Love So Heavenly (A Clean Christian African American Romance)

by Shannon Gardener

  “Thanks Cathy,” Faith told her with a smile. “It was quite an experience.”

  She left around five thirty and drove to her new job. It sounded so good to say it. They had not talked about salary but she was not in the least bit concerned about that – she was raring to go.

  He was on the phone when she got there; so Faith went over to the table and started unpacking some books that were in a box. Today being Friday, she had dressed casually; in dark blue jeans and a floral shirt and ankle length boots. She was ready to work.

  “Hi there,” he called out to her; putting the phone on the table. He was also in jeans and a T-shirt and the combination looked good on him. “So you are officially finished now?” he came over and started helping her.

  “I am,” she told him with that smile that caused his heart to hitch. “So I am officially yours.”

  “Excuse me?” he asked staring at her.

  “I am officially working here now,” she told him with a puzzled look. “What did you think I meant?”

  “Oh I knew what you meant,” he laughed, mentally kicking himself for thinking something else. “I thought you would come in officially on Monday,”

  “And leave you to do all this by yourself?” she chided. “We’re in this thing together and I pull my weight.”

  “I am sure you do,” he told her with a smile.

  They worked until it was almost seven o’clock and he asked her if she was hungry.

  “Starving,” she told him with a laugh. The place was beginning to look like an office now and the other things would be delivered in the morning.

  “How about I order us some pizza?” he suggested; reaching for his phone.

  “Good idea,” she told him.

  When the pizza arrived, they ate in companionable silence with Faith telling him a little about herself. “We need to pray before we open,” she said matter-of-factly; sipping on orange soda.

  “What?” he stared at her puzzled.

  “We need to ask God’s blessings on the business,” she clarified.

  “You pray?” he asked in amazement.

  “All the time,” she told him casually. “I go to church and I am a Christian.”

  “I see,” he murmured, still looking at her.

  “Do you go to church?” she asked him.

  “I used to,” he said with an uncomfortable shrug. “Have not being in ages.”

  “I am going to invite you to mine sometime soon,” she told him smoothly, standing up as if that was settled. “I am stuffed.”

  He stood up as well, his eyes on her. “You are one of a kind aren’t you?” he asked her slowly.

  “Oh most definitely,” she flashed that smile at him and went over to move the chairs around. Joshua shook his head slowly as if in a daze. He had a feeling that his life was about to change drastically.

  Chapter 3

  Faith dressed carefully in a peach close fitting dress that hugged her frame in all the right places and she added black heels that were probably too high and maybe uncomfortable but it was her first day and she was going to set the pace. She slipped gold hoops into her earlobes and put the matching thin gold necklace around her neck. Her hair was wild around her face and she had put on more make-up than usual. She had gone to church yesterday feeling vibrant and free of worries and had deposited her check into her bank account with a smile. No more worrying about where her next meal was coming from.

  “You look chipper this morning,” Maureen had told her as soon as she entered the building. She had told her about the new job and had gone on and on about the space and the possibilities of growing with a new company.

  “And what about the owner?” her friend had asked. She had told her about Joshua being a white guy who didn’t look so bad.

  “What about him?” Faith had looked at her puzzled.

  “How does he translate in the looks department?” she had asked impatiently.

  “He looks okay I guess,” Faith had shrugged. They had been outside after service; waiting while Mark spoke to Pastor. Then sudden understanding dawned. ”Are you serious?” Faith shook her head at her friend in wonder. “You are already setting me up with the man I am going to be working for – girl you know I don’t date people I work with; especially my boss.”

  “There’s always a first,” Maureen told her with a smile.

  “Not for me,” Faith had replied firmly.

  Now looking in the mirror, she appraised her image as she applied peach lip gloss. She supposed he was an attractive man but he was not for her.

  He was already there when she got there. The office was completely set up because of the work they had done on Saturday and Faith stared around the place with admiration.

  “You are here early,” she told him, walking over to put her large pocket book on her desk.

  He looked her up and down in admiration before glancing at his wrist watch. It was only seven thirty and they did not open until eight thirty. “So are you,” he observed. “Is this going to be your normal time or is this just to impress me?”

  “Clearly to impress you,” she grinned, her delightful dimples peeping out, causing him to stare. “You’re staring again,” she told him with a pointed look.

  “I am not going to apologize,” he said with a smile. “I am sure you being such a beautiful woman you’re used to it.”

  “Not really,” she shrugged carelessly; going around taking a seat on the padded chair in front of the computer terminal. “What’s the first thing we need to do?” she asked him, taking out a pad and pencil.

  “Ready for work I see,” he told her wryly. “How about coffee?”

  “You mean I am supposed to go and get the coffee?” she asked him, her well-shaped brows rose. “I must tell you right now that I will not be doing that. If I am out and coming in, I have no problem in doing so but otherwise no.”

  “No little Ms. Spitfire,” he told her dryly. “I have a coffee maker right over there and I was actually offering to make us some.”

