Cain's Salvation (Passion in Paradise - The Men of the McKinnon Sisters) (9 page)

Faith raced toward the office as quickly
as her shaking legs would carry her.  Slamming the door closed behind her
back, she pressed her icy palms against her burning cheeks.

How could one man make her heart break
and panties melt with one look?

She’d purposefully avoided him all
night, carefully keeping away from the table where he sat by the door as she
waited on her customers.  For hours, she blocked him from her thoughts,
waiting on her regulars and casually making small talk with new folks that had
made their way into the bar tonight.  She’d almost had herself convinced
that she could do this…work with his eyes following her every footstep.

Until in one unguarded moment, her eyes
had accidently clashed with his. 

Then, all the memories – the
indescribable joy and the overwhelming pain -- had all come pouring back to
her.  She’d seen his face and stared into those hypnotic eyes and been
lost.  His stare had always been able to mesmerize her.  It was as though
he could look inside her soul and see all her secrets.

Looking in his face was like taking a
sucker punch to the gut.  It robbed her of breath and nearly brought her
to her knees.  Still achingly handsome, his face was now scarred. 
Instead of making him unattractive, those scars only added to his allure. 
She wanted to touch them, to stroke the raised skin underneath her fingertips
and press tiny kisses to the marred flesh.

The sexual chemistry between them had
always been off-the-charts-hot, but tonight it felt nearly incendiary. 
She’d felt the heat in his stare all night as he’d watched her, burning her
flesh with its intensity and making her pussy weep bitter tears as she’d
steadfastly tried to deny her reaction to him.

Facts were facts, however.

Her mind and heart might still have
issues with the sexy man sitting at the back of her bar, but her pussy
recognized its lover instinctively.

Releasing a shaky breath, she moved to
the chair behind the desk and sagged into it.  Leaning her head back
against the leather and closing her eyes, she willed her heartbeat to slow
down.  She just needed to get her body’s needy reaction to Cain’s nearness
under control, and then she’d go back out there like nothing had happened.

Hearing the door open, she assumed it
was Patience coming to check on her.  She forced a brave smile to her lips
and forced her body to relax.  “I’m fine, sis,” she said without opening
her eyes, “Believe me, I’m not going to let the jackass get the best of
me.  I just need a second to decompress without his eyes following me
around like some deranged psycho stalker.”

“The jackass in question is gratified to
hear that.”

Faith’s eyes popped open in a flash as
that familiar gravelly voice washed over her.  “Cain!” she gasped,
stiffening in the chair as she gripped the desk with one hand to brace herself.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Cain greeted her
quietly, stepping inside the small room and closing the door behind him. 
“I saw you take off like the hounds of hell were at your heels and got
worried.”

“No!” She shook her head furiously and
bounded to her feet, infuriated by his endearment and his concern.  “You
don’t get to come in here and do that!” she exploded, her voice high and irate
in the tiny office.

“What?” Cain questioned calmly, watching
as blood rushed into her cheeks and filled them with a warm, rosy glow. 
Her breaths rose and fell quickly beneath her thin shirt and he felt his own
temperature skyrocket.  “What did I do?”

“What did you
do
?” Faith fumed,
stomping from behind the desk to slam the heel of her hand into his solid
chest.  “Did you actually just ask me that idiotic question?  You
know
what you did, what you’ve done, and what you’re doing, Cain!  You do
not
get to march your ass into my office and play dumb.  Don’t you
dare!
”

“I’m not playing dumb, Faith,” Cain
replied carefully, hissing in a sharp breath as the palm of her hand lifted
with the speed of light and cracked against his unscarred cheek.  “Okay,”
he said slowly, lifting a hand to rub the stinging flesh, “I deserved that.”

Shocked that he’d incited her to
violence, Faith stared into his steady eyes.  “Get out,” she whispered,
gesturing wildly toward the door as she took an unsteady step backward,
catching the edge of the desk with her right hip.  She barely felt the
pain.  All she could concentrate on was getting him the hell out of the
office before she reached for the letter opener and carved out his heart.
 “Get out of my sight before I kill you, Cain.”

