Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [108]
“Don’t let what Erol did darken your chance for happiness, Sage.”
She took a sip of her coffee as she met Rose’s gaze. “But isn’t that what you did? You let what your ex-boyfriend did turn you against the thought of ever falling in love.”
“Yes, and I admit I was wrong.”
“And what changed your mind?” She wondered if Rose had met someone and just hadn’t told her yet.
Rose smiled wryly. “I finally went to church a few times with Mrs. Childers.”
Sage nodded. Evelyn Childers was an elderly lady who lived in Rose’s apartment building. She had been trying to get Rose to go to church with her for the longest time.
“I did it just to get her off my back,” Rose continued saying. “But then I really liked the service. It seemed like the minister was speaking directly to me. It was as if he had somehow singled me out and knew my life’s story.”
Rose took a sip of coffee, then said, “Anyway, after that, I decided to go with her another time and even went to Bible study with her. At first I felt out of place, but everyone made me feel right at home. I’ve been going a lot, getting spoon-fed a little at a time, trying to find myself and decide what I really want and who I want and not to settle for second best. I want a man who will treat me thirty or forty years from now the same way your father treats your mother.”
A lump formed deep in Sage’s throat. She forced a smile and reached out and touched Rose’s hand, grateful that she had never shared with Rose what her father had done. That would have really made Rose think that all men were shallow, no good and couldn’t be trusted.
“I’m glad you’re finding inner spiritual peace, Rose.”
Rose shrugged. “Well, I’m a long way from being completely there, Sage. I still fall short at times, but at least I’m trying.”
Sage nodded. “None of us are perfect. We’re all human and make mistakes.” She realized after she’d spoken that what she’d just said to Rose were the same words Gabe had said to her just last night.
“It was a tough lesson, but I’m learning.”
“And that’s a start. I’d like for you to go to church with me on Sunday. I enjoy the services and think you will, too.”
“I’d like that,” Rose said with enthusiasm ringing in her voice. “Has Gabe ever gone to church with you?”
Sage lifted a brow upon realizing that he never had, probably because she’d never asked him. “No. I’ve never asked him.”
Later that day while sitting in her office, Sage thought about her conversation with Rose. Her stomach felt funny at the sudden realization that she was beginning to like Gabe more than she should. Things weren’t supposed to be that way since the two of them didn’t have a future together. When Eden was over, they would go their separate ways. She had known that and was fairly convinced that he knew it as well.
Then, why was she dreading when that time would come? And why was she suddenly feeling such a sense of loss? She inhaled deeply when the sudden need to see Gabe became so fierce she could barely breathe, think or see reason.
She glanced at her watch. It was past five already. She and Gabe had made no plans for tonight. She had told him that weather permitting, she would be going shopping with Rose. And he’d indicated that he would be spending most of the day at the job site, and then later he planned to work late at the office.
After trying a few times to read the documents in front of her, she finally gave up. She stood. Retrieving her purse from her desk drawer, she walked out of her office, and less than fifteen minutes later, she was pulling into the parking lot of the building where Gabe’s office was located.
Gabe lifted his head at the first whiff of Sage’s scent. His breath stopped, and he glanced up. She was standing there, in the doorway to his office. He breathed again.
He tossed the papers aside on his desk. His secretary and office staff had left over an hour ago, and he wondered how Sage had gotten in since they had locked up, although it didn’t matter to him how she’d gotten there, only the fact that she was.
God, he thought, she was beautiful, sexy