Page 12 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
I’m quiet for a minute before I can say anything. “I’m real sorry, Grace.” I feel like a fucking idiot for saying that because I know it means shit.
She looks over at me sadly. “She was my best friend. We had plans to conquer the world with our pies. When they took her life they took mine too, in more ways than one. But as hard and painful as it is I know that life goes on, and there are a lot of people out there who have probably suffered more than I have. So I try to be grateful for what I do have, which was nothin’ till I came here. Now I have friends to be thankful for, and Mac… I’m not sure where I would be if it weren’t for him.”
I realize my knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel so tight. I try to relax but my heart squeezes so fucking painfully in my chest I’m surprised I can still breath.
Too soon I’m pulling into her driveway. I clear my throat, and I’m surprised at how tight it feels. “You have a right to feel hurt, Grace, no matter what anyone else has gone through, it makes your suffering no less painful. You have earned your right to feel sad.”
Turning, she looks at me seriously. “If I let myself feel the full strength of my pain, Sawyer, it may just kill me.”
Oh fuck!
I swallow thickly, but before I can say anything she gives me a fake smile. “Thank you for the ride. Text me when you get home so I know you made it safely.”
“You just want me to text you so you can dream about me again.” I joke, hoping to lighten the mood before she goes.
She giggles as she hops out of the truck. “Goodbye, Sexy Sawyer.”
“Grace!” I call out before she can close the door. I need to know one more question before letting her go. “Who did you live with afterwards?”
I immediately regret asking when a pain so sharp hits her eyes that I feel it stab me in the fucking heart. It takes her a second to answer, and what she says next is something I will never forget:
“With the devil.”
Without another word she closes my truck door, and leaves me with a pain I have never known, and I’ve fucking known pain like no other.
The next day I’m sitting in Julia’s kitchen, relaying last night’s events to her and Kayla. “I’m serious, I’ve never seen him like that before. I’m tellin’ ya, Julia, he could have given Jaxson a run for his money in the anger department.”
“He should have cut the little fucking pervert’s hand off,” Kayla states heatedly.
“I’m just glad he was there for you, but yeah, that surprises me. I’ve never seen that side of him either. I didn’t know he had it in him to get like that.”
“For who to get like what?” Jaxson asks, walkin’ in looking his typical sexy self. Boy he really is one fine specimen. He walks over and kisses Julia on her forehead. Even though I’m so happy for my friend a small pang of jealousy hits me, wishing I had that. Not Jaxson of course, but someone who loved me like he does her. I’ve never seen anyone love someone like that, well except for Cooper and Kayla.
“We’re talking about Sawyer,” Julia replies, and proceeds to tell him about my eventful night.
Jaxson looks at me, frowning. “Why were you there by yourself so late?”
Of course he would react just like Sawyer. “Because I sent Mac home; he was so sick. I knew Sawyer was gonna be there soon, so I didn’t worry.”
“Grace says he got so angry he could have given you a run for your money,” Julia says amused. “I didn’t know Sawyer could get like that.”
Jaxson grunts, “Oh yeah, he can. The only difference between us is it takes more to push him to that point, but once you do, get the fuck out of the way.”
I nod my head at the girls. “See? I’m tellin’ ya, it was crazy.”
Chuckling, Jaxson leans down, kissing his wife again and rubs her cute little tummy. “I’m heading to the gym, baby. I’ll be back in a couple hours.” He looks over at Kayla and me, “Are you girls going to stay with her?”
Julia rolls her eyes. “I don’t need babysitting, Jax, they can leave when they want. I’ll be fine.” Jaxson scowls, clearly not agreeing with her.
“Grace and I plan to be here for a while yet,” Kayla says, reassuring him.
“Good. Call me when they leave and I’ll come back.” He kisses her one last time and heads out the door.
“Lord that man can be overbearing,” Julia says, with no heat, staring at the door he just walked out of. Anyone can see how much she loves the over-protective maniac.
“What else is new?” Kayla replies.
“Yeah, but he’s gotten worse since Wyatt.”
We all become quiet, thinking about the awful event that happened a few months ago. I reach over and squeeze Julia’s hand; Kayla joins too.
“Well I think it’s real sweet how protective he is of you. I know it probably drives you crazy, but I’d give anything for someone to love me like that. The only one who has ever shown me a love like that was my Mama.”
Giving me a sad smile, Julia gives my own hand a gentle squeeze back.
Kayla breaks up the heavy moment. “Okay enough stalling, spill it, Grace. What is going on with you and sexy ass?” she asks with a curious smile.
I look away, trying not to blush. “Nothin’ is goin’ on with us. He showed up earlier in the week and started walkin’ me home at night. Said he wanted to get to know me better, since we are both close with Jaxson and Julia.”
Kayla’s smile turns knowingly. “He’s fucking lying. He likes you.”
“I agree with Kayla.”
I shrug, “I’m not too sure about that, but I have enjoyed gettin’ to know him. There’s more to him than I realized. He isn’t just all beauty and arrogance.”
