sinners’ souls.”
Being the sinner in question, Tamia had nothing to say.
He continued piously, “You should know that our congregation kept you lifted up in prayer throughout your incarceration. As the Bible says, ‘The prayers of the righteous availeth much.’ ”
“Thank you for your prayers,” Tamia said smoothly. “Of course, it didn’t hurt that I was represented by the best defense attorney in town.”
“Ah, yes,” Joseph agreed, exchanging proud glances with his beaming wife. “Our Brandon is a very gifted young man. Coretta and I look forward to welcoming him into our family, although he’s practically one of us already.”
Tamia’s heart sank at his words, which had obviously been his intent.
Before she could respond, Shanell gushed excitedly, “Oh, my goodness! Are congratulations in order, Bishop Yarbrough? Has Brandon proposed to Cynthia?”
The man’s smug smile wavered. “Well, not yet—”
“But we all know it’s only a matter of time,” his wife interjected haughtily.
Shanell grinned. “Well, please be sure to let the congregation know as soon as it’s official. I want to get them a really nice wedding gift, but I don’t want to spend my money until a wedding date’s been set.”
Joseph and Coretta smiled tightly. “Of course.”
As Shanell and Tamia said their good-byes and walked away, Tamia mumbled, “Thanks, girl.”
Shanell draped a comforting arm around her waist. “Any time.”
Tamia sighed heavily. “I hate to worship and run, but can we get out of here? People have been staring at me all morning, like they can’t decide whether to approach me for an autograph or keep their distance in case I’m packing a piece. Not only that, but I don’t want to run into Brandon’s parents, and I know I’m the absolute last person they want to see.”
“That’s probably a safe assumption,” Shanell agreed ruefully.
They left the main sanctuary and made their way through the crowded lobby. The sprawling facility housed a bookstore, a day care center, office suites, a banquet hall, and a restaurant, where Mark and several other men had flocked immediately after service to watch football on the plasma television.
Tamia and Shanell had nearly reached the restaurant when a deep voice cut through the crowd, “Didn’t I tell you not to go anywhere?”
Both women turned to watch as Brandon sauntered toward them.
Tamia’s heart gave an excited bump. He hadn’t forgotten about her!
“Hey, Brandon,” she and Shanell chorused.
“Wassup, ladies.” He hugged them each in turn, making Tamia laugh as he lifted her slightly off the ground before setting her back down. The delicious contact with his body had her shivering with arousal.
Pulling away, he smiled into her eyes. “I didn’t know you’d be here today.”
She grinned impishly.“I made a pact with God that I’d start going to church if He got me out of trouble.”
Brandon chuckled. “Smart woman.”
“Yup.” She tapped her clutch purse against the shapely curve of her thigh, noting the way Brandon’s gaze lingered there. “Shanell told me you’ve been coming to church regularly. So it looks like I’m not the only one who’s had a spiritual awakening, huh?”
He grinned wryly. “I wouldn’t exactly say that.”
“No?” Tamia teased. “So does that mean you got convicted by today’s sermon? Have you been lusting in your heart, Brother Chambers?”
Brandon rubbed his goatee, eyes glinting with amusement. “I plead the Fifth.”
Tamia and Shanell laughed.
“ There you are.”
Tamia’s good mood evaporated as they were joined by Cynthia, who wore a stylish pink dress with a scooped neckline and a hem that flared at the knees.
“Hey, girl.” She greeted Shanell with a hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” Shanell ran an admiring eye over Cynthia. “I like that dress you’re wearing. Wait—don’t tell me. Marc Jacobs?”
Cynthia laughed,
Being the sinner in question, Tamia had nothing to say.
He continued piously, “You should know that our congregation kept you lifted up in prayer throughout your incarceration. As the Bible says, ‘The prayers of the righteous availeth much.’ ”
“Thank you for your prayers,” Tamia said smoothly. “Of course, it didn’t hurt that I was represented by the best defense attorney in town.”
“Ah, yes,” Joseph agreed, exchanging proud glances with his beaming wife. “Our Brandon is a very gifted young man. Coretta and I look forward to welcoming him into our family, although he’s practically one of us already.”
Tamia’s heart sank at his words, which had obviously been his intent.
Before she could respond, Shanell gushed excitedly, “Oh, my goodness! Are congratulations in order, Bishop Yarbrough? Has Brandon proposed to Cynthia?”
The man’s smug smile wavered. “Well, not yet—”
“But we all know it’s only a matter of time,” his wife interjected haughtily.
Shanell grinned. “Well, please be sure to let the congregation know as soon as it’s official. I want to get them a really nice wedding gift, but I don’t want to spend my money until a wedding date’s been set.”
Joseph and Coretta smiled tightly. “Of course.”
As Shanell and Tamia said their good-byes and walked away, Tamia mumbled, “Thanks, girl.”
Shanell draped a comforting arm around her waist. “Any time.”
Tamia sighed heavily. “I hate to worship and run, but can we get out of here? People have been staring at me all morning, like they can’t decide whether to approach me for an autograph or keep their distance in case I’m packing a piece. Not only that, but I don’t want to run into Brandon’s parents, and I know I’m the absolute last person they want to see.”
“That’s probably a safe assumption,” Shanell agreed ruefully.
They left the main sanctuary and made their way through the crowded lobby. The sprawling facility housed a bookstore, a day care center, office suites, a banquet hall, and a restaurant, where Mark and several other men had flocked immediately after service to watch football on the plasma television.
Tamia and Shanell had nearly reached the restaurant when a deep voice cut through the crowd, “Didn’t I tell you not to go anywhere?”
Both women turned to watch as Brandon sauntered toward them.
Tamia’s heart gave an excited bump. He hadn’t forgotten about her!
“Hey, Brandon,” she and Shanell chorused.
“Wassup, ladies.” He hugged them each in turn, making Tamia laugh as he lifted her slightly off the ground before setting her back down. The delicious contact with his body had her shivering with arousal.
Pulling away, he smiled into her eyes. “I didn’t know you’d be here today.”
She grinned impishly.“I made a pact with God that I’d start going to church if He got me out of trouble.”
Brandon chuckled. “Smart woman.”
“Yup.” She tapped her clutch purse against the shapely curve of her thigh, noting the way Brandon’s gaze lingered there. “Shanell told me you’ve been coming to church regularly. So it looks like I’m not the only one who’s had a spiritual awakening, huh?”
He grinned wryly. “I wouldn’t exactly say that.”
“No?” Tamia teased. “So does that mean you got convicted by today’s sermon? Have you been lusting in your heart, Brother Chambers?”
Brandon rubbed his goatee, eyes glinting with amusement. “I plead the Fifth.”
Tamia and Shanell laughed.
“ There you are.”
Tamia’s good mood evaporated as they were joined by Cynthia, who wore a stylish pink dress with a scooped neckline and a hem that flared at the knees.
“Hey, girl.” She greeted Shanell with a hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” Shanell ran an admiring eye over Cynthia. “I like that dress you’re wearing. Wait—don’t tell me. Marc Jacobs?”
Cynthia laughed,
Similar Books
