“And Gabe?”
I shift in my chair and my heart kicks my ribs.
“I told you... I uh, the feelings aren’t there.”
“The youth love him. His streaming count is growing exponentially. We might want to add another youth service weekly. And a teen Bible camp.”
My stomach lurches at the thought.
“Maybe,” I say, meekly.
“You two are a dynamic team, romantic or not. The kids love you as much as they love him.”
I nod obediently. “Yep, but I don’t want to only work with youth. Maybe hire someone else to support Gabe so I can preach to other demographics and expand my reach.”
Slowly, he strokes his chin. “Hm. Ya know, then you could do some services with Blake. Tour with him. Yes! That could be great.”
My face rushes with heat. That will be a challenge to be around Blake so often. My body is aching to be touched. I thought I had things under control, and then Jack shook me to my core. Our regular texts sent me into a tailspin. Every message made my heart speed up. They were the best part of my day. The sole picture of us together is seared into my brain. I’ve touched myself to it so many times.
I would never send sexy pictures to anyone.
Until Jack.
He made me abandon all reason. He felt so right, yet so wrong.
Once, I almost asked him for pictures of him... naked. I didn’t see his dick when we were fooling around on the couch. It was too dark and beneath me. I just felt the tip. At the drag races, when I touched him, it only fed my curiosity. And my word, I wanted more. Jack is fire, and every new text from him was leading me to being burned on a stake.
It had to end. After we talked on the phone all night, I knew I loved him. I could never sleep with him and just walk away. Not whole, anyway.
“Morgan. Can I borrow you for a sec?” says Blake, who stands in the doorway of Daddy’s office.
I jump to my feet and glance at Dad. He gestures for me to run along with a knowing smile. Both Dad and Bailey want to be matchmakers badly.
Subtly, I roll my eyes at my dad, then follow Blake.
As we walk into the main auditorium, he slips his hands into his dress pants.
“I was wondering if I could practice my sermon with you.” He sits on the edge of the stage.
I take the closest seat in the front row. “Sure.”
He begins with the opening, and it is incredibly natural. It’s as if he had memorized it word-for-word, yet his reciting is effortless. Not only that, it’s a beautiful sermon.
“You don’t need my help,” I say. “You’re talented. I know why my dad hired you.”
He grins and his teeth are blindingly white. There seems to be nothing wrong with this man. God might have sent him to our church at just the right time.
Before I fell for Jack even harder.
My heart pangs suddenly.
At the same time, my phone buzzes.
Jack.
Which is very strange because we ended things.
I open it.
