just words, Delilah.”
“Well you can’t just add ‘ye’ and ‘shalt’ to nonsense and pass it off as scripture,” I mutter.
He sighs. “Did you need something?”
“No!” I snap. “I was just bringing you food. It’s…” I turn and frown at the upside-down tupperware on the ground.
“Tossed,” he purrs with a grin. I can’t help but smile, but I quickly wipe it from my face.
My brow knits. “Hang on, did you say hot tub?”
“I did. You’re welcome to come try it out.”
I frown. “Where?”
He grins and pats the side of the baptism tank, and my brow furrows. “You’re not serious.”
“Sure I am. A parishioner up outside Knoxville a year or so ago graciously donated this baby.” He pats a strange looking contraption clipped to the edge of the tub that looks like a small outboard boat motor.
“And that is…?”
He shrugs, those muscled shoulders rippling and my mortal soul slipping another inch out of my grasp.
“It’s a heating coil with an air hose. I think it’s meant for camping tubs or small above ground pools. Anyways, it does the trick.”
I frown. “Of turning a baptism tank into a hot tub?”
“Exactly.”
I roll my eyes. “And this is necessary for your ‘holy message?’” I growl dryly.
Gabriel smiles broadly, and that freaking smile sends a shiver down my spine.
“A shepherd is allowed his small earthy comforts, Delilah. I don’t exactly think warm bubbly water is a sin, do you?”
“How about sitting naked in a baptism tub!”
His eyes pierce right into mine. “You’re welcome to come try it out and let me know if it feels sinful.”
My jaw about hits the grass, and my face goes red. I look past him, and my eyes narrow on the bottle of whiskey sitting on the edge of the tub.
“And I suppose that’s part of your ‘earthly comforts?’” I snap.
“Hell yes.”
I gasp, and he just grins and reaches back for it. He looks me right in the eye and takes a swig from the bottle as my jaw drops once again.
“Gabriel—”
“Want some?”
I bristle. “I’m eighteen.”
His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t budge. “And?”
“And I can’t drink! Nor do I want to! And furthermore, Canaan is a dry town!” I snap.
He grins. “Gonna arrest me?”
“No, but I’m going to report you.”
He sighs. “Delilah?”
“What,” I grumble.
“I really think you need to relax.”
I swallow, and my face reddens. “I’m perfectly relaxed.”
“No, you’re like a little rabid drug-sniffing narc dog right now.”
“Excuse me?” I hiss.
He grins. “Come on, just take a dip. It’s extremely relaxing.”
I bark a laugh, and Gabriel grins.
“What?”
“What?” I frown. “I—” I blush. “You really think it’s appropriate for a preacher to take naked hot tub dips in a baptism tub with his parishioners?”
His wicked smile grows wider. “No, Delilah, I don’t. You’re right.”
“Thank you.”
“Only certain of his parishioners.”
My face burns hotly, and he uncrosses his arms. He starts to walk towards me, and my heart thumps heavily in my chest. Part of me screams to turn and run back to the truck. Another part of me wants to scream. But the biggest part of me stays rooted to the spot. It’s the wicked, corrupted part of me that he’s put his claws into that has me standing right there, panting and shivering as he prowls closer to me.
Gabriel stops right in front of me, looking down into my eyes with his piercing blue ones almost glowing in the dim light of the backstage area.
“Let’s drop the bullshit, shall we?” he growls.
I gasp at his language, but he just grins.
“You don’t think very highly of me, do you?”
“I—” I swallow. “It is not for me to judge, Gabriel. Only God—”
“Delilah,” he growls. “Tell me what you think of me.”
I purse my lips.
“Tell me or I can’t promise this towel won’t just fall off right here.”
My face burns hotly, and I swallow thickly.
“Fine,” I mutter. “You want to know what I think?”
“I’m all ears.”
“I think you’re a phony,” I snap. “I think you’re putting on an act for the people of this town to take their hard-earned money, and I think that’s one of the most evil, disgusting things I’ve ever heard of!”
The words just tumble out of me, and I gasp before I bring a hand to my mouth. But Gabriel just arches a brow and grins slowly at me.
“Wow,” he breathes.
“I—I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“No, you did,” he purrs. “Life lesson for you. When you take a stand or commit to words, commit to them. When you go back on them, people won’t ever believe you.”
I smile dryly. “Scamming one-oh-one?”
“More like