Fighting Temptation Read Online Free Page A

that’s just the kind of person Cade is. I just know I couldn’t have talked to him. He deserves someone who can let him completely in, someone who isn’t carrying around so much baggage. He would be so much better off if he’d never met me. He definitely wouldn’t have gotten hurt that night.
    I look over at the clock; it’s after two. I decide to get ready for my run. Funny; I always told Gabby I’d never run unless someone or something was after me. Now, it’s the only part of my day that I look forward to. Then again, in a way, I guess I am running from someone and something.
    I know my father is trying to keep me safe, but I’m so tired of being in lumberjack country. I would kill to have a pizza delivered to my door, or some Chinese food. Ugh, I’m making myself hungry.
    I slip my key and phone into my pocket and set out for my run. Hopefully, my dad will bring me some good news tonight when he comes to visit.
    I know he had those guys killed. He will never admit it, but I know he did. He, nor many of his associates, would not have wanted them to go on trial.
    The Dixie Mafia is a complex organization. They have people from every level of society involved. They have senators, judges, lawyers, local elected officials, cops, farmers, and teachers. You name it and they have them involved. They like to have their hands involved in many things. It would have been too easy for those guys to try to cut a deal and take a lot of people down with them. So, they would’ve taken them out of the equation. They like to have control.
My phone vibrates as I make it back to the cabin an hour later. The text is from my dad.
I will see you in an hour or so. Do you need anything?
Besides getting away from here? A pizza and some beer would be nice.
I’ll get you pizza and beer. See you soon.
    I know my dad feels guilty about everything his lifestyle has cost me. I sit on the couch and pull out the pictures of Cade and me that I keep tucked in the lamp table. I remember the day this picture was taken.
We were unpacking and setting up our room in the house.
“Cade, you cannot keep these.”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
    “Because I’m not looking at half nake d women all the time. If I wanted to do that, I would shower with Gabby and Anna.”
He fell back on the bed, laughing. “What? Are you really that worried about me looking at the posters?”
    I walked over and straddled him, leaning down to his ear. “No, but if you want to see me naked at all, you’ll get rid of them.”
    I stood up and started to walk away. He grabbed me around the waist. “Where are you going? I’ll get rid of the posters.” He nibbled at my neck. “But I have to see you naked right now.”
I giggled and we fell into bed. We didn’t unpack much else for the rest of the day.
    It’s those days that I miss the most. I think about his touch, his smell. I wonder if he’s moved on and, in a way, I hope he has. I don’t want him to worry about me and all my secrets, all the excess baggage that my family brings along.
I sigh, taking in the closing in walls of the cabin. I guess I’ll read a book until Dad get here.
    A couple of hours later, I wake up to a sound at the front door. I make my way over to the door and open it to greet my dad. He gives me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek.
    “Sweetheart, you look like you lost more weight. I’m worried about you; your mother and Jim are worried about you.”
    I give him my biggest fake smile. “Dad, I’m fine. Really. I just don’t have access to all the junk food that I’m used to.”
    He holds me at arm’s length. “On a positive note, I may have some good news for you.” He motions for me to sit down. “I’ve been doing some checking and, as long as you’re very careful who you come in contact with, I think you can move back.”
    I know my face just lit up like a kid’s on Christmas morning. “Dad! Are you serious? What about going to college?”
    He almost grimaces and nods.