Divine Temptation (22 page)

They stared at each other, silently sealing their pact. It had been weeks since Maggie had felt their flesh meld the way it did now with her hand pressed against his face, and she knew no matter how many times she experienced it, the sensation would always take her by surprise. “Father Tom said I should keep an arm’s distance from you.”

“Should I move away?” Evan’s silvery irises flicked back and forth, studying her expression, while his hand tensed on her hip.

Maggie shook her head no as best she could with half her face against her pillow, and she lightened the pressure of her hand on his face so that her fingertips barely skimmed its surface, gliding over the contours of his jaw and cheekbone. “I can handle this. You’re my friend. My blessed, divine friend, and I can keep the lines straight. Plus, I’ve got a burning hunk of man now to direct my earthly passions at.”

“Raymond?”

“Yes, Raymond.” She tweaked his nose and brought her arm under the cover, snuggling in closer to her platonic friend for the last few minutes before the alarm would sound and she’d have to begin her day.

“Just be careful, Maggie. I’ll be around, but that doesn’t mean I can protect you from everything.”

Maggie could hardly breathe. Her heart throbbed at double time as Ray’s weight pressed into her. Her skin burned despite the fact that her blouse was now open and hanging half way off of her. Although Evan might be lurking somewhere near, she felt no sense of her guardian angel. But just the thought of him was enough to rally her force of will. She pushed back Raymond, inching him away. Her sudden resistance seemed to surprise him, and he sat all the way back in the driver’s seat of his truck. Once she’d caught her breath, she climbed over the console to straddle him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she repeated as she feathered small kisses onto the side of his neck. She’d entered into the make-out session willingly enough—instigated it, if she was being honest—but she hadn’t expected it to get so heated that quickly. Ray didn’t say anything, just breathed hot, heavy gusts onto Maggie’s bare shoulder. She pulled back and readjusted her shirt, slowly buttoning it back up as she tried to explain herself. “This all just kind of took me by surprise, and there’s something I want to talk to you about before we get too far down this road, okay? I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it.”

Raymond brought a hand up to smooth his disheveled hair. He seemed to be more bewildered than angry. “Feel about what?”

“Carl and I never got an annulment. So, if you adhere strictly to the church’s rules, then having sex with me would make you an adulterer. And I just, I didn’t think it would be fair of me to pin that scarlet letter on you without at least warning you first.”

He turned his eyes to the window, and she kicked herself internally for not having told him earlier. He probably figured she was free and clear of marital encumbrances when Father Tom set them up.

Raymond returned his gaze to her. “Is that really all this is about?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“Maggie, I know this could become an issue if we went as far as getting married and wanted a church wedding, but even then I’m sure it could be worked out. Red tape as far as I’m concerned. So no, it doesn’t bother me. Does it bother you?”

Maggie shrugged. “I’m not sure exactly where I stand on it. And believe me, I’ve given it a lot of thought. But I just can’t bring myself to negate my marriage to Carl as if it was never real. And the more I’ve thought about it, an annulment just seems like a way to avoid admitting to a mistake. Isn’t it unfair for the church to deny me a second chance just because I’m willing to own up to my mistakes rather than ask for a free pass?”

While talking, she mis-buttoned the top of her blouse, and Ray’s long fingers followed behind, putting the buttons into the correct holes. “It sounds to me like you know exactly where you come out on the issue. Listen to his word, and listen to your heart—it’ll all come together.” He finished buttoning and ran his fingertips along the inside edge of her collar, ticking her skin. Maggie smiled in appreciation of his straightforward simplicity.

“So where does this leave us?” he asked.

“It leaves you as a very good kisser.” She leaned down and gave him a soft peck on the lips. “And me needing to get into the house before the kids start getting suspicious about what Mommy and Mr. Fender have been doing out in the driveway for so long.”

He laid his hand over hers and held it to his chest. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” She sighed. “I guess I’ve still got some internal wrestling to do. But I’m getting there. And when I arrive, you’ll be the first to know.” They finished off the evening with a long, slow kiss that brought Maggie a little closer to clarity.

It had been more than a week since the incident at the Wilson’s before Maggie thought to call Sharon. Kirsten and Liam were both occupied in other rooms, so she grabbed the phone and dialed, planning to chat with her friend while she straightened up in the kitchen.

“Hello,” Sharon said.

“Hi! It’s me, Maggie.”

“Yeah, I know. Saw your name on the phone.” Sharon’s tone stayed flat.

“Right, of course. Well, I was calling to see if you’re free next weekend. The kids and I—and this new guy I’ve been seeing—were hoping you’d join us for Boo at the Zoo. I know it’ll be crazy crowded being the last weekend before Halloween, but—”

“Can’t. Busy next weekend.”

“Oh, shoot. I really want you to meet Raymond, the new guy. He’s great.”

“I’m sure he is, and sorry to shock you that I, too, have a life. May not be the thrill ride that yours is, but it’s mine, and I’ve got plans.”

“Oh, something exciting?” Maggie asked in an attempt to allay whatever had put her friend in such a sour mood.

