“High praise,” Mike said, his eyes twinkling. “I’ll take it.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes. I kept my eyes on my food, but I could feel him watching me, studying me like I was some kind of puzzle he was trying to solve.
“What?” I finally asked, looking up at him. “What are you starin’ at?”
“Just a man in need of guidance,” he said nonchalantly. “I’m trying to figure out how to help you.”
“Don’t need your help,” I grumbled back at him. “Don’t need help from nobody.”
“I think you believe that. But I don’t think it’s true. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.”
I took the last bite of my food and got up from the table, dropping my bowl in the sink. I turned around, glaring at this pastor that clearly wasn’t going to give up.
“You’re right,” I said at last, crossing my arms over my chest. “I could use some help.”
“Please,” he nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”
I crossed the room, leaning down close so that our faces were only an inch or two apart. He froze, his eyes fixed on mine.
“Next time you want to spy on me in the shower,” I growled. “Do me a favor and get on your knees for me instead. That wouldreallyhelp me out.”
Then, without a backward glance, I left him there in the kitchen, his spoon still halfway to his mouth.
Chapter 8
Mike
It had been three days since Cash Callahan, in no uncertain terms, told me I should suck his dick. And honestly, I had thought about almostnothingelse since. It was making it very hard to get anything done. I was constantly distracted, my mind always drifting back to those few moments when I peeked through the gap in the bathroom door.
“How’s it going in here?”
“Jesus H. Christ!” I yelped, nearly falling out of my chair. I whipped around to see Maggy standing in the doorway, her hand clasped over her mouth as she tried not to laugh. “Good Lord… you scared me half to death.”
“I can see that,” she laughed, unable to stop herself now. “I don’t think I ever heard our old pastor yell that one out before.”
“Sorry,” I said, running my fingers through my hair to put it all back in place. “It’s a habit I picked up from my mother.” I let out a long sigh. “It’s a terrible habit, actually,” I admitted, feeling my face flush. “My mother always had a colorful way of speaking. I’ve tried to tone it down since seminary.”
“Well, I won’t tell the congregation,” Maggy said with a wink. “They might faint if they knew their handsome young pastor had a mouth on him.”
I forced a laugh, but my mind was still reeling from being caught so deep in my inappropriate thoughts. Had she noticed? Could she tell I’d been fantasizing about a man who was staying under my roof? A man who had propositioned me in my own kitchen?
“You seem distracted today,” Maggy observed, her motherly instincts kicking in as she stepped further into my office. “Everything alright with your houseguest? Cash isn’t giving you any trouble, is he?”
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. “No, no trouble,” I lied, hoping my face wouldn’t betray me. “Just a lot on my mind with the rebuilding efforts.”
“Mmm,” she hummed, clearly unconvinced. “Well, I came to tell you that Beau and Lucas are here with more food donations. They’re asking for you specifically.”
“Beau and Lucas?” I frowned, trying to place the names. “Oh! The newlyweds?”
“That’s them,” Maggy nodded. “They should be on their honeymoon right now, but they postponed it to help out.”
I stood up, grateful for the distraction. “I’ll come right away.”
Following Maggy through the church hall, I tried to focus on the task at hand rather than the way Cash’s eyes had burned into mine when he’d made his indecent proposal. The way his voice had dropped to that low, gravelly tone that sent shivers down my spine.
Beau and Lucas were unloading boxes from a pickup truck when we reached the parking lot. They were both tall, handsome men, though completely different in appearance. Beau was rugged with sandy blonde hair and a cowboy hat, while Lucas was more clean-cut with dark hair and sunglasses.
“Pastor Mike,” Beau called out, his face breaking into a wide smile. “Good to see you again.”
