace! This is a pleasant surprise.”
“Hi Julia,” she leans in giving me a gentle hug, “I heard what happened, are you ok?”
“You heard already?”
“Ya Kayla told me.”
“Oh good at least I know you got the right story then,” I giggle and so does she.
“Come in, I’m just making myself a green smoothie, want one?”
“Sure,” she follows me into the kitchen and sets a pie down on my counter. “I made you this, it’s fresh from this morning.”
Grace is an amazing baker, her specialty is pies but she can bake anything. She creates and names them all herself.
“Grace, it’s only 9am and you baked this for me this morning?”
Grace shrugs like it’s no big deal, “Ya, I had an itch to create something and when Kayla told me what happened I created something with all your favorites.”
My heart warms, “That’s really sweet, thank you Grace,” I say hugging her. “What did you call it?”
She looks at me with a straight face and says, “I named it, ‘Wyatt-is-an-asshole pie’.”
We both burst out laughing, “That’s a great name.”
Grace’s smile fades, “You know Julia, I’m happy you ended things with Wyatt. After your guys’ first date he came into the diner and the way he acted with me… well it scared me a bit,” she admits nervously.
“Oh Grace, why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Well I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, I thought maybe I took it wrong. You and Kayla grew up here with him, I figured you knew him better. I’m sorry, I wish I would have said something now.”
I hug her again, “Don’t be sorry, just know you can always tell me anything.”
All of a sudden my front door opens and slams. Jaxson comes storming into the kitchen angry as hell. Grace gasps and grabs on to my arm, looking scared spit-less.
“What the hell did I tell you about locking that goddamn door!”
I glare at him, “Well good morning to you too, ya jerk. Why on earth would I lock it? I’m home for heaven sakes.”
“Christ Julia, it doesn’t matter if you’re home. If anything that’s why you should lock the damn thing!”
I roll my eyes at him, “Give it a rest and watch your mouth. I have my friend here and you’re making a terrible first impression.”
