another job. It was a way to unwind and regroup. Cassidy spent
her time practicing on her mechanical bull and lifting weights. John spent his
researching drug dealers.
Cassidy snorted and turned away.
She didn't believe him. Next he'd be telling her he took up crocheting or
scrapbooking. A hobby wasn't something this man did. “See ya later, Pastor John,” she replied. She reached for the handle on the door.
“Don't you want to know what my
hobby is?” he begged. One of the cowgirls who'd fallen off her bull passed.
Cassidy held the door open for her. Once she was gone John glanced around to
ensure nobody else was near.
“No,” Cassidy said bluntly. It was
just too little too late. At the time she suggested the hobby, he laughed at
her which hurt her feelings. Then he said, “A hobby wasn't going to keep the
streets safe.”
“Why not?” He leaned against the wall and stuck his hands in his pockets. Then he
shrugged. “After you left I took your suggestion and got a life.” She pulled at
the door again. “I don't research drug dealers anymore on my days off,” he
added quickly.
Cassidy sighed. The plan had been
to not take any interest in John as a human being. Then she wouldn’t want to
get involved with him. Honestly, she tried not to but she asked anyways. “What
is your hobby?” she moaned. She rolled her eyes, sort of like Kevin had done
earlier.
“I've taken up religion.” He smiled
eagerly at her. He wanted her approval.
But Cassidy didn’t understand. She
let the door go. They were still alone in the hall. “Religion?” she asked.
“Bible study, theology, and just
plain old personal growth,” he told her. “Maybe a better way to describe it is
I'm studying spirituality in my free time.” He smiled shyly. “That was how I
got this job because I knew something about the Old Testament.”
“So, Pastor John,” Cassidy asked
dryly, the cold shower completely forgotten. He had definitely gotten her
attention and it wasn't for sexual reasons anymore. “That sermon you're giving
on Sunday is the real deal?”
“It is.” He actually looked proud
of himself.
“Isn't that illegal?” she asked. She
thought for a moment. “Or immoral?” Then again the law
and morality never stopped John.
“No,” he protested. “I have a
certificate,” he said while digging in his pocket. “I'm covered on both counts.”
He pulled out the folded piece of paper. There was a big crease down the middle
so it was hard to read.
“Did you get this online?” Cassidy
finally asked after she studied it for a moment. She had no idea if the thing
was real. Yes, she probably sounded judgmental. When she recommended a hobby
she thought it would be running, sailing or maybe even baking cookies.
His face flushed red.
“Don't you think that's... ” Cassidy had a hard time coming up with the right word. “Sacrilegious?”
she finally decided upon.
“It's a certificate,” he replied. “Perfectly acceptable in some circles.” His eyes shifted to
the right. “Not any different than a partner not telling another partner she
has a kid.” He sighed. “ Which could be considered
sacrilegious to some cops. ”
Cassidy knew he'd mention Kevin at
some point. Yes, she probably should have told him when the motorcycle club
assignment came up. But she wanted so badly to do that job and she didn't want
anything to stand in her way.
“Why?” she asked, because this
conversation wasn't about her or Kevin. “Why are you doing this?” Maybe he
wasn't lying about being a preacher but he was lying about other things. He'd
already misled Rachel and Logan concerning his identity. Rachel honestly
thought he was some kind of a crazy Christian, which wasn't fair to all the
really nice Christians out there.
“You know,” John replied. “I can't
tell you about my assignment.”
Cassidy shook her head and reached
for the door handle again. “I know, I know,” she said as she pulled it open. “And...I
don't want
her time practicing on her mechanical bull and lifting weights. John spent his
researching drug dealers.
Cassidy snorted and turned away.
She didn't believe him. Next he'd be telling her he took up crocheting or
scrapbooking. A hobby wasn't something this man did. “See ya later, Pastor John,” she replied. She reached for the handle on the door.
“Don't you want to know what my
hobby is?” he begged. One of the cowgirls who'd fallen off her bull passed.
Cassidy held the door open for her. Once she was gone John glanced around to
ensure nobody else was near.
“No,” Cassidy said bluntly. It was
just too little too late. At the time she suggested the hobby, he laughed at
her which hurt her feelings. Then he said, “A hobby wasn't going to keep the
streets safe.”
“Why not?” He leaned against the wall and stuck his hands in his pockets. Then he
shrugged. “After you left I took your suggestion and got a life.” She pulled at
the door again. “I don't research drug dealers anymore on my days off,” he
added quickly.
Cassidy sighed. The plan had been
to not take any interest in John as a human being. Then she wouldn’t want to
get involved with him. Honestly, she tried not to but she asked anyways. “What
is your hobby?” she moaned. She rolled her eyes, sort of like Kevin had done
earlier.
“I've taken up religion.” He smiled
eagerly at her. He wanted her approval.
But Cassidy didn’t understand. She
let the door go. They were still alone in the hall. “Religion?” she asked.
“Bible study, theology, and just
plain old personal growth,” he told her. “Maybe a better way to describe it is
I'm studying spirituality in my free time.” He smiled shyly. “That was how I
got this job because I knew something about the Old Testament.”
“So, Pastor John,” Cassidy asked
dryly, the cold shower completely forgotten. He had definitely gotten her
attention and it wasn't for sexual reasons anymore. “That sermon you're giving
on Sunday is the real deal?”
“It is.” He actually looked proud
of himself.
“Isn't that illegal?” she asked. She
thought for a moment. “Or immoral?” Then again the law
and morality never stopped John.
“No,” he protested. “I have a
certificate,” he said while digging in his pocket. “I'm covered on both counts.”
He pulled out the folded piece of paper. There was a big crease down the middle
so it was hard to read.
“Did you get this online?” Cassidy
finally asked after she studied it for a moment. She had no idea if the thing
was real. Yes, she probably sounded judgmental. When she recommended a hobby
she thought it would be running, sailing or maybe even baking cookies.
His face flushed red.
“Don't you think that's... ” Cassidy had a hard time coming up with the right word. “Sacrilegious?”
she finally decided upon.
“It's a certificate,” he replied. “Perfectly acceptable in some circles.” His eyes shifted to
the right. “Not any different than a partner not telling another partner she
has a kid.” He sighed. “ Which could be considered
sacrilegious to some cops. ”
Cassidy knew he'd mention Kevin at
some point. Yes, she probably should have told him when the motorcycle club
assignment came up. But she wanted so badly to do that job and she didn't want
anything to stand in her way.
“Why?” she asked, because this
conversation wasn't about her or Kevin. “Why are you doing this?” Maybe he
wasn't lying about being a preacher but he was lying about other things. He'd
already misled Rachel and Logan concerning his identity. Rachel honestly
thought he was some kind of a crazy Christian, which wasn't fair to all the
really nice Christians out there.
“You know,” John replied. “I can't
tell you about my assignment.”
Cassidy shook her head and reached
for the door handle again. “I know, I know,” she said as she pulled it open. “And...I
don't want
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