was mentally jumping up and down because her hand remained firmly held in Michael’s warm grip. Was he as loath to break the connection as she was?
Maddie waxed poetic about the service for the next few minutes, ending by telling Michael, "I'll definitely be back next week."
Oh, goody. Can’t wait for that. She was about to share her sarcasm with her sister until Maddie’s eyes dipped down to their joined hands. Instead, she just indulged herself by offering a teeny, tiny smug smile.
Before Michael had a chance to respond, another church member called him over. He gave Faith's hand a quick squeeze before excusing himself to tend to the rest of his congregation, all vying for a little of his time.
Maddie snatched Faith's upper arm, her voice coming out in a hissed whisper through her teeth. "What do you think you're doing, Faith?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the way you've been throwing yourself at Father Michael. Honestly Faith, it's downright embarrassing."
Faith's heart hurt at her sister's words. Her eyes sought out Michael. From across the room his tall form and broad shoulders made him easy to pick out of the crowd. He smiled down at an elderly couple as the woman chatted animatedly.
"How is it embarrassing? I'm talking to Michael about the service." No way would she admit her feelings to Maddie. She might really go off on Faith. "It's no big deal."
"Oh, please. I see the goo-goo eyes you keep trained on him. It's obvious you have feelings for him."
Faith's teeth clenched and she held onto her temper by a thread. "I don't know why it's any of your business."
"I'm just trying to keep you from making a fool of yourself." Maddie's tone changed from venomous to saccharine sweet. Which personality was her sister pulling out of her bag of tricks now? "I mean, can you really see yourself with Father Michael?"
Faith rubbed two fingers against her temple. She’d give up her favorite guitar to avoid this conversation. "I hadn't really thought about it."
"Faith, he's a priest, for heaven's sake. You're a musician. You haven't ever held down a real job. Father Michael has an important position as head of this church. He has to put his reputation before any feelings he might have for some...well, someone like you."
Faith looked down at her feet expecting to see a pool of blood. Guess this wound only showed on the inside. Maddie's words reflected all the doubts Faith had over the last few days. She'd always been a screw-up. A man like Michael needed someone he could be proud to have by his side. He’d never look at her in a romantic way. Her face burned. She’d probably been making cow eyes at him like a lovesick twelve-year-old for the last two days.
But she’d be damned if she would give her sister the satisfaction of knowing she'd made a direct hit.
"I don't know why you'd think I was chasing after Michael. Do you remember my last few boyfriends–tattoos, motorcycles, artists–any of that ring a bell?" Her voice dripped sarcasm in the hope Maddie would believe her final words. "Like I'd ever be interested in a priest."
Maddie gave her a triumphant smile. Something wasn’t right here. Faith turned around and her breath stuck in her chest. Michael stood behind her, his hand hanging in midair as if he’d been about to touch her shoulder, his face frozen in an emotionless mask. There was no doubt he’d heard her last words loud and clear.
“Excuse me.” Michael’s voice was low and all the warmth had been leeched from his expression, making it suddenly clear that she shouldn’t have been worrying all this time. Her feelings hadn’t been one-sided or her misreading the signals. He’d been right there with her through all of it.
And now she got to see her favorite view one last time—as he turned around and walked away.
She turned to Maddie. Her mouth opened once and closed, unable to get out the words she wanted to hurl at
Maddie waxed poetic about the service for the next few minutes, ending by telling Michael, "I'll definitely be back next week."
Oh, goody. Can’t wait for that. She was about to share her sarcasm with her sister until Maddie’s eyes dipped down to their joined hands. Instead, she just indulged herself by offering a teeny, tiny smug smile.
Before Michael had a chance to respond, another church member called him over. He gave Faith's hand a quick squeeze before excusing himself to tend to the rest of his congregation, all vying for a little of his time.
Maddie snatched Faith's upper arm, her voice coming out in a hissed whisper through her teeth. "What do you think you're doing, Faith?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the way you've been throwing yourself at Father Michael. Honestly Faith, it's downright embarrassing."
Faith's heart hurt at her sister's words. Her eyes sought out Michael. From across the room his tall form and broad shoulders made him easy to pick out of the crowd. He smiled down at an elderly couple as the woman chatted animatedly.
"How is it embarrassing? I'm talking to Michael about the service." No way would she admit her feelings to Maddie. She might really go off on Faith. "It's no big deal."
"Oh, please. I see the goo-goo eyes you keep trained on him. It's obvious you have feelings for him."
Faith's teeth clenched and she held onto her temper by a thread. "I don't know why it's any of your business."
"I'm just trying to keep you from making a fool of yourself." Maddie's tone changed from venomous to saccharine sweet. Which personality was her sister pulling out of her bag of tricks now? "I mean, can you really see yourself with Father Michael?"
Faith rubbed two fingers against her temple. She’d give up her favorite guitar to avoid this conversation. "I hadn't really thought about it."
"Faith, he's a priest, for heaven's sake. You're a musician. You haven't ever held down a real job. Father Michael has an important position as head of this church. He has to put his reputation before any feelings he might have for some...well, someone like you."
Faith looked down at her feet expecting to see a pool of blood. Guess this wound only showed on the inside. Maddie's words reflected all the doubts Faith had over the last few days. She'd always been a screw-up. A man like Michael needed someone he could be proud to have by his side. He’d never look at her in a romantic way. Her face burned. She’d probably been making cow eyes at him like a lovesick twelve-year-old for the last two days.
But she’d be damned if she would give her sister the satisfaction of knowing she'd made a direct hit.
"I don't know why you'd think I was chasing after Michael. Do you remember my last few boyfriends–tattoos, motorcycles, artists–any of that ring a bell?" Her voice dripped sarcasm in the hope Maddie would believe her final words. "Like I'd ever be interested in a priest."
Maddie gave her a triumphant smile. Something wasn’t right here. Faith turned around and her breath stuck in her chest. Michael stood behind her, his hand hanging in midair as if he’d been about to touch her shoulder, his face frozen in an emotionless mask. There was no doubt he’d heard her last words loud and clear.
“Excuse me.” Michael’s voice was low and all the warmth had been leeched from his expression, making it suddenly clear that she shouldn’t have been worrying all this time. Her feelings hadn’t been one-sided or her misreading the signals. He’d been right there with her through all of it.
And now she got to see her favorite view one last time—as he turned around and walked away.
She turned to Maddie. Her mouth opened once and closed, unable to get out the words she wanted to hurl at
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