Authors: Nancy Hopper
"And you have no intention of telling me any more about him. I won't push you about him, then." He told her with a grin. “I just wanted to be sure I wasn’t getting either of us in trouble by insisting on being your escort. That’s all.”
She blinked at the gentle understanding in his voice, and found it mirrored in his eyes. "I'd rather not explain, other than to assure you that he is completely gone. He is certainly not going to turn up. Thank you." She said softly.
Timothy looked at the pulse beating erratically in the slim column of her throat, and wondered at it. The very subject upset her greatly. He stirred his tea, and said nothing.
"Have you ... never married?" she asked warily.
He smiled crookedly. "No. Not even close." He admitted. "Doesn't mix well with my lifestyle, to tell you the truth. It would take an exceptional woman to deal with me, and I hate to admit it, but I haven't met anyone who's that exceptional. Not that I have a lot of time to spare, even if I was looking."
Tasha couldn't help laughing at him. "You sound like a dyed-in-the-wool bachelor, Mr. Rain."
"That's exactly what I've always been." He admitted lightly. "So, you can relax."
She laughed again. "So you keep telling me." She teased. "It must show that I'm not particularly eager to have another man in my life."
He nodded. "You could say that." He agreed with a teasing grin.
She smiled in embarrassment. "You must think me vain. I hope that I haven't been rude to you." She said uncomfortably.
He laughed at her, and leveled a look at her that she could swear offered a bit of intimacy. "A bit prickly, but very lovely just the same. Now that we understand one another, how about relaxing just enough to have a good time with me?" he offered lightly. His eyes looked sultry and inviting, and very sexy. Yet, he was candid and open. He even looked hopeful.
She shook her head, and sighed. "You are the most aggravating man, Timothy Rain. I don't go looking for men friends, and you seem to delight in keeping me off balance. I just don't know for sure what to make of you."
"Don't make anything of me. Just get to know me." He suggested lightly. “We could, you know, perhaps be friends.”
"Why?" she asked pointedly. "You're living in a different world than I am. And, you live in another state. This is just a chance meeting. Why are you so insistent?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Except that you are very precious to my Master. He wants you at this conference; and he wants me to befriend you. I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable."
She made a sound in her throat that he could only equate with absolute frustration. She kept her eyes on her lap.
"Tasha, tell me about how you came to know the Lord." He asked gently.
"Tim, I really can't." She said, revealing that the very thought terrified her, and caused her deep pain. "Please, understand and don't go there."
He looked at her with puzzled eyes. "I'm sorry, Tasha. Tell you what. You just come with me to the whole conference, and I will leave it between you and Him. Fair enough?"
She sighed in frustration, and raised tormented eyes to his. "No! No, Timothy, it is not at all fair! You come barging your way into my life and insist that I come to this conference, asking all kinds of questions -- no! It's not all right!"
He drew a deep breath, and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
She looked at him, and felt compassion stir in her heart. "Hey. I'm sorry." She said, before she knew what she was doing, or why she was doing it. "Tim, I'll ... I'll come to the conference. Provided you just back off. All right?" she asked warily. No one could have been more shocked than Tasha, by what she had just promised.
Tim looked at her, completely perplexed. "All right." He agreed softly. "Then I've done my part. As long as you promise."
She glared at him so resentfully that he almost had to laugh. "I said I would." She snapped.
Tim bit his lip to hide his smile, and looked at her sheepishly. "Okay." He agreed quickly.
"But now, I really should be going." She added woodenly.
"All right." He agreed. "I'll walk you to your car."
It was freezing cold outside. Tasha clutched her coat around her and wondered how Timothy could stand it, wearing only a suit coat. "Tim, it's too cold for you to be out here. I can make it alone," she advised him.
"No chance." He denied grimly. "It's too late at night for me to let you go alone."
"You'll freeze." She objected.
"We're almost there." He argued.
Tasha shook her head as he took her arm to steady her on the compact snow and ice that covered the parking lot. "Timothy Rain, you are the most aggravating man I've ever met in my life." She accused in frustration.
Tim chuckled, and put his arm around her to catch her as she began to slip. He held her up with ease, and smiled down at her. "That's probably quite true. I'll bet my own mother has the same feelings." He admitted. He eased his hold on her, so that she could start walking again.
"And tomorrow night, I'll get you a parking place in the garage. This isn't at all acceptable." He decided with a worried frown, as she slipped again. His arms went firmly around her, or she'd have gone to the ice.
She gasped as she realized he was almost going down with her, then he caught his footing. They laughed as they just stood frozen, both afraid to move a muscle.
Tasha felt very warm and comfortable in his strong arms. They were very strong, very capable arms. Her hand was against his chest. As she looked up into his eyes, she could hardly help but feel that there was some kind of attraction brewing here. She reminded herself that she didn't want any doggone romance. She heard Tim chuckle, and gave him a warning look that said she thought he was being very naughty.
"What do you expect me to do? Let you fall and break your neck?" he asked in a low voice. His eyes were teasing her, snapping with amusement.
"No. Not a gallant gentleman like you." She taunted heartlessly.
"Ow." Tim winced. "My, lady. You know how to hurt a guy." He objected.
