curled it extravagantly; Jim looked as if he’d love to run his hands through it then and there.
Tasha smile coquettishly at him, and was gratified to see him blush. Soft, sweet butter, he was, just waiting for her to melt him with her eyes. He’d be good for a few thrills through the summer, but she’d have to be a little careful. He was awfully possessive, she suspected. She’d probably have to lie about her departure date, and leave without saying goodbye to him, when the time came.
Deb nudged her arm, and stood up. Coming back to the present, Tasha followed her friend. “What are you doing?” Tasha grumbled, evading Jim’s hand, that was reaching for her elbow.
“ Weren’t you listening? It’s time for communion.” Deb chastised.
“ Oh, brother. What do I have to do?” Tasha grumbled.
“ Just follow me up there, take the wine and bread, and then kneel on the bench. Gary or Pastor Sherman will come and bless you.”
“ No way am I letting either one touch me! Who’s this Sherman guy?”
“ He’s the assistant pastor here. It’s all right, Tasha. There’s nothing to be worried about.”
“ Easy for you to say! Why are they putting their hands on everyone’s heads?”
“ It’s just a way to offer a blessing, Tasha. They’re ministering to the people. Gary can ...”
“ No, thanks! Looks like Hypnosis or Brainwashing or something, to me.” Tasha snapped suspiciously.
“ Oh, stop! Just relax, Tasha, it won’t hurt you a bit. Besides, if you don’t want it, they’ll leave you alone. But you have to at least go to the altar now, you’re already up here.” Deb hissed, feeling irritated by Tasha's persistent muttering.
Tasha glared suspiciously as Deb took a crumb of whole grain bread and ate it, then sipped from a silver goblet. She shook off Jim’s hand irritably, and moved forward. It was too late to do anything else, now.
She found the bread sweet, the wine mild. She walked over and knelt on the bench with a stony expression on her pretty features.
In a moment, Gary came close, and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Well, Tasha,” he marveled, “I’m pleased to see you up here on bended knee, before God and the church. And of your own free will! Could it be you’re softening just a bit?” he teased gently. “Cracking a mite, are we?”
“ Don’t count on it. I was tricked!” she hissed. She was afraid. She didn’t want him to touch her. “If it wouldn’t disgrace the Waldens, I’d be out of here! Believe me!”
“ Is that right?” he chuckled quietly. “I thought you were too smart to be so neatly trapped at the altar, for all to see and marvel at. Bless Deb’s little heart.”
“ Lay one hand on me, and I will bite you with all my might.” she vowed, glaring up at him with pure venom in her eyes. She reached out to grab at his approaching wrist, but found her hand somehow swallowed helplessly in the grasp of his. She began to panic as she felt a charged warmth flowing from him into her, where they were touching.
“ All right, Tasha. Then I’ll just give you a lick and a promise.” he agreed quietly. “Just be certain that you remember this moment of mercy.” he chuckled.
She felt his other hand slip around to the back of her neck. He bent over, and drew her head against his shoulder in a harmless hug. Held snugly there, Tasha felt a deep, quiet sureness in him, and amazingly ... there was acceptance and affection! For her? It was not possible! She hated him, and he obviously hated her!
When he finally released her from the hug, she stared up at him suspiciously. Try as she might, she just could not figure Gary Taylor out.
His serious, probing eyes
Tasha smile coquettishly at him, and was gratified to see him blush. Soft, sweet butter, he was, just waiting for her to melt him with her eyes. He’d be good for a few thrills through the summer, but she’d have to be a little careful. He was awfully possessive, she suspected. She’d probably have to lie about her departure date, and leave without saying goodbye to him, when the time came.
Deb nudged her arm, and stood up. Coming back to the present, Tasha followed her friend. “What are you doing?” Tasha grumbled, evading Jim’s hand, that was reaching for her elbow.
“ Weren’t you listening? It’s time for communion.” Deb chastised.
“ Oh, brother. What do I have to do?” Tasha grumbled.
“ Just follow me up there, take the wine and bread, and then kneel on the bench. Gary or Pastor Sherman will come and bless you.”
“ No way am I letting either one touch me! Who’s this Sherman guy?”
“ He’s the assistant pastor here. It’s all right, Tasha. There’s nothing to be worried about.”
“ Easy for you to say! Why are they putting their hands on everyone’s heads?”
“ It’s just a way to offer a blessing, Tasha. They’re ministering to the people. Gary can ...”
“ No, thanks! Looks like Hypnosis or Brainwashing or something, to me.” Tasha snapped suspiciously.
“ Oh, stop! Just relax, Tasha, it won’t hurt you a bit. Besides, if you don’t want it, they’ll leave you alone. But you have to at least go to the altar now, you’re already up here.” Deb hissed, feeling irritated by Tasha's persistent muttering.
Tasha glared suspiciously as Deb took a crumb of whole grain bread and ate it, then sipped from a silver goblet. She shook off Jim’s hand irritably, and moved forward. It was too late to do anything else, now.
She found the bread sweet, the wine mild. She walked over and knelt on the bench with a stony expression on her pretty features.
In a moment, Gary came close, and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Well, Tasha,” he marveled, “I’m pleased to see you up here on bended knee, before God and the church. And of your own free will! Could it be you’re softening just a bit?” he teased gently. “Cracking a mite, are we?”
“ Don’t count on it. I was tricked!” she hissed. She was afraid. She didn’t want him to touch her. “If it wouldn’t disgrace the Waldens, I’d be out of here! Believe me!”
“ Is that right?” he chuckled quietly. “I thought you were too smart to be so neatly trapped at the altar, for all to see and marvel at. Bless Deb’s little heart.”
“ Lay one hand on me, and I will bite you with all my might.” she vowed, glaring up at him with pure venom in her eyes. She reached out to grab at his approaching wrist, but found her hand somehow swallowed helplessly in the grasp of his. She began to panic as she felt a charged warmth flowing from him into her, where they were touching.
“ All right, Tasha. Then I’ll just give you a lick and a promise.” he agreed quietly. “Just be certain that you remember this moment of mercy.” he chuckled.
She felt his other hand slip around to the back of her neck. He bent over, and drew her head against his shoulder in a harmless hug. Held snugly there, Tasha felt a deep, quiet sureness in him, and amazingly ... there was acceptance and affection! For her? It was not possible! She hated him, and he obviously hated her!
When he finally released her from the hug, she stared up at him suspiciously. Try as she might, she just could not figure Gary Taylor out.
His serious, probing eyes
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