Page 49 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
I take a seat at the island, which is located in the center of the massive kitchen that my whole house could fit in. It was a dream kitchen if I ever did see one: wide-open, airy, tons of counter and cupboard space, three ovens… boy could I have a pie party in here.
“So Sawyer tells me you create and bake some incredible pies. What kinds do you make?” she asks, speaking my thoughts.
“Oh, well, I make everythin’ from breakfast, lunch, supper and dessert pies. I don’t know how incredible they are but people really seem to like ‘em. Now my Mama, she could make a pie like nobody’s business. Most of the ones I make are her recipes; I have only created a few.”
I sit stunned for a minute when I realize I just spoke about my Mother so easily. That is somethin’ that never happens. It still hurts too much to talk about her, but I find I’m okay sharin’ somethin’ about her with Catherine.
That thought makes me wonder how much she knows. I get my answer a few seconds later when she smiles at me sadly and covers my hand with hers. “I’m real sorry to hear about what happened to your Mama, Grace. I imagine she was an exceptional woman, if she’s anything as sweet as you.”
Her compliment has emotion clogging my throat. “Thank you. Yes she was amazin’. I miss her very much,” I choke out painfully.
Catherine’s face turns more serious, “I’m glad my boy is here for you right now. I know he will take good care of you.”
I clear my throat, “I think Sawyer is a real wonderful person and I’m glad to have met him. He has come to mean an awful lot to me,” I admit nervously. I want her to know just how much I appreciate him. Sawyer, obviously, has told her a lot, and I don’t want her thinkin’ I don’t appreciate everythin’ he is doin’ for me.
She gives me a bright smile, “I’m happy to hear that, Grace. Yes, he’s a good man… with a big ego.”
“Yes he is,” I agree chuckling.
“He comes by it honestly, I promise, he gets it from his father.” After a few seconds of silence she leans over and cups my face affectionately. Sincerity shines in her warm hazel eyes when she says, “But I promise you, his heart is much bigger.”
I smile, “And I know that too.”
She leans in and gives me an affectionate kiss on my forehead that has me almost breakin’ into tears. After she steps back she lightens the mood by sayin’, “You have my permission to take him down a notch whenever he needs it. And I imagine he needs it a lot.”
I laugh, “Well I try, but sometimes he can be a stubborn one.”
She snickers, “Again he gets it from his father.” Her smile turns sad and she begins to say somethin’ else but gets interrupted when Sawyer comes walking in.
My heart skips a beat and my eyes drink in every sexy inch of him. He has changed into a pair of loose, faded jeans that hang enticingly off his lean hips and a green Bench shirt that stretches across his incredible lean, muscular body, complimenting his green eyes.
“See something you like, Cupcake?”
My gaze snaps to his and I turn furiously red when I realize I was caught oglin’ him, especially in front of his mother.
I narrow my eyes at his smug look, “In your dreams, Evans. I was just noticin’ a small dirt mark on your pants is all. Seriously, I’m surprised your giant head can even fit in this massive kitchen.”
His mom laughs, “That-a girl.”
Sawyer smirks, knowing I’m full of it as he walks over to me and plants a big hard kiss on my cheek. “That’s okay, baby, I check you out too.” I roll my eyes and shove him playfully.
Thankfully he changes the subject, “What are you ladies talking about anyways?” he reaches over to stick his fingers in the bowl that his mother is mixin’.
She slaps his hand, moving the bowl away from him. “We were talking about Grace’s pies.”
“Are you bragging about your pies, Cupcake? And you tell me I have a big head.”
I shove him again, “I was not braggin’. Your mom is the one who brought them up. Sounds like you were the one braggin’, only this time it wasn’t about yourself, shockingly.”
He chuckles, “Can’t help it, Cupcake. There’s so much to brag about.” I roll my eyes. “Speaking of which, I just got a text from a friend asking if I would come play hockey with them tonight. What do you think?”
“Oh, of course, go ahead. I’ll hang out here.”
Sawyer frowns, “What? No you have to come too, or I won’t go.”
“Oh, you want me to come?”
“Of course I do,” he looks at me like I’m an idiot, “and trust me, baby, you’re not going to want to miss seeing me in action.”
I shake my head but a smile tugs at my lips, “All right I’ll come watch you show off.”
He grins arrogantly, “Good. Jesse’s going to come too and will sit with you then she’s going to leave with her boyfriend after. He plays on the team too.”
He looks at his mom, “Where is my hockey equipment?”
She shrugs, “You will have to ask your father that.” By the look on Catherine’s face I’d say she knows exactly where it is but wants Sawyer to talk to his father.
Sawyer, on the other hand, looks less than thrilled about that.
Dinner is uncomfortable to say the least. Everyone is trying to pretend it isn’t but there’s no denyin’ the tension between Sawyer and his father. Whatever happened when Sawyer went and asked him where his equipment was has them both in a foul mood. At least Sawyer is tryin’ not to let it show.
“Honestly, I’m not surprised Tommy asked you to play with them tonight,” Jesse starts, “he came into the store the other day just to pester me. When I told him you were coming home for a few days he started going off about how he needed you tonight to dominate their biggest rival team.”
