Raspberry Kisses (The Bakery Romance Series Book 1) by Cecelia Dowdy
Authors: Cecelia Dowdy
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God’s got this whole thing under control.” He leaned against the door. “He doesn’t want me to just sit and do nothing while Linda makes me look like the bad guy.” He opened the door to the bakery, the bell tinkled, announcing his arrival. He held the door open for Trina and he entered behind her.
He stepped into the bakery and sniffed. Perfume. The fragrance of women’s cologne comingled with the scents of bread and pastries. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his suddenly frazzled nerves. He scanned the bakery, and it was packed with women, not an empty chair in sight. The women wore colorful dresses, and some sipped from cups of coffee, enjoying pastries. He wiped his sweat-slicked hands against his blue jeans. What was he going to say? Lord, please give me the right words.
Scents of bread, cinnamon, chocolate, and sugar filled the air as Martin scanned the sea of faces, glad to see that most of the attendees were women who had joined with Linda over a year ago. He only spotted a few long-standing members from his church. Perhaps the long-standing members were still supporting his pastorship.
Maybe this wasn’t a meeting to keep him out of the pulpit. Perhaps Trina had been mistaken? He’d imagined seeing Linda Tucker standing in front of the room, saying all kinds of things against him. But, this meeting looked peaceful…pleasant. He’d heard that some of the women in his congregation had wanted to start a book club, maybe this was a club meeting?
Before he continued with his quest to interrupt, he needed to step back and figure out what was going on. He finally spotted Linda Tucker, coming out of the ladies’ room, pressing her lips together. An empty table with no chairs nestled in front of the group. Linda stood behind the table, as if she were going to use it as a podium. She scrutinized the crowd, stopping when she took note of him. She held a sheaf of papers.
Clearing his throat, he walked toward her. The room seemed to hold its breath as silence descended. The only sounds in the small bakery were the movement of the workers behind the counter and the ding of the cash register. “Linda, are you having a meeting about keeping me out of the pulpit?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Well if you’re having a meeting about the pastorship, I came to defend myself.”
She glared at Martin, still holding her papers. “This is a private meeting, so you shouldn’t even be here.”
“Really? Last I checked, Claudine’s is a public place, and, I have every right to be here.”
Female voices rumbled in the fragrant bakery, and Martin stopped and listened to the chatter. From amidst the chatter a few words shattered through his gut: “ Martin’s not a womanizer.”
He took a deep breath, glaring at Linda. “Are you spreading rumors about me?” He needed to talk to his dad about this. If Linda was causing this much trouble in the church, spreading these kinds of lies, then he was sure their bylaws would allow them to kick her out of the church.
“I’m not spreading lies! All I said was there was only one reason why a man of the pulpit would still be single while in his thirties. I never gave the reason. That’s just speculation that somebody else started.”
He studied Linda. As usual, she frowned, her lips puckered. He softened his voice, eyeing the slump of her bony shoulders. Her dress hung from her gaunt frame. “Why does my being in the pulpit make you so miserable? The church is all about Jesus. How do you think He feels about your actions?”
Her mouth dropped open, and she groaned. She then leaned closer, her hot, smelly breath fanning against his skin. “When you were in college, you did some abhorrent things. I know the Lord wouldn’t want somebody like you in His pulpit.”
Martin winced, his heart skipping. How in the world did Linda know about that? She’d spoken in a low voice, but what if others had heard? Or maybe she’d already divulged his past to the
He stepped into the bakery and sniffed. Perfume. The fragrance of women’s cologne comingled with the scents of bread and pastries. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his suddenly frazzled nerves. He scanned the bakery, and it was packed with women, not an empty chair in sight. The women wore colorful dresses, and some sipped from cups of coffee, enjoying pastries. He wiped his sweat-slicked hands against his blue jeans. What was he going to say? Lord, please give me the right words.
Scents of bread, cinnamon, chocolate, and sugar filled the air as Martin scanned the sea of faces, glad to see that most of the attendees were women who had joined with Linda over a year ago. He only spotted a few long-standing members from his church. Perhaps the long-standing members were still supporting his pastorship.
Maybe this wasn’t a meeting to keep him out of the pulpit. Perhaps Trina had been mistaken? He’d imagined seeing Linda Tucker standing in front of the room, saying all kinds of things against him. But, this meeting looked peaceful…pleasant. He’d heard that some of the women in his congregation had wanted to start a book club, maybe this was a club meeting?
Before he continued with his quest to interrupt, he needed to step back and figure out what was going on. He finally spotted Linda Tucker, coming out of the ladies’ room, pressing her lips together. An empty table with no chairs nestled in front of the group. Linda stood behind the table, as if she were going to use it as a podium. She scrutinized the crowd, stopping when she took note of him. She held a sheaf of papers.
Clearing his throat, he walked toward her. The room seemed to hold its breath as silence descended. The only sounds in the small bakery were the movement of the workers behind the counter and the ding of the cash register. “Linda, are you having a meeting about keeping me out of the pulpit?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Well if you’re having a meeting about the pastorship, I came to defend myself.”
She glared at Martin, still holding her papers. “This is a private meeting, so you shouldn’t even be here.”
“Really? Last I checked, Claudine’s is a public place, and, I have every right to be here.”
Female voices rumbled in the fragrant bakery, and Martin stopped and listened to the chatter. From amidst the chatter a few words shattered through his gut: “ Martin’s not a womanizer.”
He took a deep breath, glaring at Linda. “Are you spreading rumors about me?” He needed to talk to his dad about this. If Linda was causing this much trouble in the church, spreading these kinds of lies, then he was sure their bylaws would allow them to kick her out of the church.
“I’m not spreading lies! All I said was there was only one reason why a man of the pulpit would still be single while in his thirties. I never gave the reason. That’s just speculation that somebody else started.”
He studied Linda. As usual, she frowned, her lips puckered. He softened his voice, eyeing the slump of her bony shoulders. Her dress hung from her gaunt frame. “Why does my being in the pulpit make you so miserable? The church is all about Jesus. How do you think He feels about your actions?”
Her mouth dropped open, and she groaned. She then leaned closer, her hot, smelly breath fanning against his skin. “When you were in college, you did some abhorrent things. I know the Lord wouldn’t want somebody like you in His pulpit.”
Martin winced, his heart skipping. How in the world did Linda know about that? She’d spoken in a low voice, but what if others had heard? Or maybe she’d already divulged his past to the
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