  Faith shook her head. “I am sorry Joshua,” she told him contritely. “I am so used to men trying to slip that into my list of duties to be done that I just felt my hackles rising.”

  “So the answer is yes?” he asked in amusement.

  “Definitely,” she nodded. Her attention already on the computer she had booted up. She had made a list of the companies that were hiring and their particulars and positions available and input them from Saturday. They had also put out advertisements on various social medias about the company.

  Faith accepted the coffee he brought over gratefully and took a sip; her eyes widening in appreciation. “Good coffee,” she told him.

  “I know,” he grinned; his eyes crinkling attractively. He came over and joined her, pulling up a chair beside her desk. “It’s kind of my specialty,” he told her cheekily.

  “Good for you,” she said with a roll of her large dark eyes.

  “I saw that.”

  “You were meant to,” Faith retorted; resting back against the back rest of her chair. She felt very comfortable around him, as if she had known him a long time and she thanked God for providing this for her.

  They got down to business. He already had several clients lined up so they went to work trying to find placement for them. The phone rang around nine o’clock and with a pleased smile Faith answered. “Placement Services, how may I serve you today?”

  Joshua came out of his office and watched as she spoke to the client, a ready smile on her beautiful face and he was mesmerized. He could not get her out of his head when he got home and he had a hard time being professional around her. Sometimes he even found himself getting tongue-tied. She hung up from the call and came from around her desk, her smile wide as she hurried over to him. He wondered how she did not trip and fall in those killer heels and he knew he would hurry over to catch her if she did. “We just got our first placement,” she told him excitedly and for a moment she thought she was going to hug him and he braced himsel
f. But she stopped just in front of him. “That was Mr. Larry from Telecom. Ltd. They need a receptionist so I was thinking of Sally Mead; one of the girls on the list. I think she would be perfect and the poor thing needs a job desperately.”

  “I think you’re right,” he told her slowly, staring at her. For a moment they stood there just looking at each other. Faith felt her breathing becoming constricted. The moment was interrupted by the opening of the door; and Faith spun away hurriedly to greet their first walk in; seeing to it that the girl was comfortable and offered her a cup of coffee before she took her particulars. After that, several people started trickling in; some curious as to what sort of business it was and some actual potential clients. She was also kept busy answering the phone and talking to companies and people calling in to find out what can be done for them.

  It was after three before they got a break and grabbed sandwiches at their desks. They had yet to set a lunch schedule and Faith made a note to get that done some time during the week.

  The day flew by quickly and Faith did not have time to process the moment that had caught her unawares and to find out what it meant. She caught Joshua looking at her several times but pretended she did not notice and that she was busy.

  It was after six before the last person left the office and they locked the doors. Faith sank down in her seat and eased off her shoes; closing her eyes in relief. She was tired but it was a good tired and a smile played around her full lips.

  “Care to share?” Joshua asked mildly, standing beside her desk.

  “It’s been a good day hasn’t it?” she said dreamily, wiggling her toes in comfort.

  “Thanks to you,” he told her softly, sitting on the chair and spinning hers around; reaching down to grab her feet.

  “What are you doing?” she squeaked as he paced them between his open legs on the chair.

  “Giving you a foot rub,” he told her, holding on firmly when she tried to pull away. “You women amaze me. You wear these impossibly high heels without any thought of being comfortable.”

  “You are my boss and you’re not supposed to give me any foot rubs,” Faith said firmly, still trying to wriggle out but stopped as his hands worked magic on her aching feet.

  “We are more partners than boss and employee,” he told her mildly, gently working out the kinks.

  “Better?” he asked softly

  “Mm,” she murmured, her eyes closed in appreciation.

  “You have very pretty feet,” he said huskily, his hands sliding slowly over her high instep.

  Faith eyes flew open and caught his and what she saw in them took her breath away. His eyes had turned smoky and his touch had become more of a caress than a massage; she was caught like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle.

  It was he who broke the spell. As if coming from a far off place, he shook his head and slowly put her feet away from him as he stood up. Without a word, he went inside his office and closed the door behind him.

  Even when she was leaving, he still had not come out and she called out to tell him that she was leaving. He answered with a mumbled ‘Okay.”

  Faith unlocked her car door and sat there in the car, resting her head against the steering wheel, her heart hammering inside her chest. His touch had unnerved her and she had never felt that way before. It could not happen again, she decided firmly, starting up the car. From now on, it will be strictly professional.

  *****

  The next day she went to work and headed straight for her desk; telling him a cool morning and started working. He did not come over and offer her any coffee and she was grateful; she could get her own coffee; they did not need to venture into forbidden territory.

  People started coming in immediately and she was kept very busy. At one point, he told her he had to meet with someone in town and he left her to fend for herself. She actually felt a sense of relief when he was gone; not worrying about the sensations he was causing in her chest.

  She placed several people successfully in jobs and felt a sense of satisfaction. It was after four and he still had not returned but the door was pushed open and an elderly lady came in; timidly eyeing the place.

