Fighting Temptation (Men Of Honor) (13 page)

I want to say no. All I feel like doing is going to bed and crying myself to sleep. But instead I give him a small smile and agree, “Alright.”

I really do feel bad that I don’t have feelings for him. He’s attractive, has a good career being a lawyer and has money. It always surprised me that he wasted so much time asking me out when he could have his pick of women.

“Great,” he says looking relieved. He presses a soft kiss to my hand and I wait for that spark. The one that I feel through my whole body, the one I get when…
No don’t go there Julia
. Damn who am I kidding, I’m so screwed.

I race through town, my muscles wound tight with a dangerous rage. “Fuck!” I slam my fist down on the steering wheel. I expected a lot of shit but not this. What the hell is she thinking?

‘I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life’,
thinking about her painful admission causes my chest to tighten.

I need to stop this before something happens to her, she doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into. The thought of that mother fucker getting his hands on her makes me sick to my stomach.

I fly into Cooper’s driveway and barely shut off my truck before I’m running up his front steps. I pound on the door and decide if it doesn’t open in 10 seconds I’m going to kick it in.

“What the fuck!” Cooper shouts opening the door. I grab him by the shirt catching him off guard and throw him into the wall. “Why didn’t you fucking tell me!?”

Cooper shoves me back, “Get the fuck off me man, what the hell is wrong with you!?”

We both tackle each other and land on the floor, causing chaos all around us. Something smashes…

“Oh my god, what the hell are you two idiots doing!? STOP!” Kayla shouts.

Coop and I continue to roll around, throwing punches while trying to pin the other. “How could you let her date that piece of shit?”

“Goddammit what the hell are you talking about?”

We start to tire out and my common sense begins to kick in, making me realize that I’m wasting time. We sit up breathing harshly and both wipe blood from our mouths.

“What the fuck is wrong with you man?” Coop asks looking at me in outrage.

“She just left with Jennings,” I say feeling sick.

He looks at me in confusion, “Who?”

“Fucking Julia!” I can tell he doesn’t know but I find myself asking anyways, “You didn’t know?”

“No goddammit! I would have fucking told you if I did.”

Shit!
“I’m sorry, I thought you knew.”

We both look towards Kayla, she’s standing there wide-eyed, looking nervous as hell.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” Cooper asks her angrily.

She clears her throat and straightens her shoulders as if ready to take us both on. Normally I’d find this amusing but right now I’m too pissed off.

“Because it’s none of your business, it’s especially not his,” she yells pointing her finger at me.

I stand up and try to make her understand. “She isn’t safe Kayla, she’s in danger with him.”

“Just because you don’t like him Jaxson doesn’t make him dangerous.”

Cooper advances on her, “Goddamn it, that’s not what this is about. Jaxson and I know shit about him that you girls don’t.”

“Tell me where they went Kayla,” I try to say it calmly but it comes out demanding.

She scoffs, “As if I’m going to tell you. You think you can just roll back into town and dictate who she dates after what you did to her. Just who the hell do you think you are Jaxson? If you’re so worried about her then where the hell have you been for the last 6 years!?”

I try not to let the truth of her words cause guilt to overtake me.

“Easy Kayla, you don’t know the whole story,” Cooper pipes in.

“I don’t need to, I know enough. I was the one there for her when she cried her eyes out, because he fucked her then never saw her again!”

I tense and look at her in surprise.

“What? You think I didn’t know?”

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she told Kayla. Girls talk about shit like that. “I’ve made mistakes Kayla and I’m going to make it up to her, I swear. But you have to listen to me, Jennings is not right in the head. I’m dead serious when I say she’s in danger.”

Kayla starts looking more unsure now but she’s still too pissed to let it go. “What kind of danger are we talking about here? Danger as in having her heart broken? Because that’s no different than what you have done to her.”

“No goddamn it! I’m talking about physical danger. Coop and I have seen the bruises he’s left on girls. If you want to protect her like you say you do then you will stop picking a fight with me and tell me right now where the fuck they went!”

I can tell I’ve gotten through to her because she looks seriously shaken up. “He’s never laid a hand on her, I’m sure of it. Julia would never allow someone do that to her,” she whispers worriedly.

“How long has she been seeing him?” Cooper asks and I feel sick waiting to hear the answer.

“This is their third date.”

“Then it’s probably because he hasn’t gotten the chance yet.” I know he means it’s because they haven’t slept together… thank fuck for that.

“It’s still 3 dates too many. We are wasting time, tell me where the fuck they went!”

“Hold on, don’t answer that yet,” Coop says cutting in. I glare at him feeling ready to take him down again. “What the hell are you going to do Jaxson? I don’t like this anymore than you do, but you going and causing a scene isn’t going to help. It’s going to piss Julia off more and force me to arrest you. As pissed as I am for what you just pulled I really don’t want to have to do that.”

“I’m just going to go and keep an eye on her. I won’t cause a scene unless I have to. You can’t expect me to sit here and do nothing Cooper, we both know what he’s capable of.”

Cooper looks back to Kayla, “Where did they go baby?”

“They’re at the Oceanfront Tavern,” she whispers guiltily.

I start walking towards the door when Coop grabs my arm, “Hold up. I’ll come with you.”

“Me too,” Kayla pipes in.

Coop turns on her quickly, “No, you stay here.”

“No way. Julia’s going to know I told you where she is. If shit goes down I need to be there for her,” she says grabbing her purse.

