Page 23 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
Julia smiles sadly, “I know you will, but it’s not going to be easy, Sawyer. It takes a lot for Grace to trust someone. She trusted you easier than anyone else.”
The truth of her words hit me, like a blow to the chest. Jesus, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this much fucking guilt in my life.
Nodding, I give a half-ass goodbye to the girls, and brace myself for what awaits me behind the diner door.
I wipe down the table that Julia and Kayla just left from and walk towards the kitchen. Looking down, I stick the money for the bill in my front pocket when I suddenly slam into a brick wall.
“Oomph!” Strong arms come around me and my hands clutch a soft T-shirt, trying to catch my balance. A familiar scent penetrates my senses and makes my heart beat faster. I know, before I even look up, who the brick wall is. With my heart in my throat I slowly raise my head all the way up, until my gaze crashes with a pair of intense green eyes.
“Hi, Cupcake.” A ton of emotions plague me at the sound Sawyer’s deep, smooth voice.
“Hi,” I croak out quietly.
Neither of us makes an effort to move from our embrace. And even though my heart is still heavy with pain, I can’t help but want to soak in the warmth of his body, and the safety of his arms. I continue to stare into his sexy green eyes. Eyes that are normally filled with so much laughter, but today look a little… regretful? Or maybe that’s just what I want to see. I hate myself when my gaze moves to his full lips… lips that were just on Jenny.
Ouch!
Ripping my gaze away from his perfect mouth I try to step back, but he tightens his hold on me.
“Can we talk?” his soft voice contradicts his fierce expression.
I swallow nervously and nod, “Yeah, I can take a quick break. Come on into the back.”
This time, when I step away, he lets go. He follows behind me as we make our way into the kitchen. “Mind if I take a quick break, Mac?”
Mac looks over at Sawyer before answering. “Not at all, darlin’. Take as much time as you need. Shelly will be all right on her own for a bit.”
“Thanks.”
When we get to the back entrance I open the big steel door to let in some fresh air, hoping this will ease some of my anxiety. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the sudden chill. I stare outside since I’m too nervous to look at Sawyer right now.
“Has the dog come back?”
I shake my head regretfully. “No, and I check every night. I’m real worried about him.”
When he doesn’t say anything I look over and see him watching me with too many emotions to name. I hate myself for noticin’ how damn sexy he looks today… well, okay, everyday. Instead of his typical jeans he usually wears, he’s sportin’ black
Nike track pants that hang just right on his lean hips, and a red Hollister T-shirt that stretches across his muscular frame perfectly.
Seriously? Can’t he look like crap just once in his life?
When my gaze moves back to his face, he’s wearin’ a sly grin, knowing I was checkin’ him out.
Well crap!
Turning a furious shade of red, I look away and clear my throat. “So I guess you got my pie?”
“Yeah I did.”
“Did you eat any of it yet?” I ask quietly, feelin’ apprehensive of the answer after Jenny’s mean comment.
His voice goes hard, “No, I didn’t. That bitch fucking lied to you, Grace.”
My head snaps up in surprise, and I quickly realize he must have run into Julia and Kayla outside.
Not knowing what to say to that, I nod and look back down at my feet. “I’m real sorry for what I said yesterday, Sawyer. I let my humiliation run my mouth. I didn’t mean it.” Emotion clogs my throat as I try to get the words out.
“You don’t need to apologize, Cupcake. I’m the one who’s sorry; I was an asshole. I showed up here yesterday, pissed off from you ignoring me. I didn’t know why, or what the fuck was going on, then I let your words bruise my ego, and even though I have a really fucking big one I still don’t like it to take a beating.”
My lips twitch but it dies quickly with what he says next. “It didn’t mean anything, Grace.”
I put my hand up, stopping him, “You don’t need to explain anythin’ to me, Sawyer, we’re nothin’ more than friends.” And it’s true he doesn’t. Yes, it hurts me something fierce, but I know that’s all me and my feelins’.
“Bullshit!” he shouts angrily, “what I feel for you is a lot more than fucking friends.”
I snap my gaze to his and feel my own anger spike. “Are you seriously tellin’ me right now, you care for me more than a friend? After you just shoved your dick in someone else, Sawyer Evans?”
His hands run through his messy blonde hair in frustration and he starts pacin’. “Listen, Grace, I know I fucked up real bad last night, all right. As soon as I woke up this morning I regretted it. I still don’t understand how the fuck it happened.” I scoff but he doesn’t let me talk. “It’s true, one minute I’m at Badass Jack’s, drinking my fucking face off, spewing’ shit to Jack about delicious fucking pies that can kick your ass and blonde chicks who smell like fucking cupcakes. Then the next thing I know I’m comparing that bitch to cupcakes, and she is the complete opposite of a fucking cupcake. I was so pissed at you that I didn’t push her away,” he’s out of breath by the time he finishes.
Tears begin to leak down my face and my heart breaks a little more. “That’s just it, Sawyer. She is the complete opposite of me. She’s your type, I’m not and I’m not ever gonna be.”
