Page 85 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
He shakes his head. “I don’t know, Faith. I just think it’s better if I say no. Nothing good can come of this.”
She grabs the kid’s shoulders, her expression determined. “You listen to me, Christopher, plenty good will come from this. Alissa will be the luckiest girl there because you’re taking her.” He rolls his eyes but she doesn’t let him interrupt. “So you are going to let me show you how to dance, you are going to let me buy you a new outfit, and you are going to take her to that dance because both of you deserve to go and have a good time. Got it?”
Her tone brooks no further argument so he nods reluctantly. “Fine. But no new outfit. It’s just a dance and I’m not dressing up like some pretty boy…”
“I’m not going to dress you up like a pretty boy because that’s not who you are. We are going to go buy a new ‘you’ outfit. One that suits your personality and style, because you are perfect just the way you are.”
He rolls his eyes again and I watch his face turn red. Before the poor kid can register what’s about to happen, Faith grabs his face in both her hands and gives him a big kiss on the cheek.
“Hey!” He rips out of her grasp and glares at her. “Stop that!”
She smiles, looking proud of herself. “I had to catch you off guard and do it quick, or else I wouldn’t have gotten the chance.”
Ruthie giggles and Christopher shakes his head, but I don’t miss the slight twitch of his lips. “Whatever, we’ll be in the truck.” He takes Ruthie from me and throws her on his shoulders.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Faith calls at his retreating back as he heads out the door.
She looks at me with a beaming smile then starts dancing around excitedly, “Oh my god, Cade, this is so exciting. Oh man, me and Katelyn are going to spiff him up.” Walking to the back door she bends down and starts putting on her sandals. My eyes immediately drop to her ass and I unintentionally zone out her excited babble. My focus stays there as she moves around the kitchen, gathering her things.
When she stops at the entrance of the kitchen, I suddenly realize it’s become quiet. I lift my gaze and see her watching me with a knowing smile. “You coming, or do you need me to convince you?” She busts a gut laughing, finding my expression fucking hilarious. It makes me want to haul her upstairs and fuck the sass right out of her. Instead of waiting for a response, she walks her sassy ass out of the kitchen and out the front door, her laughter still echoing behind her.
Shaking my head, I follow. Come Friday her ass is mine and she will not be fucking laughing by the time I’m done with her. I just hope to christ I can wait that long.
CHAPTER 24
Faith
Later that evening, the kids and I are having ice cream at the kitchen table while Cade is out back on a phone call when the doorbell rings. I look over at Christopher. “Are you expecting anyone?”
He shakes his head.
Getting up, I head over to the door and feel the kids follow. I look out the peephole and my stomach drops when I see a furious looking man in a suit and a little boy next to him with a bandaged nose.
Uh oh!
Taking a deep, shaky breath, I open the door and attempt to paste a confident smile on my face.
“Hello,” I greet kindly, hoping to smooth this situation over as much as possible. It doesn’t work.
The man glares at me and I don’t miss the way his furious gaze roams down my body. “You Faith Williams?”
“Uh oh!” Ruthie says quietly, and steps behind me.
I grab her hand in reassurance and keep my smile in place. “I am. And you must be…”
My words get stuck in my throat and I back up when he steps into the house, pulling his son behind him. “I am not here for pleasantries, lady. I’m here to show you exactly what that kid,” he seethes pointing at Ruthie behind me, “did to mine, and I am not leaving here until my son gets an apology.”
Christopher steps closer to me but I put my hand up to stop him from going any further. I take a minute to assess the arrogant man’s anger then look down at his son who is glaring at Ruthie.
“Look, Mr. Winkleman, I’m not sure what you were told but I think they should both apologize to each other. Your son…”
“My son is not apologizing for anything!” he shouts, pointing his finger in my face. “The only one who will be apologizing is…” he trails off and I watch his eyes briefly flash in alarm as he looks at something behind me before quickly schooling his features.
I turn around to see Cade standing in the entrance between the living room and kitchen, his powerful body on full display as he wears his usual loose, black athletic pants and white muscle tank that’s showcasing most of his tattoos. His cold, hard expression and commanding presence add to the tension in the room, making him look as powerful and lethal as I know he is.
“What’s going on?” he asks me while keeping his gaze trained on the angry man in front of me.
I clear my throat. “This is Mr. Winkleman and his son Henry, who Ruthie had the altercation with at school today. He wants Ruthie to apologize and I am telling him I think they should both apologize to…”
The man gets furious again and steps into my personal space, “And I told you my kid is not apologizing for…”
He stops, and before I can register it Cade is in front of me, standing between the man and me. “You back the fuck up.”
I watch Mr. Winkleman try to keep his confidence but there is no denying the fear in his eyes. Henry backs up; his eyes going huge and his head craning all the way back to look up at Cade’s menacing face.
