Page 65 of An Unholy Affair
‘Room at the back to the left of the altar. It’ll be quiet there.’
Jack put the flask in his pocket and nodded, then looked towards Eveline, uncertain whether to go.
Finn pushed him through the door. ‘I’ll speak to her. Just go get your head together.’
Jack strode into the church, then left down the side aisle, keeping his gaze fixed ahead. Pushing open a door at the end, he found himself in a corridor. He tried a couple of doors before he found a small room with dark wood cupboards and a table with a couple of chairs. Hanging by the door was Eveline’s coat.
Jack stared at it, filled with shame, feeling like a creepy little perve who’d found his way into the bedroom of a girl he was obsessed with.You can stay here or go back out there. He sat, his head throbbing, and unscrewed the cap of Finn’s flask. Closing his eyes, the liquid burned a path to his stomach.Just get through the day. Get through the fucking day.
After a few minutes, there was a knock at the door. He put the flask away.
‘Hello?’
Eveline entered the room and shut the door behind her. ‘Finn said you would be in here. How are you holding up?’
Jack gazed at her. Even in an outfit designed for purity, not pleasure, Eveline’s beauty was blinding. How the fuck was she a vicar? If God really existed, was this punishment for all his sins? A living hell where his dream woman would always be out of reach?
He stood. ‘Is it about to start?’
‘Yes.’ She crossed the room towards him. ‘You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,’ she said softly. ‘I can do it all.’
Christ, she’s so fucking lovely. He cleared his throat. ‘I’ll do it. It’s not long.’
She held out her hands, and he took them. Her gaze was so filled with compassion, his heart cracked open.
‘Would you like a hug?’ she asked.
He nodded. What had happened to the man he was a year ago? The outer shell remained the same, but inside was a wasteland.
Opening her arms, she drew him in. Despite their height difference, Jack felt as if he was the one being held. He dropped his head to her shoulder and closed his eyes with a sigh.
Eveline squeezed him tighter, stroking his back as if soothing a child.
The warmth returned slowly to his heart. He took a deep breath in through his nose, and the scent from her hair sent heat flooding through him, straight to his cock.What the fuck?
He pulled away, disgusted with himself. Turning to the door, he averted his eyes from her.
‘Are you ready?’ she asked from behind him.
His cock twitched, and he almost laughed.God, if you exist, you’ve got a sick sense of humour.Opening the door, he held it out for her.
As she passed, she put her hand on his arm. ‘If at any point you’ve had enough, I’ll take over. Okay?’
Jack nodded, his gaze focused on the wall behind her.
Eveline squeezed. ‘I’m here for you.’
Clenching his jaw, he followed her out into the church.
Organ music floatedabove the murmur of the congregation. Jack didn’t want to know who was there. He wasn’t getting married and therefore excited to see familiar faces in the crowd. Most of the people were strangers he didn’t care about.
He sat at the front next to his mother. The pews were as uncomfortable as he remembered. Every memory of this place was negative. Jack allowed himself a quick glance at Eveline as she began her address. How different things would have been if she’d been the vicar when he was growing up. She would have made him a believer and inspired him to do something better with his life than fuck women for money.
The first hymn started, and he rose to his feet. He’d chosenAll Things Bright and Beautifulbecause he knew his father hated ‘children’s hymns’ and because he hoped Betsy would like it. He mumbled his way through the words on autopilot, then sat back, his hand moving to feel the outline of Finn’s flask and needing to drain the contents.
Eveline was speaking again, but Jack didn’t listen to her words, just to how she said them. So assured, yet welcoming and down-to-earth. She met everyone’s eyes as if they mattered. As her gaze moved to where he was sitting, he ducked his head.
‘Dack-Dack.’