“Honey, I can’t do that,” he replied
carefully, watching as her eyes widened slightly.

“Don’t!  I’m not your honey or your
sweetheart!  I’m not your anything! Not anymore, Cain.  You made sure
of that six months ago,” Faith choked, silently cursing the tears that rose in
her eyes.

Watching as those heartbreaking eyes of
hers filled, Cain reached for her involuntarily.  “Faith, don’t cry,” he
begged.  “Please, baby.”

“No,” she shouted hoarsely, hitting his
chest again.  “I get to cry if I want to.  I’m allowed to cry and
scream and curse and any other fucking thing I want to do. You
left ME,
Cain. 
In a fucking letter.  You weren’t even
here
, and you broke my
heart.  What did I ever do to deserve that from you?  Tell me, you
bastard!  Tell me what I did to deserve a fucking Dear Jane letter from
you!”

“At the time, I thought I was doing you
a favor, Faith.  I was in a bad way,” he tried to explain, hating himself
for the anguish he saw swimming in her eyes. 

“After you got done with me, so was
I
,”
she shrieked.  She was angrier than she’d ever been in her life, the
emotion pouring out in a tidal wave.  “A favor, Cain?  Really? 
Is that what you call it?  Telling the woman you
swore
you’d love
forever to move on with her life and find somebody else while she was busy
planning your goddamn wedding?  That was a favor?”

“I made a mistake.  A huge, fucking
mistake, Faith,” he whispered as he watched her tremble in front of him.

“No, I did!  I’m the one that made
an incredible fucking mistake, Cain.  I gave you everything.  My
heart.  My body.  My innocence.  That was
my
mistake.  You took those gifts and threw them back in my face through
a
letter
.  You didn’t even spare the time it took for a phone
call.  You just wrote it down like you were making a laundry list,” she
sneered at him as the first teardrop slipped down her cheek. 

“I knew if I heard your voice I’d never
be able to let you go,” he admitted, his voice raw and cracked with
emotion.  “I wouldn’t have had the strength.  Faith, if I could go
back, I’d do things differently.  Just let me explain…”

“Fuck you,” she spat at him, wrapping her
arms around herself defensively.  “I don’t want to hear about your
regrets, Cain.  I don’t want to hear from you at all.  You’ve been
home
a month
!  If you had something to say to me, you could have
said it long before now.  Now, it’s too damned late to
explain
. 
I no longer wanna hear it.  It no longer matters!”

Oh, it mattered to her.  Only a
fool would mistake that.  She was hurting and infuriated, but she wasn’t
indifferent.  Taking a step toward her, his eyes narrowed on her shattered
face.  “If it’s too late, why are you crying?” he questioned in a low
voice.  “Why are you shaking like a leaf in the wind?”

He was invading her personal space, and
Faith took another two steps away from him, stopping only when her back met the
wall. 

And the bastard just kept coming. 

“I think I know the answer already,
sweetheart,” he said softly, slowly following her across the miniscule
office.  Barely big enough for the desk and file cabinet it contained, the
room didn’t offer either one of them very much room to move. 

Her mouth went dry when he paused in
front of her.  Faith could feel his warm breath fanning her cheek when he
dipped his head and put his mouth to her ear.

“You still love me, Faith, every bit as
much as I still love you,” he whispered, inhaling deeply as he spoke.  He
was careful to keep his arms at his side, his hands clenched into tight fists
to keep from reaching for her.  “If you can deny that, then I’ll walk out
of this place and you’ll never have to see me again.”

“Don’t,” Faith pled, turning her face
away from him.  “Don’t stand there and lie to me, Cain.”

Jerking his head up, he sought her
eyes.  “Look at me,” he insisted, waiting for her to meet his gaze. 
He had to make her believe him.  “I’m not lying, Faith,” he said when she
finally turned her eyes to his.

“No one that loved me could ever have
done what you did,” she returned faintly with a sad shake of her head. 

“They could if they believed they’d
changed so much that they’d end up destroying you,” he countered truthfully,
his eyes boring into hers as he willed her to believe that much at least.

