Can I Get an Amen

by Janice Sims

  “Good afternoon, ma’am,” he said, unable to stop smiling. “I couldn’t help admiring your lovely voice.”

  His smile was unlike anything Valerie had ever seen before. It transformed his face into pure sunlight—an intimate smile, beautiful with brightness—warming her insides. “Thank you, sir. I’ve been getting a lot of that today,” she replied with a laugh.

  Regarding her with a provocative look in his eye, Norman enjoyed the sound of her gentle laughter rippling through the air. It pervaded his entire body like a bolt of electricity—strong, powerful, magnetic. “Every word of what they said is true. I’ve never heard such a beautiful voice. Please excuse my manners. My name is Norman Grant, and yours?” he asked, extending his hand.

  “Valerie Freeman,” she told him, placing her palm against his. She felt the electricity of his touch, and an unwelcome surge of excitement hit her in places that she didn’t want to feel it. He’d struck a vibrant chord within her, and quivers of desire surged through her veins. “I’m happy to meet you.”

  “Oh no, the pleasure is all mine.” It was easy for Norman to get lost in the way he looked at Valerie. He was totally entranced by her compelling presence and felt as if he wanted to wrap himself around her like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night.

  Valerie enjoyed the touch of his hand—warm, strong, and firm—much like the man she imagined him to be. The scent of his cologne wafted through the air, assaulting her senses. A wonderful shiver of wanting ran through her again and made her knees buckle. Her heart hammered in her ears, and her pulse skittered at an alarming rate.

  Norman released her hand and embraced her, catching her as she swooned. “What’s wrong, Valerie? Are you all right?”

  You can’t fix what’s wrong with me here in church, Valerie thought. She was so busy checking out how handsome he was in his suit that her breath caught in her throat. “I—I’m…a little lightheaded…from not eating this morning, I guess.”

  He took her hand, and saw this as a chance to show her how chivalrous he could be. He wanted to protect her in every possible way, and here was a heaven-sent opportunity. “Well, we’ll just have to do something about that, won’t we, Valerie?”

  His touch upset her balance, and she stumbled on the way to wherever he was taking her. Her body tingled at the way he said her name. “Where are we going?” she quizzed.

  Without warning, he wrapped his strong arm around her waist to steady her. “Just trust me, okay?” His expression stilled, letting her know that he took taking care of her very seriously.

  The mystery in his eyes beckoned to her irresistibly, and she didn’t want to dull the sparkle she saw in them. “That sounds good to me,” she said, enjoying the safety and security of her protector’s arms.

  At that moment, Valerie didn’t want to be anywhere else.

  Three

  Norman’s strong hands continued to circle Valerie’s waist as he led her downstairs to the Fellowship Hall. He helped her to a table, pulled her seat out, and she sat down, thanking him for his kindness. After making sure she felt better, he hung his robe over the back of a chair, excused himself, and went to the kitchen to see what he could find for her to eat before lunch was officially served.

  Finding Sister Lawson, the head of the food ministry, he explained Valerie’s situation. She stopped loading food platters and fixed an emergency meal to hold Valerie over so she couldn’t say she’d visited Red Oaks Christian Fellowship and no one fed her after she’d nearly passed out.

  “Sister Lawson, have you seen Mother Maybelle?” Norman asked. Surely, if the feisty church elder had seen him with Valerie, she would’ve been right by their sides, interrogating the poor woman with dozens of questions. Norman bristled at the thought. Very little happened in that church that Mother Maybelle didn’t know about, but Norman didn’t want to share Valerie with her or anyone else—at least, not that day.

  Sister Lawson retrieved a steaming pan of cornbread from the oven and smeared several pats of butter on top of it before she responded. “Yes, baby, I saw Mother Maybelle a little while ago. She cornered Reverend Avery and had him hemmed up in his office about something that needed her ‘immediate attention.’ There’s no need to look for her, because she’s going to be there for a while.”

