Page 64 of Sin With Me

His suggestion should have sounded as a kind offer, but all I could think of was sharing more things with him. Like abed.

We broke the cookie in half just as Father John came to sit at our table. I stopped the moan of satisfaction that was about to come out of mouth at the chocolaty-sweet flavors melting on my tongue. Father Cameron’s stare bore through me. I could feel its burn on my face, then my chest, and back at my face again. I knew what he was thinking, and I knew that he’d be analyzing that kiss until I bluntly admitted how much it affected me. He leaned into me, his hot breath teasing my cleavage, and whispered, “Come on Kate, let’s enjoy this feast youmade.”

“I didn’t makeit.”

“You made most of it, and don’t argue because you know it’strue.”

His manly yet complimentary tone revived that confusing feeling in my chest. Everything was so confusing. I was not only falling apart physically and emotionally, but I was also failing miserably in my detective work. I still had not foundJack.

As much as I wished I could have brought my mother back to her hometown for today’s Assumption Fiesta celebration, I had no more answers for her than when I first came to Pace. She remained in her catatonic state, repeating the same two words each time I called her: “Jack Pace” – even after I’d asked her whether she meant John. I hadn’t had a chance to speak with Father John about her on my own, either. I mean, what was I supposed to say? Hello, Father. I’m your lover’s daughter. Sorry she left you for my dad! Oh, by the way, I could be your daughtertoo.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I had looked for mannerisms and similarities between us, but even if it were true, even if Father John was my biological father, it wasn’t my place to tell him. It was my mother’s. And why hadn’t she toldme?

At least I found out why she’d given me Kate as a second name. It was after my deceased grandmother, Katherine. I saw her and grandfather’s tombs side by side near the back wall of the crypt.

“Let’s begin with a prayer, everyone,” Father John announced. The hum of voices across the hall faded as the kids all gathered around their tables, folded their hands, and bowed their heads.

I watched Father Cameron close his eyes. He appeared to be lost deep in his prayer, deep enough that you felt a special presence in theroom.

“Amen,” everyone responded.

The candles were lit, soft music played, and the plates were beginning to fill. I was sitting at the table with Father Cameron, Lola, and Father John. Father Cameron sat opposite me and as I ate, I couldn’t help but feel his continuous stare.

Lay off, already!I said in my mind, but that only reminded me of a joke Lola once told me about gettinglaid.

I snickered, and my eyes automatically darted up, meeting his halfway. I would never have thought that a man, especially a priest, could manage to turn my body into mush with one look, one word, and one gesture, but he did. Every. Single. Time.

“So, is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?” Lola asked, when both priests left to the buffet for seconds.

“It feels fine tome.”

“Really? Because you look like you’re about to burst into flames, the way you’re looking at Father Cameron.”

“Donot.”

“Do too. And he’s looking at you like you’re the only one in this world. Pretty powerful.”

“Really?”

“OMG, you are hot for him, aren’t you? I knewit!”

I leaned in closer to her. “Lola, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to stopit.”

“Did it ever occur to you that you two were meant tobe?”

“He’s a priest.”

“And maybe he didn’t realize that he shouldn’t have been one until he met you. Maybe God put you two on the same path so that you could happily do His good deeds together. And make pretty babies. You’d have the cutest babies.”

“Come on. You’re being sillynow.”

Yet the thought of Fate somehow intervening in our lives had always been in the back of my mind. Either that or God, because why would anyone else have put us both on the same path, knowing that we couldn’t be together? That was asin.

“Do you know how many priests each year leave the church for a woman?” Lola asked.

“Don’t even say that. I could never forgive myself if I was the reason why Father Cameron left his calling. It would never happen.”

“What if his calling was wrong? What if he hadn’t heard his true calling – to be with a woman – until now? Do you know how great sex could be with a man who’s been celibate?”

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