Page 12 of Sinned

I grinned as I walked out of the church. If I could keep annoying him, maybe I wouldn’t find him attractive. After all, being the woman lusting over a priest was the last thing I wanted to be.

Talk about going after what I can’t have, I thought. A therapist would have a field day with me.

As I walked to the Jeep, I tossed the keys up in the air. Before they dropped back into my hand Charles swiped them, walked ahead to the passenger side, and opened the door.

“Um no, I’m driving,” I said.

“You said it was dangerous for you to drive by yourself. So I’m going to drive.”

“I didn’t say it was dangerous.”

“Well that’s what I think of when I imagine you driving.”

He waved his hand towards the car with a small bow. I shook my head and lifted the handle of the driver’s side, but he hit the lock button.

“You realize this is a Jeep, right?” I asked.

“So?”

I sighed and walked to the back of the old truck. I wiggled my fingers into the rear corner of the soft-top, found the zipper and opened the window. Using the bumper, I climbed into the vehicle, and snaked my way into the driver’s seat. He stood by the passenger door with his arms crossed in front of him.

“You’re really stubborn, aren’t you?” he asked.

“Guess so,” I said with a shrug as I grinned.

“You realize you forgot one vital thing, right?”

“I didn’t forget anything. I’m in the driver’s seat.”

“Are you going to hot wire it?” He dangled the keys from his fingertips and smirked as I gritted my teeth. How could I forget that one simple thing?

“Fine, let’s just go. It’s a two hour drive,” I said, sliding over to the passenger seat. “You’re not very nice for a priest.”

“Who said a priest has to be nice?” he asked.

“I don’t know, maybe God? You’re supposed to be this perfect person who preaches forgiveness and all that other stuff. You’re also supposed to be old and unattractive.”

“I am?” He laughed. “And what about you? Are you even really a doctor?”

“Of course I am, Chaz,” I said.

“It’s Charles. You know I hate nicknames.”

“You wouldn’t let me drive and now you’re questioning my profession. What did you think would happen, eh Father Chuckie?”

He shot me a look and I was worried I had crossed a line until he laughed again. As we drove in silence I tried to focus on the landscape as it turned from lush and green to dry desert, but my eyes kept drifting back to him. It didn’t help that he seemed like a regular guy and not what I thought a priest should be like.

As I stole another quick peek at him, I caught him looking at me. He held my gaze and for a moment I thought time stood still. Damn, what the hell is wrong with me? I cracked the window open for a little air.

“I never liked my name,” he said. “My brother and I were named after our grandfathers, Thomas and Charles. But our family has this problem where everyone has a nickname. I became Charlie, my brother became Tommy, and my sister is Josie.”

“Josie?”

“Yes, for Josephine.”

“I don’t think you have anything to complain about.”

“That’s not a bad name,” he said.