An amicable blowjob?
No. Stop that.No.
I let out a long sigh.
God help me. My one true weakness was damaged men.
Chapter 6
Mike
Power started coming back on all across town by late morning. And by mid afternoon, nearly everyone that still had a house, had their power back. Cable and telephone lines were still being worked on, but being able to turn the light back on was an unexpected pleasure. Not only that, it suddenly made managing everything a lot easier.
“Pastor Mike!”
I turned, looking for the unfamiliar voice calling my name. My eyes landed on a tall, broad-shouldered man with ginger hair and a cream cowboy hat. I had to stop my jaw from hitting the floor. He was, without a doubt, one of the most gorgeous men I’d seen in my entire life.
“I don’t think we’ve met,” he said, stopping short and holding out a hand. “Colt Dawson.”
I took his hand without thinking. “TheColt Dawson? The rodeo star?”
“Retired,” he nodded with a smile. “But that’s me.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, so I just stood there, shaking his hand with my jaw hanging slack.
“Maggy told me you’ve been workin’ your ass off,” he grinned. “I’m here to relieve you for the day.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” I said, finally finding my voice. My hand was still clasped in his, warm and calloused from years of rope work. I reluctantly pulled away. “I’m fine, really.”
“No offense, Pastor, but you look like you’ve been rode hard and put away wet,” Colt chuckled, his green eyes twinkling. “Caroline sent me over. Said I should make myself useful since the ring didn’t get hit.”
I ran a hand through my hair, suddenly conscious of how disheveled I must look. “Caroline Baker? From the rodeo school?”
“One and the same. She’s my old friend, and she thinks you need a break.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest, the movement pulling his shirt tight across impressive muscles. “And I don’t like to disappoint Caroline. And my boyfriend told me to go find something to do before he kills me.”
“I appreciate the concern, but there’s still so much to do,” I protested, though part of me was already wavering. The exhaustion of the past few days was starting to catch up with me.
Colt’s expression softened. “Listen, I know how it is. You want to be everything to everyone. But you can’t pour from an empty cup, Pastor.”
I smiled despite myself. “Call me Mike, please.”
“Mike,” he repeated in that deep drawl of his. I had to remind myself he was taken. “Take a breather. I’ve got experience organizing disaster relief from when that hurricane hit down in Corpus Christi a few years back.”
I glanced around at the volunteers bustling about the church grounds. Cash was nowhere to be seen. He’d disappeared after noon without a word. The thought of a few hours to myself was tempting.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Positive.” Colt tipped his hat back slightly. “Besides, I need to feel useful. Been sitting on my hands too long. Not like we can run the school right now, anyway.”
“Alright,” I conceded. “But call me if anything comes up. Anything at all.”
“Will do, Pastor—I mean, Mike,” he grinned, and my heart did a little flip. “Now go on, git.”
I handed over my clipboard with the day’s tasks and contacts, giving him a quick rundown of what needed immediate attention. Colt absorbed the information with surprising efficiency, asking smart questions and jotting down notes.
“You’re a godsend, Colt,” I said sincerely.
He winked. “Just doing what needs doing. Now scram before I change my mind.”
