Sunday's Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

than a compliment.”
    “How can two faults possibly be an insult, when too many to count isn’t?” She furrowed her brow in confusion.
    “Her favorite quote is ‘ women’s faults are many while men have only two. Everything they say and everything they do.’ I get that at least twice a week, if not more frequently.”
    Hattie laughed quietly. “I shall have to remember that line and wind Steve up with it.” She fell silent as the service began.
    He’s so easy to talk to, Lord. My heart is running wild here reminding me he’s a man, a striking man at that and I’m a woman. I admit I’m attracted to him. I don’t think it’s the fame thing. At least I hope I’m not that shallow. And he can’t possibly be interested in me. Let my head overrule my heart here.
    Concentrating on the service was hard, but not just because she was tired. She was aware of Cal’s every movement. The way his long tanned fingers held his Bible and turned the pages. The angle his head was tilted at and the strands of hair falling across his eyes that her fingers itched to push back out of the way. And the way his left ankle hooked over his right knee, cradling his Bible.
    She pushed a hand through her hair. She was here to worship God, not the attributes of the man next to her. Even if he was the first man to notice she was a woman and not part of the furniture. That’s if they noticed her at all. She took a deep breath. If he was going to invade her thoughts this way, then she was going to pray for him.
    As the service finished, she picked up her bag. All she wanted to do was go back home and sleep for a couple of hours before starting dinner.
    Cal turned to her. “I was wondering if you had anything planned.”
    “Right now?” She held his gaze.
    “Right now,” he repeated. “Because if not, would you like to come for a walk along the river with me?”
    “Me?” Flabbergasted, her mind froze and she was sure she had a stupid look on her face to match. And suddenly she wasn’t as tired as she had been a few minutes earlier.
    Cal nodded. “I don’t make a habit of asking hoteliers out, but you’re here and I’m here, the sun is shining and—”
    “OK, thank you. A walk would be nice.” She agreed quickly before he could change his mind.
    “If nothing else it might enhance your street cred.” He winked and her heart melted into a gooey mass on the floor by her feet.
    From the other side of her, Steve caught her arm and squeezed it, an unspoken message that he needed a word.
    “I need to speak to someone first.”
    Cal stood. “Sure. I’ll wait outside.”
    Hattie smiled as he edged out of the pew and headed down the aisle. Then she twisted and raised an eyebrow at her brother. “Yes?”
    His normally smiling eyes were hard and cold. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “I’m going for a walk. I’ll be back in time to make dinner, don’t worry.”
    “He’s a guest.”
    “I know that. What’s your point?”
    Steve’s scowl deepened. “You’re crossing a line. You don’t date the guests. It’s one of the rules, remember?”
    “For crying out loud, it’s not a date. I don’t date anyone, do I? It’s a walk.” She reined in her irritation, remembering where she was. “Steve, is this just because of who he is?”
    “Hattie, he lives differently to how we do. He’s doubtless used to having a pretty girl on his arm and getting what he wants.” He lowered his voice. “He’s probably only after one thing.”
    “That’s more than a little judgmental, don’t you think? You don’t know the first thing about who he really is. He’s a Christian anyway.” She lowered her voice. “He can hardly take me back to his hotel room now, can he?”
    She stood up, pleased at the shocked look on her brother’s face. “I thought you knew me better than that.” Shouldering her bag, she stormed down the aisle, blinking hard.
    Her own brother didn’t trust her. Maybe she wouldn’t bother to go back to the