Fighting Temptation (Men Of Honor) (34 page)

Gram pats his shoulder, “I know you will honey.”

I look over at Jaxson to see him looking majorly pissed off. Helping Grams in her seat I offer her a drink, “Can I get you a margarita Grams?”

“That would be lovely, thank you dear.”

When I walk inside I fill Kayla and Grace in on what Grams just told us while I mix her drink.

“That’s terrible, how could anyone talk to her like that?” Grace asks sadly.

Where Grace is sad, Kayla is pissed, “What a prick! I can’t wait till Cooper finds his sorry ass.”

I nod my head in agreement. Just when I’m about to head back out with Gram’s drink the doorbell rings again. I follow Kayla and Grace as they go answer it. They open the door to Katelyn and some guy who I’m assuming is her new boyfriend.

“Hi Katelyn come on in,” her eyes are glassy, as if she’s been crying. She steps in, hugging Grace and Kayla right away before she comes to me.

“Hi Jules. Um, so turns out that Vince didn’t have to work tonight. I hope it’s ok that I brought him along?”

Her smile is bright, too bright, and I get the feeling she didn’t necessarily want to bring him. Not wanting to make things awkward I paste a bright smile on my own face. “Of course, no problem. Hi Vince, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Julia and this here is Grace and Kayla.”

At first he doesn’t smile back, he sweeps his eyes down my body, blatantly checking me out. When his gaze finally makes it to my face he gives me a sleazy smirk, “Hi.”

Kayla, Grace and I all make eye contact, then Katelyn’s clearing her throat, “Uh can I use your bathroom Julia?”

“Sure, follow me. I’ll show you where it is. Kayla and Grace could you guys get Vince a drink and take him out back?”

“Sure, right this way Vince,” Kayla says leading him into the kitchen as I walk Katelyn to the bathroom.

“Oh my god, Julia I am so sorry,” Katelyn’s tearful words stop me in my tracks. I turn around to see tears streaming down her face.

“Katelyn are you ok?”

She shakes her head, “No he is such a jerk. We had this huge fight on the way here. I’m seeing a side of him I didn’t know he had. I tried to get rid of him but he wouldn’t listen. I’m so sorry I brought him here. I figured it was easier just to bring him then I’d deal with him later.”

Before I can respond we hear a commotion out in the back yard, Katelyn and I start running.

Grams is yelling as we make it out back, “That’s him Cooper! That’s the guy who was yelling and cussing at me. I told you I knew the sheriff. You’re in big trouble now mister.”

“Oh no!” Katelyn cries.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Vince says annoyed.

I see Jaxson all the way across the yard with Sawyer when he starts making his way over.

Cooper gets up from his chair, “So you’re the one who was harassing Miss Margaret?”

Vince smirks arrogantly, “The bitch shouldn’t be behind the fucking wheel. She can’t drive worth a shit.”

Cooper starts walking over to him but since I’m right beside him I get up in his face first. “Hey! Don’t you talk about my Grams like that!”

He glares at me and leans in to my face but before he gets a chance to say anything I get reefed back and Vince vanishes before my eyes.

Big hands steady me when I go careening back, I look over my shoulder to see Cade. “Thanks,” I say shakily. He nods and then I hear something shatter. I look back to see it’s the beer bottle that Vince had. It smashed to the ground when Jaxson knocked it out of his hand and slammed him up against the house.

“I don’t know who the hell you are, but if you don’t get the fuck off this property in 10 seconds, by the time I’m done with you, you won’t be able to remember your own fucking name.”

You can tell Vince is considering his options. He’s a big guy and since he’s a bouncer I’m sure he can handle himself well. But he’s no match for Jaxson. I think he realizes this as well when he looks around at all the guys.

“No problem man, just let me get my girl and we’re out of here.”

Jaxson releases him but stays close. I look over to see Katelyn crying.

“Let’s go!” Vince barks out starting over to her.

I run up and grab her arm before he can reach her. “No! She’s staying here with us.” Katelyn looks at me in surprise, but holds my hand firmly, showing me she wants to stay.

“I don’t think so bitch, so you better…oomph”

Jaxson brings his knee up in Vince’s gut, making him double over.

“Time’s up asshole.”

“I’m not leaving without my girl,” Vince wheezes out painfully.

Cooper looks over to Katelyn, “Do you want to leave with him Katelyn?”

She looks nervously at Vince. I squeeze her hand for encouragement. She stands up straighter and squares her shoulders, “No I don’t. Leave Vince and don’t contact me again.”

“You heard her. Time to go,” Cooper walks up to Vince’s other side and helps Jaxson drag him out.

Katelyn walks over to Grams, “I’m so sorry Miss Margaret. I tried to tell him to stop. I feel even more terrible now knowing it was you.”

Gram hugs her, “It’s alright dear, you have nothing to be sorry about. He is responsible for his own actions.”

Katelyn looks over to me now, “I’m sorry Julia, I didn’t mean to ruin anyone’s night.”

I smile, “You didn’t. I’m glad you stayed.”

“Me too,” Kayla says walking over and giving her a hug.

“And me,” Grace says following Kayla’s hug.

“And me,” Sawyer walks up hugging them all.

Everyone laughs. It’s the one thing I love most about Sawyer he can break tension and make everyone smile while doing it. I look over to see Jaxson and Cooper at the back door. Jaxson’s looking at me with an expression I can’t decipher. But when I give him a small smile, he returns one of his own.

God I really love him.

Later that evening, after everyone left, Sawyer and Cade decided to stay and have another beer with Jaxson. Sawyer asked if I wanted to join them but I politely declined. I was exhausted from the day’s events. Actually I had found myself the last few days feeling exceptionally tired.

I hope I’m not coming down with something.