  Breathing a sigh of relief, Norman kissed Sister Lawson on the cheek, much to her surprise, then grabbed the tray she’d made and took it to Valerie.

  Taking charge with quiet assurance, Norman set a plate with a fried chicken sandwich and a generous helping of macaroni salad before her. He put a cup of coffee and a slice of sweet potato pie next to that.

  “You need sustenance,” he advised Valerie, as if he had the cure for whatever ailed her. The satisfaction of being able to give her what she needed showed in his eyes. “I hope you enjoy this snack. The food ministry is one of our church’s most successful outreach programs. The ladies who run the kitchen are excellent cooks, and they love what they do.”

  Valerie bowed her head and blessed her food. “You really shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble, Norman,” she said when her prayer was complete. “It’s my fault that I didn’t eat breakfast this morning.” She looked up at him and realized that an air of calm and self-confidence surrounded the man by her side. She liked that. His arresting good looks totally captured her attention. “Thank you for your hospitality. If I had known that you were bringing me down here to feed me, I wouldn’t have let you do it. I could’ve waited until I got home to fix myself a salad or something.”

  He answered her with a deep chuckle. “I figured that, so that’s why I didn’t tell you. It was no trouble to get you something. You don’t usually eat in the morning?”

  The scent of his cologne tantalized her again, and she felt the power that emanated from him as he sat closer to her. He had a certain air of command that matched his polished veneer. There was no doubt in Valerie’s mind that Norman Grant was all man because he exuded masculinity in every possible way. She knew that he could have his choice of women if he wanted, but she convinced herself not to worry about things over which she had no control. She was in his company at this time, and she’d leave it at that.

  “I got up early today to work on a project that’s due tomorrow. I hadn’t planned on coming to church, but when I heard your choir on the radio, the next thing I knew, I was at the morning service.”

  Norman nodded with understanding, his eyes remaining steady on Valerie’s face. “You don’t usually go to church?”

  She thought she’d dissolve under his gaze—so warm, so gentle, but so intense. “I used to go regularly but haven’t since I moved from Atlanta after my job transferred me here six months ago.” Valerie nervously used her fork to move her macaroni salad around on her plate.

  “That’s a shame,” Norman said. He was disappointed that Valerie was not a faithful churchgoer, but a small part of him was pleased that she didn’t already belong to a choir. If he could convince this beautiful woman with the magnificent voice to join Red Oaks and his choir, he would be more than happy to see that she was made to feel welcome in the congregation, and he would even provide one-on-one rehearsals to bring her up to date on their music. “Did you sing in the choir there?”

  Valerie sprinkled hot sauce on her sandwich and took a bite. The memory of singing at White Rock Baptist brought a twisted smile to her face. Singing at church had been one of the things that made her feel whole, but the thought of using her voice again—even for the Lord—was too painful for her to do just yet. “Actually, I did. I even sang solos, sometimes.”

  His smile widened with approval. Thoughts of Valerie standing front and center at Red Oaks, belting out the church’s favorite gospel songs, ran rampant in his head. If she joined his choir, he would get a chance to enjoy her precious voice and her curvaceous figure every Sunday morning. Now that was something for him to look forward to.

  “You should consider joining Red Oaks, Valerie. I’m looking for a new lead soloist, and I could certai
nly use a strong, trained voice like yours, especially for the choir’s annual concert later this year.” Valerie was looking down at her plate, but he saw the look of apprehension that crossed her face. Norman cleared his throat to make sure he had her undivided attention. When she looked up at him, he caught and held her gaze as he continued. “Of course, I’d be happy to teach you any songs you don’t already know. I can make time, if you’re interested in learning.”

  A shudder of sexual awareness shook Valerie’s body, as spurts of hungry desire spiraled through her. Was Norman trying to recruit a singer for his choir or a mate for his bedroom? It didn’t matter to her. As good as he looked and as well as he was built, she was finding it mighty difficult to think of anything other than being crushed underneath him while he was buried deep inside her.

