He forced a smile and extended his hand. “Justin. I just joined.”
Her nails tickled his wrist before she shook his hand. “Brandy.” She pointed to the logo on her too-tight shirt. “If you ever need anything, you just let me know. I work Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
Justin nodded, trying to act uninterested. The woman smelled delicious, nothing like a person who worked at a fitness club.
She lingered, apparently waiting for his response. He wished he still stood close to the treadmill. He could have stepped back on as if starting the second half of his workout.
The front door swung open, and Kirk walked inside. He waved to Justin, blew out an exaggerated breath, and shoved his keys in a cubby. “Sorry I’m late, man. Traffic was a killer.”
Justin sent up a silent prayer of thanks, nodded to Brandy, then headed toward his friend. “Perfect timing.”
Kirk squinted his eyes. “What’s going on?”
Justin tilted his head to motion behind him. Kirk looked past him, and Justin punched him in the arm. “Don’t look.”
Kirk gaped back at him. “Brandy hit on you?” He shook his head. “Man, she is so hot.”
“What would your fiancée say if she heard you say that?”
“She’d say, ‘Man, she is hot.’ ”
Justin growled as he made his way to an open weight bench. Kirk followed behind him. “Seriously, I want to trade temptations.”
Justin added weight to the bar then lay back on the bench. “How can you even begin to compare your addiction to mine? Video games don’t waltz up to you after a workout and start up a conversation.”
“Are you kidding? Every time I walk past the electronics section of a store or even turn on my computer, a little voice in my head says, ‘Come on, just one game.’” He shrugged, tapped his temples with his fingertips, and lifted his eyebrows. “It’s evil.”
Justin laughed at Kirk’s dramatics. “Nowhere near the same as a live person.”
“I don’t know about that. Mine’s even in my house.”
Justin let out a long breath. “I suppose you’re right. Temptation is temptation, and yours is no less than mine.”
Kirk sobered. “But I do have a big support system. God. Marianna. My family. My Bible study group.”
“I have you and God.”
“You could join my study.”
Justin wrinkled his nose and shook his head. He’d tried to visit Kirk’s church once, but something just seemed off to him. Maybe it was the fact he’d dated the preacher’s wife in high school. Sure, it had been thirteen years, but it still felt weird.
“Yesterday you mentioned a Bible study you planned to try out.”
“They meet tonight.”
“You going?”
“I think so. My secretary goes there, and …” Justin laughed when Kirk ducked his chin and peered at him. He lifted his hands in surrender. “I promise it’s on the up and up.”
“What church is it?”
Justin told him the name, and Kirk nodded. “That’s where Marianna used to go. She switched to my church when we got engaged. Her sister still attends, and she loves their Bible study.”
“That’s great.” Justin patted the top of the bar. “But if we don’t start working, I’m not going to make it.”
Kirk growled. It had only been a few months since Justin reconnected with his high school sweetheart. But Justin knew as soon as Kirk muttered, “I do,” his friend would give up the gym membership.
“Marianna had better appreciate all I’m doing for her.”
Justin switched places with Kirk and stood behind the bar to spot while Kirk completed his reps. “When am I going to get to meet this girl?”
“Soon. She’s been nuts teaching middle school and planning the wedding. But she’s anxious to meet you.”
“I’ll try not to steal her away.”
“Not funny, man.”
Justin laughed as Kirk lay back against the bench and frowned. “You used to love to work out in high school. Remember baseball conditioning?”
Kirk grimaced as he pushed the bar up until his arms were straight. He dropped it onto the bar. “That was before I discovered how delicious pastries and sodas are. I’ve changed quite a bit since high school.”
Justin nodded. His friend was not the same guy he’d known during his teen years, and Justin was thankful he’d run into the metamorphosed version.
Justin rubbed his hands together to ensure his palms weren’t as damp as he feared. Normally he was a man of stoic confidence, one people sought out for assistance and assurance. But he was out of his natural element.