Jaxson’s sitting at the kitchen table when I walk over and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m off to bed, I’m exhausted.”

His hand strokes the inside of my bare leg sending goosebumps to break out over my skin. “I’ll be up after this,” he says holding up his beer.

I lean down and kiss him, “That’s fine, take your time.” I walk over to Sawyer and Cade, giving them both a hug, “Good night boys. Take that left-over pie.”

Sawyer kisses my cheek when I give him a hug, “Night Jules thanks for having us.”

Jaxson kicks the bottom of his chair, “Lips to yourself asshole.”

I giggle and shake my head on the way out.

As I’m getting on my shorts and tank for bed I realize I left my cell down in the kitchen. Wanting to text Katelyn before bed I make my way downstairs. Half-way down I catch glimpses of the guys conversation.

“I can’t hold the Admiral off anymore Jaxson. We need to make a decision and we need to make one now, are we going to help with this rescue mission or not?” I freeze at the bottom of the stairs, Sawyer’s words filling me with dread.

“Christ! I don’t know, I mean natural instinct is telling me yes we need to go help, but after what happened… to willingly walk back in to what we just came out of? I just, I don’t know… Cade, what do you want to do?”

“Like I said, I’ll do whatever you guys want.”

Not being able to listen to one more word I storm into the kitchen shaking with hurt and anger, “How can any of you even consider this!?” They all swing their heads in surprise at my entrance.

“Fuck!” Jaxson says shaking his head.

I stomp closer to him, “What are you thinking!? Haven’t you been through enough? Haven’t you all been through enough!?” angry tears prick my eyes.

Jaxson reaches out to me, “Calm down baby, come here. We haven’t decided…”

I step back before he can grab me, “No! How could you keep this from me? What else are you hiding?”

“Damn it Julia, nothing. You’re over-reacting.”

“The hell I am! You promised! You promised me you wouldn’t leave again! You lied to me!”

Before I completely lose it in front of them all, I run back upstairs to my room. Slamming my door, I crawl in bed and curl in a ball. The thought of Jaxson leaving again- and possibly getting hurt or worse- breaks something in me, something that I may never get back… my heart.

“Well fuck me!” I stand up slamming my chair into the wall.

“I told you to tell her man.”

I glare over at Sawyer, “I didn’t want to say anything till we made a fucking decision.”

“Ya and because of that she just got fucking blind-sided. Listen Jaxson, you need to think hard about this. Is this something that’s worth hurting her over? I feel the same way as you do, I want to help. But let’s face it, if we don’t go, someone else will. It isn’t like the mission will fail if we say no. If we were still part of the Navy then this wouldn’t even be a question, we would haul our asses out there and do what we needed to do. But we aren’t a part of the Navy anymore; for a damn good reason too if you ask me.”

I run my hand through my hair in frustration feeling pissed at myself. I should have fucking told her. Things have been so good lately I didn’t want to ruin it.

As they get up to leave Sawyer puts his hand on my shoulder, “Think about it. You know we’ll go along with whatever you want to do. Just remember what I said- someone else will do it if we say no.” Cade nods his head in agreement, slaps me on my back and follows Sawyer out.

Locking up behind them I head upstairs wondering what the fuck I’m going to find once I walk into the room. Bracing myself at the door I open it and see nothing but darkness. Once my eyes adjust I see Julia curled up on her side of the bed with her back to me. If it weren’t for the quiet sniffles I would think she was asleep. I turn on the lamp, bringing the room to a soft glow.

“Jules?” I call her name softly as I walk over to her. When she doesn’t answer I get down on my knees in front of her, her face is buried into the pillow trying to hide her tears but I can see the streaks on her one cheek. She’s clutching a tissue in one hand and her shoulders shake from her silent cries.

My chest tightens painfully at seeing her hurt like this, “Please don’t cry Jules. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”

She shakes her head, “No it’s not. It’s not going to be okay Jaxson. You lied to me. You promised you wouldn’t leave me again.”

“I’m sorry, I should have told you. But you need to know Jules, if we decide to do this, if I leave, it won’t be forever. I’ll come back to you.”

She snaps her head up and reaches out grabbing my shirt with a strength that shocks the shit out of me, “Don’t make promises you can’t keep! You can’t promise you will come back to me! Something could happen to you. Look at what happened last time,” the sudden flash of her anger disappears and turns back into agony. She drops back down and shakes her head, “Jaxson, I have never asked anything from you. I have supported you in everything you chose to do, even if I didn’t like it. But I’m begging you now, please don’t do this, please don’t leave again. I won’t survive if something happens to you.”

Her agonized plea destroys me but also brings clarity. Leaning over, I cover the top half of her body with my own. My face becoming wet with her tears when I bury it in her neck. Kissing up her throat I bring my lips to her ear, “Okay, I won’t go.”

She goes completely still under me, “What?”

“I said I won’t go. I’ll do anything Jules to have you not hurt like this.” And that’s the goddamn truth, nothing or no one matters to me more than her.

Suddenly her mouth crashes to mine and she kisses me with a desperation that I’ve never felt from her. My blood runs hot and my body kicks into over-drive. Tangling my hands in her hair I take control of the kiss, tasting her salty tears with every hot, wet stroke of my tongue. Her hands pull at my shirt frantically as she tries to remove it from my body. Sitting up I reach one arm behind my shoulders and rip it off with one swift pull. When I come back to her, she’s sitting up on the edge of the bed, with her legs dangling on either side of me. Her beautiful exotic eyes bore into mine, storming with passion and… something else. Something I’m too scared to acknowledge. Laying her soft warm hand on my stomach she runs it slowly up my body, stopping right over my pounding heart. Licking those sexy fucking lips of hers she whispers, “I love you.”