Page 23 of Zane

And that was what had left her so shaken. If he had continued, she was very sure she would have begged him to take her, right there in the garden. Everything else had emptied out of her brain. She was always so cautious and well behaved, and she had gone from that to feeling a wildness inside her that had frightened her to death.

It was fear that had her saying those nasty things to him. Taking a sip of the wine, she tried to ease the dryness in her throat. It frightened her that for the first time she had come close to surrendering her innocence to a virtual stranger.

*****

For the first time since she had become a member of the New Horizon Baptist Church, Kara was feeling dissatisfied and was studying the congregation with a jaundiced eye. Her mother was a member, so naturally, she had become a member as well. After her father had ended his stint in the military and settled down, they had found the church to their liking and decided to settle there.

The towering off-cream building was situated on well-manicured lawns and surrounded by several outbuildings. The pastor was a man in his sixties with a well-preserved face and trim body. His wife always looked perfect, with her pixie-cut sable brown hair and expensive clothes that always looked as if she had stepped from the pages of a magazine.

Their daughter, twenty-five, was an accountant at an established firm, and their son, twenty-three, was studying law. They were all actively involved with the various ministries and seemed to be doing very well.

The congregation was a scattering of professionals and now reminded Kara of an expensive country club. The choir was made up of almost one hundred people and always seemed to hit the right chord. The pews were always filled, and flowers, rows and rows of flowers, filled every corner of the vast sanctuary.

Her mother was in charge of the women's committee dedicated to helping the homeless and several children's homes. She had never minded attending before now, but suddenly, everything seemed too well orchestrated. The sermons hit the right notes, the choir, the flow of the service. Nothing was out of place.

And everyone was very well dressed. Even the children were well behaved. It had never dawned on her before, and she had been a member for a number of years. She had even taught Sunday school before things at work had gotten so hectic.

Now sitting in the middle pew, on the padded rose and cream seat, a position she had always occupied alongside William, she felt the dissatisfaction mounting. The expression "as quiet as a church" must have been coined right here, she thought, feeling guilty and sending up a prayer for her ungodly thoughts.

She jolted slightly when William patted her knee.

"You're fidgeting," he whispered in explanation.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"Is something wrong? You're not paying attention to the sermon."

"That might be because I've heard the same one several times before." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. His reaction to her blunt statement would have been funny if she had been in the mood. Shock coated his face as he stared at her.

"Are you all right?" he whispered urgently. "Is it the stomachache?"

"What?"

"The stomachache. Ms. Stanhope said you weren't feeling well last night. That's why you had to leave so abruptly. I should have swung by and checked on you."

"I'm fine." She forced a smile. "I think I need some air."

"Where... Kara!" he hissed, pursing his lips as she slid from her seat and made her way out. Ignoring the pointed stares, she hurried through the side door and made her way toward the benches grouped around a pond. It was cold, but she was dressed for it. The snug black-and-white cashmere pantsuit was enough to ward off the chill. Leaning back, she stretched her legs out and laughed softly, realizing that this was the first time she was playing hooky.

"I guess we both had the same idea."

Her eyes snapped open to stare at the vaguely familiar face of the woman who had silently approached to sit on the opposite bench.

"Sorry to disturb your peace."

"It's fine."

"The name is Sylvia Pratt. I serve with you on several committees."

"Kara Saunders."

"I know who you are," Sylvia said with a smile, gray eyes dancing at the shocked look that came over Kara's face when she opened her purse and took out a packet of cigarettes.

"I tried quitting several times, but it never worked." Shaking out two, she offered one to Kara, who declined. "You don't smoke." Clicking the lighter, she lit it and drew in smoke, closing her eyes in pleasure. "I don't get why it's a sin when it feels so damn good."

"Those things will kill you."

Sylvia let out a bark of laughter that somehow seemed out of place. "Lots of things will." She blew smoke upward before staring at Kara curiously. "This church, this perfect sanctuary, is getting to me. I would leave, but I owe them a lot."