  Valerie cleared her throat and fixed her gaze on the small, gold, hoop earring in his left ear; she was too afraid to look directly at Norman for fear that he’d know she was imagining what was under his clothes. She wished she could find a way to see him again that wouldn’t involve her singing. “I—I can’t make a decision about that now. I’ll think about it, though,” she promised, gracing him with the smile he’d come to love, although he’d known her for less than an hour.

  Norman studied her as she spoke and was unable to ignore the attraction building between them. He enjoyed watching the cute thing her nose did when she talked and the way she licked her lips after each bite without having a clue how much she was turning him on.

  To Norman’s way of thinking, Valerie was a woman worth getting to know—a diamond in the rough. With her, he’d have to give all or nothing. She was the kind of woman with whom he’d have to take his time and cultivate something real. Just from the way she carried herself, he could tell that she was a woman of class and substance. There was no doubt in his mind that he could bring Valerie home to Mama and be proud doing it.

  Momentarily lost in his own reveries, Norman recalled the many women he’d dated and dumped. He’d bedded many women before he joined Red Oaks and cleaned up his act, but none of them had meant anything to him. Looking for Miss Right, he still dated his fair share, but he hadn’t met a woman who made him want to settle down yet. But although he’d just met Valerie, so far she seemed like the type of woman who had what it took.

  “That’s fair enough. In the meantime, if you make a decision before you come back to visit the church, please give me a call. I’d love to hear from you again.” Norman reached in his pocket and produced a business card to hand to Valerie.

  It was something about the way he said he’d love to hear from her again that made Valerie’s senses spin. Her breasts tingled under the fabric of her suit jacket, and the wild fluttering of her heart was the only movement she felt in that large room. When Norman looked at her, it was as if his eyes burned right through her body. It was how close he seemed to stand to her that made her realize just how very compelling and potent a man he was. There was some tangible bond between them that she couldn’t deny—even if it was unwelcome and she didn’t want it.

  Quickly, every sinew in her body heated up and she broke out in a cold sweat. “Ooh, excuse me. I—I think I need…some air,” she stuttered, shooting up from her chair, grabbing her coat and purse. In a whirlwind, Valerie ran out of the room, leaving Norman stunned.

  Not thinking twice, he decided to run after her. His footsteps thundered down the huge room. He’d turned on his heel and was almost to the door when he bumped into someone.

  “Hey, pay attention to where you’re going!” an attractive youthful-sounding senior citizen chastised. “You could’ve knocked me down!” She looked up at the tall stranger who’d nearly knocked her over and was immediately apologetic for her harsh tone. “Norman, I’m sorry, baby,” she told him, feeling a shudder of embarrassment over having snapped at him.

  He kissed the feisty church matriarch on the cheek, indicating his forgiveness, then attempted to resume his getaway.

  “Oh, no you don’t! Not so fast,” Mother Maybelle said, noticing the frantic look in his eyes. She grabbed his lower arm to slow him down.

  Norman stopped in place.

  Mother Maybelle couldn’t help but see that his brain and whole being were in turmoil. She stared at him for a moment, baffled. If she didn’t know better, she’d think her foster son was in love. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself, Norman? What has you looking so confused? What’s her name?”

  A war of emotions raged within Norman. He’d just met Valerie, but already he cared what happened to her. His mind refused to register the significance of Mother Maybelle’s words. All Norman knew was that he had to get to Valerie—and quick!

  “I’m listening, Norman, but I’m not hearing anything,” Mother Maybelle pressed. She couldn’t have cared less if he thought she was dipping in his business. “I know that your mind is on one of these fast-tailed gals in here. I don’t know which one, though, but you can’t fool me. Whatever you do, don’t let them get into something you might regret.”

  Norman felt frozen in limbo, where all thoughts, decisions, and actions were impossible—except one—getting to Valerie. “Mother Maybelle, I don’t mean to cut you short, but can we talk later? There’s something I really need to do.”

