Page 78 of Dark Side of the Cloth (The Righteous 1)
A resolution solidified in her chest as she made her decision. She knew what she needed to do. She gulped her coffee, and as fast as the crutches would take her, headed for the door.
“Sorry, the soup was great, but I have to go. I’ll pick up the dinner later,” she yelled.
Mabel smiled and gave her a wink. “Go get your man, girl.”
The walk took forever on the slippery ground with crutches. By the time she reached the church door, she was a panting, sweaty mess. She found the front door locked, and dread settled in the pit of her stomach. Maybe he had decided to leave. Finding the intercom panel, she pressed the button like a mad-woman.
“Dean, are you in there? Dean?”
“Yasmine?”
Yasmine spun around, and Dean caught her around the waist as she tripped over the stupid crutches. The heat from his hand singed her body, and her pulse instantly rose.
“I hope you’re not coming to ask me to leave.” Dean’s rough voice sent a shiver racing down her spine.
“And what if I was?”
“Then I would have to put up a compelling argument for me to stay.” He was holding her at arm’s length, but his voice was a caress stroking all her intimate parts. “Why are you here, Yasmine?”
She opened her mouth to speak but was struck speechless.
“We’re going to end up the gossip of the town if you keep staring at me like that because I’m going push you up against this door and ravish your mouth,” Dean said.
Heat flushed her body. She searched his face, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t picture him as someone she should be scared of ever.
“So how exactly would we make this work? You create the bodies, and I pretty them up?” she teased. Dean laughed hard, his voice a joyous rumble that rolled over her.
“First, I need a demotion.”
“A demotion, why?”
“I think it’s about time I leave the priesthood and get married, perhaps. Have a dozen children.” He cocked one eyebrow, and Yasmine blushed.
“Would you be okay with that?”
“This was only supposed to be a short-term gig. Meeting and falling in love with you is what made me stay longer. Besides, I don’t need the persona of a priest to do my job.”
She shook her head. She was really going to do this.
“What the hell am I doing?” she mumbled.
“Well, my sweet Yasmine, I’m going to fuck you until you beg me to stop, and then we’ll figure out the rest.”
“Father?” The sheriff called out as he walked up the path toward them. Yasmine made to move away, but he held her to his side.
“Sheriff, what can I do for you?”
Sheriff Daniels stared where Dean’s hand lay on her waist. He cleared his throat, looking completely uncomfortable. “There has been a very strange…situation with Mrs. Wilson.”
“Whitney? What happened?” Yasmine asked. She didn’t have any love for the woman but didn’t dislike her either.
“I can’t say right now. It’s an open investigation.”
“Oh right, of course, I’m sorry,” Yasmine stammered.
“Father, I need you to come with me. This house needs all the blessing it can get.”
Dean released her waist and reached behind his neck. He handed the white material over to the Sheriff, who stared at it blinking.
