know.” She looped her purse strap over one arm, cradled her Bible and got out. “Remember that the next time I ask for a raise.”
“I will.” As they started for the large, redbrick church he offered her his arm, waited until she took it, then leaned closer to add, “Of course, if you were my wife, you wouldn’t have to worry about working.”
Belinda decided it was wisest to treat his comment lightly. She batted her lashes, gazed at him melodramatically and said, “Oh, sugar pie, you mean I’d get to stay home with all twelve of our kids?”
Sam’s resulting chuckle sounded more like choking than laughing. “How about we start with one or two?” He raised an eyebrow. “Or were you kidding?”
Stifling a giggle she told him, “I was kidding. I can’t believe you thought I was serious.”
“I never know with you. Your moods can be really hard to read sometimes.”
“Oh?” Belinda was about to ask for clarification when she felt a tingle at the nape of her neck. She shivered. Looked back. A dignified man wearing dark glasses and driving a shiny black Lexus was pulling into the parking lot. She didn’t have to stare to know it was Paul Randall.
Her ire rose. How dare he follow her to church!
Inside the sanctuary, Belinda tried to forget who she’d seen arriving. She and Sam were seated in the third row, as usual. Since she couldn’t see Paul in front of her, she assumed he had to be somewhere behind. Was he far away? Close by? If she peeked over her shoulder, would she spot him? Catch him watching her so she could give him an appropriately disapproving look in return? The thought of meeting his intense gaze sent a frisson of electricity zinging up her spine.
The congregation stood for the first hymn. Sam offered to share his hymnbook, but Belinda didn’t need it. She’d memorized the words to most of the songs as a child because if her father’s church door had been open, she and her mother were expected to be there. Truth to tell, she hadn’t concentrated on her father’s sermons nearly as well as she should have. The beautiful, inspiring music, however, had always captured and held her attention.
“Blessed assurance…” Voice clear and sweet, she sang the first few words, then suddenly quieted. Directly behind her an accomplished baritone was harmonizing with so much feeling and skill it took her breath away. He sounded familiar. Acting on impulse, she glanced over her shoulder, certain she had to be mistaken. She wasn’t. Paul Randall was standing in the next row back, singing his heart out!
“…of glory divine…” Sam elbowed her and thrust the open hymnal at her again. Hands trembling, Belinda grasped one side of it and stared at the printed page. Looking at the words didn’t help a bit. Her mind was whirling so fast she couldn’t focus. All she could do was listen in awe.
It was like a miracle! Paul sounded as if he really meant what the song was saying. Whenever she’d managed to drag him into church as a teen he’d acted so sullen he hadn’t even opened his mouth, let alone shown any musical talent. What a magnificent voice he had! She could listen to singing like that all day and never tire of it.
The hymn ended. Belinda followed Sam’s lead and quietly sat down, but her spirit was still soaring. Paul’s voice had touched every nerve in her body, echoed from the corners of her heart and lifted her soul to a higher plane.
What a shame he isn’t in the choir, she thought absently. Logic immediately contradicted the notion. Bad idea. It would strain her already tenuous emotions if she had to see Paul sitting with the other members of the choir every Sunday. Good thing he didn’t actually live around here! Imagining him as an active member of her church was probably nothing more than emotional regression, she reasoned, wishful thinking left over from her youth.
Taking a shaky breath, Belinda decided that was exactly what was happening. At eighteen, she’d hoped and prayed that Paul would join her father’s church, settle down and become a productive member of the community, someone she could introduce to everyone, including her dad, without feeling she had to make excuses.
Now, all that had changed. She had matured. Her father had died. Whether or not Paul Randall had truly bettered himself was no longer her concern. If he hadn’t returned to Serenity she might never even have thought of him again.
Her conscience immediately disagreed, forming a stern but silent, Ha! Focusing on the stained-glass window behind the preacher, she escaped into silent prayer.
Oh, Father, forgive me. You’ve blessed me so much. Why can’t I be satisfied and thankful and not want things that are bad for me? Sighing, she added, Things like Paul Randall.
As if the timing were preordained, the congregation began to sing a second hymn. There was no way Belinda could fight the emotional impact that Paul’s impressive voice had on her, so she gave up trying. Closing her eyes, she drank in the deep vibrations the way the thirsty Ozark hills soaked up the first spring rains.
When she finally opened her eyes, Sam was staring at her as if she’d just committed an unpardonable sin.
In a way, she agreed with him.
Paul decided to linger in the parking lot outside the church and lay in wait for Belinda and Sam after the service concluded. When he’d chosen a seat behind them he’d convinced himself he was only doing it to force Belinda to introduce him to Sam. That was partially true. He did want to meet the doctor for the first time on a social level so he could size him up better.
What Paul hadn’t anticipated, however, was how being so close to Belinda for a whole hour would affect him. Or how his thoughts would wander and his perception intensify whenever he looked her way.
He noticed she was wearing her hair shorter these days. It lay smoother and curved under gently, just touching her shoulders, with the sides tucked behind her ears. Delicate pearl earrings reflected the shimmering blue of her dress. The color was like sunlight reflecting on rippling water. It reminded him of the summer days they’d walked along the banks of the Strawberry River, holding hands and stealing kisses. At that time, he’d assumed they were simply seeking privacy, which was just fine with him. The more chances he could get to kiss her, to hold her, the better. In retrospect, he supposed Belinda had wanted to go to private places like that because she’d been ashamed to be seen in public with him.
And speaking of public, Paul mused, she and her boyfriend had just come out of the church and were headed his way. He purposely stepped forward to block their path. When Belinda looked at him their eyes met. Held. Paul called upon his battle-seasoned courtroom smile. “Good morning, Ms. Carnes.”
Cheeks reddening, she mumbled, “Good morning.”
He continued to smile amiably. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Why not? Maybe then Paul would believe she and Sam were a steady couple and leave her alone, like she’d asked. Belinda managed to tear her gaze from Paul’s long enough to look over her shoulder at Sam. “Dr. Sam Barryman, Paul Randall.”
Paul was the first to reach out. “Pleased to meet you.” He wondered for a long moment if the doctor was going to refuse to shake his hand.
“Same here,” Sam finally said, grasping his hand firmly, briefly. “You’re that lawyer, aren’t you? I’d heard you were in town.”
Paul chuckled. “I imagine everybody has. Word travels pretty fast around here. Actually, I came to advise my aunts on the sale of their property.” Striking a deliberately casual pose, he shrugged. “But I guess you know that, too.” When Sam didn’t comment, he went on. “Folks tell me you’ve managed to make a place for yourself in Serenity. That’s not an easy thing to do. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Sam slid his arm around Belinda’s waist and urged her away. “Well, nice to have met you, Randall.”
“Same here.” A cynical smile lifted one corner of Paul’s mouth. Now that he’d met the doctor, he had the advantage, which was how he liked it. Sam Barryman was a smooth