A New Day (10 page)

    
Sensing that something was amiss, Gary squeezed her shoulders and whispered in her ear.  “Whatever you are thinking, forget it.  It’s making you uptight.” he suggested.

     “
Gary, this just doesn’t feel right.  You have standards they expect you to uphold.  I’m not a suitable
date
for you.  No matter how informal.”

     “
You let me worry about that.”  he warned, growling in her ear.

    
She squared her shoulders and tried to keep her poise as she faced two long, crowded tables of vaguely familiar faces.  Everyone was talking all at once.  Gary seated Tasha, and then Deb, leaving room between them for himself. 

    
Too many pairs of eyes were assessing Tasha, so Gary got the introductions out of the way as quickly as possible.

     “
Oh; is she a relative of your family’s, Deb?” Tasha heard a woman ask.

     “
No, just a good friend.”  Deb replied cheerfully.  Tasha felt like a doll on display, but she endured it serenely for Gary and Deb’s sake.

    
Tasha finally conjured up the fortitude to look around,  and saw Jim staring at her with brooding eyes.  She smiled at him politely, and waved.

    
Jim indicated the empty chair beside him expectantly, but Tasha shook her head.  She wasn’t about to play that game with Gary.  She well remembered his spanking and his clear expectations of her.  She’d come with him, and she’d stick with him. 

    
And, Gary was being was very attentive.  Ordering her favorite pizza, and making sure her glass stayed full.  He didn’t talk an awful lot to her, but the comments he did make were witty and well-timed.  He was really very funny when he wanted to be.  Tasha found herself laughing hysterically at one of his jokes.  After that, she just relaxed and enjoyed herself.

    
She began to feel ridiculous and stuffy for not wanting to come.  These people were okay.  It was a very friendly group.  She was glad that Gary had made her come.  She’d been so unspeakably bored and lonely, lately.  

    
The girl on Tasha’s right began a hesitant conversation with her.  Tasha answered enthusiastically, and soon Tammy was completely at ease with the glamorous brunette stranger.  They discovered they shared an interest in interior decorating and floral arranging.  Tammy was twenty-six, and had two children. 

    
Tasha noticed Gary listening to their conversation, and changed the subject immediately.

    
As they finally stood to leave, Gary leaned close to Tasha.  “Don’t you ever give a definite opinion on anything?  You ought to be a politician.”  he teased.

     “
I’d be happy to share some of my opinions regarding
you
.”  she answered testily, but the words for once held no sting.

     “
Yeah, I’ll just bet you would.”  He grumbled.  But his grin lingered all the way to the door.

    
Jim got between Tasha and Gary, and grabbed her arm.  “Let’s go somewhere, Tasha.  What do you say?” he mumbled in her ear.

     “
Hello.  No, thanks.  I can’t, tonight.”  she answered coolly.

     “
Why not?” he grumbled, looking surprised.

     “
I have made other plans.  I cannot discuss it with you now.”  she answered with a greater chill in her voice.

     “
Huh?  Oh – sorry.”  Jim mumbled, shocked and well aware that she was not pleased.  He stepped back with a squelched expression.

    
Gary held the door open patiently, pretending not to notice Jim’s embarrassment.  They joined the group in the parking lot, who were just deciding that it was a good night for a bonfire and sing-along at the beach.  Jim mumbled that he needed to get going, and slunk away with his shoulders hunched.

    
Tasha gritted her teeth, and said nothing.  If only she hadn’t insisted on coming with Gary, she could have done something fun with Jim! 

    
It turned out to be a perfect night at the beach; breezy, yet warm enough for comfort.  And the sunset was awesome when they arrived, blazing red-orange on the horizon.

    
They made a circle around the fire that the boys already had heartily blazing.  Tasha almost liked the songs they were singing.  They were joyful, and light.  As the voices accompanied by guitar went on, she could almost feel bonds growing all around her, among the people who had chosen to come. 

     
She felt Gary’s arm slip around her waist, and noticed that he was holding Deb with his other arm.  She felt very secure and content, nestled against him.  She could feel the deep rhythm of his voice against her ribs, and was amazed at the beautiful sounds the voices were making.  

    
When the singing hushed to a low hum, Gary picked up his Bible and began to thumb through it.  Everybody visibly stilled as he began to read.  Tasha found herself listening intently.  The words began to paint a terribly graphic picture, gripping her heart with it’s intensity. 

     “
Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain;  let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.” 

    
Tasha felt a shiver run up her spine as she looked into the faces around the campfire.  He read on, painting a graphic picture of the Army of God.   

    
Were these people -- sitting around this campfire – the Army of God?  Would they be willing to die for their beliefs?  These were the words Gary was speaking. 

    
She thought that they would be willing to die, if necessary.  These were no Sunday morning bulletin readers.  These people were
doers
-- prophets and warriors.  She knew it in her heart. 

     
The revelation stabbed into Tasha’s mind and heart, like nothing she had ever experienced before.  She felt torn asunder, just by knowing this truth. 

    
She knew that God had just touched her.  She didn’t completely understand it; but He became real to her as He told her about these, His people through the words that Gary spoke.  She knew He was alive, and that what was happening to her was mighty.  Very mighty.

    
Her heart began to pound, and she was crying inside, “I want more!  I want more of the truth!  Tell me more!”

