They walked to the elevator in silence. In the car, Derrick spoke. “If you have questions about our teachings, come to me. Watching all those religious programs on television isn’t good for you. I don’t want you getting confused.”
“Truth is the truth, Derrick. Shouldn’t matter who is preaching it.”
“There’s truth and then there’s practices and varying interpretations. To avoid confusion, a family should always be fed from the same source and that’s what we’ll be—a family. One day soon.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “So, you’ll stop watching those other programs and from now on, ask me?”
“I’ll think about it,” she said as she gazed out the window.
Derrick’s grip tightened briefly on her hand before releasing it. “You’ve been talking to your cousin. Don’t deny it. The only time you get combative like this is when you’ve been around her.”
Von turned to face him. “Combative? Because I didn’t instantly agree with you but instead stated I’d think about it?”
“A wife is to obey her husband,” he stated firmly.
“We’re not married yet,” she muttered.
Chapter Three
Derrick parked the car and grabbed her by the left arm. “What are you saying?” he asked angrily.
Von’s gazed traveled from his hold to his face. “You’re hurting me,” she told him in a low, quiet voice.
He shook her roughly. “Answer me,” he demanded before finally releasing her.
Rubbing her throbbing bicep, Von moved closer to the door, watching him warily. He’d never touched her in anger before. “I mean just what I said. You can’t demand obedience of me because we’re not married. Even if we were, I’m a woman with thoughts and feelings. A human being deserving of respect, not a dog waiting to obey your every command,” she spat out in rarely shown resentment.
His eyes rounding in shock, Derrick held out a hand and she flinched away from it. Noting her reaction, he paused and then sighed deeply. Leaning on his door to give her more space, he ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture of frustration. In a much calmer voice, he asked, “Where is all this coming from? You’ve never had a problem following my lead before.”
Von turned her head and gazed at Chili’s through the windshield. Was Sean inside waiting? After a few moments of tense silence, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking—about me, about us—and I don’t like what I see.” She twisted around and pinned him with a look. “Do you really know me, Derrick? The real me? Or is who you see the person you and your father seem to want me to be? Sometimes I wonder.”
Derrick’s opened his mouth and moved his lips, but no sound emerged. Finally he closed his eyes and visibly composed himself. When they re-opened, he stared at her with that intent gaze of his that always made her feel like he could see through her, and slowly smiled. He raised his hand and hers went to the door handle. He shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. Earlier was a mistake.”
She watched with wary eyes as he cupped her face gently and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Of course I see the real you. Sometimes I think I see you more clearly than you see yourself. You’re sweet, gentle, kind and compassionate. You value peace, dislike arguments, and love helping people. You’re good with children, respectful to the elderly and kind to animals. Everyone loves you.”
He stroked her bottom lip and his gaze became slumberous with desire. “I love you, too. I know it seems like we’ve been waiting forever but we will be married. And when we do, you won’t just be a pastor’s wife. You’ll be my wife. The woman I love and desire above all others.”
Derrick closed the distance between them and kissed her. It started out gentle but as she gradually responded, ended in an intoxicating tangle of tongues and teeth that left both of them breathing hard. Withdrawing only far enough that their breath still mingled, Derrick said in a husky voice, “We’d better go inside before Sean thinks I stood him up.”
He placed another light kiss on her lips then exited the car. As usual, Derrick knew the right thing to say to calm her troubled thoughts. She waited while he came around to open her door. As she rose beside him, he pulled her into his arms and gave her another deep, lingering kiss.
“Derrick! Public displays of affection are not appropriate for ministers,” she scolded, shocked but pleased.
He laughed and placed a hand on her lower back to escort her inside. Leaning close to her ear he murmured, “You’re my woman, and I don’t care who knows it.”
Derrick opened the door and held it for her to enter. As she did, he pinched her butt and chuckled when she jumped and slapped at his hand. Von felt her face flush with embarrassment, but she was grinning as the hostess approached. This was the playful man she’d fallen in love with. Since seminary, he’d been much too serious.
“We’re meeting a friend. A Sean Jacobson.”
“Yes, sir,” she told him. “You’re party’s already arrived. Follow me.”
They followed the hostess to where Sean sat near the window, nursing a beer, his dark head bent gazing at the open menu.
“Cougar,” Derrick called out as they approached.
Sean looked up and a huge grin crossed his face. “Hooch!”
Hooch? Derrick had been holding out on her. She’d have to remember to ask Sean about the name later.
Sean rose from the seat and the two exchanged back pounding hugs. Lagging behind, Von felt a smile cross her face at their display.
“Your waitress will be with you in a moment,” the hostess told Von before excusing herself.
The two men were talking a mile a minute and while Derrick was distracted, Von was able to take a good look at Sean, up close and personal. He was tanned, toned, and extremely handsome in his snug army green t-shirt and fatigues. His pictures didn’t do him justice.
After a while, when she was sure Derrick had completely forgotten her presence, she cleared her throat—twice. The second time he heard her.
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.” He reached out and pulled her closer, placing an arm around her shoulder. “Cougar, this lovely lady is my fiancé, Von. Von, this wild man here is my buddy, Sergeant Sean “Cougar” Jacobson, the guy you took pity on and sent letters to while I was enlisted.”
Von’s eyes widened and she bit her lower lip at the reminder that Derrick had no idea their letters to each other continued.
“Master Sergeant, now,” Sean corrected as he held out a hand. As she shook it, he told Derrick, “She’s as beautiful as you always claimed. I never thanked you for your generosity in taking time to write a poor, lonely soldier like me with no family.” His eyes twinkled at her, smiling at their shared secret.
She breathed a silent sigh of relief that Sean wasn’t going to ‘out’ her. “It was my pleasure.”
He continued holding her hand within both of his and Von gently tugged. “Oh, sorry,” he said, releasing her.
Derrick herded her to one side of the booth and she scooted in, placing her purse on the seat in the corner as he slid in beside her.
Sean resumed his seat across from them. “They have their two-for-twenty special going if one of you wants to share.” Though his words were directed toward Derrick, his gaze was on her.
At that moment, the waitress arrived at the table bearing two more menus. “My name is Mindy and I’ll be your server today. Can I take your drink order?”