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I keep my face carefully blank. “Sure. I’ll be there in a sec.”
I take my sweet time finishing my bagel before making my way to Brandon’s office. As soon as I step inside, I can tell something is off. I feel it in the air.
“What’s going on with you?” His voice is abrupt.
I avert my gaze. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been short with me today.”
I shrug. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Is that it, or is it…” His swallow is audible. “Is it something else?”
Is he trying to get me to admit what I know? He definitely seemed flustered yesterday after I called myself a naughty girl.
I probe him with a hard stare, and his eyes widen minutely. Is it just my imagination, or is a bit of his tan color leeching from his face? “What else could it be?” I ask with a faint tilt of my head.
His gaze falls to his lap. “I thought maybe you have a problem with what I said about your sister yesterday.”
Oh, right. The “gentle” comment.
“Yeah, I am a little annoyed with what you said about her.” I set my hands on my hips. “It shows how little you know her.”
His jaw clenches. “I’m trying to get to know her.”
“It also annoys me that you want a meek, submissive woman. I thought you were a different kind of pastor.”
His eyes flash. “What does it matter to you what kind of woman I want?”
His words hit me in the chest. I take a deep breath, trying to ease the stab of pain that he still doesn’t even consider me as a possible partner, even when he wants me physically.
“Are we back to where we were before?” My voice is quiet. “I thought we were starting to become friends.”
He blinks once. “We’ve always been friends.”
I shake my head sharply. “No, we haven’t. Until recently, you treated me like a little kid.”
He stands up and crosses those big arms over his chest. “I’m your pastor. There has to be some form of a boundary between us.”
“You’re like family,” I say, my voice rising.
“Exactly. I’m a father figure to you.”
When I snort out a laugh, his eyes grow wide. He’s so close now that his breath is hot on my face, and the tension between us is as tangible as a live wire. I lift my chin, smiling slowly. “Daddy.”
His jaw clenches so tightly it looks like it might snap in half, which sends a malicious thrill up my spine.
“I’ll be a good girl for you… Oh, wait. You prefer me naughty, right?”
His eyes grow huge, but I don’t wait for him to respond. I turn around and rush from the room, barely able to comprehend my own audacity.
* * *
Regret squeezes my chest when I glance at my computer clock. 5:03. I haven’t even seen Brandon since our conversation six hours ago. He’s been hiding out all day, even during lunchtime.
After I grab my purse, I head to his office. That shut wooden door looms in front of me, but I don’t let it deter me. After knocking once, I open the door without waiting for him to answer. His head jerks up. I’m just about to rush through an apology when my tongue freezes. He’s standing at his desk with a wad of toilet paper wrapped around his hand. A massive red spot sits at the center of the makeshift bandage.
“What happened?” I nearly shout.
