look.
As he straightened, his face nearly brushed her bare legs. Lovely legs that were slender at the ankles and curved delicately upward. When he reached her thighs, Matthew jerked his attention away. Temptation. It had been absent for quite some time.
Another test, Lord? I'm still recovering from the last one, even if it wasn't half as intriguing as this. Think You could grant me some immunity this go-round?
Matthew handed Delilah the can. Their fingers brushed. No immunity today, huh? Well, didn't hurt to ask. She lowered her gaze and smiled demurely before leading them into the house. The provocative sway of her hips as she headed for the kitchen caused Matt to whistle silently. Definitely no immunity today.
"Nice place you've got here," he noted when she returned.
"Once we're settled, I think it'll be cozy. Maybe a little too cozy."
"How's that?"
"The kids' bedrooms are upstairs." She looked above her, less to indicate the location than to take her eyes off one heck of a hunk, who was disrobing. "I can hear every squeak of their beds and every step when they walk. Since they'd rather run than walk, it usually sounds like a cattle call overhead. If there was more than one bedroom down here, we could switch floors, but at least I get some peace and quiet once they're asleep and I'm alone and..."
His gaze moved in tandem with hers to her open bedroom door and the unmade bed. The slight distance between them seemed to vanish as an intimate pull took hold.
Matthew smiled, a slow smile that somehow strengthened the disconcerting bond, then laid his folded robe and tie on the couch that had come with the furnished cottage. Two pangs struck her without warning or mercy.
One was for having to leave her own possessions behind, especially the baby grand piano she wanted to weep for losing. The other pang, which was more like a jolt, was upon seeing Matt in a shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of pressed denim jeans. His build was athletic but lean, and she imagined his body was rock solid.
"Your beer, Reverend." She emphasized his title, hoping to douse her delicious awareness of this man.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm destroying my exalted image? Let's see if I can recoup." He tapped his can to hers. "May you make many happy memories in your new home and find peace wherever you live."
"Amen to that." Talk about miracles, she thought grimly, and took a few swallows. Matthew matched her gulp for gulp, then put down his can. She lingered over a few more sips, then reached for his robe. "Make yourself comfortable while I wash this." She was gone before he could protest.
Glad for the excuse to put some space between them. Dee indulged her curiosity and inspected the large garment.
A distinctly masculine scent rose up from the cloth, and, closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. How long had it been since she'd nuzzled a man's neck? Tasted the flavor of skin, felt the keen rub of whiskers against her face, or heard the low groan of an intimate command?
Dee jerked her nose out of the robe and stared at it. What was she, depraved? Maybe she hadn't gone to church in years or indulged in intimate fondling, but religious garb and flights of sensual fantasy just didn't mix.
She turned on the faucet and ran cold water over the stain, soaping and scrubbing at a furious speed, as if she could cleanse her forbidden thoughts as well. A warm breeze blew in from the open window over the sink. She flicked water over her flushed cheeks, grateful for the cooling drops.
Just as she finished, she spotted her neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, bent over a flower bed. "Mrs. Busybody," as Dee had dubbed her, was the type who dug for dirt on others and spread it around in the name of community interest.
Mrs. Henderson was not going to be pleased when she learned her new neighbor would soon be competing for piano students.
"I unpacked my clothes, Dee. I'm going for a walk."
"Okay, Loren, but be back before—" She stopped when she glanced
As he straightened, his face nearly brushed her bare legs. Lovely legs that were slender at the ankles and curved delicately upward. When he reached her thighs, Matthew jerked his attention away. Temptation. It had been absent for quite some time.
Another test, Lord? I'm still recovering from the last one, even if it wasn't half as intriguing as this. Think You could grant me some immunity this go-round?
Matthew handed Delilah the can. Their fingers brushed. No immunity today, huh? Well, didn't hurt to ask. She lowered her gaze and smiled demurely before leading them into the house. The provocative sway of her hips as she headed for the kitchen caused Matt to whistle silently. Definitely no immunity today.
"Nice place you've got here," he noted when she returned.
"Once we're settled, I think it'll be cozy. Maybe a little too cozy."
"How's that?"
"The kids' bedrooms are upstairs." She looked above her, less to indicate the location than to take her eyes off one heck of a hunk, who was disrobing. "I can hear every squeak of their beds and every step when they walk. Since they'd rather run than walk, it usually sounds like a cattle call overhead. If there was more than one bedroom down here, we could switch floors, but at least I get some peace and quiet once they're asleep and I'm alone and..."
His gaze moved in tandem with hers to her open bedroom door and the unmade bed. The slight distance between them seemed to vanish as an intimate pull took hold.
Matthew smiled, a slow smile that somehow strengthened the disconcerting bond, then laid his folded robe and tie on the couch that had come with the furnished cottage. Two pangs struck her without warning or mercy.
One was for having to leave her own possessions behind, especially the baby grand piano she wanted to weep for losing. The other pang, which was more like a jolt, was upon seeing Matt in a shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of pressed denim jeans. His build was athletic but lean, and she imagined his body was rock solid.
"Your beer, Reverend." She emphasized his title, hoping to douse her delicious awareness of this man.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm destroying my exalted image? Let's see if I can recoup." He tapped his can to hers. "May you make many happy memories in your new home and find peace wherever you live."
"Amen to that." Talk about miracles, she thought grimly, and took a few swallows. Matthew matched her gulp for gulp, then put down his can. She lingered over a few more sips, then reached for his robe. "Make yourself comfortable while I wash this." She was gone before he could protest.
Glad for the excuse to put some space between them. Dee indulged her curiosity and inspected the large garment.
A distinctly masculine scent rose up from the cloth, and, closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. How long had it been since she'd nuzzled a man's neck? Tasted the flavor of skin, felt the keen rub of whiskers against her face, or heard the low groan of an intimate command?
Dee jerked her nose out of the robe and stared at it. What was she, depraved? Maybe she hadn't gone to church in years or indulged in intimate fondling, but religious garb and flights of sensual fantasy just didn't mix.
She turned on the faucet and ran cold water over the stain, soaping and scrubbing at a furious speed, as if she could cleanse her forbidden thoughts as well. A warm breeze blew in from the open window over the sink. She flicked water over her flushed cheeks, grateful for the cooling drops.
Just as she finished, she spotted her neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, bent over a flower bed. "Mrs. Busybody," as Dee had dubbed her, was the type who dug for dirt on others and spread it around in the name of community interest.
Mrs. Henderson was not going to be pleased when she learned her new neighbor would soon be competing for piano students.
"I unpacked my clothes, Dee. I'm going for a walk."
"Okay, Loren, but be back before—" She stopped when she glanced
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