The Black Chapel by Marilyn Cruise Page A

nor will I ever work at Hooters.”
    Diane nods and then coughs so much I think I might have to go get someone to help her. “Can I get you anyone?”
    She finally stops coughing and looks at me. “No, thank you.” She sips from her water. “So Michael tells me you met in church?”
    Damn, Michael. He changed the story. “Yes,” I say, not volunteering that it was actually my very first time to have stepped foot into, well, that sanctuary.
    “So, why do you love my son?” Diane’s eyes go narrow.
    She’s not beating around the bush. I’m taken aback by her question, not knowing what to say. He’s handsome? He’s a gentleman? He’s sexy as hell? “Well, at first of course I found him very attractive. And of course, he was always a gentleman. And then, after we’d been on a few dates, it just felt like I had come home.” And in that moment, I felt it was true. That was truly what I felt around Michael. Like I had come home. I smile.
    Diane pauses for a moment, her eyes somber. Then she rings the bell and Rory shows up in ten seconds flat.
    “See Miss Scarlett out. I need to rest.” Diane starts coughing again and waves her hand for me to go. “oh, and sorry about lunch, dear. I’m just not up to it today.”
    Did I say something wrong? I feel mortified and confused.
    Right as I get in my car, I call Michael.
    “Yeah, hello?” he answers.
    “I just met with your mom,” I say.
    “And?”
    I breathe heavily. “She—I—” I start to cry and I hate it because I don’t want to cry in front of Michael.
    “Scarlett, what’s wrong?” Michael asks.
    I can’t answer, because there’s a frog in my throat, and if I try to speak, only squeals will come out.
    “I’ll meet you at your house.”
    When I get home, Michael’s already there and rushes out to greet me. “What happened?”
    I’ve calmed down a bit now, but still feel shaken up. “No one has ever treated me so flippantly,” I say for lack of a better word. “She’s just a rude, cranky woman.”
    “What did she say?” He opens the front door for me and we step inside.
    “Well, she told me a little about your ex-fiancé, and how selfish and horrid she was and then she asked me why I loved you.”
    “What did you say?” He looked shocked.
    “I just said the first thing that came to my mind.”
    “Which was?” Michael’s pacing now.
    “Well, I said you were handsome and a perfect gentlemen.”
    “Come on, is that all?” He looks beside himself and grabs my arms.
    “No, that wasn’t all,” I say, angrily. “I said that when I’m with you, I finally felt like I’d come home.”
    He looks bewildered for a moment and then he lets go of my arms. “Oh.” He walks away from me and looks out the window.
    “What are you thinking?” I say.
    “Is that how you actually feel?” he nearly whispers.
    I don’t know what to say, because I didn’t think we’d be having an honest conversation based on something I had said when I wasn’t really trying to be honest.
    “Is that how you feel about me?” He turns around and looks at me, eyes blazing.
    Oh, he’s so handsome when he looks at me that way. I start breathing heavily, and as if out of the blue, the atmosphere in the room has changed. I feel a shiver going up my spine and I lick my lips. Then I realize that I do feel at home around this god of a man. “Maybe.” I lean my hip on the backside of the couch.
    He throws his head to the side. “Scarlett! This is supposed to be a business transaction.” He touches his forehead, his eyes are irritated now.
    “I’m sorry,” I say, angry with myself for having been so open. “It’s just when I’m around you, everything feels so—” What’s the feeling? “Right.”
    Suddenly Michael’s in front of me, so close I can feel his breath on my head. I look up and he turns me so I’m facing him. His eyes search mine, as his face lowers and as if he’s asking me to let him kiss me. I respond by lifting my lips toward his, and