Page 15 of Seducing Daddy

Rex

My brother, Chet, and Jolene walked toward me through the Memorial Hall of the Community Church, where I was pastored. Two days passed since the storm blocked the road, and Chet checked in on Mama every day.

I didn’t blame him for it. But that didn’t prevent the burning sensation in my chest, nor the pain in my jaw from over-clenching my teeth. Hell yes, I wanted to go all territorial on him and protect my queen.

Only problem with that?

She and I weren’t even together.

The last thing I wanted to do was chase her off with my possessiveness.

Even so, when I stepped towards them, I consciously unclutched my fists at the pep in her walk, which conveyed a sunny cheerfulness and ease she didn’t exhibit with me.

We needed more time alone.

It’s not like my brother would ever try to steal her away. He was smart enough to know that what’s mine is mine, even if she didn’t know it yet.

No one had the right to kiss her, touch her, or even take care of her.

All of those rights were reserved for me.

But even blind with lust and jealousy, I had to admit, there was none of the ever-present sexual tension evident between Chet and Jolene that there was between her and me. Only friendly and relaxed banter.

Satisfaction pursed my brother’s mouth, and he declared, “Well, that’s it, Reverend. Dishes are done. Cots are made, and Mama insists she and the ladies are sleeping over. They’re hanging out in the room down the hall, on hand to help with restless kids or whatever else pops up during the night. I’ll swing by tomorrow morning and check on her. Make sure she has whatever she needs, since she says she’ll weather the rest of the storm here.”

Briarville was a moderately prosperous town. We didn’t have the same problems with homelessness and hunger as other more populated areas of the county, but there were still a handful of people living on the margins, and they would be safe and warm during this rare snowstorm.

With Mama’s help.

“You know there’s no use arguing with her when she gets her mind set on something. So long as Sheriff Pepper or one of his deputies is on the premises, I’m not worried about her,” Chet declared.

It seemed like a good time to make my request to Jolene, yet I was more unsure of myself than I’d ever been. I didn’t want to embarrass her in front of others, but I was desperate for the chance to spend time alone with her.

My voice broke with huskiness as if I were a teenage male, which is exactly how she made me feel. As if I’d explode in my pants at the drop of a hat.

I was desperate with the intensity of my feelings for her. “Can I speak to you for a moment, please?”

Chet, good man that he was, picked up on my cue and bid us both goodbye. “Hey, it was great getting to know you better today, Jolene. Thanks for helping out in the kitchen.”

“It was my pleasure,” she replied. After my brother left, I pulled her to the side. Our exchange would remain private because of the cheerful buzz of activity all around us.

God, I wanted to be with her, but she was skittish, her mouth tight and grim, bearing a stern-faced expression. I needed to be mindful of whatever made her hesitant to get involved with me. I’d come up with a plan to spend more time with her in a nonthreatening setting, and it was time to make my pitch.

A thrill of anticipation touched my spine. “Let’s take advantage of this unusual snowfall. I loved working with you today, but I’d have even more fun if you let me ask you out on a date.”

She regarded me with searching gravity. “I’m staying the night at your mom’s place with you tonight. Isn’t that enough?”

I reached out and clutched her hand, and she withdrew hers quickly, turning slightly away.

My shoulders were tight, and I pleaded with myself.

Don’t let her turn you chicken now, Pritchett.

“Do you want to go out with me? Yes or no?” I asked accusingly.

She tilted her nose in the air and whispered, “Are you trying to flirt with me, Reverend Pritchett? If so, you need to work on your moves a little.”

“You finally noticed?” I retorted with a significant lifting of my brow. God, I loved it when she taunted me, feeling the urge to give her a good old-fashioned, bare-bottomed spanking.

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