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JOSKA

It was rare having people coming into the church during weekdays, but when they did, it was mostly tourists who came to visit Boulder and decided to check out the insane architecture of some of the building in the city.

The church I worked at was one of those buildings. It was fascinating and huge, and when people came, I liked to tell them all about its history, and sometimes even show them the belltowers.

The man who was slowly walking down the aisle toward me didn’t look very touristy though. He had a deep frown between his brows, and once he reached the few steps leading up to the altar I was standing on, he raised those thick brows and asked, “Are you Joska?”

If he was here to massacre me, I should’ve said no. But he must’ve been a very sick man to kill me in a damn church. “I am. What can I help you with?”

I was being as polite as I always was while doing my job. I was wearing my vestments like I always did when I was inside my church.

“I’m not here for help. I’m here to warn you.” The man’s voice was dark and raspy, and he sounded serious.

I straightened up and closed the bible. Before he came in, I was flipping through the pages to find the perfect verses for Sunday’s Mass.

“Warn me about what?” I was all ears.

That man could’ve been some random guy whose daughter I fucked before, or maybe his wife talked to me for a bit too long after Mass, and he was here to tell me to stay away from her next time. Thing was, there were many women listening to me preach on Sundays, and some of them liked me a little too much, wanting to talk privately after Mass, and hoping to get to know me better.

Not that talking to them bothered me, but I couldn’t be more than a priest to them.

The man cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest, looking defensive and determined. “You know my daughter. Benedetta.”

Ah…damn.

Hearing him say Bennie’s name made me smile. I couldn’t help it. And now that I knew who that man was, I could see the slight resemblance to her daughter. My smile turned into a smirk. He was here to warn me not to hurt her. Normally, I would’ve been annoyed if the daughter he was here for was just some random girl I met somewhere. But Bennie wasn’t someone random. She was who I was dating, and the one who was slowly turning my head upside down in the best way possible.

“I do know your daughter. I had the pleasure of getting to know her and taking her on a date,” I told him, feeling way more relaxed now.

I wasn’t going to get killed by a random man in my church. That was a relief.

“Yeah, about that. She told me she’s coming to your place for another date tomorrow night. Where do you live? On church grounds?”

“No, sir.” Calling him that felt unnecessary because I was closer to his age than Bennie’s. But then, I wanted to be respectful. I needed him to like me. “I have a house in South Boulder. Quiet little place with a nice neighborhood.”

“What’s the address?”

I pursed my lips, amused by his questions. Though, if I had a daughter, I’d be just the same. I liked this guy.

I told him my address, and he took a moment to burn it into his brain to remember it. I was fine with that. “I imagine Bennie has told you about her difficult past. She has been through enough, and she doesn’t need a man to put her through hell again. You don’t hurt her, you don’t break her heart. I’ve not done a very good job looking out for her when she was with her ex because he managed to trick me too, but I will protect her like hell to make sure whoever gets to date her next won’t mess with her feelings.”

He was being loud and clear, but he wasn’t done yet. So I let him continue.

“If your intentions with her aren’t good, I want you to stop seeing her. If you’re serious about her, then I won’t stand in the way. So, father , what are your intentions with my daughter?”

In my religion, lying was a sin. Luckily, I never had to lie or come up with them to hide something. I was an honest man, and women were the last ones I would lie to, especially when it comes to feelings.

I walked around the altar and down the few steps to stand in front of him. Mr. Madden was a big man, standing tall at about six-three. He had a beard that was turning white, but the hair on his head was still a dark brown. Just like Bennie’s.

“I respect you for protecting your daughter. I can see where Bennie got her character and values from. I will be honest with you, Mr. Madden—”

“Connor,” he muttered, not happy that he told me his name before finding out my intentions.

I smiled. “Connor. I wasn’t looking for something serious. Truthfully, it’s not what I’m supposed to do, but I’d lie if I said that I never had the urge to date women and one day have a family. I’m a man, after all, and in today’s time, even us priests don’t follow the same rules from earlier years. I’ve only known Bennie for a little over a week now, but I had the pleasure to get to know her on our date last Sunday. I had a wonderful time, and she has infatuated me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. My intentions with her are good.”

Connor watched me closely as I spoke, and once I went silent, I held my breath, waiting for him to say something. I thought I sounded fairly honest, because I truly was, but I wasn’t sure my words were convincing enough.

He let out a heavy sigh, looking defeated when he ran his hand through his hair. “I mean it. Don’t hurt her, or I will break your neck.”

An amused grin spread across my face. “Some vulgar words to say in a church.”

“I’m not religious. Not anymore. I’ve lost respect for the church.”

Fair enough.

“I’m not judging, Connor.”

“Good.” He was about to turn and walk away, but he stopped himself to shake my hand. He watched me as the grip around my hand tightened, and with gritted teeth, he said, “Buy her flowers. Peonies. They’re her favorite.”

