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She was about to put the car in Reverse when she saw the pastor pull into the parking lot.
She got out of her car while the pastor parked but remained standing in her spot, deliberately putting herself in the pastor’s eyesight, giving him the opportunity to enter the church through a different entrance.
He walked in her direction, coming to a stop in front of her. “Good afternoon, Megan. Chilly day, isn’t it?”
“Good afternoon, Pastor. Do you have a few minutes to spare? I would like to talk with you, if you have the time?” she asked uncertainly.
“You’re in luck. I have some free time.”
Megan gave the pastor a tentative smile, appreciating his play of words.
“Come inside. My office is much warmer. I’ll have Willa make us some cocoa.”
“This shouldn’t take long.” Embarrassed, she looked away. The pastor’s wife had the patience of a saint. Which, admittedly, Megan had tried frequently as a teen, yet Willa had remained unfailingly kind to her. Her guilt on how she had done Willa wrong when she quit without notice still bothered her so bad the sight of a cupcake would make her nauseous. “I’m sure Willa is busy getting ready for the church’s Christmas dinner.”
“She’d make time for you,” he assured her. “But I understand if you’re busy with your delivery job. What can I do for you?”
“I know I’m not a member of this church, so I’m willing to pay, but … would you give a sermon at a funeral for me?”
Cole was waiting for her when she arrived back at the hotel.
Approaching him, she gave him a mock scowl. “I told you I couldn’t see you tonight.”
“You said you might not be able to see me tonight,” he corrected her. “You were supposed to call me ten minutes ago. When you didn’t, I took that as a yes.”
Megan rolled her eyes at him. “Most men would take that as a no.”
“I’m not most men,” Cole bragged, then tried to look pitiful. “If I were, I would have died.”
Giving him a narrowed-eyed stare, she opened the door to let him inside. “You can’t stay long, or Chelsea will be over here, demanding another twenty-five dollars.”
She had told Cole about Chelsea making her pay for him spending the night. He had wanted to talk to the owner himself. It had taken her over an hour to convince him to let her take care of the situation. Since then, Cole would stay only a few hours. Often, they would just walk about Treepoint while admiring the Christmas lights.
“She won’t come while I’m here.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Then let’s bet. I’ll stay the night and see if she comes over.”
Megan folded her arms over her chest. “She told me if you stay the night again, she’ll throw me out.”
“About that; I found you a place for rent which fits into your budget. It’s—”
Megan pressed her fingers over Cole’s lips. “Car first, then apartment,” she repeated the same refran to Cole which she told herself constantly. “After I pay off the car tomorrow and get the tags, you can tell me about the apartment.”
He mumbled through her finger, “It’s not an apar—”
“Cole …” She glared at him warningly.
His shoulders slumped. “You win.”
Megan removed her fingers. “You want to watch a show?”
“Can I pick the show?” he bargained.
Megan started taking off her coat. “As long as it’s not Ninety-Day Fiancé.”
Cole looked crushed at her for nixing his favorite program. “You don’t believe in falling in love and getting married in ninety days?”
“Those couples need Jesus more than they need marriage.”
They took off their shoes and climbed onto the bed. After turning the television on, Megan laid her head on Cole’s shoulder as they started watching Single and Searching.
“Are you going to let me stay the night?”
Megan linked her fingers with his. “Probably.”
“How can I get you to change your answer from probably to a yes?” He pulled her tighter to him.
“I could be persuaded if we watch Miracle on 34th Street.”
“We can do that.”
Switching the channel, she got up to turn the lights off before settling back next to Cole.
“You’re very quiet tonight. Is something wrong? I can leave if you’re worried about Chelsea.”
Megan raised her head to meet his eyes. “Is it okay if I fall in love with you?”
Bemusement filled Cole’s eyes. “You’re asking me permission to fall in love with me?”
“Yes. There’s no need for me to fall if you tell me no from the get-go.”
Cole slid down on the bed then tugged her over him. “You have my permission. Fall away.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me?” Megan propped her head on his chest as she waited for his answer.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I fell in love with you at the get-go.”
Twenty
Megan took the coward’s way out by leaving with Cole in the morning. She wasn’t proud of herself for using Cole as a shield, but the only alternative was another confrontation with Chelsea. Cole, on the other hand, wanted her to let him have a talk with her.
