Page 24 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
“Oh stop. I do not. I’m just good at hiding it.”
Katelyn rolls her eyes. “How can you hide it? You’re wearing yoga shorts and a tank top that molds to your body like second skin.”
Shaking her head, Julia replies with a laugh. “Trust me, I am hiding it, but thank you ladies for the compliment.”
“Katelyn showed me pictures of your daughter. She’s very cute,” I say with sincere honesty. Katelyn had a picture on her fridge of her and Annabelle that she got from the baby shower. And it’s true; the little baby with dark brown hair, warm pink skin and ice blue eyes is adorable.
“Thank you, she means the world to me.” Her eyes shine bright and her skin glows with the truth of her words.
Kayla comes back with a witty reply that I unintentionally zone out on, as my eyes wander over the large gym. I have to admit it’s a pretty great place and has tons of space. It seems they have something here for everyone. I’m a person who has always enjoyed exercise, but just over the last two years I have a newfound love of running. It’s something that my therapist Dr. Mathews recommended to help with the constant anxiety attacks I had after Iraq. I quickly became addicted, and it has done wonders for me. I still have medication in case the odd one sneaks up on me, and it’s something I can’t get under control myself, but I haven’t had one in almost a year. It’s been a long process, but with my faith in God, the love of my family and the help of Dr. Mathews, I’m almost my old self again… except that missing piece of my heart.
Don’t go there, Faith.
“Who’s at the bakery for you, Grace?” Katelyn asks, thankfully pulling me from my thoughts.
“Just Mac at the moment. I’m heading back over there right after here. I have an interview with a high school girl today. I’m hoping she works out. Ruby and Mac have both been great, but I could use a little more help. Things have been even more busy than usual, since the weather has started warming up.”
“Well I’m not sure what kind of help you’re needing, but I could help out a couple evenings or days a week until you find someone,” I offer, before I can think better of it. Not that I mind pitching in if she needs help, but she might not be comfortable with that since she doesn’t know me at all yet. I give myself a mental slap.
Thankfully Grace doesn’t seem phased and even smiles back kindly, “Thanks, Faith, that’s awful nice of ya. I might need to take you up on that. Kayla and Julia have been great too, with pitching in when they can.”
She seriously has the cutest accent. Right when I’m about to reply, Grace turns away, to look over at two really tall guys as they walk out of a room at the other end of the gym. I realize one of them must be her fiancé, by the way her eyes eat him up and her cheeks turn pink. I watch them make their way to us, wanting to get a good look at the sexy men Katelyn has spoken about.
My eyes draw to the guy on the right, and even though he is a fair distance away, for some reason, a familiarity tugs at my mind as if I’ve seen him before, yet I have no idea where. My head tilts to the side and I squint to see him better. The closer he gets, the stronger the feeling. Then it happens – the memory and recognition slamming into me like a freight train.
Oh. My. God. My heart starts to pound so loud it’s all I can hear. I feel the walls close in around me while my breathing turns quick and shallow.
After a flirtatious wink to Grace his eyes move to me and I watch his gaze narrow with an inquisitive look as he tries to place me. I turn away quickly, hoping to stop him from recognizing me, and manage to get up on shaking legs.
“Oh my god. Oh god, oh god…” Tears blur my vision as I keep my head down.
“Faith? What is it, what’s wrong?” Katelyn asks worriedly, grabbing my arm to stop me.
I rip it from her grasp. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I have to get out of here.” My words are raspy as I choke out the response through labored breaths.
“What? Why?”
I’m about to tell her I will explain later, when a shocked curse fills the air, letting me know the moment Sawyer has recognized me. Without a second thought, I flee as fast as I can, stumbling over my own feet as I try to make a hasty getaway. Right when I’m about to look up, and see how close I am to the door, I end up slamming into a brick wall.
“Whoa.” Big, warm hands grab my shoulders to steady me.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, I…” my apology turns into a gasp when I look up into the face of the one man I never thought I would ever see again. The same man I see in my dreams almost every night.
Cade’s fingers tighten on my shoulders and his hazel eyes widen in shock just a second before they turn to ice. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
I flinch from his harsh tone, and feel my heart shatter all over again at the disgust on his face. Tears spill down my cheeks and a small sob slips past my throat as I rip from his grasp and run out the door.
The moment I get outside, I brace my hands on my knees and try to take in lungfuls of much needed air, as panic threatens to choke me. Not here… please, not now. Standing back up, I look around trying to get my bearings, and the moment I look to the left, I know what direction I want to take.
