Page 105 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
Did she have to do that while he’s holding a chick’s hand?
“Thanks, Katelyn,” he mumbles, embarrassed.
Next she hugs Alissa then runs her hands through her hair. “Your curl held up well. Your hair still looks great from last night.”
“Oh, yes it is. Thank you again for doing it for me,” she responds shyly.
“Of course anytime.”
“How was the dance, kid? Did you follow my advice?” Sawyer asks with a cocky grin. I slap him in the back of the head while Christopher gets a look of panic.
“What advice?” Faith asks curiously.
“Nothing!” both Christopher and I answer at the same time.
“Uh, I’m going to take Alissa on a tour of the house… Come on.” He tugs on her hand and hightails his ass out of here.
“Oh my god, they are so cute,” Julia gushes and all the girls agree.
Sawyer grunts then leans over to Jaxson, “Yeah, I’ll bet his bedroom is the first and only room she will see.”
All of us guys chuckle but Faith gasps, not finding it funny. “Oh no, Christopher isn’t like that, he’s too young.”
“He’s sixteen, Country.”
“Exactly.” She looks at each of us guys when we remain quiet. “How old were you guys?”
Of course Evans is stupid enough to answer. “Fifteen.”
Faith gasps again, “Fifteen? You were still a baby.”
“Please, baby my ass,” Sawyer replies insulted, “you should have seen…”
“All right that’s enough!” Grace interrupts slapping a hand over his mouth making him chuckle.
Shaking my head, I go outside with Ruthie in my arms and fire up the barbecue. Everyone follows and takes a seat around the patio table. All the girls fight with Katelyn to hold the baby and Kayla ends up winning, which is no surprise. Grace and Faith start passing out drinks to everyone when Christopher and Alissa walk out to join us.
“That was quick,” Sawyer mumbles to Cooper and Jaxson, but everyone hears it.
Grace slaps his arm. “Sawyer, I mean it, that’s enough.”
“What? I just meant it was a quick tour.” She glares at him, calling his bullshit and he pulls her down on his lap with a chuckle. “Okay, no more, Cupcake, I promise. What are you feeding us, Country, if we don’t get meat?”
“Don’t worry. I made vegetable shish kabobs for myself and anyone else who wants them, and my mom is bringing ones with meat. It’s Christopher’s birthday after all, and he has informed me he will die if he doesn’t eat meat at least once a day.”
“It’s a true story,” the kid says, to which all of us guys agree.
Faith rolls her eyes and is about to say something when the back door swings open. “Hey, there are my girls.” An older man with salt and pepper hair and the same green eyes as Red comes strolling out. He gives Katelyn a hug and kiss on the cheek before he heads over and picks Red up off her feet. “How’s my shortcake?”
She smiles, “Hi, Papa. I’m good, but having a hard time breathing with you squeezing me so tight.”
He chuckles and kisses her cheek before releasing her. “And now for my shortcake number two.”
Figuring he’s talking about Ruthie by her giggle, I put her down and she runs to him. “Hi, Papa.”
He grabs her wrist and assesses her hand. “Let me take a look at this hook. I heard you gave that little shit a good slug.”
“Dad, don’t encourage, and watch your language around her.” I immediately stiffen at the other male voice that steps outside, knowing who it belongs to.
“Papa Joshua!” Ruthie squeals excitedly, and I hear her run to him but I don’t look. I can’t. My blood begins to heat and my heart starts to pound fast and hard. I try forcing myself to relax and breath.
“And this is Cade.” I snap back into myself and realize Red has been introducing everyone. “Cade, this is my papa, George Williams.”
The older man assesses me, “You sure are a big bastard, aren’t you?” I hear Evans chuckle while Faith groans. I stare at him, wondering if he’s serious. I’m tall and in good physical condition but it’s not like I’m completely jacked, and he’s in pretty damn good condition himself for an old guy.
He offers me his hand. “You served and my shortcake likes you, so I guess I will like you.” I clasp it right before he says, “But if you fuck up, I will shoot your ass.”
“Papa!” Faith scolds while Katelyn laughs out loud, just fucking eating this up.
“What? I’m just stating this upfront, and he’s not rattled by it. I have to admit, he seems better than that arrogant asshole, Dr. Carson.”
I grunt and look over at Red. “I am definitely better than the doctor.”
She gives me a sexy smile, “No arguments here on that one.”
Goddamn right…
“Don’t even get me started on Dr. Sissy,” Sawyer mumbles, he and Jaxson getting all riled up with the mention of the douche’s name.
The old man laughs out loud, “Dr. Sissy, now that’s a good one, but it should be, ‘Dr. Sissy, the liar.’ That asshole tried getting people to believe my cholesterol was high then he tried to date my shortcake. The lying prick has some nerve.” Faith and Katelyn laugh in disbelief and shake their heads.
“Okay, Dad, let’s not get started on this again, and watch your mouth when Ruthie is around,” a woman breaks in, stepping forward. Her hair is long and dark red, the same as Faith’s, but her eyes are brown rather than green. She also has the same delicate features and porcelain skin. It’s obvious where Red gets her beauty.
“And this is my mother, Linda Williams.”
I start to extend my hand but the woman steps into me and wraps her arms around my waist. I try my damnedest not to tense but it’s obvious I am uncomfortable. I am better than I used to be but only with Red and Ruthie. I don’t like anyone else touching me.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you. I owe my life to you for saving my precious girl… to all of you,” she adds, her voice thick with emotion as she looks at Sawyer and Jaxson.
