Page 17 of A Taste of Grace

He lookedandsmelled good—a lethal combination for a man who was touching me and close to God. I tried to push the gushiness I felt aside as our hands touched, but I blushed anyway.

You are too fine.

He finally released my hand.

“I can be awkward at times. Forgive me again, Ms. Grace, but you caught me off guard. I don’t meet many women around here my age who are spoken of so fondly by Aunt Nita. She has discriminating taste. You must be special to her.”

When I was fully in the combination foyer and dining room, Caleb closed the door behind me. I placed my hand on my cheek to temper my emotions. I couldn’t stop blushing at this man’s blatant compliments and openness. He must be what Nita called an exhorter. Everything he said about me made me feel so good. More than lifting me up, he confirmed that I wasn’t burdening Nita with my presence. She really did care for me as much as I cared for her.

“Nita is a sweetheart, a real blessing since I moved here. That was why I didn’t hesitate to say yes to babysitting.”

“I’m glad you’re so loyal to my aunt. So, you’re new to the community?”

Caleb’s raised eyebrow was adorable.

“Yes. I’ve been here since the new year.”

“I’d love to show you around and invite you to my church.”

“Okay.” I accepted his invitation to be polite, never expecting a man who was so busy in the community to take time out of his schedule to show me around town.

“Where are the girls?” I peered around the pastor’s broad body, hoping to see the young charges I would be responsible for this evening.

I needed a break from this closeness. I could barely catch my breath and think. It wasn’t every day that I came in contact with fine, virile men of Caleb’s caliber.

“Yes, the girls…Hannah, Esther, please come here.” He shifted his body and shouted toward the back of the house.

With his head to the side, I noted how perfect his profile was. His black beard was trimmed neatly and nicely moisturized. I wiggled my fingers at my side, wanting to touch his face to see if his hair texture was coarse or soft. Either way, I bet it would be ticklish if it brushed against my skin. I watched him for several more seconds before two of the most beautiful little girls I’d ever laid my eyes on ran and stopped inches in front of me.

Like their father, their hair was nice, but theirs was wild as if they had played outside all afternoon. Both of them smiled at me, the older with her front teeth missing and the other with a slight gap between her teeth.

Caleb bent down and held his arm out like a gate to stop them as they jumped and danced with energy. They finally calmed down, their little chests rising and falling visibly.

“No running in the house. I didn’t want you to knock Ms. Grace down.”

Instead of paying attention to him, they stared at me like beautiful frozen dolls.

“A princess is going to babysit us?” The taller of the girls’ eyes widened as she gawked at me.

“Yay!” The younger one cheered, jumping up and down before doing a cute little happy dance.

I smiled, smitten with these angels as much as their daddy. What a beautiful family they were. I dropped my bag at my feet before moving toward them and squatting.

“I’m not a princess, pumpkin, but thank you for thinking that. You can call me Grace.” I extended my hand in greeting.

The shorter one broke past her father and jumped into my arms. I held her body tight and gave her a big squeeze.

“It’s Ms. Grace,” Caleb corrected. “Girls, please introduce yourselves to our guest.”

“I’m Hannah.” The older girl clasped her hands and rocked from side to side with a big smile before she moved to me and gave me a hug on the opposite side of the little one clinging to me.

“And I’m Esther.” The shorter one squeezed me tighter and placed her hands in my hair.

To balance myself, I sat on my bottom and crossed my legs.

“How old are you, Miss Hannah?”

“Eight,” Hannah said with her head ducked into her chest.

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