The Best Man's Secret (Heartsong Presents) by Gail Sattler

Author:Gail Sattler [Sattler, Gail]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-07-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

“God bless you all, and go in peace.”

Dave opened his eyes after the pastor’s prayer, and sighed.

For another Sunday the service was over and it was time to get back to his real life. Not for the first time, he was in no rush to go. Here, he knew everyone, maybe only on the surface, but there were no strangers. Any newcomers were usually families, or for those other singles walking in for the first time, they were relaxed and obviously there to step back from the Monday-to-Friday rush. For the most part, with the low-tech or no-tech service, this was a crowd of easygoing people. Anyone wanting more usually only came once. At the end of a service that still used an obsolete overhead projector instead of computer-generated PowerPoint displays, they never stopped to talk to anyone, but just left knowing this wasn’t what they wanted in a church.

It was exactly what Dave needed. No strangers, no surprises.

But he had a surprise for everyone else. For the first time since he’d been a member here, which was coming up five years, he hadn’t come alone. Not only was he not alone, he was with a woman.

Everyone would want to check Ashley out, and many probably had been itching in their seats for the duration of the entire service, waiting to meet her.

In order not to overwhelm Ashley, Dave remained in his chair until most of the congregation had filed out into the foyer.

Still seated beside him, Ashley turned toward him. “You were right. Everyone is checking us out as they walk past.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. But they’re just curious. Most of them will want to meet you, but they’ll leave us alone if we don’t approach them. It’s a good bunch of people here. They’ll respect your boundaries.” Most of them thought he was shy, because he tended not to talk much. Little did they know that under most circumstances, he talked more to people here than anywhere else. Except for when he was with Ashley. With her, he couldn’t shut up. He didn’t know what was with that, but he found it refreshing to just be himself for once.

Ashley glanced to the center aisle, then back to him. “The pastor is coming. It looks like he wants to talk to you.”

Sure enough, Pastor Rob had come up from behind the exiting crowd. Instead of following everyone out he turned into the row where Dave and Ashley sat, now alone, and approached them.

Before the pastor spoke, he checked around to make sure no one was in hearing range. “Hi, Dave. How are you holding up after everything?”

Dave smiled. “Pretty good, thanks for asking. You?”

“Fine. I’ve missed you for the last couple of weeks. I’m glad you emailed to tell me you were okay.” The pastor looked down at Ashley’s casted leg, which was propped up on a chair, then back up to Dave’s eyes, the question on his face not very subtle.

“It’s okay. Pastor Rob, this is Ashley. She’s the woman I told you about from the bank when the hostage situation happened.

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