Megan noted the fingerprint of flour on her sister’s face and knit her eyebrows. “What are you doing?”
“Making fried chicken.” Marianna ducked her chin. “Or something like it.”
“You are cooking?”
“I’m trying. Kirk loves his mom’s fried chicken, so I got the recipe from her, and …”
Megan pointed at her sister. “And you’re trying to make it.”
Marianna rolled her eyes. “I’ve got to learn to cook sometime. Kirk won’t marry me if he finds out how pathetic I am in the kitchen.”
“He already knows you’re a wretched cook.”
“I know. Isn’t he wonderful?”
Megan laughed. “Is it edible?”
Marianna looped her arm around Megan’s. “Everything is ready, so let’s go find out. You can tell me about the interview while we eat.”
“I’m going to change first.”
Megan walked to her room and changed into a pair of gray stretchy shorts and an old I LOVE NEW YORK T-shirt. She washed her hands before joining her sister in the kitchen/dining room. She had to admit the food actually smelled delicious. She was starving, so she hoped her senses weren’t being deceived.
Marianna pulled a plate from the cabinet and handed it to Megan. “Tell me all about the interview.”
Megan dipped mashed potatoes from the stovetop onto her plate. “I think I answered the questions well. They asked why I wanted to be a music teacher, and I told them about my love for music and getting to work with you.”
Marianna nodded, and Megan spooned a good helping of green beans from the pan. “The principal had already spoken with your principal. Remember I listed her as a reference?”
“You’re kidding? They must have looked into you before you even got there.”
Excitement bubbled up inside her. “That’s a good thing, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely.”
Megan speared a piece of fried chicken and put it on her plate. It actually looked pretty good. Her sister may have started to develop some culinary abilities after all these years of living on their own. She walked to the table and sat across from Marianna. “Justin acted a little weird when I told him I had an interview. But I expected that. I wanted to speak with his dad or Mr. Combs.”
“Justin?” Marianna squinted. “You mean Mr. Frasure?”
Heat blazed up Megan’s neck and cheeks. She hadn’t wanted to call her boss by his given name, and she’d been adamant about keeping their relationship on a professional level. Until she kissed him. Even though it hadn’t meant anything, she couldn’t seem to go back to thinking of him as Mr. Frasure.
Megan shoved an oversized bite of potatoes into her mouth, hoping to mask the blush she knew was forming on her entirely too-white skin. “Yes. That’s who I mean.”
“I met Justin.”
Megan’s interest piqued, and she looked at her sister. “You did?”
“You’ll never guess who he is.”
“Who?”
“Kirk’s best man.”
Megan choked on the mashed potatoes. She coughed and patted her chest then took a long drink. “The guy from high school?”
“Yep.”
Megan’s hands grew clammy as she thought of spending so much time with the boss she wanted to avoid. He was Kirk’s best man. She was the maid of honor. They’d see a lot of each other in the next two months.
Marianna was staring at her. Megan wanted to believe she had no idea why, but the girl was her twin. Since birth they’d been able to sense things about each other.
Marianna shook her head. “You can’t like him.”
“I don’t like him.” Megan dabbed her mouth with the napkin. She was determined not to like him.
“You wanna know where I met him?”
Megan shrugged, feigning indifference. “I don’t care.”
“I met him at the church softball game. Kirk wanted to go to support him. He’s encouraging him in his new faith.”
“That’s terrific. He’s been coming to our Bible study.”
Marianna continued to study her, and Megan knew her face had to be the same color as the fire hydrant in front of their apartment. “Timmy was there, too. For a while.”
Megan cringed. She’d seen Timmy try to confront Justin at church. She wondered how much worse it may have been on the ball field, but she didn’t want to act overly interested either.
“Timmy and Amy left, and I think you know why.”
“Yes, I know why.”
Megan tried to act as if her sister’s words didn’t bother her. She shoved a bite of green beans into her mouth and forced herself to chew them. She didn’t want to be attracted to Justin. Didn’t want to think about him all the time. The only time she wasn’t thinking of him was when she was with Colt and Hadley. She’d have to find a way to spend more time with them.
“Megan, you can’t fall for him.”
Megan smacked her hand on the table. She did not want to have this discussion with her sister. “Have I said one word to make you believe I like Justin Frasure?”
“You don’t have to. Remember we had concerns about Clint, and—”
Megan stood, pushing the chair away from her so hard it fell to the floor with a thud. “I remember Clint every day of my life.” She clenched her fists. “Every day. Do not mention him to me.”
Marianna opened her mouth to speak. Megan noted the apology in her sister’s eyes, but Megan didn’t want to hear it. She lifted her hand to silence her sister and stormed to her room.
She shut the door and locked it then fell on top of her bed. How could Marianna say that? She knew what happened with Clint. Knew what he took from her. Even knew Megan had kept the shame to herself for three long months until Clint was killed in a car accident. Marianna knew the horrible things her parents said when Megan finally told.
Tears welled in Megan’s eyes. She’d spent too many days of her life wrapped in sorrow over that man. He wasn’t even a man. He was a sixteen-year-old boy.
