Page 74 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
I have to give the kid credit; he has balls. Normally, I would tell any person who asked me this to mind their own fucking business, but since the kid is living with her and a part of her life now, I feel like it’s fair for him to ask. “Don’t worry, the reason I’m dragging my ass is because I don’t want to hurt her any more than you want me to.”
“Then make sure you don’t. It’s not hard.”
I quirk a brow, thinking he seems a little more concerned about this than he should be.
He looks away and shrugs. “She’s the only one who has ever given a shit about me, you know?”
Another thing he and I have in common. “Actually yeah, kid, I know exactly what you’re talking about.” Walking over to him now, I clap him on the shoulder, “Come on. I’ll show you where you’re going to start.”
After taking him on a tour and introducing him to some of the fighters, I get him started in the public locker room then head into my office to do some paperwork.
A while later I walk back out to check on him and stop mid-stride when I hear my name being squealed, “Tade!”
I look over to the entrance and see a little girl running over to me as fast as her legs can take her. She sounds like Ruth Jean, but she looks nothing like her. I catch her as she catapults herself at me, and hold her up in the air at arm’s length while I look her over. She’s wearing brand new clothes that are clean and fit her properly. She has on a new pair of glasses that actually fit her face, and showcase the prettiest and biggest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Her long, light brown hair is clean and cut nicely around her shoulders. But the new item of clothing I notice the most, and the one thing that has something shifting in my chest, is the goddamn black beanie she’s wearing on her head. It’s an exact replica of mine except smaller.
“Who are you?” I ask, once some of the shock wears off.
She giggles, “It’s Wuf Jean, ya silwy. I got a mateover. And wook,” she points to her beanie, “I asked Faif to get me a matching hat wike you. Now we awe twins!” she announces excitedly. “Do ya wike it?”
I stare at her for a second, having a hard time finding my voice. “Yeah.” I have to stop and clear my throat when I hear how gruff it sounds. “You look good, kid. Like you always did, except now you have a killer smile to match it.” Which is true. You can see a difference in her confidence from the transformation.
Her smile spreads before she throws her arms around my neck tightly. “Tanks, big guy.”
I don’t hesitate to hug her back, but for some reason I can’t find my voice again. I look up at Red, the other girl who makes me feel things I never thought I could, and see her smiling at us. Her long, red hair is up in some kind of messy knot on her head, that’s sexy as hell, and displays her slender neck that I want more than anything to run my mouth down. My eyes blatantly travel down the rest of her, taking in her small, lithe body that’s covered by a jean skirt and a tight, white tank top that has a thick, brown belt hanging low on her hips. When my gaze lands on her brown cowgirl boots, my semi-erect cock turns painfully hard. Jesus, she is fucking beautiful.
My eyes make it back up to her bright green ones to see a knowing smile. I stare at her and let her see exactly what I’m thinking, which has her cheeks turning pink. Fuck, I want to see just how far down that blush of hers goes. I’ll bet it…
“And guess what else?”
The kid snaps me back into reality and I suddenly feel uncomfortable holding her after what I was just thinking about. Christ, I need to get a fucking grip.
“What’s that?” I feel like a jackass at how rough my voice sounds.
“I have a new name!” she tells me excitedly.
I quirk my brow at her then look at Faith. “Not a new name exactly,” she explains with a smile. “We are going to keep her original name because it’s unique and was given specially just to her. But she has another name she would like to be called by, from now on.”
I look back to the kid and wait for her to tell me.
“Woofie,” she says with a big smile.
What the fuck? How is that any better?
Faith laughs at my expression. “Ruthie,” she adds, correcting Ruth Jean.
Now that is a lot fucking better.
“Cool. I like it, kid.”
“Estuse me?” she says dramatically, cupping her ear.
I feel my lips twitch, “I mean, Ruthie.”
She gives me a bright smile. “Dat’s betta.”
Faith chuckles but it fades quickly with Ruth Jean’s next question. “Are ya staying de night again tonight?” she asks hopefully.
I glance back at Red and I can tell she’s wondering the same thing, but she quickly looks away, breaking eye contact.
“Yeah, I’m staying again.” I didn’t know that until this moment, and when Red looks back at me with a smile that hits me like a punch to the gut, I realize I am incredibly fucked.
CHAPTER 21
Faith
The next afternoon, Ruthie and I grab the grocery bags out of the trunk and head up my front steps.
“It doesn’t wook wike Tade is home yet,” she says while doing a quick scan for his truck.
Home… I smile and can’t help the little flip my heart does at hearing her say that. I guess it’s not really his home, but it sure has felt that way the last few days. It would be even better if he would give in and come sleep in my bed with me, rather than the couch. I haven’t asked again, not wanting to pressure him, but every night I crave to feel him next to me. I long to feel his heartbeat under my cheek, that I committed to memory from that incredible night so long ago.