  Faith moved from around the desk and went over to her. “May I help you?” she asked the lady kindly. She looked lost and badly in need of sustenance.

  “I am looking for a job,” she told Faith, twisting the badly mangled pocket book that had seen better days in her hands.

  “How about you take a seat?” Faith indicating one of the comfortable chairs. “Would you like some coffee?”

  The woman nodded and sat down. Faith went to get the coffee and a slice of cake that had been given to them by a client.

  The woman accepted both gratefully and Faith took a seat beside her. “How are you?”

  “Not very good,” the woman laughed ruefully, taking a sip of her coffee and saying thanks. “I am a widow. My husband died a year ago and I had to stop working to take care of him and now I am stone broke.”

  “What kind of experiences do you have?” Faith asked, determined not to think about how old the woman was and the possibility of anyone hiring her was zero to none. The Lord will make a way.

  “I was an accountant for many years but my husband’s sickness wiped out our entire savings and now I am barely hanging on.” The woman said with a sigh.

  “Do you believe in God?” Faith asked her.

  “I do,” the woman replied. “I have been kind of wavering in my faith for the last year when I realized that I am barely hanging on.”

  “He knows what you are going through and it was He who sent you here today.” Faith said decisively. “We are going to find something for you.”

  “Oh my dear!” the woman exclaimed, grabbing the girls hands in her own lined ones gratefully. “My name is Gladys Campbell. Thank you, God bless you.”

  It was at that moment Joshua came in; taking in the scene at a glance.

  “Joshua, this is Gladys Campbell, a client,” Faith told him; refusing to look into his eyes, sure of what she would see there.

  “Nice to meet you Gladys,” he shook her hand.

  He waited until the woman had left after saying thanks over and over again with Faith reassuring her that she would call her soon.

  “What are you doing?” Joshua asked following her to her desk.

  “Going to do some tidying up,” she told him deliberately not understanding his question.

  “You know very well what I mean,” he bit out sharply, crowding her. “She is well past the age of being employed and you know it.”

  “And what exactly does that mean?” she asked, moving away from him and sitting down.

  “It means that no one will hire her Faith,” he said impatiently. She looked so damned beautiful that he had a hard time keeping his hands at his sides.

  “I will make sure someone does,” Faith said firmly.

  “Okay, I give up,” he threw his hands up in the air. “You are going to do what you damn well please.” He strode inside his office and slammed the door shut.

  Faith gave a careless shrug and continued doing her work. He was right. Gladys was way past the age of being employed but the woman had been so desperate that she could not have said no. The Lord will make a way, as her mother always told her; surely He would not leave poor Gladys destitute and not provide for her?

  As had happened the day before, he stayed inside his office and mumbled goodbye when she called out to him. His sulking was becoming tiresome, she thought dryly as she headed out to her car; totally unaware that he was watching her through his window; a brooding expression on his face.

  She had Bible study that evening and went straight there from the office. It had just started and she slid into the back seat and started listening to Sister Jones explain about forgiveness as Jesus saw it. Maureen came in shortly after and joined her in the back seat.

  It was finished at seven o’clock and they did not get to talk until they were outside. “How is work?”


  “Very good,” Faith told her

  “You look great as usual. How is Joshua?” Maureen asked her friend.

  “Why do you ask?” Faith asked sharply.

  Maureen raised her brows. “Something going on that I should know about?” They were leaning against Faith’s car and she waved to Sister Margaret who was just driving out.

  “There is nothing going on. He’s my boss.” Faith told her firmly.

  “Okay, if you say so,” Maureen said just as Mark drove up. “See you on Saturday honey; remember we are going shopping to look for a wedding dress.”

  “I remember,” she told her friend, waving to Mark as Maureen went towards the car.

  She drove home slowly; her mind on what happened at the office. She deliberately put it from her mind – it had no place there.

  The next day was equally busy and they did not have time to talk to each other except in passing messages. Faith worked hard trying to place Gladys and got the same answers: she was not suitable – translation: she was too old. But she would not give up – someone would hire her.

  Before she knew it – it was Friday, the end of the first work week and a successful one at that. They had just closed the door when Joshua asked her to come into his office. For a minute, she felt her heart tripping, wondering if he was going to tell her it was not working out. Then with a shrug and a squaring of her shoulders she went in. He was seated around his large desk; a brooding expression on his face. “Please sit,” he nodded at one of the chairs in front of the desk.

  “You’re doing a good job,” he told her soberly.

  “But?” she prodded.

  “But nothing, I am just congratulating you on doing a good job.” He said impatiently. “Why are you so defensive?”

  “Why are you so upset?” she countered.

  “I am not,” he bit out; then taking a deep breath he stood up. “I am sorry, just a lot of things on my mind.”

  “Thanks. Is that all?” she asked him politely.

  “I guess,” he told her.

  “Goodnight, have a nice weekend.” She stood up and discovered that she was too near to him. He was just within a hairsbreadth of him and she could smell his cologne; something elusive but there.