She beamed at him. Nodding, she scooted closer and wrapped her arms around his neck while dropping her body against his. Unfamiliar with her natural ease and affection, both verbal and physical, Jim hesitated before putting his arm around her waist.
Her head tilted up and he stared into her clear, sparkling eyes. “You need a TV. Right now, is the perfect time to chill. We’ll have to improvise.”
Taking her phone out, she loaded an app and gave him a look. “Behold the plebeian version of reading all those books. Here’s an awesome movie you must see. I’ll be embarrassed if you don’t know this one.”
She held the phone up and they huddled over it. In no time at all, Kayla proved her prediction: he got into the action movie and started to chill. Halfway through it, she fell sound asleep against him and he liked the sensation of her weight on him. It was a new but something he could learn to love.
Days later, Jim was coordinating the volunteers before the start of the day at the local food bank. His gaze immediately zeroed in on Kayla when she entered the building. She glanced around, obviously unsure where to go and looking for Jim. Like a homing beacon, Jim could not keep himself fully engaged in anything but Kayla, even when she surprised him as she did now.
He stepped forward. “Kayla, how nice to see you.” A quick mental reminder not to lean forward and plant his lips on hers flashed through his brain. He imagined a long, easy, delicious kiss. It was new for Jim to want such a thing. And to find it almost painful not to get it. All he wanted now was Kayla. Near him. Beside him. It was a strange sensation to experience.
She beamed at Jim. If anyone were watching, would they see how much her eyes sparkled and shone when she looked at him? “Pastor Jim. How nice to see you’re working today.”
“Yes. Is this your first time here as a food bank volunteer?”
She still glowed and her eyes were almost dewy when she gazed up at him. They were close. Too close for comfort. How could the entire room fail to perceive the explosion of sparks and chemistry that must have enhanced both of their auras? “Yes. Kathy mentioned it. I’m off for the summer break with too much time on my hands. I hope my guard doesn’t pose any problem?”
People passed them. Another volunteer entered and grabbed her name tag. “No. We’re very glad to have you. Come with me and I’ll check you in.” He almost grabbed her hand, out of habit. When the heck did that happen with Kayla? She noticed and gave him a wink. Too fast. Their surprising connection made it easy to make a habit out of touching each other far too often.
She followed Jim to the office, which he shared with the director and her assistant. He unlocked the door and they stepped inside, leaving the door open. “You can set your personal belongings in there; we all lock it each time any of us leave.”
“Thank you.”
He glanced at her warmly after her prim response. So polite. So unlike how she used to be with him and even now, formality was Kathy’s thing, not Kayla’s. “You sound a bit like your sister,” he said, lowering his tone.
Her chin dropped, her eyelashes fluttered and the smile on her face was nothing short of naughty. “Oh, believe me that is the only similarity to my sister. Why? Do you like it when I’m so sweet and polite? Am I being deferential to you, Pastor Jim?”
He glanced back and they faced the empty hallway. She was goading him obviously, but the thought of chastising or ignoring her was simply not in him. Stepping forward, he slipped his arm and hand to her waist as he pulled her closer and dropped his tongue deep inside her mouth. He kissed her so hard that her muscles turned to jelly and she drooped in his hold. Releasing her as fast as he grabbed her, she could only blink at him, looking dazed. “I do appreciate the deferential Kayla.” Keeping his voice cool and stern, he pronounced her name with a sneer like he used to. Then he gave her a once-over. “A lot.”
She shook her head, smirking. “How do I help here, Pastor?” She gave him a nudge. Right. Food bank volunteering. They came to do some good. Not to flirt or suddenly become the subjects of a quasi-scandal.
“Fill this form out, please. I’ll get a temporary name tag on you.” He wrote her name on the sticky note with a Sharpie. His smile unwillingly blossomed again, and he kept his gaze glued on her name tag. He made a show of pressing the sticker on her shirt politely before dipping his hand down closer to cup her breast.
“I sincerely hope you don’t usually offer to provide this service, Pastor Jim, or you could be accused of sexual harassment.”
He turned to use his chest to block the view from the door. “Never but…” Her reply was meant to be fun but it failed when he slid his thumb over her nipple, which responded by pebbling into a sharp point for him. Her eyes fluttered and shut for a second and her breath hitched.
“Are you deliberately torturing me or you?” she whispered.
“Me.” He did it again and she shifted closer to him. “Okay, Kayla, let’s join the others and Judith can show you the whole process.” He spoke louder, and then his voice dropped again as he released her, adding, “Because I can’t keep my hands off you and that would not be wise for Pastor Jim.”
Lifting his hand for a second and squeezing it, she smiled as she passed around him. “But you are a good pastor. A great one, actually. Despite this and my teasing. And all the things I’ve said to you otherwise. You do so