Standing outside the megachurch’s front door, he realized he had no idea where the Bible study would be located in such a massive building. He’d visited here once before, years ago, with a woman who’d needed his assistance through a nasty divorce. He flinched at the overpowering memory of his motive for attending church with her. She was yet another woman he needed to seek out to ask forgiveness.
Sophia had taken his apology just as he’d anticipated she would. The gorgeous redhead walked into his office assuming he wanted to start up their relationship again, but when she’d learned he only wanted to apologize, she’d flown into a rage.
Her nostrils flared as she pierced her cool blue eyes into him. “You called me over here for what?”
He’d tried to explain again he’d accepted Jesus into his heart, and though he didn’t deserve her forgiveness, he wanted to apologize for the way he’d treated her.
She’d jumped to her feet. “Don’t flatter yourself, Justin.” The anger that lit her eyes shifted to one of seduction as she placed her hands on his desk and leaned toward him. “I make my own choices.” She leaned closer to him and raked one hand through his hair.
Shivers raced through him at the light scratch of her fingernails, and he forced him self to stare only into her eyes. She was a temptation to him, and she knew it.
He’d cleared his throat and forced his gaze away from hers. “I just wanted to apologize. I won’t bother you anymore.”
She’d stood there for what was probably only a few seconds more but seemed like an eternity. He didn’t want what he’d had with Sophia, and too many other women. He wanted God’s peace and contentment in his life, not just momentary satisfaction.
Snapping back to reality, he reached for the church’s door handle then hesitated. You’ve changed me, God, and yet I still feel as if I’m not good enough to walk into Your house.
“You’re not, but I am.”
He pulled open the door and walked inside, remembering his dad’s words that the church walls would fall in if he stepped inside one. Justin shared the sentiment until he’d reconnected with Kirk. His friend led him to the Lord and assured him the walls should fall in on everyone.
A welcome desk sat to his right, but no one was in the lobby. Heavy oak doors he remembered led to the sanctuary were closed in front of him. Long halls extended on his right and left as well as more entrances to the worship area and stairs that led to the balcony.
He looked around for some kind of poster or map. But he didn’t even know where the class met. His thumb rubbed the hard new leather of his Bible. He gritted his teeth. He could have planned this better. Asked Megan how to get to the class or if she’d meet him in the lobby. Aggravation swelled in his chest, and he turned and headed for the door.
Megan opened it and gasped when they made eye contact. “You came?”
Embarrassment warmed his neck and cheeks. What was wrong with him? He hadn’t acted this way since he was in middle school. He cleared his throat and nodded. “I did.”
He watched as she bit her bottom lip. He couldn’t read her expression. Was she simply surprised? A little apprehensive? Or upset? An ache twisted his stomach at the idea she wouldn’t have wanted him to join her class. He knew she was a Christian. Her faith was evident, and he’d hoped her Bible study would teach him more about his faith.
Her lips curved into a ge
nuine smile, and the heaviness in his gut lightened. She motioned to him. “Come on. We’ll go together.”
He fell into step beside her. His gaze took in the various children’s paintings of crosses and flowers covering the walls. The sign on the first door was labeled nursery, then toddlers, then twos, all going up chronologically. A bulletin board was covered with pictures of children hunting Easter eggs in the back of the church’s property.
One particular picture caught his eye. It was of Megan sitting on the ground with her legs stretched in front of her. She had a basket filled with candy between her legs. Two boys and a girl sat around her, pillaging through the goods. But Megan was looking up, smiling at the camera with her right cheek twice its normal size, obviously stuffed with candy. She looked so happy and carefree and innocent. It yanked at his heart.
“I’m glad you came.”
Justin snapped from his reverie. Megan’s voice was softer than usual, and for a moment, he wondered if she felt obligated to say it. Then she looked up at him, and his heartbeat sped at the fullness of her smile.
He gripped the Bible tighter in his hand. “I’ve been looking forward to it.” He opened his arms wide. “This is all so new to me, but I know I need to find a church.”