“Then the joke is on you, Cain.  In
your sacrificial bid to
save me,
you destroyed me anyway,” she whispered
painfully, looking at him with eyes that still shined with her tears. 
Swallowing hard, she straightened against the wall.  “Now, step back,” she
demanded through clenched teeth.  He was too close, robbing her of the
ability to think clearly.  She was much too close to throwing herself
against him and doing something truly stupid – like begging him to make love to
her and erase her pain.

He followed her order instantly, but he
refused to leave entirely.  “You didn’t deny it, Faith,” he pointed out
huskily.  “You still love me.”

“I love shellfish, too,” she retorted
waspishly, uncaring that she was beginning sound like a shrew.  “And yet,
they still make me deathly ill every time I touch one.  I’ve learned to
stay the hell away from them because I
know
they can and will hurt me if
given the chance.  I suspect, I can do the same with you.”

Damn, he’d forgotten how much he adored
her grit.  “I’ll tell you what, baby.  The day you come to me and
tell me that you don’t love me anymore is the day you won’t ever have to see me
again.  Until then, though I’m going to stay here and make sure nothing
like what happened last night happens again.”  There, he’d thrown down the
gauntlet. 

Now, he waited to see if she’d pick it
up.

“Fine,” Faith snapped coolly.  “Be
here then.  Just leave me alone.  I don’t want to see you.  I
don’t want to talk to you.  I don’t want to hear you.  Abide by those
three rules and you’re welcome to work here until Hell freezes as far as I’m
concerned.  I suggest you start now,” she bit out, seething with anger as
she glared at him.  She wasn’t sure if she was angrier with him for
putting her through hell or with herself for not being able to lie to him and
say that she didn’t love him anymore.

Cain’s heart expanded in his chest, and
he smiled slowly.  Instead of simply saying the words that would have
guaranteed he left her alone, she’d just told him what he needed to do for now
in order to stick around. 

Translation:  She wanted her space.

Fine.  He could do that for her.

“Alright, sweetheart, I’ll do that,” he
agreed calmly.  “Just know, Faith, I can wait for you forever if I need
to.  When you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

“Out!” she yelled, jabbing her finger
toward the door as she held her breath.

 She only released it when the door
clicked closed behind him.

Seven days later, Cain could only wonder
exactly how much space one woman could need.  The way things seemed to
him, Faith was building her own igloo on her own iceberg... and he had most
definitely been frozen out of her metaphorical neighborhood.

Christ, he wished he could drink.

She was driving him insane.  Over
the past week, she’d grown even more distant.  He wasn’t sure how that was
even possible, and yet she’d found a way.  While she avoided him like he’d
been contaminated with the Black Plague, she made a point of snuggling up next
to every man from eighteen to eighty that crossed the threshold of the
bar.  Married, single, gay, straight, friend and foe alike, she was equal
opportunity affectionate.  He’d watched her hug, kiss and fondle more men
than a whore working shore leave.

And if he had to watch one more guy ogle
her ass, he was going to throttle somebody.

She was doing it on purpose, of course.

He’d known Faith for
years
. 
She was friendly, but never a damn flirt.  And while he personally enjoyed
watching her shorts get shorter with every passing day, he was pretty sure
she’d be coming to work in a thong if he didn’t act soon.  Then, he really
would be forced to kill somebody.

Running a hand over his face as he
watched her kneel beside one of the factory workers that had come in with his
team tonight, he barely contained a howl when her dainty hand lifted to stroke
the man’s thigh.  Okay, she was officially wandering into dangerous
fucking territory with him.  Inhaling sharply through his nose when he
heard her throaty chuckle, he would have charged if somebody hadn’t pressed a
heavy hand to his shoulder.

“Don’t do it, man.”

Glancing up at the owner of the voice,
Cain frowned at Sheriff Zeke Monroe.  “Why the hell not?” he snapped.

Heaving a long suffering sigh, Zeke
rolled his eyes.  “Because, then I’d have to arrest you, and I really
don’t feel like doing the paperwork tonight.”

“Can’t you arrest her?” Cain growled,
gesturing at Faith’s ass as she bent over a table to collect a beer bottle on
the other side.  “Isn’t that indecent exposure or some shit like that?” he
griped.

