Promising Angela Read Free

With bulging biceps that told of time in a gym.
    He could let his hair grow, though. It was short enough to qualify for the military. So short it was hard to determine its true color—maybe blond, maybe brown, maybe brownish blond. But she didn’t have to guess at his eye color. Those piercing eyes of deep blue, hooded by thick, arched brows, were like beacons in his square, chiseled face.
    Oh yes, Ben Atchison was a very pleasant package. She allowed a smile to curve her lips, tipping her head and meeting his gaze directly so he’d know the smile was meant for him. Then, realizing what she was doing, she spun to face her locker, her cheeks blazing with heat. She shouldn’t be flirting. It was a habit she struggled to break, along with so many other habits she knew didn’t please her Savior. And flirting with one of the bosses was certainly a huge mistake. Opening her locker, she hid behind the door to get a grip on her embarrassment.
    Her gaze fell on the Bible resting on the top shelf. She lifted it out. She had formed the routine of reading during her afternoon break, and she wanted to continue the schedule at home over the weekend. Bible in hand, she closed the locker with a snap and turned to leave. And she yelped in surprise. Ben Atchison stood beside the lockers, his blue-eyed gaze pinned on her face. They hadn’t been in such close proximity since her first day when he’d shown her the time log and assigned her a locker. Up close those eyes were like magnets, drawing her in. She gulped.
    He didn’t smile, and his deep voice sounded very formal. “Angela.”
    Clutching her Bible to her chest, she croaked, “Yes?”
    Ben folded his arms, his weight on one hip. “I just wanted to let you know I have your two-week evaluation completed. I plan to show it to Philip this evening, and then you’ll receive a copy on Monday. If you agree with my assessment of your performance, you’ll simply sign off, and we’ll have a second evaluation at six weeks. If you have any areas of disagreement, you, Philip, and I will schedule a conference to discuss it.”
    Angela managed a nod. So that’s why he’d been watching. She suddenly felt very foolish. “I—I’m sure your assessment will be fair.” Dropping her gaze to the floor, she confessed, “I know I’m not very good at this, but I am trying.”
    “I know. I can tell.”
    Her chin shot up, her startled gaze bouncing to meet his once more. He’d sounded … nice.
    He pointed to the Bible she continued to hug like a lifeline. “I noticed you reading during breaks. What book are you studying?”
    Angela glanced at the Bible in her arms. A light, self-conscious laugh escaped. “I’m not sure you’d call what I’m doing studying. The Bible is kind of new to me, so I’ve just been skipping around, reading here and there.” Realizing how flighty that sounded, she hastened to add, “But I’m enjoying it, and a lot of it is really making sense.”
    Ben tipped his head, his brows coming down. “Are you a Christian?”
    “Yes, I am,” Angela said. “But I’m afraid I’m as new to Christianity as I am to New Beginnings. I have a lot to learn in both areas.”
    His nod seemed to hold approval. “What church do you attend?”
    Angela blinked. “Church? Well, I don’t—I just got back from”—she swallowed, seeking words that would be honest yet would protect her—”a training program, and I became a Christian while I was away. I haven’t found a church yet.”
    “Your family doesn’t attend?”
    Angela stifled the laugh that threatened. Her parents? In church? Her mother gave up that “gobbledygook,” as she called it, when she graduated from high school, and her father had never been interested. They did attend the big church downtown for Easter and Christmas services, but that was more for public appearances than anything else. If Petersburg didn’t have a huge, statued, bricked, bell-towered church, her parents probably wouldn’t bother at