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MILLS & BOON
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This book is dedicated to the loves of my life:
My husband and my children. Forever always…
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 1
The dark clouds looming ominously over Detroit, the thirty-four-degree temperature and thirty-five-mile-per-hour winds matched Pearl Lockhart’s mood perfectly as she merged her Ford Explorer onto I-75 north on her way to Lakeview Baptist Church.
She left fifteen minutes early because she wanted to have a few words with the pastor. Just who did Wade Kendrick think he was, telling her that she should wear her dresses a little longer? What nerve!
The man had only been installed a few months ago as pastor of the church she grew up in, and now he was suddenly an authority on fashion.
Her sisters had invited Pastor Wade Kendrick to attend their annual family reunion last month and he seemed nice enough—until he made a chauvinistic comment regarding the roles of women in a Christian household, igniting a heated debate between him and Pearl.
He had a lot of nerve criticizing the way she dressed. God didn’t care about the clothes people wore to church. He looked at the heart and not the garments. It wasn’t as if she were walking into church dressed like a hoochie. Her skirts normally reached just above the knee. For goodness’ sake, she was only twenty-five years old.
Pearl pulled her SUV into the church parking lot that sat on the corner of Monroe Street.
She climbed out a few minutes later, braving the November chill. Pearl pulled together the folds of her ankle-length leather coat and walked briskly toward the entrance of the church. She loved the city of her birth, but during this time of year, she developed a love-hate relationship with the Michigan weather.
Pearl moved easily but impatiently through the wooden double doors of Lakeview Baptist Church. “Good morning,” she said to one of the deacons standing outside the sanctuary. Removing her coat, she headed down the hallway to the administrative offices.
She was relieved that none of her sisters had arrived yet, especially Ruby or Opal. They would try to talk her out of her plan, but Pearl had never been one to back down from a fight.
When she neared Wade’s office, Pearl slowed her pace. The door was slightly ajar, allowing her to peek inside.
He was there, his bald head gleaming as he concentrated on the papers on his mahogany desk. Pearl had to admit that Wade was a handsome man with dark brown eyes and nice full lips. Even that secret expression she’d glimpsed from time to time made him sexy.
She’d heard through the church grapevine that he was only twenty-eight years old, despite his somber mood and old-fashioned attitude.
She knocked softly to get his attention.
Without waiting for a response, Pearl pushed the door open all the way and struck a pose. “So what do you think of this outfit, Pastor? Does it meet with your approval?”
Wade Kendrick eyed the petite woman standing in the doorway of his office wearing a black leather skirt that was cut a good two inches above the knee revealing shapely, well-toned legs.
His left eyebrow rose up a fraction. Until today Wade couldn’t ever recall seeing Pearl Lockhart wearing something so short.
She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze straight on.
Despite the rebellious spirit she was currently exhibiting, he couldn’t deny that she looked beautiful with her sandy brown hair styled in twists and her clear mocha complexion free of makeup.
What he liked about Pearl was that she always wore a smile, although the one on her face right now was born of pure defiance. She was obviously upset about the conversation they’d had last Sunday regarding her clothes.
The only reason he’d said anything to Pearl in the first place was because he’d overheard some of the teen boys discussing her legs and saying she was the finest woman at Lakeview. Wade hoped to avoid further distractions but he certainly hadn’t meant to offend Pearl, the youth-choir director.
“Pastor Kendrick,” she began, “I don’t think you should worry about what I’m wearing. God doesn’t look at the clothes a person wears. He looks at the heart.”
“Miss Lockhart, the Bible speaks about modest clothing,” Wade stated calmly. “Scripture tells us that a woman who dresses immodestly causes men to think unholy thoughts. It draws their attention to the outward body, rather than to the inner heart. Just read the third chapter of First Peter.”
Wade was not about to be drawn into another debate with her and prayed his response had put an end to the discussion. Pushing away from his desk, he stood up, saying, “It’s almost time for service to start. We can continue this conversation after church if you’d like.”
