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She gave him a quick smile as she picked up her fork. “I’m a Christian, so I guess, yes, I am religious.”
Hudson wasn’t sure what to make of that. His experience with Christianity had been… he wasn’t even sure what the word would be to describe it.
Kayleigh angled a curious look at him. “And how about you?”
“I’m not,” he said, though at one time, he very much had been.
It had been years since he’d thought much about the faith his mom had embraced and tried to instill in him. She’d been successful to a certain extent, but that had all gone by the wayside when he lost her at such a pivotal time in his life. Even though the person who’d stepped into his life to care for him at that point was also a Christian, he hadn’t been open to it.
He hadn’t been open to anything, really.
Though he expected that she might look at him with some judgment, instead she gave him a quick smile and turned her attention back to her salad. “I was raised in a Christian home, and my faith is an important part of my life.”
“So you’re at church several times a week?”
He recalled that he and his mom had gone to church twice on Sunday, and she’d taken him there on Friday nights for youth group. She’d also gone to a women’s group one night a week. Also, any time there had been a special event at church, they’d been there.
But it hadn’t lasted. His interest in any of it had died with his mom. And the changes his life had undergone from that point on had dragged him further from the faith his mom had embraced.
“Not several times,” she said. “I’m there on Sundays, and if there are special events. There are women’s Bible studies during the week, but I’m not able to make it very often.”
Hudson wondered how much her faith affected her work. Did it make her more reliable and trustworthy? Or was it a façade that she hid behind?
Her relationship with Alexander still gave him pause, however.
Hudson didn’t know how to reconcile the man he knew with the woman across the table from him. If Alexander had developed an interest in Kayleigh, given the man’s track record with women, Hudson could see it only being for one reason.
While he hadn’t cared one way or the other when he’d first arrived, now, Hudson was really hoping that it wasn’t for that reason.
CHAPTER SIX
Kayleigh had no idea how her revelations might impact Hudson’s view of her, but he’d asked the questions, and she’d answered honestly. She might not be the most vocal Christian, but she never denied what she was. And she shared her faith when given the opportunity.
When her phone rang, Kayleigh set her fork down and pulled it out of her pocket. She had two phones. Her personal one was a larger version of one of the newer models, and she left it in her desk drawer with her purse while she was on the job. The work phone was small enough to slip into the pocket of her pantsuit.
She only used it for work things—or if her family needed to get hold of her in an emergency.
“Please excuse me,” she said as she pulled it out. “This is my work phone.”
Recognizing Liz’s number, Kayleigh frowned as she tapped the screen. “Hello?”
“Where are you?” Liz asked.
“I’m having lunch with Mr. St. James. Has something happened?”
“You’re having lunch with him?”
“Yes.” She fought the urge to justify it since she knew Liz had been ticked that the man she’d been flirting with hadn’t been honest about who he was.
Liz gave a huff. “You’re moving fast.”
Kayleigh felt a frisson of annoyance at Liz’s words. Shenevermoved fast where men were concerned. Why didn’t the other woman understand that she was dealing with the man because she had no choice?
“Was there something you needed?” Kayleigh asked. “My salad is getting cold.”
Liz laughed, apparently picking up on Kayleigh’s sarcasm. “I didn’t need anything. Just went to your office and then the breakroom, and you weren’t there. I was trying to find you.”
“Well, I’ll be back in my office in a little while.”
