Page 61 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
And now it all comes together. Rather than being afraid at seeing what I did to those assholes tonight, she thinks I’m safe. “I didn’t save anyone, kid. I just did what needed to be done until the police got there.” I feel like an asshole. I don’t want her to think I didn’t do it to help her brother, but she needs to understand just who I am. And safe is not one of them.
“You saved Faif’s wife.”
I rear back in surprise. “How do you know about that?”
“Faif told me. She said yow’re de stwongest man in de whole wowld.” I stay silent and feel something shift in me at hearing that. “I bet noding stares you.”
I grunt, little does she know. She and Red scare the shit out of me.
“You don’t say vewy much.”
“And you talk a lot.”
She doesn’t get offended; she only looks at me like I’m an idiot again. “I know dat.” Then she decides to switch to another topic again: “Why awe you weawing a beanie, awe you told?”
Shit! I reach up and rip it off, realizing I forgot to take the fucking thing off. “That’s enough questions for tonight. You need to go to sleep. You guys have a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”
She lets out a tiny breath then whispers, “I hope evewyding will be otay. I don’t want to go bat to my dad. He’s so mean, especiawwy to Twistiphwor.”
My chest pulls tight at her tiny, scared voice. “Don’t worry, kid, that won’t happen. Faith will make sure of it.” And so will I, but I decide not to voice that.
She nods then moves in closer, and literally within seconds she’s asleep. Pulling the blanket higher up on her bare arm, I look down at her tiny, vulnerable form and a memory strikes me, one so painful that I quickly push it away just so I can breathe. When I lay down, to try and get some sleep, she burrows her face right into my scarred chest. I’m in very serious shit!
CHAPTER 17
Faith
After waking up for what must be the thousandth time, I look at the clock to see it’s five am. I decide to give up on sleep and go check on the kids quickly before I hop in the shower.
Throwing on a light cardigan over my tank, I head down two flights of small stairs in the dark to the spare room, and quietly peek my head in. Alarm screams inside of me when I don’t see Ruth Jean in bed next to Christopher. Closing the door, I look around the TV room and don’t see her on the couch. I check the bathroom and see she’s not there either.
Was she in bed with me and I missed her? I promptly head back up both flights of stairs and check my room to make sure I didn’t miss her. She isn’t there.
With panic now threatening to choke me, I rush back down and into the living room to wake up Cade. I come to an abrupt halt when I reach the couch and see Ruth Jean cuddled up against his bare chest. Relief swamps me just before my heart completely melts into a giant puddle of goo at the sight of Cade’s tattooed, muscular arm wrapped protectively around her tiny body, their faces both soft with sleep.
Not being able to resist, I grasp my hair with one hand then lean down and press a soft kiss to Ruth Jean’s forehead, then another to Cade’s. Just as I turn to go get another blanket, since the one they have is completely wrapped around Ruth Jean, I feel a big, warm hand grasp the inside of my thigh, halting me.
I look down at Cade, and even in the dark I can see the warm hazel color of his eyes. Goosebumps break out across my skin when his thumb starts rubbing small circles on the inside of my leg.
“Hi,” I whisper softly then give him a small smile when I glance at the little girl against his chest.
“She asked me why I have earrings in my boobs.”
I cover my mouth and giggle into my hand, not wanting to wake Ruth Jean. Oh lord, poor guy.
His expression is blank but I catch a slight lift to his lips. “She talks a lot.”
Smiling, I take a seat at the edge of the coffee table across from them. “I know. She has a lot to say, she’s very intelligent.” When he doesn’t respond I start to worry he’s really bothered by it. “I’m sorry. You could have woken me.”
He shrugs. “I tried to tell her there wasn’t enough room here and that she should sleep with either you or her brother, but she assured me she is small and crawled her skinny ass up here anyway.”
I smile. “She feels safe with you.”
Something passes over his expression. “Yeah, because someone told her I am the strongest guy in the world and saved their life.”
I feel my face flush with embarrassment at being caught for talking about him. “You are the strongest man I’ve ever met,” I whisper truthfully.
He watches silently, his expression softening. “You’re the strong one, Red.”
My heart skips a beat and warmth blooms across my chest. Reaching over, I take his hand that was on the side of my leg earlier. “I know you don’t think I should do this, but it’s right, Cade. I can feel it in my heart. These kids were brought into my life for a reason. I can’t turn them away and I don’t want to either.”
He links his fingers with mine. “I’m just worried about you. It’s a lot to take on. Especially by yourself.”
“I know it’s not going to be easy but I won’t be completely by myself. I think my parents will be supportive, even if they are concerned, and Katelyn will too.”
He’s silent for a long moment. “I’ll be here for you too, if you ever need me.”
My heart falters in surprise. I’m not sure who is more shocked by what he just said—him or me. I want to tell him that I’ll always need him but then think better of it.
