“I don’t think I can.”
“As a preacher, I’m telling you that you can.”
“Well I’m not sure I should,” I whisper. “Nor am I sure you’re really a preacher,” I blurt out with a snap before I gasp and quickly shut my mouth. But Gabriel just chuckles deeply.
“Ahh, and lo, the truth shall ascend you to the kingdom of heaven.”
This time, I drop my eyes and glare at him. “That’s not from the Bible.”
He shrugs. “I never said it was.”
He slouches against the side of the baptism tank, his muscled arms folded over his thick chest. His abs ripple on their own accord, and that freaking towel is like the devil’s own neon sign, with those grooves of his hips pointing right down to Hell and damnation itself.
“Eyes up here, young lady.”
I blush, and my eyes snap back to his. “You implied that it was.”
He grins. “I… what? They’re just words, Delilah.”
“Well you can’t just add ‘ye’ and ‘shalt’ to nonsense and pass it off as scripture,” I mutter.
He sighs. “Did you need something?”
“No!” I snap. “I was just bringing you food. It’s…” I turn and frown at the upside-down tupperware on the ground.
“Tossed,” he purrs with a grin. I can’t help but smile, but I quickly wipe it from my face.
My brow knits. “Hang on, did you say hot tub?”
“I did. You’re welcome to come try it out.”
I frown. “Where?”
He grins and pats the side of the baptism tank, and my brow furrows. “You’re not serious.”
“Sure I am. A parishioner up outside Knoxville a year or so ago graciously donated this baby.” He pats a strange looking contraption clipped to the edge of the tub that looks like a small outboard boat motor.
“And that is…?”
He shrugs, those muscled shoulders rippling and my mortal soul slipping another inch out of my grasp.
“It’s a heating coil with an air hose. I think it’s meant for camping tubs or small above ground pools. Anyways, it does the trick.”
I frown. “Of turning a baptism tank into a hot tub?”
“Exactly.”
I roll my eyes. “And this is necessary for your ‘holy message?’” I growl dryly.
Gabriel smiles broadly, and that freaking smile sends a shiver down my spine.
“A shepherd is allowed his small earthy comforts, Delilah. I don’t exactly think warm bubbly water is a sin, do you?”
“How about sitting naked in a baptism tub!”
His eyes pierce right into mine. “You’re welcome to come try it out and let me know if it feels sinful.”
My jaw about hits the grass, and my face goes red. I look past him, and my eyes narrow on the bottle of whiskey sitting on the edge of the tub.