Page 82 of Hotter 'N Hell
“Food pantry? What food pantry is that?” Sibby said in fakeinterest.
I ignored her, waiting on Saylor. When she walked over to take the seat I had for her, Sibby leaned forward.
“There is plenty of room across from us. There is no need to box Father Jude in like that. It’s rude.” She dropped her voice to a mock whisper on the last word.
Sibby was about to get shoved onto the grass. The woman was pushing me, and I was not the man that needed any more pushing tonight. Crow had done enough.
Saylor paused. If I had to grab her ass and pull it into this seat, I would.
A plate was set down across the table from me.
“You can sit beside me, Saylor,” Crow told her with a smile. “You can even box me in. I don’t mind at all.”
Saylor seemed uncertain. I didn’t know what to say to not make it obvious I wanted her ass beside me.
She walked around the table after a beat of silence, and the image of taking the table and tossing it with Crow and Sibby still on it played out in my head.
Motherfucker!
Saylor took a seat beside Crow, but there was more distance between their bodies than there was between Sibby and me. Since Sibby and Crow had fucked up my getting Saylor close to me, I moved over, getting some space.
“The shelves look great. What’s next?” I asked her, already knowing this.
We’d talked about it. I just needed a reason to look at her. Hear her talk. Keep her eyes on me.
“What shelves?” Sibby interrupted.
Saylor’s gaze flickered over to her, then back to me.
That’s right, Dimples. Eyes on me.
“Well, we have three different food distributers that are going to donate their close-to-expiration items that they can’t stockstores with, but are still good. We get the first shipment next week. And I have some donation containers that I am going to set inside for tomorrow.”
I nodded. “Yes, I made sure to add the need for nonperishable donations to the bulletin this week.”
“Oh, you’re helping with a food pantry for the needy?” Sibby asked.
Saylor gave her a brief smile. “Yes.”
“That’s a lot of responsibility and work. Who is in charge of it? I might be able to fit in some hours to help.”
“I am,” Saylor told her.
Crow’s eyes had yet to leave Saylor’s face.
“Oh my, are you qualified for something like that? I would hate for the church’s funding to be misused.”
I opened my mouth to shut Sibby up, but Saylor’s eyes flared. I saw the fire in them, and I decided to let my girl handle this. I wanted to watch.
“Thank you for the concern, Sippy,” she drawled, purposely saying her name wrong.
I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from grinning.
“But you see, I’ve yet to use one dime of the church’s funding, nor do I intend to. Perhaps look up the worddonationsand read its definition. That will help you better understand what it is I am doing. As for help, I have all I need. But if you truly want to, I’ll be sure to partner you up with Sister Mena. That way, she can make sure you don’t make any mistakes.”
Saylor picked up her lemonade and took a drink, still smiling sweetly. Her dimples popped, and my chest swelled. Damn, she was cute.
Sibby cleared her throat, struggling for something to say. Saylor didn’t drop her steady gaze, making the other woman shift in her seat. The challenge sparking in her eyes might be intimidating Sibby, but it was making me hard. And I had to getthat under control.