Megan shifted her weight and studied him. Under her intense scrutiny, he had to resist the urge to adjust his polo’s collar. Finally, she nodded. “I think you’ll like our group. We have a lot of fun together.”
She opened the door, and Justin followed her inside. The room was bigger than he’d expected. According to the sign on the door, it normally housed eight-year-olds. He assumed the sign was accurate by the children’s materials lining the walls. Metal chairs were set up in a circle.
Justin looked around at the women in the room. One slightly plump, a shorter lady with flaming red hair and bright pink glasses. Another woman, average-length blond hair, crooked teeth, possibly blue eyes, just kind of plain. There was another woman with highlighted brown hair. She was already seated, but if Justin guessed right, and he usually did, he’d say she was probably a little taller than average, five feet seven or five feet eight.
Megan interrupted his analysis. “Justin, this is Kat. She’s our discussion leader this week.”
Justin took in the dark-haired woman. Deep brown eyes. Small button nose. And lips that would make Angelina Jolie envious.
Kat extended her hand. “We’re glad to have you.”
Before Justin could respond, voices sounded from the doorway. Justin looked as a tall brunette and a strawberry blond walked in and took seats beside each other.
He swallowed the knot in his throat as he glanced around the seven women in the room. God, is this some kind of joke?
He cleared his throat and addressed Megan. “Is this a girls’ Bible study?”
Megan narrowed her eyelids. “Are you looking for a girls’ only Bible study?”
The insinuation behind the question stung, but he knew his reputation preceded him. It was one of the reasons he’d determined to apologize to the women he’d treated as little more than momentary amusement. The truth of the reputation was why he needed to drown himself in God’s Word. He stared into her eyes, hoping she’d see the truth. “No. I’m not.”
Kat said, “I’m sorry about this, Justin. The guys had a make-up baseball game tonight. Their Tuesday night game was rained out.”
Justin cocked his head. “Baseball?”
Kat nodded. “Yep. Started two weeks ago. They could use a few players.”
Justin opened his mouth to offer to play. It had been four years since his last college game. He missed it something fierce.
“Maybe Justin will play. He’s really good. Played in college.”
Megan’s comment stunned him. It was the first time he’d heard her call him by his given name, and he couldn’t imagine how she knew he’d played in college.
Kat’s expression brightened. “You did?”
He nodded but looked back at Megan. “How did you know that?”
“Your picture’s on your dad’s wall.”
He pursed his lips. He’d forgotten. For some reason he kind of hoped she’d known because she wanted to know, not because the picture was right in front of her face. He shook his head. He didn’t need to be thinking like that. He was avoiding his temptation.
Kat smiled. “Terrific. I know they’d love to have you.” She clapped. “But for tonight. It’ll just be you and us girls.”
Justin glanced around the room once again. Just what he needed to encourage his faith. A Bible study filled with a bunch of women.
Chapter 5
Nobody, who has not been in the interior of a family can say what the difficulties of any individual of that family may be.
JANE AUSTEN
Megan twisted the wire around the tulle pew bow. She stuck her hand through each loop and twisted the material into a shape Marianna wanted. Once satisfied, she handed it to Marianna to attach the silk yellow Asiatic lilies, orange Gerberas, baby’s breath, and deep red ribbon. Her sister’s wedding color choices were bolder than Megan would have selected, but she had no doubt her sister would pull off one of the most beautiful celebrations she’d ever seen.
Megan clenched and unclenched her fists then wiggled her fingers to relieve the stiffness. “How many more?”
Marianna pointed to each as she counted. She wrinkled her nose as her lips spread into a sheepish grin. “Only thirty-five.”
Megan huffed as she let her head fall against the back of the chair. “There is no way we’ll finish all these today.”
“I know, but I thought maybe we’d get half of them done.”
“Ten more?”
Marianna pushed the tulle closer to Megan. “Yep. That’s all.” She twisted the wire, connected two of the flowers to a red bow. “It’s not too bad. Especially since you aren’t taking any classes right now.”
