marveled at how easy Jace made it look.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Better question, was that Julie I saw leaving?”
Jared took a deep breath and stepped back for Jace to roll past. “Yeah, but it’s not what you think.”
Jace wheeled in and spun around. “Really? It’s seven-thirty in the morning and I’m thinking she spent the night.”
Jared held up a cup. “Coffee?”
“No. You sleep with her or not?”
“You of all people should understand when a man gets a booty call, he’ll act on it.”
“That’s all it was?”
“Yeah. Now, what are you doing here?”
“What’s going on with the mysterious nooner?”
“Damn. Why does Mom want to get in the middle of my business? I told her it’s no big deal.”
“She thinks it is. Said you marked off two hours every day this week to meet this woman. Why did Mom find out before I did? And what the hell? You’re doing her at noon and Julie at night? That sounds like stuff I used to do. Not you.”
By the time Jared finished telling the story, Jace laughed so hard he had to set the brake on his wheelchair. He caught his breath, then stuck out his palms. “Well, just one thing left to do. Let’s join hands and pray.”
“Funny. Real funny. Glad you’re enjoying this because I’m not. A bad decision already has the potential of becoming a huge problem.”
“Oh, I’m loving this. My straight laced uptight big bro has fallen into my old ways of juggling women. But I think you’ve surpassed anything I ever did. You’ve sent one away who loves you. Slept with one you hate, and this last part is the best. Let’s see what should I call you? Pastor of Disaster. Clergy of Catastrophe? Minister of Misfortune? Wait, I’ve got it. You’re hoping for some Divine intervention of the missionary kind.”
Getting to know someone is like investigating a crime scene
where the culprit is constantly allowed to rearrange the evidence.
~ Adnan Mithani
JOKING OR NOT, Jace had a valid point. Jared might not be a saint, but he never lied. Until now. Julie. Beth. Both women brought out a dark side he didn’t know existed. Now that they were finally out of his life, the only thing left to fix was the situation with Raynie. He rehearsed his confession, but couldn’t come up with a good way to lead into it. He didn’t know her well enough to trust she’d find it funny or silly or devious. If only he’d corrected the mistake from the beginning.
In his favor, she had no friends in Lubbock, and he could give her that. Someone to confide in with no strings attached. So even though guilt ate at him, for now, the lie seemed harmless enough.
He arrived at the café early and claimed the same booth as the day before. When she walked in, his spirit lifted. Wearing a pair of ragged jeans and off–the-shoulder blouse, today, she’d committed to one hair style. A braid pulled to the side skimmed bare skin. The bounce in her step showed she was in a better mood.
“Hey, padre.”
“You’re happier today.”
“An old friend from home stopped by.”
Jared wanted to ask if the visitor was male or female, but figured it was none of his business, so he let it pass. He picked up the menu and peered over the top. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. You, too. What are you having?”
“Green chili cheese enchiladas.”
Like yesterday, bracelets circled both her wrists, and clanged as she gestured with her hands. “Ooh, those sound good. Would you mind if I had a margarita?”
“Not at all. I recommend the Prickly Pear. It’s delicious.”
The waitress stepped to the table and after taking their orders, retreated.
Jared focused on his lunch date again. “One day we should save room for a chocolate brownie sundae.”
“We could share one?”
His gaze drifted from green eyes hooded by long, thick lashes, to her full lips. She was so beautiful, he bet she’d broken more than her share of hearts. Delicate features contradicted her claim as a
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Better question, was that Julie I saw leaving?”
Jared took a deep breath and stepped back for Jace to roll past. “Yeah, but it’s not what you think.”
Jace wheeled in and spun around. “Really? It’s seven-thirty in the morning and I’m thinking she spent the night.”
Jared held up a cup. “Coffee?”
“No. You sleep with her or not?”
“You of all people should understand when a man gets a booty call, he’ll act on it.”
“That’s all it was?”
“Yeah. Now, what are you doing here?”
“What’s going on with the mysterious nooner?”
“Damn. Why does Mom want to get in the middle of my business? I told her it’s no big deal.”
“She thinks it is. Said you marked off two hours every day this week to meet this woman. Why did Mom find out before I did? And what the hell? You’re doing her at noon and Julie at night? That sounds like stuff I used to do. Not you.”
By the time Jared finished telling the story, Jace laughed so hard he had to set the brake on his wheelchair. He caught his breath, then stuck out his palms. “Well, just one thing left to do. Let’s join hands and pray.”
“Funny. Real funny. Glad you’re enjoying this because I’m not. A bad decision already has the potential of becoming a huge problem.”
“Oh, I’m loving this. My straight laced uptight big bro has fallen into my old ways of juggling women. But I think you’ve surpassed anything I ever did. You’ve sent one away who loves you. Slept with one you hate, and this last part is the best. Let’s see what should I call you? Pastor of Disaster. Clergy of Catastrophe? Minister of Misfortune? Wait, I’ve got it. You’re hoping for some Divine intervention of the missionary kind.”
Getting to know someone is like investigating a crime scene
where the culprit is constantly allowed to rearrange the evidence.
~ Adnan Mithani
JOKING OR NOT, Jace had a valid point. Jared might not be a saint, but he never lied. Until now. Julie. Beth. Both women brought out a dark side he didn’t know existed. Now that they were finally out of his life, the only thing left to fix was the situation with Raynie. He rehearsed his confession, but couldn’t come up with a good way to lead into it. He didn’t know her well enough to trust she’d find it funny or silly or devious. If only he’d corrected the mistake from the beginning.
In his favor, she had no friends in Lubbock, and he could give her that. Someone to confide in with no strings attached. So even though guilt ate at him, for now, the lie seemed harmless enough.
He arrived at the café early and claimed the same booth as the day before. When she walked in, his spirit lifted. Wearing a pair of ragged jeans and off–the-shoulder blouse, today, she’d committed to one hair style. A braid pulled to the side skimmed bare skin. The bounce in her step showed she was in a better mood.
“Hey, padre.”
“You’re happier today.”
“An old friend from home stopped by.”
Jared wanted to ask if the visitor was male or female, but figured it was none of his business, so he let it pass. He picked up the menu and peered over the top. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. You, too. What are you having?”
“Green chili cheese enchiladas.”
Like yesterday, bracelets circled both her wrists, and clanged as she gestured with her hands. “Ooh, those sound good. Would you mind if I had a margarita?”
“Not at all. I recommend the Prickly Pear. It’s delicious.”
The waitress stepped to the table and after taking their orders, retreated.
Jared focused on his lunch date again. “One day we should save room for a chocolate brownie sundae.”
“We could share one?”
His gaze drifted from green eyes hooded by long, thick lashes, to her full lips. She was so beautiful, he bet she’d broken more than her share of hearts. Delicate features contradicted her claim as a
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