Justin was wrong in every way. She didn’t want a man in her life. She wanted to be free, to be safe. She would never feel safe with a man.
Megan sat up in her bed and wiped the tears from her eyes. She’d had eight years to cope with it, and she would not allow herself to go to that wretched place of hopelessness again. No. She was stronger than that. God made her stronger. She would not think of Clint or Justin. A relationship was the last thing she wanted.
Chapter 13
Trials, temptations, disappointments—all these are helps instead of hindrances if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fiber of character but strengthen it.
JAMES BUCKHAM
A relationship was the last thing he wanted. Justin shoved the gearshift into PARK and hopped out of the car. He couldn’t stop thinking about Megan’s interview. Wondering how it went.
He didn’t want her to get the job, but he should. He should be happy she might be able to do what she’d been working toward the whole time he’d known her. But the thought of walking into work and not seeing her—a growl escaped his lips.
This attraction he felt wasn’t good. He’d promised to spend time, months of time, building his relationship with the Lord, resisting his greatest temptation—women. But Megan was different. He didn’t simply want a physical relationship with her. He enjoyed talking to her. Something inside him turned when he listened to her sing. He wanted to understand what she was thinking. He wanted to know she was thinking of him.
He shook his head. Thoughts like this were dangerous. He didn’t need a woman in his life, and she deserved someone who wasn’t him. He’d mistreated too many women to deserve someone so purely devoted to God.
He spied Kirk through the gym window and waved. Walking inside, he nodded to the young woman at the desk. What was her name? Bridget? Brittany? Brandy. That was it. He looked away from her. A knockout from head to toe, she was the kind of woman he’d always gone after. Someone he appreciated physically b
ut cared nothing about in any other way. From the way she looked at him, the feeling seemed to be mutual.
He looked away from her and headed toward Kirk who’d already started his workout on the treadmill. Justin noted his friend had a full twenty minutes on him.
Kirk pointed to his watch. Sweat rolled down his forehead as he panted through his words. “Gotta get done quick tonight. Taking a shower here. Marianna’s picking me up at six.”
Justin programmed the machine for the workout he wanted. “I wondered where your car was.”
“She dropped me off. We’re going to dinner then back to her place to stuff invitations.” Kirk ducked his chin and scowled.
Justin wrinkled his nose. “Sounds like a lot of fun.”
“It’ll be a blast.”
Justin laughed at his friend’s sarcastic tone. “Better you than me, friend.”
The workout on the treadmill picked up, and Justin’s heart rate accelerated. It felt good to get his blood pumping. Took his mind off watching Megan walk out that door and head to an interview.
“Your day will come,” Kirk said. “But I’m glad you’re focusing on God first. How’s Bible study going?”
“Terrific. It’s great to study scripture and make friends with people who want to encourage my faith.” Justin didn’t mention his favorite part of the study was being able to see Megan. She knew so much about scripture. She felt everything they studied to the depth of her being. Her passion for God and for learning more about Him drew Justin. He wanted to learn more about her. Discover when it was she became so impassioned about deepening her walk with the Lord.
He wanted what she had. But he also wanted her.
The kiss traced through his mind. How many times had he thought of it? The kiss played constantly on a loop that tracked through his mind, and it didn’t make sense that he pondered it more than he remembered his various escapades with multiple gorgeous women. It was the simplicity, the honesty, the sincerity of Megan that made him keep going back to that one moment.
Kirk tapped his arm. “You still with me?”
Justin looked at Kirk. “Yeah, just got caught up in thinking about Bible study.” Well, that was partly true.
“I said I was glad you’re finding more accountability partners.”
“Yeah, after all the beat downs I’m getting from confessing my sins to every woman I’ve ever known”—Justin blew out a breath—”I’ve needed the encouragement.”
“What are you studying?”
“Paul, which is terrific for me. I feel like a modern-day Paul.”
“How so?”
“I’m the worst of sinners whom God mercifully chose to save.”
Kirk’s workout slowed to the cool-down stage. He grabbed his towel off the side of the machine and wiped his face while he slowed to a walk. “That’s true for a lot of us. Not just you.”
Justin nodded. His workout accelerated, and he pushed through the programmed mountain climb. He tried to focus on the workout, keep his mind off his secretary.
Kirk’s machine stopped. “I’m going to go ahead and start lower-body strengthening. We’ll work on upper-body when you finish.”
“Sounds good.” Justin focused on the workout. He wished it was Thursday. He’d be able to see Megan at Bible study. He could ask how the interview went.
“Hey, Justin. How’s it going?”
He looked beside him. Brandy had gotten on Kirk’s treadmill. She walked at a leisurely pace. He noticed the flirtatious smirk on her face. Give me strength, Lord. I’m feeling weak.
Justin acknowledged her then turned his attention back to the workout. He tried to recall the 1 Corinthians scripture he’d determined to memorize. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes …”
He always forgot the exact wording at that point. It was something about going into strict training for a crown that would last. He closed his eyes. He’d read the passage again when he got home. It was the strict training part of the passage that drew him. He knew he’d have to be disciplined, very determined, in order to win his battle with the flesh. Kirk warned him he may always fight the temptations, but the longer he was obedient, the easier the fight would be.