Megan folded the tulle, making uniform loops. She’d finally gotten her grade for her spring semester class. An A, just as she’d expected. The only thing left was student teaching, and if a music position opened over the summer and she landed the job, she was eligible to complete her student teaching on the job.
Megan peered at her sister. “I do have other things to do today.”
“Like what?”
“I’m going to Hadley’s house. Her uncle asked me to give her piano lessons.”
“I forgot. The day of the canoe trip, right?”
Megan nodded as she twisted wire around another bow.
Marianna clipped most of the stems off two of the orange flowers and attached them to a large yellow lily. “He’s really protective of Hadley.”
Megan snorted. “I could tell.”
Marianna set down the flower arrangement. She brushed a stray hair away from her eyes. “What I mean is you must have made a great impression for him to ask you to teach Hadley. I’ve never had a parent, especially a man who isn’t even the girl’s biological dad, be so involved in what we’re teaching and how we’re teaching it.”
Megan growled. “Great. So, he’s going to be a pain in the neck?”
Marianna shook her head. “No. He isn’t rude or intrusive, but he is involved. And he’s a Christian. And he’s good-looking.”
“Where are her parents?”
Marianna shrugged. “I don’t know the details, and even if I did, you know I couldn’t tell you. Confidentiality.” Marianna shuffled her eyes as she reached across the table and pushed Megan’s arm. “I do know he’s rich.”
Megan’s cheeks warmed. “Marianna, I can’t believe you would say such a thing.”
Marianna laughed, and she rubbed her hands together as if she’d just found the fictional pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. “Well, he is.”
“You know I’m not interested in dating.”
Marianna sobered, and Megan shifted in her seat. She knew what was coming. Part of her wanted just to get up and go to the restroom or go get a drink from the kitchen. She didn’t wan
t to hear any lectures. Though Marianna stood beside her during the worst time of her life, her sister had no idea how bad it was to live it.
Marianna’s voice softened. “It’s been eight years, Megan. Maybe it’s time.”
All that time had passed, and yet when Megan closed her eyes and allowed her mind to travel back, she could still recall every detail. Even the smell of Cajun leftovers. She hadn’t touched spicy food since.
Megan shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”
She stared at the mass of flowers, tulle, wire, and clippers sprawled on top of the table. She knew Marianna studied her, her expression a mixture of frustration and pity. Megan noticed the calendar hanging on the refrigerator. She looked back up at Marianna. “When are we supposed to have the fittings for the bridesmaid dresses?”
The diversion worked. Marianna jumped out of her seat and walked to the refrigerator. She moved her hands across the dates on the calendar. The thing was covered with appointments and sale dates of various wedding items.
Marianna tapped the calendar. “Here it is. Next Monday, five o’clock.” She looked back at Megan. “Once you get a little bit of sun, I know you’ll love the color.”
Megan bit the inside of her mouth to keep from responding. She still couldn’t believe her sister was forcing her to wear a strapless yellow dress. Megan was pale as a ghost. Yellow was the last color she would ever choose to wear. And her shoulders were covered with freckles. Which was why she enjoyed keeping them covered.
Of course, Marianna’s two bridesmaids were both tall brunettes with killer long legs and willowy shapes. They’d look gorgeous in the light color. Megan would look like a short yellow cupcake.
The only redeeming facet of the dress was the thick red sash around the waist. She just wished the whole dress could be that color. But Megan would be a good sister. She wouldn’t mention that her sister had condemned her to a lifetime of embarrassing photos and memories. It was Marianna’s day, and Megan wouldn’t fuss about what she had to wear.
“You know Mom’s coming for the fittings.”
Marianna’s voice interrupted Megan’s thoughts. Megan knew she would. They’d seen a lot more of their mother since Marianna’s engagement, which was to be expected. Megan knew her emotional estrangement from her mom and stepdad were not what God wanted, but she couldn’t forgive them.
Wedding Song in Lexington, Kentucky Page 4
