Page 47 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
Twenty minutes later, after wandering around aimlessly with a heavy heart, I decide to head to my parents’ place, not wanting to be alone with my thoughts. I haven’t seen my mom and papa for almost a week, and if anyone can bring my spirits up it’s my papa.
The entire way there, I think about what happened with Cade. From his scars, to his admission at why he stayed away, and, most of all, I think about our kiss. The way my body came alive under his touch and the way my soul remembered it so well. It was perfect, and something I didn’t think I would ever get to feel again.
So why did I have to ruin it? My body still burns from his touch, but so does shame and humiliation. Letting out a heavy breath, I shake my head, frustrated and confused.
As I get to my parents’ street, I spot Katelyn’s car outside the two-story white colonial styled house and smile. I’ll bet Papa is over the moon.
Even though Papa George is on my dad’s side and Katelyn is from my mom’s side, he always treated her as if she was his own grandchild. In the days when we were children, and Katelyn would need to escape home, we would spend long days and nights on Papa and Grandma’s ranch. From going on adventure walks with Papa, to baking cookies with Grandma, then camping out in the back and telling ghost stories, only to have Papa sneak up and scare us. The man is a jokester and the complete opposite of my father. Clearly, a former marine and a pastor would be.
I smile and think about how lucky both Katelyn and I are to have him. If it wasn’t for Papa, Katelyn wouldn’t have her own shop, and I would have to work right now and be unable to concentrate solely on setting up the music school.
After selling his ranch and moving in with us when Grandma died, he gave a very large portion to Katelyn and me. It came at a good time for Katelyn because that’s when Kolan brought her here—wanting to get them both as far away from their parents as possible.
As I walk up the front step, I swipe at my cheeks to make sure my tears have dried before opening the screen door. Walking in, I instantly hear Papa’s boisterous voice. “I’m telling ya, that doctor is a moron and doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about.”
“Now, Dad, there is no need to swear and call him names,” my mom reprimands softly. I smile when I hear Katelyn’s chuckle, and follow the voices into the kitchen. My mom’s face lights up and she rushes over to me. “Hi, baby girl.”
“Hi, Mom.”
Her smile slips and concern twists her expression when she notices I’ve been crying. I give her a sad smile and shake my head, letting her know I don’t want to talk about it. She sighs softly and cups my face, placing a kiss on my forehead.
“Hey, there’s my shortcake, get your ass over here and give your papa some love.”
“Dad! Enough with the language already,” my mom scolds again, to which Papa rolls his eyes at. I don’t know why she even bothers, it’s just who the man is and always has been.
Smiling, I walk over to him sitting at the kitchen table and kiss his cheek. “Hi, Papa, how are you doing today?”
I try to turn away quickly, before he can see my blood-shot eyes, but the man doesn’t miss anything. He grabs my arm before I can walk away. “Why the hell does it look like you’ve been cryin’?”
“I’m fine, Papa. Just tired is all.”
I look over at Katelyn when she snorts, her concerned and angry gaze knowing what, or rather whom, I’m crying about. I give her a look that has her keeping quiet. For now. Papa grunts, not believing me either, but thankfully he doesn’t push.
I grab a banana and sit across from him. “What are you griping about anyway? What doctor is a moron?”
Annoyance flashes in his eyes. “That damn arrogant Dr. Carson. He thinks he knows everything, but he doesn’t.”
“I think he knows more about the medical field than you do, Dad.”
“Why, what did he say?” I ask worriedly, not wanting to hear Papa has any health concerns.
He sits up, all serious, and points over at Mom. “That asshole is trying to get your mother to change my diet. He says my cholesterol is too high.”
“Is it?”
He grunts. “That’s what he’s trying to get everyone to believe. I mean, what the hell did I ever do to him? He doesn’t even know me.”
Katelyn and I burst out laughing. “Papa, I’m sure if your cholesterol wasn’t high he wouldn’t tell you that.”
“Yeah,” Katelyn adds, backing me up, “and that asshole is damn good looking.”
We both laugh again at the look on Papa’s face. He points at Katelyn angrily, “You stay away from him. He’s bad news, I can tell.”
She rolls her eyes. “You don’t have to worry about me with him. It’s Faith he wants.”
I glare at her for opening her big mouth. She smiles sweetly and blows me a kiss. I look back at Papa to see him sit up angrily again. He points his finger at me next. “Don’t you dare go near him, Shortcake, I’m serious. He’s bad news. He’s probably trying to get to you so he can mess with me and my diet.” We all laugh at him including my mom. “I’m serious,” he shouts, not finding it funny. “If his lying know-it-all ass goes anywhere near you, I’ll bring out my shotgun.”
“Oh, Dad, give it a rest. I think it would be great for Faith to get out and he does seem quite smitten with her.”
I roll my eyes at my mom’s not so subtle hint, and when my papa looks like he’s about to explode I throw my hand up, stopping him. “Don’t worry, Papa. I don’t plan to. He seems nice and all, but I’m too busy with trying to get the music school up and running.” And I’m in love with someone else… I think. Someone who doesn’t believe in love.
