Preacher joined her at the front door.

“You’re cute,” he said.

“Nothing works.”

He tried to do the jacket up, but of course, she was on the larger side.

“I’m swollen.”

“We’ll get you a new jacket.” He opened the door, and she brushed past him.

Don’t think about being close to him today.

Just act normally.

Sitting in the front of the car, she looked out of the window as he got onto the road, heading toward the mall. It was a couple of hours’ drive from where Preacher lived.

This was the first time since the kiss they’d been alone.

“I saw what you did to the nursery. It looks amazing.” He’d finished the nursery painting.

He’d drawn a huge tree complete with dark green leaves, and a forest ground with deer and bunnies, cats, and dogs. She loved it.

“When did you finish?”

“A couple of nights ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We’ve both been busy, and I imagine avoiding me is a full-time job for you.”

“I … erm … I don’t mean to avoid you,” she said.

“Yeah, you do. It’s fine. I get it.”

“We shouldn’t have kissed,” she said.

“I know.”

“Bishop would be so heartbroken.”

“He would. We can’t have him hurt.”

She didn’t know if he was being sarcastic. Sitting back against the seat she stared out of the window.

Time passed.

Silence.

Neither of them reached for the stereo.

“I don’t blame you for taking care of him. Bishop needs someone like you, but don’t lose yourself to his bullshit.”

“I won’t.”

“You deserve someone who knows how special you are.”

“Preacher, I’m not special.”

“You are. You’ve just got to learn to see it.”

She released a breath. “I don’t want us to hate each other. I want us to be friends.”

“We will be, Robin. I promise.”

He finally turned the radio on, but there was so much she wanted to scream at him. she stayed silent, staring out of the window.

Rain had started to fall, and she looked up at the thunderous sky.

They arrived at the mall around lunchtime because of traffic and the roads. She was starving, and before they started to shop, Preacher took her for lunch. He’d kept his leather cut on, and she saw the women who paid him a great deal of attention.

Sipping at her milkshake, she tried not to be pissed. It wasn’t his fault women liked him.

Preacher was a good-looking older man, and it embarrassed her she noticed just how much he was. She’d never considered him a sexy guy before, but as the weeks and months had moved on and she spent more time with him, there was no denying her attraction. If he was anything like her horny wet dream Preacher, she was doomed.