Pearl opened her mouth, then shut it.
A muscle flicked angrily at her jaw. Pearl glared at him before storming out of the office and disappearing down the hallway.
Wade released a long sigh. This was not the way he’d planned to start off the morning service. But he would speak with Pearl Lockhart when church ended and clear the air. Apologize if necessary. She and her family had been members of Lakeview Baptist a long time and Wade didn’t want a rift to develop between them. He could do without having drama in the church.
When he walked into the sanctuary, Wade found that instead of sitting in her usual seat a few rows back Pearl had made herself comfortable in the front pew, her eyes full of triumph.
She was clearly not going to let this matter drop.
His eyes traveled to her shapely legs, the sight of them stirring something in him. Wade couldn’t deny the teenage boys were right. Pearl Lockhart’s legs were exquisite.
Stop looking at her legs, he told himself.
Determined in his heart to keep his head and mind on the Lord, Wade signaled for one of the ushers to approach. “Could you please get Miss Lockhart a sheet or blanket, please?”
He stepped up into the pulpit and took his seat between his youth pastor and the assistant pastor. Wade couldn’t see her face from where he was sitting, but he could only imagine she was shooting fiery darts through the podium at him with her eyes.
He would have to risk her fury for now because Wade didn’t need any distractions, either. It wasn’t always easy with church mamas trying to push their daughters in his face and overly aggressive women practically throwing themselves at him.
Wade’s mind traveled back to Pearl. He could only assume that she was behaving this way to get his attention. She was a beautiful girl but he didn’t go for the boisterous, party-girl type.
Instead, he preferred a woman more like him, conservative, with traditional beliefs. Even with her great body and gorgeous legs, Pearl was definitely not wife material as far as he was concerned.
A tremor of disappointment slid down his spine.
Pearl clamped her jaw tight and stared straight ahead, the blanket folded up beside her on the pew. How dare Wade Kendrick try to humiliate me like this? The man belongs in the 1800s.
She found it hard to believe that a man who looked like Wade could be so backward in his beliefs. He stood about six or seven inches taller than her five-foot-four-inch frame, and was lean, muscular and extremely handsome.
Pearl had always found men with bald heads and deep, penetrating eyes incredibly sexy. But Wade Kendrick was stuffy and took himself way too seriously all the time. She pitied the woman who would eventually marry him.
He couldn’t handle a woman like me, that’s for sure.
Half of the single women attending Lakeview Baptist were already chasing Wade, but it didn’t matter to Pearl. She wanted nothing to do with him.
Even though her anger at him still lay at the surface, Pearl found Wade’s sermon on Hosea and Gomer enlightening. He might not have much personality but he was a gifted pastor.
“Why do you look like you’re ready to kill somebody?” her cousin Paige Richards asked shortly after service ended. “And why did you sit way up here?”
Before she could respond, her sister Opal walked up, asking, “What’s with the leather miniskirt?”
Pearl hugged her in greeting before saying, “Excuse me, Opal. We can talk in a few minutes. Right now I really need to have a word with our pastor.”
“Pearl—”
“I won’t be long. I promise.”
Opal grabbed her by the arm. “That’s not what I’m worried about. Pearl, are you still upset over what he said to you? I told you that he didn’t mean any harm. I’m sure of it.”
Pearl turned around, facing her sister. “He didn’t say anything to you. Your dresses are the same length as mine. Ever since the family reunion, he’s had it in for me.”
“There has to be something more to it.”
“Opal, that’s exactly what I intend to find out. Don’t worry. I just plan to have a quick word with him.” She wasn’t going to let Wade quote scripture to her and just walk away.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Pearl. The last time…”
She didn’t wait around for Opal to finish her sentence. Pearl was on a mission.
She walked with purpose into Wade Kendrick’s office. “Pastor, we need to finish our discussion.”