    
Debora got a ride home with a friend, who wanted to stop for ice cream.  Tasha hadn’t wanted to go, and neither had Gary.  Everyone else had gone home, and the beach was deserted.

    
Wordlessly, Gary took Tasha’s hand, and smiled teasingly into her eyes.  They walked in silence through the velvety darkness of the night, watching the silvery waves break around their feet.

     “
Are you sorry you came with me tonight?” Gary asked quietly.

     “
No, not at all.  Why would you think such a thing?”

    
He shrugged.  “I thought perhaps you’d rather have gone dancing, or something.”

    
She felt a pang of guilt, remembering her very thought, that she could have gone and done something fun with Jim.  “Well, it was kind of different tonight, but I didn’t mind.  Actually, it was kind of nice.” she replied.

    
Gary raised an eyebrow in surprise.  “I thought I saw a look of dismay on your face when we left the pizza parlor, and decided to come here.”

     “
Perhaps.”  she admitted, “but I’m learning to try to think about things differently.  It was okay, once we got here.”

     “
I’m glad.  What did you like about it?” he asked.

     “
Well, I like pizza.  And music.  And the people were very nice.” 

     “
Anything else?”  Gary asked, stopping to wait for her answer.

     “
I’m sure I’ll think of something.”  she assured him.  “I did enjoy being with you.”

    
His eyes smoldered at her words.  He cupped her chin in his warm, strong hand, causing her heart to lurch.  “Did you?” he asked huskily.  “I very much enjoyed being with you.”

    
She could not believe it, when he looked down at her with shining eyes, bent his head, and kissed her.  It came as an absolute shock.  It was devastating in its gentleness, its tenderness.  It went straight to her heart.  Gary lingered, as though he didn’t want it to end.  At length, he stepped closer to her, and gathered her into his arms. 

    
The second kiss was much more than the light caress the first one had been.  Never before had a man made Tasha reel; but her head was spinning like a top, now.  It was too indescribable to put coherent thoughts together; Gary Taylor was pressing every inch of his long, lean, strong, muscular and sexy body against hers.  He was kissing her with a passion she’d only dreamed could exist.

    
He finally straightened up, and looked down at her with those deep lights shining from within his eyes.

     “
Oh ... oh, damn.” Tasha mumbled shakily. 

    
Gary took a deep breath, before agreeing.  “You can say that again.”  he said, weakly. 

    
Tasha was amazed to realize that he was as shaken as she was by what had happened between them.  Could he possibly feel the same way she did?

     “
Oh, Tasha.”  he whispered to her tenderly.  “Who would ever have guessed how sweet and vulnerable you are, under that harsh exterior you show the world?” he chastised.  He shook his head, and couldn’t seem to stop looking at her.  “Thank God, I found out.”

CHAPTER FOUR

     Tasha stretched, and purred in contentment.  Thank goodness, this swimsuit she was wearing wasn’t a disaster of prim ruffles, which Deb usually favored.   As it was in the van as a spare, it was probably one of Deb’s least favorites.  But Tasha was delighted with the coffee-colored maillot.

    
She turned on the blanket, and touched Gary’s hard biceps.  He was trying very hard to maintain, but they were going very deep very fast, despite his best efforts to keep things sane and take one step at a time. 

     “
Kiss me.”  she begged him in a low whisper.  His arms slipped around her. There was no way he could deny her, when she talked to him like that.  She felt again the thrill of deep pleasure his kisses gave her.  He was like an addictive drug. 

     “
Gary,”  she wondered, “how can it be like this?”

    
He laughed, and rolled away.  “I dunno, Tash, I’ll admit it’s beyond me.  All I know is, I can’t get enough of you.”  He shot her an affectionate look. 

     “
Then, indulge yourself.”  she challenged.  She leaned over him and kissed him with aggressive hunger.  He took it for several minutes, before he rolled her over and took charge.

     
Gary was almost out of control before he realized what was happening.  He pulled away from her gently but insistently, and braced himself on an arm to regain his composure.

    
He looked at her almost angrily.  “I can’t believe this.”  he admitted.  “I’ve never felt so strongly about anyone.”

     “
Thanks.”  she laughed.  “But really, Gary; neither one of us needs to say anything, do we?

     
Gary smiled at her regretfully.  “Which means it’s definitely time to go.”

     “
No!” Tasha cried pitifully.  “Oh, Gary, we just got here!  We haven’t even gone swimming.”

    
He smiled indulgently.  “Well, maybe a cold dip would be very wise.”  he conceded.  “But it’ll have to be fairly quick, so we can stop for something to eat.  I have to be back to church by seven.”

     “
Again?” Tasha sighed in frustration.

     “
A-gain.” he confirmed warily.  To his relief, Tasha giggled good-naturedly.

     “
I just can’t believe I’m falling madly in love with a minister.”  she marveled.  “It’s not Tasha-like, at all.”

     “
You can’t put people in boxes, honey.  “We each are what we choose to be, and everyone is different.  And, we continue to change as we learn, and grow.”

    
Tasha ran her hands over his tanned chest and well developed biceps.  “You’re awesome.”  she sighed appreciatively. 

    
He grinned at her and got to his feet.  “Time to hit that cold water.”  he advised teasingly.

    
The water was deliciously cool and refreshing.  Gary was very glad he’d consented to swim.  Tasha was a complete delight when she was happy, and she was always happy when she was swimming.  Her sultry eyes and soft laughter delighted Gary beyond expression.