Page 142 of Those Who Are Bound

“Am I creating a display? I’m just kissing my girlfriend.”

This man blindsided her all the freaking time. Grasping his biceps, she gently pushed him back, giving him a lightly admonishing look. “Act like you’re in church.”

He looked even more delighted. “I thought you didn’t care about that.”

She quickly lifted a shoulder in a show of nonchalance. “I don’t, about the… mythology. But I care about you.”

Delight turned into the expression that informed her he found her adorable. “Come on.” He spun her to face the stairs.

Elliott allowed him to lead her to the floor that held what she’d suspected were classrooms. He introduced her to several couples, a stab of guilt piercing her over his confident pronouncement that she was his girlfriend. Even though he had no qualms about the declaration, she watched the faces of the people as he said it; the words were met with a mixture of surprise, amusement, and genuine kindness. She’d honestly expected judgment and disapproving attitudes; it didn’t happen.

A few couples she’d been introduced to, he explained, would join them on the canoe trip. Added excitement was injected into the conversation when they found out she was joining them. One couple, Justine and Shari, thanked her for relieving Jonah of Lucy—it was said as though it was a long-running joke, not in meanness.

Pulling her toward the stairs that led to the main level, Jonah added, “I love the woman, but even after all of these years, Lucy doesn’t know one end of an oar from the other.”

Elliott allowed him to lead her into the sanctuary. As they passed the threshold into the massive space, she used her best Quasimodo voice again. Jonah chuckled, shaking his head.

“That’s funny, right?” she pressed, still not believing that Liam hadn’t found her hilarious.

Turning to her, he caught her about the waist, nose to nose with her. “Yes. You’re very funny, kitten.”

She cozied up to him and practically purred, “Are you supposed to be calling me kitten in church?”

He grinned. “I’m impressed by your preoccupation with appropriate behavior on hallowed ground.”

Elliott gave him a mock glare. “Careful, Preacher Man. I might be tempted to test your boundaries. Actually,” she ran her hand over his chest, angling for his crotch, “you might be able to convert me if you bend me over the chairs and—”

Jonah laughed, catching her hand and stepping away as he held her hand out. “You’re dangerous.”

He had no idea. Because the images of what she wanted to do to him here, on his altar, had her in flames.

Wrong. It was wrong.

But it was who she was, and another reminder of why she had to let him go.

Forcing levity into her voice, she said, “I dunno… you almost increased your tithing dollars.”

He walked her backward until she was against the wall. Letting her go, he pinned her to the spot visually as he distanced himself. Amused, he pointed out, “You knew the story of Job. And you know about tithing.”

“It’s a ‘know your enemies’ thing. Don’t get excited. I haven’t been studying.”

He tilted his head as he regarded her. “What would it take to get you to come here without earbuds next time?”

“Don’t,” she warned, the playfulness leaving her voice.

He frowned, glancing briefly toward the doors before he returned his attention to her. “You’re respectful in this space. You claim not to care, not to believe in anything this room represents, but you treated everyone here with dignity; you didn’t mock or judge.”

She let out a half laugh. “My daddy would have risen from the grave…” Shaking her head, she explained, “I didn’t want to embarrass you. And I don’t care what they believe as long as they don’t try to make me subscribe to it.” She gave him a meaningful look.

“Hmm.”

“Right. ‘Hmm.’ I’m not going to change, Jonah. The building is pretty. The people—your friends—are nice. But the doctrine isn’t one I share. Nor will I. So, take out my earbuds? Not likely.” She smiled to soften her words. “The eye candy was enough. The show isn’t one I’ll likely attend, though.”

“Show? It isn’t a show.”

“It is,” she countered. Removing the little pamphlet she’d been handed when she’d walked in, she flapped it in the air. “It’s theater, and it comes with its own playbill.Look around you: you have seating for an audience, a stage, and you provide entertainment. There’s even a gorgeous leading man.”

His regard for her was sadly serious. She wasn’t sure for whom he was sad, though: her, because she wasn’t close to his god, or himself, because he found something in her that was lacking. Taking a step forward, he held out a hand to her; so there was that. She didn’t have cooties; he wasn’t afraid of being burnedby her.

---