“I’ll follow you,” I answer passively as Roland walks down the stairs on the side of the stage.
I catch Jonah’s gaze again when I hit the last step. I offer a playful shrug and grin, wanting to play this whole scene off as effortlessly as possible. He seems to buy it, shrugs and grins back, and continues talking with the band. He looks passionate and happy as he gestures to sheet music.
Once in the parking lot, Roland leads me to his Prius and opens the door.
“Thanks,” I mumble.
As Roland walks to his side of the car, I buckle my seatbelt and lean my head back. Gazing out the window, I spot my friends as they talk and laugh on their way to the dining hall. I wish I were with them right now.
No I don’t. I wish I were right here, right now. Facing off with Roland without the pressure of my mother’s watchful gaze or rules.
It’s time.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Remind Me Who I Am
“This is a nice place,” I comment as I wander into Roland’s expansive kitchen.
Roland sets his keys on the island. “It’s a lot of house, that’s for sure.”
“Did the first pastor of this church have a zillion kids or something?”
“Most of them do.” Roland’s tone flattens as he opens the refrigerator. “Would you like something to drink? Water? Coke?”
“Coke.” I situate myself on the stool as Roland pours me a glass.
“Ice?”
“Please.”
Roland sets the glass down in front of me and starts to take the seat next to me. I turn and look at him, leaning back slightly.
Boundaries.
Amazingly, he understands. Without looking disappointed, he walks to the other side of the island and takes the stool across from me.
“Why don’t you?” I ask. Bubbles from my first sip tickle my chest.
“Why don’t I what?” Roland sips his cola and looks into my eyes. I wonder briefly if he sees how obscenely identical our eyes are.
“Have a bunch of kids…a wife?” I’m honest in my question. I’m genuinely curious. I never thought to ask him why before sitting in this house designed for a large family.
But why? He’s a young thirty-eight years old, in impeccable health, and, according to blogs and my two roommates, he’s cute. What gives?
Roland takes a deep breath, seeming to consider my question.
The thing about Roland is he oozes charisma. From the moment I met him, I wished my friends all knew him so they would really understand the true definition of the word. When you speak with him, he makes you feel like you’re the only person in the room. In this case, I am the only other person in the room, but I’ve seen him interact this way in a party of one and a party of ten thousand. His eyes never move from yours. Not in a creepy way, but in a way that makes you feel like he’s really listening to you. I’m sure he can’t possibly listen to every single thing people say to him. Pray for this, thank you for that. Still, you walk away feeling like you’ve been heard.
“I suppose…” Roland starts after a lengthy silence, but trails off. “It’s not an easy life, being in a pastor’s family.”
“It’s okay,” I try to reassure him, though my tone is more sarcastic than sensitive. “I didn’t come here with any delusions about you and my mom.”
He runs a hand through his hair, something I’ve never seen him do. I assumed that was because of all the product he puts in it.
“Kennedy,” he sighs, “it’s so complicated.”
I shrug. “You don’t date? Haven’t dated? What?”
“Is this why you agreed to come here? To ask me about my love life?” He grins and shakes his head.
“No,” I reply plainly. “I came here to eat lunch, but we don’t seem to be doing that, either.”
Roland throws his head back. This time, his Adam’s apple bobs in laughter. “You’re funny.” He leaves his stool and pulls a menu from a nearby drawer. “This deli is good. And they deliver.”
“That’s the second time I’ve heard that today,” I remark as I scan over the bread selections.
“About this deli?”
I grin. “No. That I’m funny. The kid I was sitting next to in service, Jonah. He thinks I’m funny. I promise you I don’t try to be.” I do try at sarcasm, though. And, pretty much win every time.
“Jonah Cross, right?” Roland takes his seat again.
I lift my eyebrows, my eyes shooting away from the menu. “His last name is Cross? Jesu—shit—God!” I slam my hand over my mouth and lower my head to the table. “Sorry,” I grumble against the dark granite.
“Ah, yes…your language. Your mother warned me about that.”
Lifting my head, I run my hand through my hair, tucking some behind my ears. “She did?”
It’s news to me that my mother has had any conversations with Roland that I don’t know about, though I suppose I should have assumed. She was a nervous wreck all summer; of course she would’ve talked to him about me. Probably read him the riot act about keeping an eye on me in the middle of all of…this.
He nods. “Yeah, she told me to remind you not to get kicked out of school because you can’t keep your vulgar thoughts to yourself.”
Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father
Andrea Randall's books
- Sacred Sins
- Sins and Scarlet Lace
- Sins of a Ruthless Rogue
- Bed of Roses
- Son Of The Morning
- Cover Of Night
- Affairs of State
- A Profiler's Case for Seduction
- Because of Rebecca
- Conflict of Interest
- Eclipse of the Heart
- Flames of Attraction
- Illusions of Love
- Keeper of the Moon
- Keeper of the Shadows
- Legacy of Love
- Love Proof (Laws of Attraction)
- Miles of Pleasure
- Of One Heart
- Off Limits
- Off Sides
- Out of the Dark (The Brethren Series)
- Out of the Depths
- Pool of Crimson
- Prince of Wolves
- Rules of Entanglement
- Shadow of My Heart
- Something of a Kind
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Taste of Desire
- Taste of Love
- Translation of Love
- Web of Deception
- Words of Love
- The Lady of Bolton Hill
- The Scars of Us(Scars Series)
- Dreams of Lilacs
- House of Ivy & Sorrow
- A Question of Honor
- The Owner of His Heart
- The Heir of the Castle
- Tower of Glass
- The Last Prince of Dahaar
- Terms of Engagement
- Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage
- David Lord of Honor
- Return of the Prodigal Gilvry
- Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)
- Starting Over(Hart of Seattle)
- The Resurrection of Aubrey Mill
- OFF SIDES
- Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom
- Stolen: Warriors of Hir, Book 3
- The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)
- The Law of Moses
- A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)
- Arouse: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book One)
- Awaken: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book Three)
- The Art of French Kissing
- Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Echoes of Scotland Street
- Stinger (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)
- The Song of David
- The House of the Stone
- Ashes of Honor: An October Daye Novel
- The Weight of Feathers
- Blood Brothers
- Face the Fire
- Holding the Dream
- The Hollow
- The way Home
- A Father's Name
- All the Right Moves
- After the Fall
- And Then She Fell
- A Mother's Homecoming
- All They Need
- Behind the Courtesan
- Breathe for Me
- Breaking the Rules
- Bluffing the Devil
- Chasing the Sunset
- Feel the Heat (Hot In the Kitchen)
- For the Girls' Sake
- Guarding the Princess
- Happy Mother's Day!
- Meant-To-Be Mother
- In the Market for Love
- In the Rancher's Arms
- Leather and Lace
- Northern Rebel Daring in the Dark
- Seduced The Unexpected Virgin
- Southern Beauty
- St Matthew's Passion
- Straddling the Line
- Taming the Lone Wolff
- Taming the Tycoon
- Tempting the Best Man