“Probably not to you.” Sharon left her answer clipped, causing Maggie to suspect her friend’s irritability was purposely being directed toward her.

She proceeded, babbling now that she was somewhat nervous, under the hope that she was just being paranoid. “Well, if it’s an adult-only thing that’s got you tied up, Katie and Shelby are welcome to join us. Actually, Kirsten’s sort of counting on Katie being there. Raymond’s bringing his teenaged son, and she’s just absolutely mortified by the thought that the outing could be construed as a double father-son, mother-daughter date. Apparently she doesn’t think Jason, who I haven’t met yet but sounds like a great kid, is cool enough for her.”

“Ah, okay, now I get why you called. Sorry, can’t help you out. Katie’s coming with us.”

“Okay, well, I figured it was worth a shot. So how’s everything else with you?”

“If you really gave a rat’s ass about how I was doing you’d probably call more often, and not just to ask a favor.”

“Aha, so you
are
mad at me.”

“Frankly, yeah. I’m tired of being hung up on and rushed out on. You’re making me feel like the clingy best friend, and I guess I’m just done with it. You’re not obligated to be my friend, and I’m not obligated to be yours. We don’t have to pretend just because our daughters are close.”

Maggie was stunned into silence.

“Look,” Sharon continued. “I’m most likely perimenopausal, and I’ve had a shitty week. It’s best to hang up now before I say something I’ll really regret. Have a good time at the zoo.”

Maggie heard a click at the other end of the line, but continued to hold her phone, staring at it even after she’d also clicked off. She couldn’t deny she’d been neglectful, but she had a lot going on under the surface that Sharon had no idea about and felt unfairly blindsided. She was completely oblivious to how richly she’d deserved her friend’s reproach.

By the time zoo day arrived, Maggie had decided it was better that it was just the five of them for their first “family date.” This way they could get to know each other without being distracted by others. Every year, Maggie had thought about coming to the zoo for its autumn festivities, but it took Ray suggesting it to get her there. The day was cool and slightly windy, sending orange and yellow leaves swirling through the park at random intervals, and the animals were so much more alert and energized in the crisp weather than during the hot summer months. In contrast, Raymond was noticeably more reserved. He didn’t grab Maggie’s hand or show any other type of physical affection, and she appreciated his respect for any conflicted feelings the kids might have about the new relationship.

It turned out that Kirsten didn’t need live people for a distraction and spent most of the day texting her friends and glancing up once in a while at a particularly playful rhino or baboon. Jason seemed bored at first, but as the day progressed, it became clear that every word he said was like gold to Liam—particularly when the topic of video games came up—and the two boys started palling around, with Jason taking Liam off on side expeditions to the bear wilderness and the reptile house. As Maggie had suspected, Jason was a very nice kid, but he wore his insecurities on the outside—in the form of dark, nondescript clothing and long bangs that shrouded his eyes. She was pleased that Kirsten hadn’t been outright rude to the boy, but she made a note to talk to her daughter later about making more of an effort to be nice.

Things got busy for Ray the following week, and Maggie only heard from him sporadically. She was disappointed when he didn’t answer her last-minute phone call inviting him over to drink wine with her while she handed out Halloween candy. It tended to be more drinking than candy giving since few trick-or-treaters ventured into her neighborhood of townhouses.

She’d already gone out with Liam, dressed as Super Mario for the second year in a row, for an hour before Carl came to take him to what they called the “rich neighborhood” where houses gave out full-sized candy bars and cans of soda. Then she’d driven Kirsten to the annual Halloween scavenger hunt party at Katie’s and stubbornly stayed in the car when she’d dropped her off instead of accepting the customary open invitation for the parents to come in for a mug of Sharon’s specialty Halloween grog.

When Ray responded via text that he couldn’t make it, Maggie sighed and filled her glass, resigned to drink alone as she smiled at the random goblin or princess on her door step and tossed fun-sized candy bars into their bags. After a particularly adorable spider left, she kept the door open and leaned against its frame to watch the arachnid, its parents, and their baby ladybug amble down the sidewalk.

“It’s safe to come in, you know. I’m all alone,” Maggie said when the family was too far to hear.

“You knew I was here?” Evan asked, his lean form coming into full view as he stepped from the shadows.

“I always know.”

“And yet this is the first time in weeks you’ve invited me in…”

“Sorry.” She smiled and stepped back to motion him through the doorway. “I’ve been busy.”

“So I’ve seen,” he remarked as he strode past her. After Maggie shut the door, he asked, “And everything feels…normal?”

“Remarkably normal. Is that why you’ve been sticking so close to the shadows? To restore normalcy? Do you think that’ll help keep me away from the evil influence?”

“Possibly. Sometimes these things are drawn to those closest to our Lord. Being a constant companion of an angel could make you a target.”

“Then wouldn’t it make more sense for you to not come around at all?”

“Do you want me to stay away?” Evan asked.

“No, definitely not. It’s just that, if you’re not fooling me, surely you’re not fooling it, them, whatever. So is a true separation something we should consider?”