I would’ve bought her flowers either way but knowing her favorite ones was helpful. For a father who was glaring at me with a death-stare, he sure was doing me a big favor.

I shook his hand for a while longer and smiled with a thankful expression. “Thank you, Connor.”

He gave a quick nod, and without another word, he walked down the aisle until he reached the big doors and left.

As intense as that conversation went, I could already tell that Connor and I would get along just fine once he saw how serious I was about Bennie.

I liked him, and the good thing was, I liked his daughter even more.

***

Apparently, today was the visit Joska at church day.

After Connor coming by this morning, it was Sin who walked into the church, pushing her stroller. She smiled at me as she walked toward me, and I met her halfway, smiling back.

“What a pleasure. What’s a woman with such a sinful name coming to do at a holy church?” I asked, teasing her. Making jokes about her name never got old. At least, for me it never did. I placed a hand on her waist and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

She laughed softly, and as I looked down at Luca sleeping in the stroller, she said, “I came to see if you were still alive. Connor told me he came by earlier. How did that go?”

I caressed Luca’s cheek with the back of my fingers and backed away shortly after to not wake her. I looked at Sin again and pursed my lips. “Does Bennie also know he came?”

“No, she doesn’t. But I don’t think she needs to know right now. At least not before your date tomorrow. She’s super excited, you know?” Sin smiled gently. She was giving me the reassurance I needed.

“I’m excited too. Can’t wait to see her pretty face again,” I told her honestly.

“That’s good. So, what did Connor say to you? Was he scary?”

I chuckled. “A little at first, but he’s a good man. Very protective over Bennie, which he should be. But I promised him that my intentions with her are good.”

“And you were honest about that?” she asked, raising a brow. “You know he’ll kill you if you’re lying, and after that, I will kill you again, and lastly, your brother will do it a third time.”

I smirked, amused. “I’m well aware of that. But I can promise you that I will not hurt her in any way. I truly like her, Sin. It might sound cheesy, but after the day we first met, I felt something change in me. I’m sure you know that feeling. You’ve felt the same with Archer, and then the other three.”

She studied me as her expression softened. She pursed her lips and rested one hand on the stroller, slowly moving it back and forth to rock her baby. “I fell head-over-heals with Archer the first time I saw him. I was in love only days after meeting him. I was obsessed with him, Joska, and I knew we were meant to be. Are you sure that’s what you’re feeling for Bennie?” Her question challenging.

I was never in love before, and her words made me reflect on how I truly felt.

I took a moment to think about my answer, and while I did, Bennie’s face was all I saw. I started smiling, and the words I said next came from my heart.

“I can’t say I fell head-over-heals with her the first time I saw her, but after the conversation we had, I could feel something between us. Something was pulling me toward her, and I knew she felt the same. I also knew that rushing things would only push her away again, and that’s why I let her be in control and choose if she wanted more. I gave her my number, and if she wanted to see me again, she could put that number to use. If not, it would’ve been fine too, but I’m really damn glad that she texted.” I stopped, needing another moment to gather my thoughts. “I want to be close to her, and I want to get to know her better, but I need to do it slow and steady. I don’t think I have to tell you that she’s been through a lot, and while I’ve not always been a saint, I would never play with someone’s feelings and hurt them. So, I guess what I’m saying is…I have feelings for her, but I can’t rush it the way you did with Archer. Bennie needs time, and that’s what I’m going to give her.”

Sin looked at me with her eyes narrowed, almost as if she didn’t believe what I said. “You made out with her on your first date. How is that taking it slow?”

I chuckled and ran a hand through my hair. “Fair question, but I didn’t kiss her out of the blue. I asked her first, and she said yes.”

“Uh-huh…” She smirked and kept studying me closely. “I take it a priest can’t lie, especially not in church. But then, you fucked women on the altar before, so that’s a rule you could easily break. However…I believe you. And I trust you not to fuck things up with my best friend. And if you do, you better sleep with one eye open.”

I started grinning at her threat. “I like you like this. Kinda hot,” I teased. She knew I respected her and her family.

She rolled her eyes and slapped my chest. “Stop it. Now, for your date tomorrow, bring her Peonies. Those are her favorite.”

I laughed. “Thanks, Connor already told me.”

“He did? God, that man can’t get any more perfect. If he’ll accept you as your son in law one day, you’ll be goddamn lucky.”

“Language,” I warned, teasing her again.

“Right, as if you care.”

I winked at her and leaned in to give her another kiss on the cheek. “Hate to kick you out, but I need to finish up some things. Thanks for coming by, Sin.”

“Of course. I’ll see you around, Joska.”

She left with baby Luca, and I went back to the altar to finish up my notes for Sunday.

The second I left to go home, I would call Bennie.

I needed to hear her voice.