Page 7 of A Taste of Grace

Breathless

I called Nita as I packed for my babysitting assignment with her great-nieces.

“Should I take anything special to your nephew’s house?”

My eyes roamed my room, looking for anything that might interest elementary-age kids.

“Not at all. Our family spoils those kids rotten. All they need is you and your beautiful spirit.”

“I can handle that.”

“Just tell my nephew hello. He can be uptight sometimes, so remind him to breathe.”

Uptight? Good to know.

“I will. Enjoy your evening, Nita.”

“You too, Grace.”

Since Nita’s nephew sounded a little high-strung, I refused to babysit unprepared.

I walked about my family room, retrieving my laptop, colorful markers, drawing paper, and a new box of Uno cards.

Did little kids play Uno? I’d find out tonight.

I moved to my bathroom and rummaged through a small case of nail polish.

I pulled out the glittery ones and put them in the bag along with other nail supplies.

Manicures and pedicures were always a hit with little girls.

I walked by the bathroom mirror, checking myself out and brushing my peach gloss over my moisturized lips. I was cute.

“You’ve got this, girl.”

Time for a new adventure.

I pulled into the wide driveway of a gorgeous ranch house that looked like a relatively new build. It sat on at least an acre of land with a thick patch of trees behind it. It was a perfect home for a pastor, neat and painted in neutral colors that didn’t draw unwanted attention to it.

Rays of light from the dusky night reflected off the back bumper of a shiny white Lexus SUV parked out front.

That vehicle was the only indication that the pastor might enjoy the finer things in life.

With a vanity plate of HAVEN, I also imagined him to be outgoing and boisterous.

He obviously didn’t mind people knowing about his goings and comings.

I exited the car with my bag and took a deep whiff of the pine-filled air. As had become my habit this time of day, I lifted my eyes to the sun beams that now settled at beautiful angles across the house’s dark roof.

I stepped onto the modest-sized porch where a couple of bikes were perched by the door.

Joy filled my heart at my assumption that the girls were girly girls.

The cotton candy pink bike had white tassels hanging off the handlebars.

The taller bike was lavender with pretty white ponies on its body.

I smiled, using the heights of the bikes to prepare myself for how tall Hannah and Esther would be.

I rang the doorbell and waited with my large bag on my shoulder. Although I’d never been a fidgeter, I planted my feet shoulder width apart, hopping from side to side. I mentally ran through my plan to keep the girls occupied for hours.

When the doorknob twisted, I straightened my body and peered ahead, ready to plaster a big smile on my face. Instead, my jaw dropped so low that if there was a swarm of bees above me, they’d be all in my mouth and down my throat.

Damn.

I wasn’t prepared for the exquisite hunk of manliness that opened the door. He was so handsome, I couldn’t, no wouldn’t, look away.

My boy was cool as a cucumber, though, because he didn’t display an etch of shock at my initial reaction. He was big, intimidating, and stoic like a statue that erotic dreams were made of.

“Ms. Grace?” His deep voice rang out like a bell as his eyes pierced mine.

I fanned my face with my hand, trying to get temporary relief from a presence that overwhelmed me. He had the nerve to step even closer and hover over me, staring down with a crooked smile and pretty white teeth that sat just right in his mouth.

“Um…yes.” I realized I hadn’t even bothered to find out this man’s name.

All I knew was that he was Nita’s nephew and had two little girls. Was I that dense?

The expensive-looking black tuxedo he wore molded to his broad chest like plastic wrap. Thank God for open top buttons because I also had a front row seat to the thickest, most muscular neck I’d ever seen on a man up close.

My lower body tingled. It had to be a sin to lust after a preacher this way.

I was about to take in the beauty of his symmetrical face in more detail when I shook myself, clutching the straps of my oversized Vera Bradley bag harder. Hunky Preacher Man had a name I still didn’t know.

“Please forgive me for staring.”

There was no way I could play it off, so I might as well be honest. I willed myself to remain calm and extended my hand in greeting as his eyes never left mine.

“I expected you to be…” His voice trailed off as his eyes scanned my face then my body slowly.

“To be what?” I held my breath, anxious to hear what he had to say.

He tightened his lips and shook his head, placing his hand over his heart before he gave me a panty-melting smile.

“Never mind. Forgive me. It’s just that I thought you would be older. Like Aunt Nita. Your name is Grace.”

