as fucking day, right through it. My cock surges, and the wolf under my sheep disguise howls.
She blushes fiercely and quickly wraps her arms over her chest. Her eyes dart up to look at mine again, wavering as she tries to keep them there. But then she looks away, and her face grows even hotter.
Jedediah chuckles, and for the first time in what must be five whole minutes, I let go of the air in my lungs.
“Well dang, honey!” he laughs. “You know Gabriel here is there to lower you in, honey. You don’t gotta jump in yourself!”
A few other people around him laugh good-naturedly. Delilah forces herself to laugh too, but it’s hollow. She blushes fiercely, and her arms tighten around herself. She looks up at me once more, her eyes blazing with… something. But then she looks away, and quickly wades to the stairs and climbs out of the tub.
Get your shit together, I groan to myself. I take a breath and stand tall. Thank fucking God the water is covering my still throbbing hard, massive erection.
“Well, folks!” I beam at them. “I’m afraid that concludes services today!”
And if one of you could please tell me if I can buy booze in this fucking town because I need to get drunk, immediately, that would be great.
“Please tell your friends and neighbors that all are welcomed, and that I’ll be here for the rest of the week!”
There’s a chorus of hallelujahs and amens and people saying, “Bless you, Preacher Gabriel,” and then they start to disperse back across the field to their cars.
But Jedediah and Delilah stay. I swallow thickly as he approaches me looking stern, me still standing in the tub.
“Preacher?” he growls. I freeze. Fuck. For a second, I wonder if in the few seconds while I was addressing the crowd, she’s told him what happened. I steel myself, and I start to calculate how fast I could jump out of this tub, get in the Winnebago, lock the door, and start the engine. But then Jedediah grins.
“Sir, we’re real pleased that you’re here in Canaan.”
“Why thank you kindly, Mr…”
“Somerset,” he reminds me.
“Of course, and you’re quite welcome, Mr. Somerset.”
Don’t look at his daughter. Don’t look at his daughter.
“Oh, heck, it’s just Jeb, preacher.”
I smile. “Of course, Jeb. And it’s just Gabriel. I do hope to see you throughout the week.”
He grins. “Well, preacher,” he says, completely ignoring that Gabriel bit. “Of course we will be, but I was curious what you were doing for grub tonight?”
“Papa…”
Delilah steps forward with a worried look on her face, her arms still crossed over her chest. But Jeb just smiles and turns to pat her shoulder before looking back at me.
“The wife and I would surely love to have you to the house for Sunday dinner. It’d be our honor to break bread with you.”
My dinner plans consist of instant ramen noodles form the Winnebago’s microwave and as much whiskey as I can get my fucking hands on. Needless to say, interests are piqued. But then, my eyes swivel past him, to Delilah. Dripping wet, gorgeous as hell, sexy as fucking original sin Delilah. And he wants to invite me, the wolf, into his house? Oh this is a terrible idea.
I smile and shake my head. “I do thank you, sir, but respectfully—”
“Aww, please, preacher? It’d mean the world to me and the missus. Plus, our son, Paul, is actually a divinity school man, and he’s looking to start his own church. It’d make his whole month if you’d give him some encouragement. Oh, and Delilah here,” he beams. “Well, I know she’d love a chance to hear an honest man of God speak His word while we sup.”
I groan. Shit. Shit shit shit. This is a terrible idea. I need to say no, and I need to just keep my damn distance from this girl for the next week. But then Jeb reaches out and takes my damn hands in his.
“Please, preacher?”
God fucking damnit. I’m getting soft in my years.
I beam at him. “But of course, sir. I’d be my absolute pleasure.”
He grins. “Well hot damn!” Instantly, he covers his mouth. “My apologies, preacher.”
I stop myself from saying “No fucking problem,” but I just grin instead and tell him it’s fine.
“Seven okay for you? We’re forty-seven Ridge Street, just through downtown past the post office. It’s the white house with the blue door.”
“Well I’ll be seeing you then, Jeb,” I smile. “And I thank you kindly.”
Jeb grins, but Delilah