He looked up. “Miss Lockhart.”
Closing the door halfway, she said, “I need you to explain something to me. Why are you picking on me? Is this about our discussion of women’s roles?”
“I’m not picking on you. I never meant to offend you. If I have, I’m sorry.”
Did he really think an apology would make things right?
“I appreciate your apology, Pastor,” Pearl managed to reply through stiff lips. “However, I still want to know why you singled me out.”
“I didn’t.” Wade paused a moment before continuing. “Please have a seat.”
She sat down in one of the chairs facing him.
“The reason I suggested that you lower your hemline is because you’re quite a distraction to some of the teen boys here at church.”
Pearl was caught off guard by his words. “Excuse me?”
“I overheard some of the boys discussing you. Your legs…”
“Oh.” She snapped her mouth shut. Pearl glanced down at the skirt she had on and tried pulling it closer to her knees. She suddenly felt like a fool. “I had no idea, Pastor. I thought you were just being your old stuffy self.” She hadn’t really meant to say that last part out loud.
Her words seemed to amuse him. “You really consider me stuffy?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I’m not stuffy, Sister Pearl. I just believe that if the church went back to the old way of doing things, we wouldn’t have some of the problems we’re facing today.”
“Such as women not being allowed to wear pants in church? Our last pastor didn’t have a problem with women wearing pants to service, but it was one of the first changes you made after taking leadership.”
He boldly met her gaze. “Yes. I feel that skimpy dresses or pants show a lack of respect and reverence for the house of God. The Bible clearly states in Deuteronomy that it is a sin for women to wear men’s apparel.”
“I believe that scripture was referring more to cross-dressers,” Pearl countered. “Pastor, have you ever considered that maybe women should wear pants to church, so maybe then the boys won’t be distracted, as you put it. And you wouldn’t need to have ushers bring out the blankets.”
He broke into a rare smile.
“Pastor, I’m sorry for my childish behavior this morning. You and I definitely don’t see things in the same light, but I’m really not a troublemaker or a hoochie.”
“I never thought you were.”
Pearl wasn’t so sure she believed him but she chose to keep her thoughts at bay.
“I’ll give it some thought but I have to be honest,” Wade stated, “I don’t think my views will change. It is my goal to make sure that my leadership over this church is biblically sound. I’m going to let the Lord lead me.”
“Understood.” Pearl got up and walked to the door. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Pastor.”
“You, too, Sister Pearl.”
As their eyes met, she felt a new and unexpected warmth run through her. Her heart pounding, Pearl walked outside, where she found Opal and Paige waiting by her SUV.
“Pearl, what did you do?”
She eyed her sister. “Opal, I didn’t do anything. Pastor and I had a talk. A good talk. That’s all.”
“You mean, you two actually agreed on something?” Opal sounded surprised.
“Naaah, I wouldn’t say that. But I think we reached a compromise.” Pearl glanced around the parking lot. “Where’s Ruby and Amber? Did they leave already?”
“They didn’t want to wait around for you to have all of us kicked out of church.” When Pearl shot her a look, she added, “I’m only kidding.” Laughing, Opal reached over, giving Pearl a hug, then Paige. “I’ll see y’all later. I’m meeting D’marcus for brunch.”
Opal practically glowed every time she mentioned her boyfriend’s name. D’marcus Armstrong was a good man and Pearl considered him fortunate to have her sister in his life.
Pearl drove out of the parking lot and headed for the freeway, driving toward Grosse Pointe, a suburb of Detroit.
Ten minutes later, she drove down Lake Shore Drive and pulled into the garage. Paige parked her BMW Z4 roadster in the space beside her.
The two women walked into the luxury apartment building together.
“Are we still going to the movies later?” Paige asked as they rode the elevator up to the second floor.
Pearl nodded. “Yeah. I just need to take a nap first.”
“I could use one myself. Lyman and I didn’t get home until two-thirty this morning.”
