Page 29 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
I lay my head back on his arm that’s around my shoulders, and stare up into his concerned green eyes. “You’re never going to believe it.”
“Try me.”
“You know how Katelyn took me to her friend’s husband’s gym this morning for that self-defense class?” He nods. “Well, the men who own it are the same men who rescued me in Iraq.”
His eyes widen in shock and disbelief, just like I knew they would. He blows out a big breath. “Whoa.”
“I know. Two of them are her friend’s husbands and the third one… was him,” I whisper sadly. I don’t need to elaborate because he knows that I’m talking about Cade.
“Well that must have been quite the shock on all of you, to say the least.” I nod, my throat feeling too tight to speak again. “How did you handle it?”
I laugh, even though there’s nothing funny at all about this situation. “Not well. I recognized the one guy fairly quickly, and tried getting out of there before he could recognize me but instead I drew more attention to myself before running smack into Cade.” I pause a moment and swallow thickly. “It was such a nightmare, Dad.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t easy on any of you.”
I shake my head. “No, it wasn’t and seeing Cade after all this time…” I trail off when my voice cracks.
My dad clears his own throat and I know this conversation is about to become more intense, and probably a little awkward. “Faith, honey, I never asked you much about him because I knew it hurt you too much to talk about it. I know you met him before everything happened, and that you were quite taken with him, but… Just how close did you become with him?” Even though this is just as uncomfortable for me as it is for my dad, I stare right into his eyes and let him see the truth. He lets out another heavy breath and drops his head back next to mine. “Oh boy.”
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I begin quietly, “I know you’re probably really disappointed and wanted me to wait until I was married, but…”
He puts his hand up. “Well no, that isn’t necessarily true. I think, like most dads, I really hoped that, married or not, you would never, ever do that.” I quirk an eyebrow at him and he chuckles. “But I also know that is not logical, and if there is one thing I know more than anything in this world, it’s that I trust you to make the right decisions for yourself. You’re a good girl, Faith, the best I’ve ever known.” A tear slips free at hearing him say that and he wipes it away with his thumb. “So let me ask you a question: do you regret it?”
I quickly shake my head. “No, and I never could. That’s what I was about to tell you. Not only because he is the only man I’ve ever felt this deeply for, but also because he showed me what it was like to be touched in a way that wasn’t cruel or forceful.” My breath hitches and my tears fall faster. “I thank God every day that I got to experience a loving touch like his before what was taken from me.”
I watch my dad’s jaw clench and his eyes brim red with unshed tears before he pulls me into him. I wrap my arms around his waist and let my tears flow freely, soaking his shirt. “Everything is going to be okay now, Faith. This is a new beginning for all of us, but especially you.”
“I thought so,” I choke into his chest. “I thought for sure I had a bright new future here, but now with Cade also being here…” I trail off, not being able to finish the sentence.
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe he’s supposed to be a part of that future? Because if you ask me, honey, it seems this could be the work of God bringing you two together again.”
Pulling back, I wipe my eyes, “I don’t think so, Dad. If you would have seen his reaction at seeing me…” I shake my head sadly. “He can barely stand to look at me.”
“I’m not so sure about that. How can anyone have a hard time looking at you?” I roll my eyes and know the man is biased, since he’s my dad. He chuckles and kisses my forehead.
Looking at him more seriously, I share my biggest fear. “I’m not sure if it’s because he blames me, or because he can’t stand to know what they did to me.”
His eyes flash with sympathy. “Oh, Faith. If he’s as smart as I think he is, then I’ll bet it isn’t either of those things. None of what happened is your fault, and you have nothing to feel ashamed about.”
After a long time of working with Dr. Mathews I know that logically, but sometimes I still can’t help but feel guilty when I think about all the people who were hurt or killed as part of my capture. Beth, Cade, his friends and most of all Aadil… I squeeze my eyes shut and try to block the memory from resurfacing, knowing I’m not in any condition right now to deal with it. I reopen them when my dad wipes away more of my tears.
“You were really that taken with this man?”
“If I thought it was possible to fall in love with someone in a week, then I would tell you I loved him.” And probably still do… but I keep that part to myself.
“Anything is possible. I knew I loved your mother right away. I also knew I would make her my wife. Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to convince her of the same thing.”
His proud smile brings one of my own. “Yeah, thankfully. Otherwise you would have never got to experience what it’s like to have the perfect child.”
He chuckles. “You are most definitely right about that.” I giggle, and for the first time today my heart feels a little lighter.
