Page 7 of Solomon’s Temple

He chuckled again. “I guess I can’t argue with that.” He moved over to my parents to greet them before turning his attention back to me.

“How’s the First Lady?” I asked.

“She’s doing real good. She just launched her hair care line, so she’s really excited about that.”

“That’s good.”

“Are you still in pursuit of finding your bride?” he asked me. I smirked and shook my head. I remembered the last time I spoke to him I told him I was ready to find a wife. That was a year ago. The women that I’d encountered seemed too stiff for me. I didn’t want a lady for the streets, but I needed one who had that edge but still kept it holy. I had yet to find her.

“I wish he was, Pastor. It seems as if we won’t be getting any grandchildren any time soon.” My moms laughed nervously. I shot her a look that told her to chill because I could tell she was about to get started with her bullcrap. She held her palms up in mock surrender, then busied herself with helping the kids that walked up to play the game.

“Ah, you can’t rush God’s plan, Sister Matthews. I’m sure when the moment arises, you will be blessed with the title.”

“’Preciate you for saying that, Pastor D,” I said, then looked off for a moment before asking him, “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure thing.” We walked a ways away from my parents to the picnic tables, since the area was empty, which I was grateful for because I needed the discretion.

I tried to find the words to describe the way I had been feeling lately. I wasn’t perfect by a long shot, but I knew what I wanted for my life and in a woman and how easy it was for the flesh to get weak. What I said to Brooke in that conference room should have never left my mouth. But like I said, I wasn’t a perfect man, but I wanted to be different to attract the woman I knew was meant for me.

“Talk to me, son,” Pastor Daniels said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“I know this isn’t the time to ask for guidance⁠—”

“Any time is the perfect time, Solomon. Anytime anyone needs spiritual guidance, I’ll always be available to give it to them. It’s my job. It’s what God ordained me to do. We have about twenty minutes, so anything you have to say, I’m here to listen.”

I gave him eye contact as I spoke. “I wanted to ask you how you were able to stay on the right track with your faith. I’m really struggling because my flesh is fighting against me every day. I haven’t had sex in almost a year, but I keep getting these sudden urges to take somebody down.”

Pastor Daniels chuckled and nodded. “I understand. To have been doing something for so long and then go cold turkey can be a struggle. However, a whole year and you haven’t done anything should tell you that you are strong enough to fight those urges. It means the Holy Spirit is working with you along your journey. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

“Galatians 5:16,” I noted.

“That’s right. The best advice I can give you is, anytime you feel the need to give in to those desires, is to distract yourself with something else.”

“What about when I pursue my wife? I’m nervous that I won’t be able to hold out until marriage,” I confessed.

“Well, son, you better hope she’s willing to marry you before that happens.” We both chuckled. “But you’ll be fine. Find a woman who’s willing to wait for you, keep you focused, help you keep your mind on The Most High, and let Him guide you both through.”

I nodded and extended my hand for him to shake. “Thanks, Pastor. I’m going to try my hardest.”

“That’s all you can do.” His eyes went to the entrance of the care center, where patients with special needs emerged with their caregivers. “Come on. They’re going to need our help.” I nodded and followed him toward the building.

When we approached the group of people, my stomach dropped.

The first thing I noticed was her eyes. They were eyes that captured me at first sight and refused to let me go. They weren’t any specific color, but their slight feline shape put me in a chokehold I couldn’t get out of. I was never a man of many words, but even she stole the ones I did have set up in the queue.

I could tell she was at a loss for words, too, because neither one of us could take our eyes off one another. My eyes roamed her smooth butter pecan skin, pretty pink lips, cute button nose, and what looked like a birthmark on her neck.

Just stunning—beautiful—freaking exquisite.

When her lips curved into a smile, my heart did some funny sh—mess, and right then I knew I needed to know who she was.

She even made wearing scrubs look enticing.

“How are you doing, Pastor Daniels?” the woman, who I assumed owned the center, asked, approaching us.

“Blessed and highly favored, Mrs. Jones,” he replied, then greeted the man next to her with a handshake. I assumed it was her husband since his arm was draped over her shoulder.

“Temple. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”