Catt Chasing by Shana Burton Page A

be a whiz in the laboratory, but you’re a complete dud when it comes to having integrity and character.”
    â€œAnd you’re a real killjoy when it comes to anything even closely resembling fun or having a life. Even the Lord Himself took Sundays off!”
    â€œYou don’t need to speak about things you clearly have no concept of, such as righteous living. If you’re going to give in to every lust and temptation that crosses your path, at least have the decency to keep it behind closed doors.”
    â€œSo you’re so holier-than-thou that you never get tempted? Don’t you have the same sexual urges as everyone else?”
    â€œThe Bible tells us to flee fornication and to resist temptation,” she admonished. “You should try it sometime.”
    â€œI suppose it’s very easy to resist temptation when there’s no one out there trying to tempt you. I’m no expert on the subject, but isn’t it just as big a sin to have the desire? The only difference between you and me is that I act on it instead of denying it.”
    â€œYou’re not going to make me feel bad for trying to live right.”
    â€œUnlike you, I don’t judge the way you live your life. I just think you need to get one outside of the church and the lab . . . and the kitchen.”
    It wasn’t anything she hadn’t heard before, but that last comment was a kick in the gut. She was quiet a moment to recover. “Say what you want, but I live a life that I’m not ashamed to bring before the Lord. You, on the other hand, seem to live a life that would make the devil blush. Don’t think you won’t have to account for that on the Day of Judgment.”
    Jamal conceded. “Well, Catt, I’ll make a deal with you. Why don’t you keep your Bible-totin’, scripture-quotin’ observations to yourself, and I’ll keep my hedonistic desires to myself. Deal?”
    She threw up her hand in capitulation. “Fine.”
    â€œAnd don’t think I don’t know the truth either,” tossed in Jamal. “I saw the way you were looking at me when you thought I was about to kiss you. I wasn’t going to, by the way, but it’s painfully obvious that you need to be kissed by a real man, very badly, I might add. Of course, we won’t even get into what else you need to have a real man do for you. Maybe then you could chill out some.”
    She made a face and returned to her work. Catt didn’t know if she was more bothered by the fact that he’d said it or the fact that there could be some truth to it.

Chapter 8
    â€œHe tried to pull rank on me today. Can you believe that?” recounted Catt to Toria over the rush of the water being sprayed down her scalp. “Does he really think I’m intimidated by him because he has that little title and a bigger paycheck? Please! ”
    Toria lathered shampoo into Catt’s thick mane. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a guy get to you like this.”
    â€œAnd talk about attitude!” ranted Catt. “He acts like he’s God’s gift to Telegenic, like there’s no way the company could function without him. What does he think we’ve been doing for the past five years?”
    Toria shrugged. “Waiting for him to show up, I suppose.”
    â€œJust to show you how unprofessional he is, he had the nerve to have some hoochie up in there today slobbering all over him, talking about how she couldn’t find her panties this morning. And for the record, she wasn’t all that cute, and her outfit—can we say—total skank?”
    Toria thought for a few seconds. “So how long do you think it’ll be?”
    â€œHow long before what—he gets fired or gets an STD?” asked Catt.
    Toria waited until she finished rinsing Catt’s hair again to reply. “No, before you’re letting him light your fire in and out of the