CHAPTER ONE
My ankles are crossed, and I smooth my pleated skirt over my lap. Today is the day. Word is that this new preacher, Pastor Ben Owens, is a hottie. Personally, I cannot imagine a preacher being anything other than middle-aged, overweight, and balding. That is what the other ministers in my life have been. Bless their hearts.
I fan myself with the bulletin. The organ plays Ode to Joy. The minister walks up to the pulpit, and I start to feel like a whore in church. The dirty thoughts that are going through my mind make me blush.
Lord have mercy. I am supposed to be a good, Southern, Methodist woman. The preacher's mouth starts to form words that I don't comprehend. All I notice is his deep, gravely voice and his eyes. His eyes are both blue and green. They remind me of the blue spruce trees I saw last year in Colorado on my skiing trip.
His black hair becomes disheveled when he runs his fingers through it nervously. I wonder how it looks first thing in the morning. I bet it is sexy when it is sleep-tousledโor sex-tousled.
CHAPTER TWO
Each year, the church gives the elderly people in our congregation fruit baskets for Christmas. Many don't have family to tend to them, so we try to fill the void. Church members drop off fruit, and I assemble and deliver the baskets. It has been a mission of mine for years.
Usually, I have someone to help me assemble these baskets, but the flu has really hit the congregation hard this winter. I don't mind though. I enjoy the silence.
Pastor Ben interrupts my quiet time. "Scarlet, I am sorry that there is no one to help. I have rest of the evening off. Put me to work," he says with a grin.
Oh, the thoughts that go through my head. I brush them aside.
"Well, if you don't mind..."
"Not at all."
"Can you put two apples in each basket? I'll start bagging up grapes."
Conversation flows naturally as we work side by side. It is like we have known each other for years. I love how his eyes crinkle when he jokes around. His face just lights up when he smiles.