Page 10 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
“No, it’s not. He’s going to fucking pick it up and give it you nicely, or I am going to rip his dick off and shove it down his own throat since he wants it in someone’s mouth so fucking bad.” Sawyer leans closer, “What’s it going to be, kid?”
Blondie grabs the money and hands it to me timidly. “Now fucking apologize to her.”
When the kid doesn’t saying anything Sawyer knees him in the stomach, making him hunch over further.
“That’s the last time I’m going to be gentle…”
“I’m sorry,” the kid wheezes out.
Sawyer halls him up to his feet and gets in his face. “If you little assholes come in here again, and give her any problems, I will fucking hunt every one of you little shits down. I’ll work you over so bad you won’t be able to even hold a fucking football, let alone play it. Got it?”
All three of them nod their heads. “Good. Now get the fuck out of here before I change my mind.”
They rush out of the restaurant without looking back. I walk over to their table and start stacking their plates. My hands are shaking so violently I’m surprised I can grasp anything at all.
“You all right, Cupcake?” Sawyer asks softly, coming up beside me. He swipes his thumb across my wet cheek, and that’s when I realize I’m cryin’, which makes me mad I let them get to me.
I swipe at my tears angrily with the back of my hand, “Yeah I’m fine. I just hate confrontations.” A plate drops from my trembling hand and smashes on the floor.
“Shit!” Before I can bend down to pick up the big pieces, Sawyer pulls me against him, and wraps his arms around me. His warm strength has me breakin’ down. “Thank you for standin’ up for me,” I cry into his chest.
He rubs his hand up and down my trembling back. “You don’t need to thank me, Grace. I told you I take care of what’s mine.” He holds me for another minute before he says, “Come on. I’ll help you clean up.”
I shake my head, “No I’m fine; I can do it. Go on and sit down, I’ll get you some coffee and pie. It won’t take me long, then I’ll close up a few minutes early.”
He sits at the counter and I grab him a piece of today’s pie along with a cup of coffee.
“What’s this one called?” he asks before digging in.
I smile and start cleaning up the broken plate. “It’s called Baby Love Pie.” I look back to see him staring at me in question. “It’s an old recipe. My Mama made it when she found out she was pregnant with me.” Looking away, I clear my throat and start to feel uncomfortable to tell Sawyer this story, but I tread on, “When my daddy left her, after findin’ out about me, she said she was still madly in love with me and wouldn’t trade me for anythin’ else in the world. That night she created this pie and decided to call it Baby Love Pie.”
After I pick up the broken plate and wipe down the table I come to stand in front of Sawyer, behind the counter. I feel his gaze trained on me, but I keep my head down and tell him something that I haven’t shared with anyone except Kayla and Julia. “I’ve never met my dad. The whole reason I came here is because he lives in Charleston. I’ve been nervous to contact him because I am scared of his rejection.” I shrug, “I’m not sure what he is gonna think about me, he’s kinda a big deal, and I know he has his own family. But I finally sucked it up and sent him a letter a week ago.” I let out a heavy breath, “Today his assistant called me, tellin’ me he wants to meet me Friday night for supper. He’s sendin’ his driver for me.” I look up and smile at him, “I guess I was worryin’ all this time for nothin’.”
Sawyer smiles back at me, but it seems a little forced. “I’m real happy for you, Cupcake.”
“Thanks.” I grab his empty plate and take his coffee cup. “Just let me put this away, and leave out left-overs for Chuckie, then we can go.”
“Chuckie?” he asks, confused.
“Yeah, the chocolate lab. I haven’t seen him since that night you scared him off, but I still leave food out for him just in case.”
“How do you know his name is Chuckie?”
I shrug, “I don’t, but he looks like a Chuckie, so that’s what I call him.” I hear him chuckle as I walk into the back.
“Um, did you maybe want to drive tonight?” Grace asks softly as we walk out the front door of the diner. Before I can answer she adds, “That way you aren’t walkin’ home by yourself so late.”
Seriously, what is with this chick always worrying about me walking by myself at night?
“It’s up to you, Cupcake. I can drive if you want, but don’t choose it because you’re worried about me. I told you, I’m badass. Walking in this town late at night is the least scariest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
She gives me one of her sweet fucking smiles that does funny shit to my chest, “If it’s all right with you I wouldn’t mind drivin’. My feet are a little sore from pullin’ a double shift.”
I look down at her scuffed-up white shoes and scowl thinking about her working so much. “That’s no problem, Cupcake, we can drive. Come on.”
I walk her over to the truck and open the door. She cranes her neck all the way back to look into the cab. “Holy Moses, what is it with you boys and high trucks? Not all of us are giants, ya know.”
I chuckle when she reaches up and does a little jump to grab on to the inside handle. My hands span her waist as I help hoist her up. Her sweet scent that smells like fucking cupcakes, or cookies, or some type of baking shit, penetrates my senses and makes my dick stand to attention. Christ, I want to run my mouth and tongue all over her soft fucking body, to see if she tastes as sweet as she smells.
