Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“Bless Adele. One of my favorites—but don’t tell anyone I have a few in the flock I like more than others,” the minister requested.
“Never, sir. She is one of my non-favorites, too.”
“Everyone’s, probably. Thanks for calling. You’re right. I want to get there to ease her passage and comfort the family. Hold down the fort for me, Molly.”
“Will do, sir,” she promised before rushing ahead to ask, “I hate to even ask but I had a flat last night. Do we have anyone who deals with tires?”
“Let me think. I’ll send you a message if anyone comes to my mind.”
“Thanks, sir. Please tell Adele’s family that she is so loved,” Molly requested.
“I’ll tell them.”
When he disconnected, Molly wiped the tears from her cheeks. She tried to think of all the happy memories she had of the sweet woman who’d come to sit in the front row for years. Every time Molly talked to her, Adele had mentioned her late husband. She’d missed him for so many years.
A fresh wave of tears welled to her eyes, and she grabbed for a handful of Kleenex. She hated to lose Adele but knew the sweet woman would soon be reunited with her husband.
The door jangled and she tried to pull herself together. Dabbing at her eyes, she babbled, “So sorry. Bad news on the messages this morning.” Looking up, she saw the fiercely handsome biker who’d taken care of her last night. Without thinking, she stood and held up her arms to him, silently asking for a hug.
He didn’t say a word, just walked past the long counter and through the swinging gate. He dropped his helmet on her desk before striding around it to scoop her up in his arms. Faust sat down with her cuddled on his lap. Molly loved that he didn’t ask any questions but just held her against his powerful body. She heard the rustle of her plastic tote bag then felt the soft fur of the stuffie she hadn’t been able to leave at home.
“Thank you,” she sobbed and hid her face in the curve of his neck. Molly closed her eyes at the feel of his hand stroking through her hair. He didn’t say trite phrases like “there, there” or “it will be okay.” Faust just held her and let her cry.
After several minutes, she pulled herself together. “I’m so sorry. You must think I’m a mess.”
He reached with one long arm for a tissue and wiped her face. “I think you live with your heart wide open. Very few people are brave enough to do that. And, for the record, you’re fucking hot whether your nose is a bit red or not.”
“Molly! What are you doing in here?” The assistant minister looked at her like she was the devil incarnate.
“You will not talk to her like that.” The statement grated from Faust’s lips, sounding harsh and deadly.
Faust didn’t move. He continued to hold her in his arms, rocking her office chair from side to side.
“Is that a threat? I’m calling the police,” Lester O’Brien stated as he juggled all the stuff in his arms to reach his phone in his pocket.
“Adele is dying,” Molly told him before sitting up to whisper to Faust, “Thank you for comforting me.”
After helping Molly to her feet, Faust stood as well. He hesitated before awkwardly handing Molly the wad of tissues in his hand for her to finish the job. Molly smiled at him as she accepted his gift. She loved that Faust made no move to leave and absolutely paid no attention to the challenging assistant minister.
“Molly. Who is that man?” Lester demanded before hissing, “And how could you think it would be acceptable to be canoodling in the church’s office?”
“Back off,” Faust barked.
To Molly’s delight, the skinny man took several steps away from her desk. She told herself she shouldn’t enjoy seeing him so uncomfortable.
“Mr. O’Brien, this is Faust. He’s a Shadowridge Guardian. I had a flat tire last night and Faust and his…”
“Brothers,” Faust supplied for her.
“Faust and his brothers stopped in the middle of the dark highway and changed my tire for me. He came by to check on me this morning and found me upset. Minister Steve is on his way to the nursing home now,” Molly explained.
“Minister Zigler.” Lester corrected her usage of his first name.
“Our head religious leader has asked everyone in the congregation to call him Minister Steve. I will follow his instructions,” Molly said, setting her stuffie on her desk next to Faust’s helmet.
“Never mind. He needs to leave. I will suggest that Minister Zigler counsel you in the appropriate way a young woman should behave. Because this is not it.”
Faust took a few steps forward to stand toe to toe with the judgmental man. “You will not talk to Molly in that tone. I will not ask you again.”