“Eddie, come here.” I hold out the pants and speak lower. “You need to change, okay?”
Her face reddens, embarrassed.
I groan softly. Julie should’ve told her. It’s better coming from another woman.
Out of nowhere, Morganhooks her arm with Eddie’s.
“Those are nice pants!” She takes them from me. “How about we do a fashion show? Follow me.”
“Ya!” replies Eddie, now smiling.
Morgan leads her towards the bathrooms, chattering to each other.
I watch, stunned how well Morgan handled that awkward moment. Christ, maybe she won’t run.
Don’t think that, Jack. It’s too early. Hasn’t been a day.
By evening, I lock the back door, then check and tidy each room. As I move, I switch off lights. Morgan waits for me at the front desk with Tommy, sweeping under the desk.
I don’t want to take a step closer. This might be the last time I see her here, tangled in my work — an angel that doesn’t belong with mortals like me.
She catches me watching and smiles. I force myself forward.
“First day, okay?” I ask casually.
“Yeah. I’m tired, though.”
I cringe and rub the back of my neck.
“It’s hard.” I mumble. The tension builds and I can’t stand it. “You don’t have to work here. You can work at the church.”
She scrunches her brow. “Well, yeah, I planned to keep working at the church.”
“Oh. Of course you did.”
“But I want to work here too.”
“You do?”
She grins widely. “A couple of days a week would be nice. Honestly, I don’t know how you do all this, Jack.” She takesmy hand. “I know I struggled to keep up with you today, but I’ll get better.”
My eyes widen, shocked she thinks she didn’t do enough. I hold her tight and kiss the top of her head. I speak into her hair.
“Don’t think that, alright? You were perfect.”
“I was?” she whispers.
“Yes.”
I can’t linger here. She’ll think I’m weak, so I let go of her quickly. I call Tommy and usher both of them out of the door.
I’m not weak. I’m skeptical, and I should be.
Although, as we ride back to the house, I can’t help but wonder if her dad got inside my head. I mean, look at this girl. She wants to come back. She didn’t fall to pieces. There is a reason I fell for her. It isn’t just that incredible body and sexy smile. She may be rich, but she’s giving and kind.
Yeah, fuck her dad and his mind games.
“Hey,” she says. “On Sunday, do you want to come to the morning service, or evening?”
