Page 86 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
Collective chuckles go around before people are taking their seats. I push Mac’s chair to the end of the table and begin makin’ his plate, knowing he won’t be able to cut anything. After I’m done I look over at the empty seat between Sawyer and Cade.
Sawyer pats it, “Saved you a seat, Cupcake.”
I can’t stop the big silly smile that transforms my face. Lord, I love this man. I take the seat next to him and kiss his cheek, “Thank you.”
Then leaning over to Cade I kiss his cheek too, catching him off guard. “Thank you, Cade, for pickin’ Mac up and bringin’ him here.”
He shifts in his seat, uncomfortable with my praise, “No problem, Grace.”
“Who’s going to say grace?” Grams asks.
Cade freezes next to me. Jaxson and Sawyer both glance over at him.
Jaxson clears his throat, “Um, you know what, Grams…”
“It’s fine!” Cade grounds out, cuttin’ him off.
I’m not so sure it is all that fine. I can literally feel the tension rolling off him in waves. When Jaxson tries refusing again, Cade gives him a look that shuts him up.
Katelyn breaks the awkward silence by offerin’ to say grace. Everyone folds their hands and bows their heads, except Cade. When I look up at him, my heart breaks at the pained expression on his face, Katelyn’s words seeming to make him physically sick. Bowin’ my head, I reach under the table and grab his hand, giving him a reassuring squeeze. I sense him look over at me but keep my head down, not wantin’ to make him feel more uncomfortable.
After it’s done, I let go and start dishin’ my plate. I still make sure not to look over at him, not wanting to embarrass him further.
Feeling another’s gaze boring in to me, I look over at Sawyer to see him starin’ at me with heap loads of emotions splashed across his face. I start thinkin’ maybe I should have minded my own business, but then he leans in, kissin’ my cheek and trails his lips across it until reaching my ear, “I love you.”
His whispered words have warmth and love spreading through me. Smiling, I plant a quick, fast smooch on his delectable lips.
“Katelyn, honey, Julia tells me your uncle is going to be the Senior Pastor at the Peace Hill Baptist Church? You must be happy to have some family moving close by?” Grams says.
“Oh, yes I am. My uncle and aunt have wanted a change of location for a while. When Peace Hills became an option he accepted right away, knowing he would be closer to my brother and me. I’m most excited though about my cousin. She is coming with them as well. I haven’t seen her in about a year, but we talk on the phone almost every day; we’re very close.
“Isn’t Peace Hills the abandoned one on Church Hill Square?” Jaxson asks her.
“Yup. My uncle and cousin will be working their butts off to have it up and ready by late spring. She has big plans for the youth in this town. So if anyone isn’t busy I know they could use some help…” Katelyn trails off with a sweet smile.
“Well, I’ll help anyway I can. I’m just not sure how much I’ll be able to do, I guess it all depends on how far along I am with Annabelle.”
Everyone freezes, and all eyes shoot to Julia.
“Wait, what did you just say?” Kayla asks, shaking her head in confusion.
“I said, depending how far along I am with Annabelle.” Looking at all of our stunned faces, she gives us a radiant smile and grabs Jaxson’s hand, “Jax and I found out we’re having a girl and we’ve decided to name her Annabelle, after my mother. Actually, Annabelle Margaret.”
Collective gasps break out across the table before all of us girls are out of our seats and rushing over to Julia, wrapping her in a group hug. Squeals and laughter are shared between us all. Grams’ reaction has my throat feelin’ tight. I’ve never seen her cry like this, even if they are happy tears.
She turns to Jaxson now, cupping his face, “You did so good, I’m so darn proud of you.” She sobs while planting a million kisses along his face, praisin’ him as if he’s the one who made it a girl…
Everyone bursts into another fit of laughter while Jaxson shifts uncomfortably.
“I can’t wait. I’m so coming to babysit,” Anna says as we all take our seats again. I notice Sawyer starin’ at Jaxson with a sly smile.
Jaxson notices too. “What the hell are you looking at?”
Sawyer’s grin spreads, “You’re having a girl and she’s going to grow up to be hot, just like Julia.”
More laughter fills the air, Jaxson’s narrowed gaze turns into a death glare. I’d swear if he had powers he would have killed Sawyer on the spot.
Cooper slaps him on the back. “Don’t worry, buddy, just send her to school in slush pants, red rubber boots and sporting a mullet; then you will never have to worry about any dude going near her.”
“Cooper!” Kayla gasps in exasperation, slapping his shoulder.
All the guys get a kick out of it. Even Cade. Well, in his own Cade kind of way.
As more jokes get thrown around, my eyes move to every single person at the table, a sudden feeling of contentment settling in my heart. We’re all so different, yet somehow all fit together perfectly, like how every family is meant to be. And when my gaze lands on the person next to me, I get the sudden feeling I’m exactly where I was always meant to be, something I never thought I would feel.
Sensing my eyes on him, Sawyer looks over at me in question. His usual bright, infectious smile gracing his handsome face. “You okay, Cupcake?”
I press a kiss to his lips, lingering for a second longer than I should. When I pull back I look into his heated eyes, “Yeah, actually I’m perfect.”
He leans over to whisper in my ear, “Yeah, Grace, you are.”