“I was surprised to see you at church. I figured you’d just spend all weekend at his house. Isn’t he leaving town this week?”
“Yeah. They’re playing Milwaukee on Wednesday.”
“I know what we’re doing Wednesday night,” Pearl said with a grin. Her cousin dated Detroit Chargers forward Lyman Epse and whenever the team played away from home, Paige and Pearl ordered pizza and watched the game on television. They were both basketball fanatics.
Inside the apartment, Pearl headed straight for the couch. She needed to get out of her boots, which had been clearly designed for fashion, not for comfort.
Her cousin sat down on the chair facing Pearl. “C’mon, what did you really say to Pastor?”
Pulling off the black leather boots with four-inch heels, Pearl related the conversation.
Paige merely stared, tongue-tied. “He really told you that you were distracting the boys?” she asked after a moment.
“Yeah. I don’t think he was comfortable with telling me though. I feel like such an idiot now after the way I behaved. I thought he was giving me a hard time because of what happened at the reunion.”
“You know what I think? I think Pastor finds you a distraction for himself.”
Pearl dismissed her cousin’s comment with the wave of her hand.
“I’m serious. I bet he’s not telling any of the other women at church to wear longer dresses.”
At Pearl’s protest, her cousin continued. “Don’t you think he’s handsome?”
“Yeah, he’s nice-looking,” she admitted. “But Pastor Kendrick is much too old-fashioned for me.”
“If he’s interested in you, you better go for it. Honey, if some of the women at church have their way, he won’t be single for long. Did you see how Clara was all up in his face a couple of weeks ago? I’m surprised she wasn’t at church this morning.”
“She’s definitely not the woman for him.”
Paige broke into a grin. “So who is the woman for him?”
Shrugging, Pearl responded, “I don’t know. Sister Barbara is always up in his face—”
Paige laughed. “You wrong, Pearl. She’s his secretary.”
“She’s always trying to get him to have dinner at her house. You should see her. It’s shameful.”
“Jealous?”
“Me? No way.”
Paige rose to her feet. “I’m going to go straighten out my room and get my clothes ready for tomorrow, so I won’t have to worry about it when we come home from the movies.”
Pearl lay down on the couch. “Wake me when you’re ready to go.” She’d worked three double shifts at the restaurant in the past five days and she was dead tired.
She had just closed her eyes when the phone rang. She heard Paige answer on the third ring, then call out for her to pick up.
Pearl grabbed the extension closest to her—it was her manager. She eased up into a sitting position. “It’s no problem. I’m glad you called me. I can use the extra money. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
When Paige walked back into the living room, Pearl announced, “I’ll have to take a rain check on the movies. I need to go in to work.”
“Pearl, you need to take some time off.”
“I need the money. You know I spent most of my savings on those demo tapes.”
“Your sisters and I offered to help you, but you refused.”
“Paige, I need to do this for myself. Besides, I’d feel bad if nothing ever comes out of this and I’d taken money from y’all.”
“Can you do me a favor and bring me home an order of linguine à la pescatore?”
Pearl nodded. “In fact, I’ll pick up a couple of orders. But I’m not getting off until nine.”
“That’s fine. I’ll just eat a late lunch.”
Foregoing her nap Pearl made her way to her bathroom. The apartment she and Paige shared came with dual master bedrooms, each with its own glamour bath. She washed her face and freshened up, the hot water being exactly what she needed to bring her tired senses back to life.
Pearl dressed in a pair of black tuxedo pants, a crisp white shirt and a black bow tie. She walked out of her bedroom just as her cousin was about to knock on the door.
“Here’s the money for my food,” Paige stated, holding out a twenty.
“I’ll call you if I get off early.”
“Thanks.”
Pearl grabbed a short, red leather coat out of the hall closet and headed to the front door. “See you later.”
Thirty-five minutes later, Pearl parked on the employee side of the restored Victorian house that had been converted into an upscale Italian restaurant located in the heart of downtown. Milton’s Ristorante was considered one of the finest places to dine in Detroit.
