“Hi, Ike – oh!” A sultry voice sounded above his head. “I’m so sorry. I mistook you for Ike.”

Aiden straightened, and a twenty-first-century Lolita invaded his personal space with a flirty tilt to her blonde head. Lex had disappeared. “I’m Salome.”

“Aiden.”

“Nice to meet you.” Flutter, flutter went her eyelashes.

“Er… nice to meet you too.”

“So… are you here alone?”

“Uh… yeah.” Why did he feel like a gazelle stalked by a hungry lioness?

“Why, how nice. Let me introduce you to our Singles Group.”

“No! Uh… thanks.”

“Oh, we’re a nice bunch. There’s a new girl today too.” Her slightly brittle smile indicated she wasn’t as thrilled about that as her words implied.

“Sorry, I’m committed to lunch with someone.”

“Oh, who?” She glanced around.

Oh, great. “Um…” He pointed toward the right. “There.”

She looked.

He ducked left.

He darted down the first hallway he found, dotted with closed doors. He opened one and slipped inside.

Darkness surrounded him. He listened at the closed door. He heard light footsteps that approached, then receded.

“Let me guess. Salome?” The gentle male voice shot a bolt of adrenaline into Aiden’s heart. He spun around.

The pastor sat at his desk in the darkened office, surrounded by books.

“I’m sorry, the door was open, and it was dark – ”

He smiled and waved a careless hand. “I was just sitting here. You have the look of the hunted, and only Salome causes that in young men.” He gestured toward the wall. “Turn on the light.”

Aiden did. The office brightened. Books surrounded him, some old, some new, all crammed onto the shelves. But on the wall across from the desk, where the pastor would look up and immediately see it, was a painting.

It stretched from ceiling to floor. A crucified Christ – bloody, gruesome, painful. His agony etched on his face, evident in the curl of his body. He lay pinned to the Roman cross, naked, legs pulled up sharply. It was worse than the Passion movie.

“That’s a true crucifixion.” The pastor shifted in his chair, causing the leather to creak. “Not the sanitized version from movies.”

Aiden couldn’t look away. A trembling took over his hands, his legs, his chest. The picture made him ache. It made him want to crash to his knees, howling and weeping. It shocked and stripped him, all at once.

Aiden didn’t know how long he stood there staring.

The pastor never spoke. Finally he got up from behind his desk and moved around the cramped space to reach the door. “Feel free to stay.” He exited his office, closing the door behind him.

Aiden couldn’t have moved if he’d wanted to.

THIRTY-ONE

Lex was drowning in bills.

Medical bills, to be exact. She’d been paid a little during her medical leave, but the sheer size of her MRI bill made her want to cry. She’d go back to work in about a week – and hopefully be able to pay this when she got her paycheck. She was thankful for her insurance; otherwise, her bills would be much larger.

Her cell phone rang. “Hello?”

“It’s Chester.”

“Hey, coz, what’s up?”

“I know you’re on medical leave, so I thought I should tell you -they announced sitewide paycuts today here at SPZ.”

“What? ”

“They’re trying to make up for a bad quarter with a 10 percent paycut for everybody rather than laying anybody off.”

Well, she supposed she should be glad they hadn’t let her go. But 10 percent? “Chester, I’ve got surgery bills.”

“Don’t whine to me. I’ve got a mortgage.”

Lex sighed. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“No prob.” He hung up.

Her phone rang again immediately. “Hello?”

“Hi Lex, it’s Ike. I was free tonight and wondered if I could come over with ice cream.”

Whoa. Talk about coming on strong and fast. Still, despite his touchy-feely tendencies, he was charming, nice to look at, and a good conversationalist. “Sure.” She gave him directions.

He arrived with four different pints of Ben and Jerry’s. “Didn’t know what you liked, so I bought a bunch.”

“Aw, that’s so great of you. Usually my brother and my dad get whatever they want without asking me.” She closed the door behind him.

Ike turned mid-stride on his way to her kitchenette. He looked deep into her eyes. “Yeah, well, I’m not your brother.”

Dark blue eyes. Rugged face. What’s not to like?

She snatched the Chunky Monkey, he picked up Cookie Dough. The rest they crammed into her teeny freezer.

They ate leaning against the counter and talking.

He liked weekend warrior-type sports – the occasional pickup basketball game, football with friends, softball with the church. He kept in shape primarily through the gym. “I just felt like we never got to talk on Sunday, and I wanted to get to know you better.”

Lindsay’s feline face hovered in her mind’s eye, but Lex gave a mental snarl and it dissipated.

Ike loved classical music and jazz, but he didn’t play it when with friends unless they liked it too. He didn’t have a favorite restaurant – he was happy with whatever someone else preferred. He liked going for long drives. “And I like hanging out with friends.”

Lex licked her spoon. “Thanks, Ike. This ice cream hits the spot.”Better than worrying over her bills. What a great time getting to know him. He was so easygoing, so down-to-earth.

Ike reached around her to throw his spoon in the sink, and came face-to-face with her.

He was incredibly male. His blue eyes seemed very close. He wore a spicy cologne – not too strong, but hecka sexy. His gaze fell to her lips.

She’d read a lot of romance novels, so she knew her pulse should start racing right about now, and her breathing should come in little gasps. She felt tense – did that count?

He was going to kiss her, and she was ready for him. Her first kiss ever. Well, second kiss if she counted that peck Aiden gave her to deceive Ben -

Don’t think about Aiden. Ike is about to kiss you.

He took his sweet time. He stared at her mouth for so long, she wondered if she should move in and plant one on him. But even though she moved through most of her life aggressively, something about this made her feel shy and scared.

No, you’re not scared. You’re anticipating. It’s different.

“You have ice cream on your lip.” Ike’s low, husky voice sent a chill – no, a thrill, that was a thrill she felt – down her spine. His finger came up and touched the corner of her mouth.

Her jaw flinched and banged against his knuckle.

“Sorry.”

He chuckled low in his chest. She guessed her nervousness encouraged him.

His head came down.

At the touch of his mouth, her heart slammed painfully against her chest. Ants crawled all over her skin, biting her collarbone, her neck. She hunched her shoulders, gasped against his mouth, twisted away.

He’d barely touched her and she freaked. She couldn’t imagine what he thought of her. The kindness in his eyes made her want to cry.

“I’m sorry, Lex, I jumped the gun.”

“No, I’m sorry.” She didn’t deserve his understanding. “You’re – ” She checked herself. What had Richard told her once? She shouldn’t tell a guy he’s nice because he wouldn’t want the “nice guy” syndrome. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

“I would too.” He dipped in and brushed a soft kiss against her cheek. She moved her head at the same time so he wouldn’t notice her automatic flinch. She had to stop doing that or she’d chase every guy away.

“I’ll see you at the gym.”

“Yeah.”

“No, don’t move. I’ll let myself out.” And he did.

She stared at the closed door. She was so stupid! What was wrong with her? It had been perfect! Perfect! Why couldn’t she just kiss a guy?

I’ d like to kiss Aiden -

Stop it, stop it, stop it! She flung her spoon in the sink.