God, I’m counting on that.
“So, how have you been Justin? Work going okay?”
Justin glanced at the bombshell beside him. Is this some kind of joke from You, Lord, or a playing of the devil? Justin knew the answer. God didn’t play jokes. Situations like these were something else Kirk warned him about. As long as Justin was trying to live for Christ, the enemy would throw in distractions to dissuade his faith.
Justin sighed. It would be rude to outright ignore her. He glanced down at the time left on his workout. The cooldown started in two minutes. He’d be off this machine and working on strength and tone in only six minutes. He could make it that long. He looked at Brandy. “It’s been a good week. Everything’s fine.”
“Great. It’s been busy here. Everyone wanting to shrink a few inches before heading to the beach.” She leaned toward him. “Not going to happen for most of our clients. You gotta put down the doughnut if you’re going to lose the weight.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Know what I mean?”
Justin cringed at her critical attitude. Though he knew only months ago he would have laughed and added his own sentiments to the comment.
He focused on the machine. Four minutes left. Maybe if he didn’t talk to her, she would go away. He almost chuckled aloud. That sounded like his philosophy for finishing his math homework when he was a kid. It never worked.
“I get off at six.” Brandy’s voice was sultry. Way too enticing. “Would you like to grab a bite?”
Justin blew out a breath. He didn’t need to finish his cool down. There was only three minutes left anyway. He glanced at Brandy. Wow. The woman’s hair fell in cascades over her shoulders. It looked so soft and silky. And the expression in her eyes. A welcome invitation. Justin swallowed back the knot in his throat. He shook his head. “Sorry. I have plans tonight.”
It was true those plans involved picking up a deli sandwich and heading back to the house to watch whatever was on the television. But he didn’t need to go into those details. He needed to get away from her. He stepped off the machine and headed toward Kirk.
Justin jingled the car keys. He hadn’t completed the workout he’d planned, but he didn’t want to stay at the fitness center once Kirk left. Not with Brandy working today. Kirk was finishing his shower, and Justin had already called good-bye to him.
Walking toward his car, he spied Megan sitting in her vehicle in the parking lot. He shook his head. That wasn’t Megan. It was Marianna. Kirk’s fiancée. Justin still couldn’t get over his best friend’s future wife was Megan’s sister. It was going to be a tough couple of months trying to keep his thoughts on friendship while working with Megan.
“Hey.” He waved to Marianna then made his way to the car.
To his surprise, she got out and headed toward him. She wore a smile, but it was forced, and Justin could see the look of disapproval in her gaze. She gripped the strap of her purse once she stood beside him. Justin wiped his still-sweaty forehead with the palm of his hand.
She glared up at him. “I need to talk to you.”
Justin studied her. “Okay.”
“My sister works for you.”
“Yes, I know.” His brow wrinkled. He thought they’d already discussed this. Her lip trembled.
“Amy and I were good friends.”
His stomach twisted. So that was what this was about.
Marianna continued, “When she remarried Timmy, she kinda stepped away. We don’t talk as much.”
Justin didn’t respond. He knew where this was going. She might as well get her feelings out now so they could make it through the wedding preparations in relative peace. He hoped.
She shifted her feet as her voice became stronger. “She confid
ed in me about things. Lots of things.”
That was it. Just as he figured. She knew all about his darkest hour. Sure, he’d dated many women with whom he’d been their divorce attorney, but Amy was by far his lowest moment.
“I’m not the same person.”
She lifted her hand to stop him. “I know God changes people. I don’t deny that. Kirk says your faith is real.” She squinted as she crossed her arms across her chest. “You can be as real and as Christianlike as you want. Change the world. Write books. Speak in schools about how God got ahold of your life and made you a better man.”
She paused, and her nostrils flared. “Just stay away from my sister.”
Aggravation swelled inside him. He’d just spent the last hour working out in the presence of a beautiful temptation, and he’d walked away from her. Besides the fact he hadn’t made the first move on Megan McKinney. Although it was probably a good thing her sister couldn’t read his thoughts.
He thrust out his chin. This woman had no right to talk to him in such a way. She knew only what she’d been told about him—which was probably largely true. Still, she didn’t know the person he’d become. He’d only seen Marianna twice. And from what he knew of her from Kirk, she was supposed to be this amazing
Christian woman. The expression on her face at that moment was anything but Christian.
“Marianna, you don’t know me.”
“I know enough.”
Justin bit the inside of his lip. He wanted to light into her. To use a few choice words to tell her she needed to mind her own business. A few months before, he’d have waylaid her with a verbal fury that would have sent her home crying. God, calm my thoughts. Guide my words.
It was good she was protective of her sister. A quality he admired in people. He cleared his throat. “I can assure you I have the utmost respect for Megan.”
She glared at him, and he knew she wanted to hear more. She wanted to hear he didn’t like Megan, that he didn’t think about dating her or kissing her at all moments of the day. Again, he realized it was a good thing she couldn’t read his mind.
Wedding Song in Lexington, Kentucky Page 11