“Yes. It’s Gracelyn. But people call me Grace.” I don’t know why I had to say all that, but the pastor pulled it from me.

“Gracelyn. Very pretty. Like you.”

I blushed harder than should be allowed.

He scanned my body again and gestured toward it.

“You’re so young and attractive.”

“Thank you again. I’m not that young. Please don’t laugh, but I don’t know your name. All I know is you’re Nita’s nephew.”

“Pastor Caleb Stallings. But you can call me Caleb.”

To my surprise, he reached for my hand and pulled me over the threshold of his door.

“I’m going to stop talking and welcome you to my home properly.” His kind eyes twinkled as the overwhelming scent of his spicy cologne met my nostrils.

He looked and smelled good—a lethal combination for a man who was touching me and close to God. I tried to push the gushiness I felt aside as our hands touched, but I blushed anyway.

You are too fine.

He finally released my hand.

“I can be awkward at times. Forgive me again, Ms. Grace, but you caught me off guard. I don’t meet many women around here my age who are spoken of so fondly by Aunt Nita. She has discriminating taste. You must be special to her.”

When I was fully in the combination foyer and dining room, Caleb closed the door behind me.

I placed my hand on my cheek to temper my emotions.

I couldn’t stop blushing at this man’s blatant compliments and openness.

He must be what Nita called an exhorter.

Everything he said about me made me feel so good.

More than lifting me up, he confirmed that I wasn’t burdening Nita with my presence.

She really did care for me as much as I cared for her.

“Nita is a sweetheart, a real blessing since I moved here. That was why I didn’t hesitate to say yes to babysitting.”

“I’m glad you’re so loyal to my aunt. So, you’re new to the community?”

Caleb’s raised eyebrow was adorable.

“Yes. I’ve been here since the new year.”

“I’d love to show you around and invite you to my church.”

“Okay.” I accepted his invitation to be polite, never expecting a man who was so busy in the community to take time out of his schedule to show me around town.

“Where are the girls?” I peered around the pastor’s broad body, hoping to see the young charges I would be responsible for this evening.

I needed a break from this closeness. I could barely catch my breath and think. It wasn’t every day that I came in contact with fine, virile men of Caleb’s caliber.

“Yes, the girls…Hannah, Esther, please come here.” He shifted his body and shouted toward the back of the house.

With his head to the side, I noted how perfect his profile was.

His black beard was trimmed neatly and nicely moisturized.

I wiggled my fingers at my side, wanting to touch his face to see if his hair texture was coarse or soft.

Either way, I bet it would be ticklish if it brushed against my skin.

I watched him for several more seconds before two of the most beautiful little girls I’d ever laid my eyes on ran and stopped inches in front of me.

Like their father, their hair was nice, but theirs was wild as if they had played outside all afternoon. Both of them smiled at me, the older with her front teeth missing and the other with a slight gap between her teeth.

Caleb bent down and held his arm out like a gate to stop them as they jumped and danced with energy. They finally calmed down, their little chests rising and falling visibly.

“No running in the house. I didn’t want you to knock Ms. Grace down.”

Instead of paying attention to him, they stared at me like beautiful frozen dolls.

“A princess is going to babysit us?” The taller of the girls’ eyes widened as she gawked at me.

“Yay!” The younger one cheered, jumping up and down before doing a cute little happy dance.

I smiled, smitten with these angels as much as their daddy. What a beautiful family they were. I dropped my bag at my feet before moving toward them and squatting.

“I’m not a princess, pumpkin, but thank you for thinking that. You can call me Grace.” I extended my hand in greeting.

The shorter one broke past her father and jumped into my arms. I held her body tight and gave her a big squeeze.

“It’s Ms. Grace,” Caleb corrected. “Girls, please introduce yourselves to our guest.”

“I’m Hannah.” The older girl clasped her hands and rocked from side to side with a big smile before she moved to me and gave me a hug on the opposite side of the little one clinging to me.

“And I’m Esther.” The shorter one squeezed me tighter and placed her hands in my hair.

To balance myself, I sat on my bottom and crossed my legs.

“How old are you, Miss Hannah?”

“Eight,” Hannah said with her head ducked into her chest.

“I’m six.” Esther held her head high and sang the number to me.

She touched my cheek and looked directly into my eyes, reminding me of her daddy’s piercing gaze.

“You’re the lady we pray for every night.” Esther peered up at Caleb without letting me go. “Daddy, she’s here. Thank you so much.”