Pearl had been working there for almost four years. She enjoyed working on the waitstaff because the job allowed her the flexibility she needed for her music and the tips were good.
Still, she dreamed of the day she’d be able to focus full-time on her music. Pearl knew deep in her heart that she was destined to be a singer.
Her time would come.
Soon.
Hopefully.
Chapter 2
Wade didn’t feel like cooking. In fact, he had grown tired of the variations of Hamburger Helper. He’d eaten enough of it to last him a lifetime.
He reconsidered the invitations issued by a couple of ladies in church. Both Barbara Delany, the church secretary, and Carole Davis came up to him after morning service to invite him over for dinner.
Wade knew without a doubt that the invite from Carole came with strings attached. Shortly after his arrival at Lakeview, Sister Carole became adamant in her attempts to get him to date her daughter, Elizabeth. Wade had taken her to dinner a couple of times.
Liz was nice enough but she was very needy and had a lot of issues. Wade was barely dealing with his own demons, had been for the past ten years. He couldn’t take on any additional baggage in his personal life.
He made his way over to the refrigerator and looked inside, noting the bag of salad, a few pieces of fruit and some leftover Hamburger Helper. Wade checked the freezer. He had a steak and a couple of pieces of chicken but they were frozen solid. There was no telling how long they’d been in there and would take too long to thaw out.
The last time he tried to defrost a piece of meat in the microwave…Just the memory was enough to convince Wade not to relive that particular experience. Cooking skills were definitely not among his talents.
Maybe I should seriously consider looking for a wife.
A fleeting image of Pearl Lockhart drifted through his mind. Wade shook his head, trying to shut out all awareness of her.
She’s definitely not the woman for me.
His stomach growled loudly.
He briefly considered ordering Chinese food but didn’t really have a taste for it. Actually, he was in the mood for pasta. He recalled one of the deacons telling him about a pretty good Italian restaurant in the area.
What was it called? Wade searched his memory.
Milton’s, that was it.
He strolled into his office and looked it up on the Internet, searching for details and reviews on the restaurant.
Satisfied with what he’d read, he grabbed his coat, wallet and keys and headed to the door.
Inside his black Chrysler 300, Wade keyed the address into his GPS navigational system. He steered the car out of the driveway and onto the street. He was looking forward to enjoying a meal that hadn’t been prepared by his hands or come with somebody’s daughter as the dessert.
Fifteen minutes later, Wade arrived at the restaurant. The smell of freshly sautéed garlic and herbs tantalized his senses. A smiling hostess greeted him warmly and escorted him to a small table in the main dining room. The mustard-gold walls and deep burgundy drapes provided a richly colored backdrop while soft music floated throughout the restaurant.
Wade perused the menu while he waited for a member of the waitstaff to arrive. Everything he read on the list sounded delicious.
His eyes traveled around the room, taking in the dining guests and enjoying the ambiance. Wade was more of a homebody unless he was attending a dinner meeting or on a date, but he vowed to change that starting tonight. He’d been in Detroit for a few months. It was time to start enjoying the city.
Humming softly to the music, Pearl carried out a tray of drinks for a party of six. Since coming to work, she’d had a steady stream of customers, but she wasn’t complaining. She preferred staying busy. It helped to pass the time.
Pearl was on the schedule to work every day this week except Wednesday, and she’d picked up a singing gig for Saturday.
If things continued the way they were, she’d earn close to fifteen hundred dollars this week—money that would go back into her savings.
Last month she’d sang at three weddings, a function for the mayor of Detroit and a couple of private parties. The gigs had paid well enough to cover her bills for November and December.
Out the corner of her eye, Pearl noted the lone newcomer who had just been seated in her station.
She made her way over to his table.
“Good evening,” Pearl greeted. Her voice died when she recognized Wade. “Pastor…hello.”