"Don't expect any kisses to make it better." She warned icily.
"I ought to kiss you for spite." He snapped, his chin setting in a firm line. He started walking very carefully, but his eyes were snapping with fire.
Tasha swallowed hard, aware beyond a shadow of a doubt that she'd made him angry. "I'd have to bite you if you tried." She answered lightly, willing her voice not to tremble.
She had a feeling it was not wise to bait this man, but she couldn't seem to help herself. Being in his arms had changed everything. She was definitely, extremely attracted -- at least on a physical level -- to this man. That scared her to death. Maybe now that he was angry, he'd just go away. She prayed it would be so.
"I'll just bet you would." He answered smoothly. "Luckily for you, I'm much more likely to refrain, or you might find yourself in a battle you wouldn't ever forget."
Tasha's tummy flopped pitifully at the threat. The timbre of his voice made her heart flutter. His arm around her, his hand on her ribs, burned with fire; and his eyes were stabbing holes in her defenses. He was very sexy, and she almost felt that she'd enjoy pushing him into that fight. A desire to feel him kiss her began to rise up insistently inside her. She looked up at him and the words just demanded expression.
"Is that a fact?" she answered smoothly. "Well, Mr. Timothy Rain, I'll tell you what. Why don't you just try me?" she provoked. "I'm beginning to think it would be a pleasure to put you in your place!"
As they reached her car, Timothy turned her in his arms and looked down at her, with anger and warning in his eyes. He was extremely surprised to find her soft, shapely lips parted invitingly and her eyes holding a burning invitation. Her breathing was short, drawing his attention to some very nice cleavage in the scoop-necked sweater.
He shook his head, and laughed deep in his throat as he felt her sultry eyes grab hold of him. His flesh was suddenly screaming to taste her soft lips, feel her body against his. She was sexier than anything he'd ever been tempted with, for a long, long time. Maybe ever, he pondered.
"Oh, no. That would not be wise. Not tonight, anyway. The last thing I want to do is fight with you, lovely lady." He refused in a ragged, low voice. "You've been giving me very clear 'stay back' signals ever since we met, and I'm not stupid enough to think you're ready to deal with the consequences of any kisses.”
"You're very beautiful, and we both know, if we will be honest, that there's a fair bit of chemistry between us. But tempted as I am to put you to the test, I know better. Just don't you dare forget you promised me you'll come to the conference tomorrow night."
She gasped in outrage and pushed hard against his chest. Tim realized immediately that he'd made a big mistake. Her blistering anger bit him harshly.
"When Hell freezes over." She said coldly, and unlocked her car door. As she swung it open, he made sure he got his hip in, to block it from being closed. She got in the Bronco, and glared to find him braced in the doorway.
“
Tasha? Tasha,” he insisted, looking in at her with confusion and unhappiness in his eyes.
"Thank you for a
lovely
evening, Mr. Rain." She said coldly.
Tim set his jaw, and sighed. "You promised." He challenged her softly, his eyes steely and intense. He was extremely disappointed in himself for blundering. Jesus wanted her at that conference and Timothy would not hesitate to humble himself, to get her there.
"Good night, Mr. Rain." She said pointedly.
Tim looked at the snow in frustration, and sighed. "Tasha, I’m sorry. I don't understand how we got to this place. Give it another chance. Please, come tomorrow night. Please?" he asked gently.
He put a hand on her arm and she stiffened, giving him a look that caused him to withdraw it. He could see it was no good, and with a sigh, he backed out of range. She closed the car door with a hearty slam, and drove away.
Tim stood there watching her go, disappointment and puzzlement in his heart. How had he managed to bungle it? What in the world had happened? He couldn't sort it out. Somehow, they'd gone from a nice, friendly platform to the most dangerous sexual attraction he'd ever experienced, in the blink of any eye! And then, he'd stupidly reminded her of her promise! How had he let his mouth flap, without first carefully considering his words?
He was feeling the warm, slim softness of her body in his arms, even now that she was gone. Part of him was kicking himself for not kissing her; for not taking what she'd offered and what he now wanted desperately, with every fiber of his being. He hadn't been thinking -- that was the biggest problem. He'd just been trying desperately to hold her at arm's length, and assuming that was the right thing. Now, he wasn't so sure.
He shook his head and laughed derisively as her car went around the curve. "No way." He denied coldly. "No way am I going there, not even in my misguided, stubborn brain." He insisted, his eyes clear and determined as he addressed the temptation that was screaming for him to taste her obvious sweetness. He took a deep breath, and addressed the enemy of his soul.
"I will go to my Lord in prayer for her. You will have no place in this relationship. Don't you dare even think that you can cause my flesh to dictate my actions. I rebuke you and I tell you -- you will not have me, and you will not have that lady. Get your claws out of this, and go right back to the pit of Hell, where you belong. Thank you for reminding me that my job is to restore her to Jesus. I truly needed it, just now."
"And I speak to you in the spirit, Tasha, and I remind you of your promise. Regardless of any blunders, I prophesy to your spirit that you will come to this conference, every single night. You will come, and you will be restored to Jesus. Come what may." He said through set teeth.