“I am
not
looking at Faith’s
ass,” Zeke retorted, plucking a menu from the side of the table and studying
it. 

“Why not?” Cain grunted, glaring at the
men surrounding Faith as they eyed the twin spheres currently on display. 
“Everybody else is.”

“I like my balls where they are, Cain,
and I suspect if Honor
ever
suspected I looked in the direction of one
of her sisters’ cabooses that she’d castrate me before I could say, ‘Cain told
me to do it!’”

Cain smirked.  “You are so
whipped.”

Raising one eyebrow as he lifted his
eyes to the other man, Zeke smiled.  “I’m okay with that.  At least
Honor lets me talk to her.  Based on my intelligence, the last time you
opened your mouth to Faith, you took a knee to the groin.  Twice.” 
He wriggled to fingers for effect.

“My girl is nothing if not
fastidious.  She told Patience that she wanted to make sure she got
both
my balls.”  Cain couldn’t help his grin.  The shot had hurt like a
bitch, but he could tell it had made Faith feel better, and at the moment
that’s all that mattered to him.

Zeke laughed.  “And you say that
I’m the whipped one,” he snorted.  “What the hell did you say to her?”

Watching as Faith straightened, he
smiled.  “I told her that she looked beautiful.”

“And she took exception to that?” Zeke
queried, cocking his head.

“Well, she was covered in barf at the
time.  Old Man Simmons had one too many whiskey sours and tossed his
cookies all over her when she was helping him to the cab,” Cain explained, his
eyes soft as he watched Faith pause to speak to one of the elderly
patrons.  Whatever she said caused the man to laugh deeply. 

“Besotted idiot,” Zeke muttered, shaking
his head.

“Dude, you have been in love with Honor
for as far back as I can remember, and you haven’t made the first move. 
Don’t diss my methods.  Faith needs time to realize that no matter what
she does to me, I’m not going to get cold feet again.  If punishment
includes daily groin shots, so be it.”

“Uh huh,” Zeke grunted. 

“I know what I’m doing,” Cain replied,
tensing as he watched a tall man approach Faith from behind and slip his arms
around her waist.  Her low cry of alarm brought him surging to his feet.

“Hey! Stop It!  Get your hands
off
me!”

Both men heard the irritation and fear
in Faith’s voice as Cain began to take an angry step toward where his former
fiancé struggled in the redneck’s arms.

“Cain, wait!” Zeke urged, grabbing the
younger man’s shoulder as he, too, stood from the table.  “Watch.” 

No sooner had Cain heard the words leave
the Sherriff’s mouth, he watched as Faith’s elbow lifted, jerking backward to
nail the ruffian in the nose.  Blood poured as he man yowled in
pain. 

“You fucking bitch!” the drunk man
growled, cupping one hand around his obviously broken nose.  “You’re gonna
pay for that, you little slut,” he threatened, stumbling toward Faith again.

“Okay,
now
you can get involved,”
Zeke offered easily, giving Cain a little shove in the back for emphasis.

“Thank fuck!” Cain muttered, charging
toward the guy as his fingers wrapped around Faith’s slim wrist.

Grabbing the collar of the inebriated
man’s shirt, Cain whirled the drunk toward him.  “I think you’re done here
for the night.”

“Fuck you!” the red faced man
cursed.  “This little bitch has been sendin’ off fuck-me vibes all
night.  I was just gonna offer the bitch a little taste of what she’s been
askin’ for!”

“You know, I think that might be the
worst
thing you could have said to me, son,” Cain replied calmly just before he
nailed the pissed off drunk in the mouth with his fist, sending the man to his
knees.  “Now, I don’t just think you’re done here for the night.  I
know
it,” he continued amiably, hauling the stunned ass to his feet.  “I’m
sure our friendly local law enforcement will be happy to see you home… or to a
jail cell,” he ground out, shoving the man toward the back door where one of
Zeke’s deputies waited.  Stronger and meaner by far than the asshole he
pushed toward the door, Cain fought the urge to pulverize the creep.

