dam of her carefully restrained emotions. She threaded her fingers through his hair and looked deeply into his eyes. “I need you, too. I need you to stop looking at me like I’m your mom. You have no idea how much I need your trust.”
He didn’t say anything, he just lightly pressed his lips to her forehead. She didn’t know if that meant “I do trust you,” or, “let’s not ruin this moment with the truth.”
With a sigh, she withdrew from him and they went inside to meet with the others in the group.
The pastor began once everyone had found a seat. “I’d like to begin today with an introduction. I know many of you have already met Seth Hargrove.”
Hunter whispered in her ear. “I met him in class today. Poor guy just lost his wife six months ago. You can tell he’s eager for friendship.”
Holly knew her husband’s heart enough to know that he felt for the man’s loss, but Hunter would be too controlled to let that show beyond superficial cordialness. She would suggest that they have him over for dinner, but she was afraid that he would interpret that as something other than it was.
After the introduction, the pastor began to lay out the purpose for today’s meeting. “There are different areas in which you all can sign up to work. We have concessions, games, and some rides.”
“What are you going to do?” Hunter whispered, and she could feel his breath tickling her ear. It sent a thrill down her.
“I’m not sure. What do you want to do?” She felt that familiar thrill of excitement rush through the pit of her stomach. She tried not to like it too much.
“I want to do whatever you want to do.” They both said at the same time.
Their hushed giggles drew a smirk from the woman sitting next to them.
The dark mood that had hung over them during lunch dissipated, and Holly loathed to do anything that might upset the lighthearted banter between them. “You choose.”
He looked down at her, his eyes sparkling with love. Holly knew if they hadn’t been in the middle of the church, he would have kissed her. That wicked part of her rose, but she shoved it down. If she could just keep her passions wrestled down, maybe he would look at her as trustworthy.
Everyone started to rise, signing up with whatever group they wanted to go with. Hunter laced his fingers through hers, and Holly tried hard to control the beating of her heart. Hunter stopped beside the newcomer.
“I’m not really sure what I’ll be good at.” Seth said as a smile lifted his mouth, but it wasn’t reflected in his light brown eyes. “My wife always did this with me...” Seth’s voice was barely a whisper, and Holly’s heart cinched with pain for this man. She would have reached out and touched his arm in comfort, but there was Hunter...
“Why don’t the three of us work together?” Hunter’s suggestion took her by surprise.
When she looked up at Hunter, she saw the compassion in his eyes - the compassion that kept him from serving, from ministering, from forgiving. Compassion was a weakness in Hunter’s eyes.
“I guess that would be great.” Seth’s shoulders lifted a little and Hunter shook his hand, reintroducing himself.
“Yes, we met in the men’s Bible study class.”
“And this is my wife, Holly.” The way Hunter said it, with such pride and joy, filled Holly with a renewed sense of worth.
She shook the man’s hand briefly before tucking her own back into her husband’s warm, waiting grasp.
“Well, we could do something simple like work with the bouncy houses. I don’t know about you, Seth, but I’m not that handy with a hammer. I’m not sure I could build one of the games the pastor spoke of.”
Seth laughed and agreed “I don’t fare much better in that department.”
Holly hesitated, but something within her propelled her to speak up. “I am.”
Both men turned toward her as she repeated. “I can build the game. I mean, I need your help, but my dad built and repurposed