Page 20 of The Billionaire's Teacher

That was another question I didn’t know how to answer. It was time. That was clear from how the few people in the parking lot were making beelines toward the front door. But was I ready? Probably not. New churches were always hard for me. It was why I didn’t usually bother when I was on vacation. Everyone would look. Probably stare. Ugh.

I shrugged. “They’re about to start.”

She tipped her head to the side, nodded once, and gestured to the ramp.

I waited while she hooked the helmets on the scooter before she started toward the door. I fell into step beside her, hurrying my last step to get to the door in time to tug it open for her.

“Thanks.” Her comment was quiet as she brushed past me.

I swallowed. Why did such a tiny touch cause the same reaction as sitting pressed up against her on the scooter did? It made no sense.

The question churned in my brain as I shook hands with the greeters and followed Sunshine to a row of chairs. Thankfully, she chose something near the back. I’d never loved sitting front and center. Back home, we usually congregated in the front half of the worship center on the right side. It was closer than I preferred, but at this point, the location was pretty well ingrained in the group. I didn’t see it changing.

Of course, it wasn’t as though I’d said anything to anyone about it. Knowing them? They’d all be willing to move. But I hated making it about me. That wasn’t the point.

Didn’t mean I couldn’t be excited that someone else seemed to share my preference. Especially as one-off visitors.

I wasn’t sure what I expected, but the service really was a lot like the one at home would have been. I knew the songs. The pastor, in cargo shorts, a T-shirt, and an unbuttoned short sleeve plaid shirt over it, had a good message from the book of Job. I got the impression they’d been parked here for a while. They were just getting to the end though, where God answers Job’s questions.

Or sort of answers them.

The problem of evil wasn’t something that I tended to dwell on, though I knew it was a problem for a lot of people. Maybe it was because I’d been headed so far down the wrong path when God found me—thanks to the guys in the group—and dragged me kicking and screaming into His mercy and grace. I’d been a reluctant convert, but much more because it seemed too easy. Too good to be true.

When the final song ended, Sunshine practically jumped to her feet. “Ready to go?”

I blinked and stood. “Uh. Sure. Are we in a rush or can we get lunch before we head back out onto the water?”

“Lunch is fine. Actually, I know a great place closer to the marina, if that works for you?”

I nodded.

“Great. Let’s go.” She spun and her long strides carried her through the doors into the lobby before I’d made it to the end of the row.

What was that?

“Thanks again for joining us today.” The pastor was practically blocking my exit, his hand extended. “Will you be in town long?”

I shook his hand. “No. We’re actually heading out after lunch.”

The pastor’s eyebrows knit together. “Have you seen the weather forecast?”

I shook my head. I’d been leaving all of that to Sunshine. She was the expert. And I’d hired her to handle getting me from place to place. “I’m sure the captain has it all under control.”

“Okay.” The worry didn’t ease from the man’s face, and a tiny knot of concern rooted in my stomach. “Be safe. Enjoy your time in the islands.”

“Thanks.” I forced a smile that felt tight on my face and headed out into the sun. I blinked at the glare and glanced toward where we’d parked the scooter.

Sunny lifted a hand. She was already straddling the thing, helmet fastened under her chin.

I hurried down the ramp. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Of course. Hungry.” The helmet made it hard to read the expression on her face.

I took the straps of my helmet and fastened it in place, then climbed on behind her. This time, I didn’t hesitate, just hooked my arms around her and braced myself against the onslaught of feelings that accompanied the action.

Sunshine backed the scooter out of its spot and then took us quickly—maybe too quickly—out of the parking lot and back onto the streets into town. The wind rushing past would have made conversation impossible even if I’d had an idea of how to bring up whatever was going on with her. Because she could say she was fine as much as she wanted, I didn’t believe her. Maybe five days wasn’t long to have known her, but if this was a normal part of her personality, I should have seen hints of it before. Shouldn’t I?

It wasn’t long before she pulled the scooter to the curb in front of a small café with colorful umbrellas open over tables on the sidewalk. I eased off the back and unbuckled my helmet, mouth already watering at the spicy scents emanating from inside.

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