Page 7 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
“Okay, Cupcake, that was a fucking good one. I’ll give you that.”
We laugh for another minute before Sawyer shoots his next question, “Favorite color?”
“I have two: pink and yellow.”
He assesses me. “Yeah I can see that. Mine’s blue, since I’m sure you’ve been dying to know.”
I smile and shake my head. That would have been my guess since that was the color of his monstrous truck. The deep blue was so dark it almost appeared black until the sun hit it.
“Favorite movie?” he asks now.
“Mmmm, probably 27 Dresses.”
“Never heard of it.”
I laugh, “I’m not surprised. It’s a chick flick… Okay, my turn.”
He looks at me in surprise, but then smiles and spreads his arms wide, “Ask away, Cupcake. I’m an open book.”
“Favorite food?”
“Any one of your pies.”
I chuckle and roll my eyes, “I’m serious.”
“I am too. That’s the best shit I’ve ever had in my mouth, and let me tell you, baby, I’ve had some real good shit in my mouth. Although… I have a feeling your own delicious taste would beat out all of it.”
Holy Moly! I flush what I assume is a deep shade of red and am thankful it’s dark out, but apparently not dark enough. “I like making you blush, Grace.”
I shoot my eyes away. “Yeah well, it don’t take much. So don’t let it go too much to your already over-sized head there, Evans.”
He chuckles and I can’t help but laugh with him. I haven’t laughed this much in a long time. I’m smilin’ so much that my cheeks hurt.
I decide, since we’re on the subject, to ask the one question I’ve been wanting to know. “Which one is your favorite?”
“What?” he asks confused. “What pie is your favorite?”
I look away again, feelin’ embarrassed for askin’, although I’m not sure why since it isn’t a big deal.
“That’s a tough one, because I really like them all. But if I have to choose, the one that sticks out in my head is the one I had just the other day. It has berries and chocolate and shit in it…”
I start laughing. “I never, ever put shit into my pies, Sawyer.” He chuckles. “You know what I mean… So? What’s it called?”
My smile dies and my heart becomes heavy. “Missin’ my Mama Pie,” I reply softly.
I feel him watchin’ me again. “Why did you name it that?”
“Because I was missin’ her when I made it. It’s what pulled me out of bed at three am.” I shrug, “Whatever I’m feelin’, and what comes to my mind, is normally how I name my pies.”
I’m startled out of my sadness when Sawyer stops abruptly; grabbing my arm he pulls me against him. I stand frozen for a second, not understanding what’s happenin’, but once my brain registers the embrace I can do nothing else but wrap my arms around his hard, warm body and take his comfort. And boy what a comfort it is. His heat envelopes me and warms me from the inside out. His delicious masculine scent penetrates my senses. My head rests against his hard chest, right over his strong and steady heartbeat. But best of all are his strong arms wrapped around me, makin’ me feel safe. A feeling I haven’t felt in three years.
Tears sting my eyes and my throat begins to feel tight from his affection. It’s been a long time since I’ve received genuine comfort like this, well except from Mac. But this was different. Way different!
Sawyer eventually pulls back but stays close; he cups either side of my face right under my jaw. I try really hard to keep my tears at bay, not wanting them to fall, as I stare into his dark green eyes that shine with sincerity. “I’m real fucking sorry about your mom, Grace. I want you to know that you can always call me anytime you ever need anything, doesn’t matter what time it is I’ll always come.”
My heart swells at his kind words. “Why?”
“Because you’re my friend, and I take care of what’s mine.”
Without me wanting it to a tear slips free, but before it can fall down my face Sawyer catches it with his thumb. I don’t know what to say or how to take his sudden affection. I’m a little scared to accept it because I’m used to bein’ let down. But something about the way he’s lookin’ at me makes me believe him. Makes me believe that he wouldn’t let me down, and that, if I did in fact need him, he would come.
“All right, thank you.”
He nods, then leans down and kisses the top of my head. The simple gesture is almost enough to make me breakdown. Slinging his arm around my neck, he starts us moving again and lightens the mood by asking another question. “What’s your favorite pie?”
I smile, thinking of my answer. “Grace’s First Kiss Pie.”
I feel him tense next to me. “I’m not sure I want to know why it’s called that.”
I laugh at his teasin’. “It’s exactly why it’s called that. My Mama created it, after my first kiss, when I came home and told her all about it. It’s a graham cracker crust with raspberries, whip cream and chocolate, because it was a sweet kiss. She even made little heart shapes with the dough on the top.”
Sawyer grunts, “Sounds like a sissy kiss to me.”
I roll my eyes and giggle.
Disappointment strikes deep when we turn on my street. I actually enjoyed talkin’ with Sawyer; it was nice to have company on my walk home. One of the things I like about bein’ at the diner so much is I’m always around people. Being alone gets old real fast.
That thought makes me think about the letter I sent a week ago, that I’m hopin’ to hear back from soon.
As we walk up to my driveway Sawyer brings me out of my depressing thoughts, “This is where you live?” I watch him assess the old house that’s still in reasonable shape.
“Yeah it’s Mac’s. He lets me rent it for cheap. I’m pretty sure too cheap since he’s supposed to be garnishin’ it off my wages, but my checks always seem to be all the hours I work. Anytime I bring it up he gets all grumpy, so I let it drop and just appreciate it.”
