Page 67 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
He shakes his head, and right when I’m about to keep arguing he throws up his hand. “I mean it, Faith, just let it go.”
I sigh in defeat. “All right. If you change your mind…”
“I won’t,” he replies with finality.
Hmmm. We will see about that. I may need to be a little sneaky, but I will be seeing a lot of Alissa so it shouldn’t be hard. I also need to talk to Cade and the guys to see if they have anything Christopher could do at the gym to earn some money.
I smile. Yes, and it’s the perfect excuse to use to see Cade again.
CHAPTER 19
Cade
I’m walking across the gym, headed toward the sparring ring, when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out to see Faith’s number and my heart rate jacks, along with my dick. Fuck, I’m turning into a real pussy. I swear I’m worse than Evans.
I hit answer. “What’s up, Red?” I brace myself for that first sound of her soft voice, it always hits me like a punch to the chest.
“Oh thank God I got a hold of you. I need help.” The panic in her tone has me freezing mid-stride.
“What is it, what’s wrong?”
“Well nothing is wrong yet. I am stuck in traffic right now, coming back from Charleston, and there is no way I’m going to make it on time to pick up Ruth Jean from school. My mother is gone to a doctor’s appointment with my papa and I can’t get a hold of my father. Katelyn can’t leave her shop and Christopher is hanging out with a friend at the skateboard park. He has no cell phone, which, by the way, I need to buy him one and…”
“Okay, take it easy. I’ll go get her.”
“Oh, thank you. I’m sorry, I know it’s probably not easy for you to leave and…”
“It’s fine. Jaxson and Sawyer are both here. I’ll go pick her up and bring her back to the gym. Or do you want me to take her to your place?”
“No, the gym is fine. Thank you. I shouldn’t be long… well I shouldn’t say that, it’s all depending on if the grandpa in front of me decides to put the pedal to the metal rather than go for a Sunday stroll here… come on, buddy, let’s go. Some people have things to do.”
I shake my head, knowing her fucking window probably isn’t even open so it’s not like the man will hear her anyway. “Take your time, Red. It’s fine.”
“Okay, do you need directions?”
“Is there only one elementary school here?”
“Yes.”
“Then no. I know where it is. I’m leaving now.”
After she says thank you about another fifty times I hang up and head to the school. It takes me only five minutes and I find a parking spot across the street, right outside the front doors. I hop out of my truck and lean against it so she can see me, since she will be expecting Faith.
When the bell rings an explosion of little people come pouring out of the double doors. Jesus christ, there are hundreds of them. How am I supposed to spot her in all this chaos?
When I still don’t see her a few minutes later, and most of the crowd has dissipated, I start to worry I missed her. Just as I’m about to go searching I see a lonely kid come walking out of the doors with her head down, looking sad as hell. I instantly recognize her by the color of her hair.
“Hey, kid!” I shout to get her attention.
Looking up, she pushes her shitty, broken glasses up on her nose and a huge smile takes over her sad face when she sees me. “Tade!” she screams excitedly, running to the crosswalk. When the crossing guard allows her to cross, she bolts across the street and races over to me, as if I’m fucking Santa Claus or some shit.
When I realize she isn’t slowing down, I throw my arms out and catch her easily. She wraps her tiny arms around my neck as I scoop her up, then plants a sloppy kiss on my cheek. I stare at her vacantly but I can’t deny the shift in my chest. It’s something both her and Red have in common.
“Hey, big guy. What awe you doing hewe?”
“Faith got stuck in traffic and asked if I could pick you up. I’m going to bring you back to the gym. That cool?”
She nods excitedly, “De toowest.”
I grunt. “Whatever you say.”
I open my truck door and she crawls across my seat to the passenger side and puts on her seat belt. A minute later I know something is wrong because she looks out her window and doesn’t say a word. She is never quiet.
“You okay, kid?”
She doesn’t look over at me but nods and pushes her glasses up on her nose. Jesus, Faith needs to get on buying her some new ones.
“You don’t look okay. What’s wrong?”
She lets out a small breath and drops her head. “Henwy Winkleman was bugging me again today. Wike he awways does.”
I tense. Who the fuck is this Henry Winkleman?
“He’s always so mean to me. He calls me names and tells me I’m ugwy. Today he even pushed me down and…”
“He put his damn hands on you?” I shout before I can stop myself.
“Yeah and he few wocks at me.”
That little motherfucker is dead! I grip the steering wheel and try to calm my rage. “Did you tell the teacher?”
“Yes, and she told him to stop but he never does, and it will just teep happening.”
Oh no, it fucking will not. “Don’t worry, kid. Once we get to the gym, I’m going to show you exactly what to do if that little fu… kid comes at you again.” And by the time I’m done with her that little fucker won’t know what hit him.
*
Faith
Forty-five minutes after my phone call with Cade, I pull up to SEAL Extreme. Getting out of the car, I hurry into the gym, feeling horrible I had to ask him to grab Ruth Jean.
