Preacher's Wifey by Dishan Washington Page B

creepy. In the world we lived in now, you could never be too careful.
    â€œOkay, this is in a small way—and I do mean a small way—flattering. But I told you I cannot be seen with you. What if someone else walks in here and sees us?”
    â€œAllyson, we are sitting in the steam room, talking. It could be a simple coincidence.”
    He had a point.
    â€œBut I am not worried about that happening,” he said.
    â€œAnd why not?”
    â€œI bought the spa out for the remainder of the day.” He said it so nonchalantly, as if that was a normal thing to do.
    â€œYou what!” I exclaimed just above a whisper.
    â€œI knew two things. One, I wanted to spend the rest of my afternoon with you. Two, you would be worried about someone seeing you. So in order to get what I wanted, and for you to feel comfortable with me getting what I wanted, I paid for us to have the spa to ourselves.”
    This man was nuts. Where do they do that at?
    â€œHow much did that cost?”
    If he did not have my attention before, he sure had it now. Was he balling like that?
    â€œMoney is not an issue with me. And it will not be an issue for you, either. So can I please just enjoy my afternoon with the beautiful woman I am sitting next to?”
    I was speechless and did not trust any words to tumble out of my mouth. I was glad when he broke the silence.
    â€œSo not only do you stutter around me, but at times you lose words altogether. Are you mad? Are you happy? Tell me. What are you thinking and feeling right now?”
    â€œI have no idea what I think or feel. A part of me thinks you are crazy, but the other part of me insanely trusts you.”
    â€œI am not here to hurt you, baby girl. I just want to love you.”
    Game! I knew it! It was all game. No man said that to a woman he barely knew. Obviously, he did not know what it meant to love someone, because if he did, he would not use the word so lightly.
    â€œYou do not want to love me, Seth. So just stop it, okay? You do not have to say that.”
    Without one word, he leaned in and kissed me until my mouth was dry and until it felt all the steam had evaporated from the room.
    â€œI did not have to do that, either, but I did. In time, Allyson, you are going to see I am a good man and can recognize a good woman when I see one. If I for one minute thought I was coming between you and your husband, I would not pursue you the way that I do and plan to continue to do.”
    Either he was arrogant or very confident in himself.
    â€œIt still isn’t right,” I said, dropping my head. I tried to calm my nerves, but his kiss had every last one of them on the edge.
    â€œWho are you trying to convince? Me or you?”
    â€œIt does not matter. I cannot carry on with you as if I am not a married woman.”
    â€œOkay, fair enough. Can we just enjoy the afternoon relaxing with each other at the spa? As new friends?”
    Friends. That was safe, right? I found myself asking that question a lot when it came to him. But I could be his friend. Couldn’t I?
    â€œOkay. As friends.”
    â€œGood. After this, you never have to see me again.”
    Ha. That was cute. He knew what he was doing, and I did too. And with every second we spent together, I was starting to forget all my troubles with Byran and his baby momma. There was a new sheriff in town, and his name was Seth Carson— Doctor Seth Carson.
    And he was rich.

Chapter Eleven
    I walked into my house, still feeling like I was floating on a cloud.
    The afternoon with Seth had been great. We talked about everything, from our childhood to our five-year plan. It was intriguing to hear about how he grew up in the country, planting vegetables in his great-grandmother’s garden and shaking pecans from her tree. He spoke fondly about his grandmother, who had raised him in a small two-bedroom shack that was filled with love and plenty of food. His own mother had left him with his nana, as