  She drew in a breath and shrugged in mock resignation. “You might as well, because I can’t get any sense out of you. You’re surely not paying me a bit of attention. Go on to your gal—whoever she is!” she replied, looking at Norman as if she were looking through him.

  Without any words of thanks, Norman took long, purposeful strides to the door. Then, he took the steps—two at a time. He was determined to find out what had spooked Valerie into running away.

  Valerie stood outside the church getting some much-needed fresh air. There was no way that she could stay around Norman for any length of time. It was the second time in one day that he’d raised her body temperature. For sure, the fine Norman Grant was a hazard to her health! If she stayed around him any longer, she was sure to short circuit, have a stroke or a heart attack—and she couldn’t risk that.

  She looked around the beautifully landscaped seventy-five acres that made up the church grounds. As far as she could see there were hedges, trees, and an assortment of greenery which hadn’t given way to the detritus of winter. She knew that the property would be lush and colorful when all the flowers and other plants were in full bloom. Valerie sucked in a breath, and the smell of magnolia trees, bougainvillea, silk oaks, and lemon eucalyptus infiltrated her nostrils. As refreshing as those smells were, they still didn’t take her mind off Norman. All she could think about was the intoxicating smell of his cologne.

  “Okay, Valerie, chill, girl. It’s time to go home and repent,” she told herself, looking around to make sure no one heard her. Valerie’s runaway thoughts played in counterpoint to her admonition.

  What Valerie felt at that moment was far from ladylike. Instinctively, she knew that Norman Grant was the kind of man who’d make her forget every bit of the home training her mama had taught her. The heat which permeated Valerie’s body in all the wrong places reminded her that she wouldn’t act like a lady if Norman were near her. The only thing that she could do was to pray for strength and ask the Lord to have mercy on her sinful soul. At the rate she was going, she thought, she’d end up in hell for sure, especially since she’d just lusted for Norman in a church.

  As she walked to her car, Valerie conveniently rationalized her wicked musings. After all, she didn’t tell him to be so drop-dead fine that he looked as though he should’ve been a model on the cover of GQ magazine instead of directing a small-town church choir, did she?

  “Valerie, wait,” Norman called out. “Don’t go…” He spoke with quiet, but desperate, firmness.

  Before she could go any further, the sound of his footsteps padding behind her made her halt. Norman caught up to Valerie and gently turned her around to face him.

  Valerie kept her head down, avoiding looking at him. She
knew that being in Norman’s presence would be her undoing. Valerie was sure that Norman could tell how handsome she thought he was, how wonderful he looked in his Armani suit, and how manly his cologne smelled. No one could tell her that he didn’t know about the lust-filled thoughts running through her mind at that moment. He just had to know what she wanted to do to him, she thought.

  Valerie had better things to do—like get on with her life without any man holding her back or turning her very existence upside down. The further away she stayed from Norman, the better. Although he seemed like a decent man and a good catch, she had no intention of permitting herself to fall under his spell.

  “Ah…nothing’s wrong, Norman,” she said, creating the words on the spot. “I just thought of something I have to do at home—and it needs my immediate attention.”

  He didn’t quite buy that excuse. It seemed too easy, too convenient. He decided to play along, knowing that doing otherwise would make her bolt. “Well, I guess you’d better get to it then.”

  “That’s right, Norman,” she agreed. “I’ll see you next Sunday.” With that, she added a certain springy bounce to her step and headed toward her car. She got in, started the ignition, and was about to pull off when she saw Norman standing by her window.

  “By the way, here’s my cell phone number should you ever want or need to talk.” Norman handed her another University of Georgia at Red Oaks business card—the school where he worked as a music professor—with the number written on the back of it. He flashed a knowing smile at her, hoping to get a number from Valerie in return.

  She remained stoic. “Thanks, Norman, I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Valerie drove off before Norman could think of anything else to say. Inside, her heart thumped erratically and she did some deep breathing to help. But it didn’t. The only thing that would help Valerie was to stay out of Norman’s presence, because he was man enough to make her do unspeakable things—and then some.