“Dammit Kayla.”

“Save it Cooper, I’m going. So either I drive with you or I drive myself.” She takes off out the door then stands on the steps and looks at us impatiently, “Are you two coming or not?”

I look at Coop and shrug.

“That woman doesn’t listen to shit,” he says shaking his head in frustration.

I put my empty glass of beer down on the table and find myself feeling a little more relaxed. The Oceanfront Tavern is one of my favorite places to come in the summer: there are candle-lit ceramic tables scattered across the beach, tiki torches lit at dusk and soft background music. It all combines for a relaxing, romantic ambiance. Tonight is quieter than usual, which I’m thankful for. I’m not in the mood for a big crowd.

“Another one?” Wyatt asks charmingly, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I really want to say no. I’m trying to be good company but my thoughts are consumed with Jaxson, which makes me mad. Over the year I’ve worked hard trying to dismiss him from my thoughts. I went from thinking about him every second of the day to only once or twice a day. Wyatt and I have only been here a half hour and I don’t want to be rude, “Sure, maybe one more. Thank you.” I’m hoping he catches on to the one more part.

Wyatt waves my empty glass at the waitress letting her know to bring another. “I have to say Julia, it surprised me to find out you’re a beer girl.” He doesn’t say it rudely, but something about the way he says it seems like he disapproves. If he only knew why I like it…

“So have you heard back about your interview yet?” he asks, pulling me from my traitorous thoughts.

“Not yet, I’m hoping soon though. I know summer vacation just started but if I don’t get in I’ll have to look into a different school. Which wouldn’t be so bad, I just have my hopes set on Foothills. I really enjoyed doing my practicum there and I want to teach elementary. I would really like to stay here in Sunset Bay.”

“I’ll get my dad to talk to the principal for you,” Wyatt says catching me off guard.

“Oh no! Really that’s not necessary, but thank you.”

“Why not? He’s in a position of power Julia, let him use it.”

I completely disagree with that statement but I tread carefully, not wanting to offend him. “No really Wyatt, it’s important to me that I get it on my own. I want them to hire me because they want me there, not because of your father.”

“Alright, suit yourself,” he shrugs, seeming annoyed I turned down his offer.

Feeling uncomfortable I change the subject, “How’s work been going for you?”

“Great!” he says smiling easily again, “I just landed a big client from Charleston. There were three of us fighting for this company and I received the call yesterday that I got it. I’m getting quite the reputation already,” he says proudly. Wyatt has just started up his own private practice, specializing in Corporate Law.

“That’s really great Wyatt. Congratulations.” I’m about to ask another question but the words get stuck in my throat when my gaze lands on the 3 people walking in: Jaxson, Cooper and Kayla.

What the hell?

Wyatt notices my shock and turns around, “You’re fucking kidding me.”

Kayla looks at me apologetically as they take a seat at the bar. Jaxson sits with his back to it and I can feel him staring at me. When our eyes meet my heart starts to pound from the intensity of his gaze. I hate that after all this time he can still make me feel this way.

“You told him we were coming here!” Wyatt asks accusingly, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“No, I didn’t.”

Jaxson takes his eyes off me when Wyatt turns around. They glare at each other and you can feel the hatred roll off them in waves. It causes my stomach to fill with dread.

“Maybe we should just go,” I say apprehensively.

“Fuck that, we aren’t going anywhere. If that asshole wants to watch then let him, he’s going to have to get used to it anyways.”

His last remark adds to my anxiety. I have to be up front with Wyatt tonight. I feel awful, but I don’t want to lead him on. He already thinks this is more serious than it is.

Kayla gets up from her chair and nods her head for me to follow. “I’ll be right back, I’m just going to head to the ladies room.”

Wyatt nods distractedly while texting someone furiously on his phone. I get up and trail behind Kayla. As soon as we enter the bathroom she turns to me quickly and starts apologizing, “I’m so sorry Julia.”

“What the hell is going on Kayla?” I know something has to be wrong because not much can make Kayla squeal, she’s a tough one to crack.

“Listen Jules, Jaxson went ape shit, like I mean crazy! He and Coop got into a fist fight over this.” My stomach sinks, hating that he and Cooper got into a fight because of me. “He was demanding to know where you guys went. Of course I gave him a piece of my mind and told him to go to hell. But… both he and Coop say you’re in danger Julia. I know they’ve said it before but, this time was different,” Kayla pauses for a moment looking worried. Then she shocks me when she says: “Jules they told me that Wyatt physically abuses the girls he’s with.”

“What!?” I look at Kayla like she’s crazy.

“I know, I told them that he has never laid a hand on you, but they’re both swearing it’s only a matter of time. Please don’t be mad at me, I didn’t know what to do. I was worried about you.”

“I’m not mad at you. I just don’t know what to think. Wyatt has never even attempted such a thing. It has to be a misunderstanding,” I say, desperately wanting to believe that. He’s always been so calm with me, although I have seen some stuff tonight that surprises me. But still, can I really see Wyatt physically hurting a woman?

“I don’t know Jules, if this was just Jaxson then maybe. But we both know Cooper, most of the time, is pretty reasonable. I don’t know why they never told us before. Even now it seems like they’re holding something back.”

“Well you guys don’t need to worry about me because this is going to be the last date for us. I really tried to have feelings for him Kayla but they just aren’t there,” I say feeling guilty.