“I’ll be back for you, bitch!” the man
yelled, his eyes glazed as he looked over his shoulder at where Faith stood
shaking beside a table.  “You’ve got something coming for you, you little
cunt!”

Tightening his hand around the obviously
deranged man’s throat, Cain got in his face and smiled.  “Come for her and
you’ll find me, son,” he promised with a dangerous smile.  “We’re kinda a
package deal. Understand?”

The man wheezed under Cain’s grip on his
neck and clawed at the other man’s hand.

“I
said
do you understand?” Cain
repeated, pressing his fingers against the man’s jugular and cutting off his
air supply as white hot rage roiled through him at the threat the other guy had
made against Faith

“Cain, let him go,” Zeke ordered calmly
from behind him as the drunk’s lips began to turn blue.  “Damn it, Cain,
don’t make me arrest you, too!”

“Zeke’s right, Cain,” his brother Abel’s
voice joined the fray as he rushed from his seat at the bar.  “You’re
gonna kill him.”

“Damn right!” Cain snarled, watching the
redneck’s eyes dilate.

Suddenly Faith was there by his side,
her slender hand circling his wrist and tugging frantically.  “Cain! 
Let him go right now!” she ordered, pulling fruitlessly against the
manacle-like grip he had on the drunk’s throat. 

His gaze shifted from the asshole to
Faith.  “He put his hands on you,” he bit out, ruthlessly tightening his
hold.  “And then, he threatened you again.”

“I’m
fine!
” she begged, tugging
again at his wrist.  “The only one in danger here is you if you don’t let
him go!  He can’t breathe, Cain!  Please!”

Flicking the asshole away from him with
a flick of his wrist, he sent the man stumbling backward into the Deputy’s
grip, gasping for much needed air.  Pointing a finger at the gaping man,
he warned, “Come near her again and I’ll end you slowly.”

“Take him down to the station and get
him booked,” Zeke ordered harshly to his Deputy before sparing a look toward
Cain.  It was clear to him that the other man was as likely to attack
again as not.  “Get him some air, Faith.  Get Cain out of here,” he
demanded, his voice brooking no arguments.

Faith nodded wordlessly as she slid her
body between Cain and where the two Deputies held the straining drunk. 
Sliding her hands against his tense shoulders, Faith lifted on her tiptoes as
she tried to catch Cain’s eyes with hers.  “Cain, honey, please!” she
whispered.  “Let’s just go back to the office.  Zeke and his boys
will get rid of this guy, and Abel will look after Patience.  Won’t you,
Abel?” she said with a quick look at where his brother stood watching.

“You know I will,” Abel agreed quickly.

“Patience can take care of herself,”
Faith’s sister called out as she came out from behind the bar.  “Zeke,
what the hell are you waiting for?  Get that asshole the hell out of my bar!”
she ordered imperiously, gesturing wildly toward the door.  “He’s ruinin’
the vibe in here.  Messing with my Zen and everything.”

“Sweet Christ,” Abel moaned, running a
hand down his face before moving to intercept the tiny tornado headed toward
them.

“See,” Faith said gently, rubbing one
hand against Cain’s hard chest.  “It’s all under control.  Patience
is gonna kick everybody’s ass for us.  We don’t need to stick around for
that.  We can see that show anytime.”

Finally forcing himself to focus on Faith’s
face, he saw worry swirling in the azure depths of her gaze.  “You know
they called me the Soul Reaper in Afghanistan for a reason,” he kept his voice
low, but he stared deeply into her eyes.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Faith assured him
serenely.  “I’m afraid
for
you right now.  C’mon, Cain. 
This is your chance.  You said whenever I was ready to talk, you’d be
ready to listen.  Let’s just get out of here and let the good deputies of
Paradise do their jobs,” she murmured, urging him toward door on the other side
of the bar.  “That guy isn’t our problem anymore.”

Cain disagreed.  That bastard still
felt very much like his problem, but with Faith touching him and staring so
openly up at him, he couldn’t resist giving her what she wanted.  Nodding,
he grabbed her hand in his and stomped toward the door to the adjoining dining
room, hauling her with him.