“Are you going to say yes?”
The news reporter shoved the microphone into Geneva’s face.
Geneva jerked away and shook her head. “I don’t know.” She turned her face away from the bright lights, holding up a hand to shield her face. There were about twenty people outside Rock of Hope from various television and radio stations who had thrown questions from the minute she had arrived.
To think she had come early at eight a.m., hoping to avoid them. Joshua had tried to prepare her for the media onslaught, but there was no preparing for this invasive confusion.
“How does it feel having one of the sexiest men alive offer to take you on vacation?”
“Why did you, a minister’s daughter, invite a man to go with you on what should’ve been your honeymoon?
“How does it feel to be dumped and have the world know it?”
“Were you hoping for national attention when you posted your ad?”
Geneva held her head. “You’re all coming at me at once. I can’t…”
“Leave the lady alone,” a voice said.
Geneva recognized the lifeline and sagged with relief. No matter how camera-ready she looked, she doubted the limelight suited her. The cameras swung toward Joshua, who held a beautiful floral arrangement in his hands. He intended to make it appear as if they were meeting for the first time.
“Geneva?” he said, tilting his head.
Of course, the cameras followed.
Geneva forced herself to nod. It was going to be hard to pretend she’d never met him before. Joshua was playing the part well. A crowd of about two hundred people stood watching, and none of them were Rock of Hope members. Geneva eyed their expectant faces and froze.
Joshua came toward her with a smile. He kept his eyes on hers, which reassured her. Geneva exhaled as if she was relearning how to breathe. He wore a wool coat and what must have been a tailor-made suit because it fit him well in all the right places. The Bible in Joshua’s hand looked as if it belonged there.
“It’s great meeting you in person,” he said, handing her the flowers. Then Joshua reached over to kiss her cheek. That ocean waves smell assaulted her senses amid flashes of the cameras.
“Relax, you’re doing well,” he mumbled into her ear. His bass voice rumbled from her eardrums and down into the rest of her body.
She nodded, but backed away.
“Please say you’ll take me with you on your vacation,” Joshua said. Then he gestured for her to respond.
Geneva cleared her throat before she answered loud enough for everyone to hear. “I will gladly have you.” She felt her eyes go wide and she gasped. Her choice of words was a shock to her system. Joshua’s eyes darkened. He had also gotten the double meaning.
“Smile for the camera!” someone shouted.
Joshua looped his arm around her and brought his face close to hers for a pose. Then he smiled. He squeezed her stiff waist, silently asking her to relax. Geneva curved into his arms and smiled.
Then the press bombarded Joshua with questions about his tour. If Joshua had not kept a firm hand around her, Geneva would have shifted out of camera range. He handled the press with finesse before lifting a hand.
“I’d better get into church on time. I want to make a good impression on the pastor.”
“You’d better pray the church don’t catch fire!” a young man yelled.
Joshua stiffened. Geneva could see him battling with himself. He clenched his fists. Geneva grabbed onto his fist to take his hand. She gave him a light pull.
Joshua stole a glance her way and then chuckled at the crowd. “I’ll see you later if I survive.” He gave her hand a light squeeze and they went up the steps with their hands entwined. She released Joshua’s hand before they went inside.
“How do you handle it?” Geneva asked, slipping out of her coat.
Joshua shrugged. “You get used to it. The nosy press comes with being a celebrity. They aggravate you when they’re in your business, but you need them to help your business. It’s a love-hate relationship. Remember Charlize Theron? For a while no one saw or heard of her because the press blacked her out. Not being seen is damaging to an artist’s career.”
“In my five seconds of fame, I was terrified of being seen.” She patted her hair. “At least I looked cute.”
“You do look cute, and you did great. My first time out there, I threw up on somebody’s shoe. I’m glad they didn’t show that debacle to the world.”
“You’re kidding,” Geneva said. “I’m glad I held it together. I wouldn’t want to upchuck in front of the camera.”
“I’m glad you didn’t because these shoes are Chetwynd leather, and I’d hate to have to toss them.”
Geneva laughed. “That would be awful. They look new.”
“They are,” he said, pulling on the hem of his suit. “I wanted to look good coming into the house of the Lord. It’s been a while.”
Geneva jutted her chin at the Bible in his hand. “That doesn’t look new.”
Did he blush at her comment?
“I read when I can,” Joshua said. “Mostly when I’m on the road. I don’t always understand, but the Word soothes me. I don’t feel so… alone.”
“Hey, girl!”
Geneva turned at Isabella’s voice and held out her arms. “You made it.”
The other woman rolled her eyes. “I know how to be on time,” Isabella said, returning the embrace.
“Yeah, okay, if you say so.” Geneva introduced her to Joshua.
“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” Isabella said. “Thank you for rescuing my friend from stalkers and sadomasochists.”
Joshua chuckled. He gave Isabella a quick hug. “Nice meeting you as well. I’m honored she chose me.”
“Are you kidding? This is exciting.” Isabella pulled out her compact and puckered her lips. “Now where are the cameras?”
“You missed them.”
Isabella sighed. “There’s goes my chance to meet my future husband. He could be watching television, waiting to see me.”
Geneva gave her a playful pat on the back. “You need to behave.”
Isabella moved between Geneva and Joshua and laced her arms through theirs. “Let’s go get some good seats. I need to see your father’s face when he sees JJ-LUV in the audience sitting next to his Genny.” She shoved Joshua in the arm. “I hope you ready to perform. Pastor Samson’s known for impromptu performances.”
Joshua shifted. “I don’t… I mean, I…”
Isabella giggled. “I’m just messing with you.”
Geneva shook her head. There was no such thing as shy when it came to describing Isabella. They went up front to take their seats. Geneva appreciated how Joshua made sure to switch places so she was in the middle. He gave her hand a squeeze, then held on.
Geneva looked at their joined hands. How can it feel like we’ve known each other for years instead of days? Geneva and Joshua had spent hours talking on the phone. Once she came out the school, Joshua was out there waiting. Geneva chuckled at the larger number of teachers coming to work wearing high heels and with their hair done. Geneva basked in the knowledge that Joshua only had eyes for her.
She scrunched her nose. How had he become essential to her in mere days?
Geneva knew the answer to that question. Joshua had hooked her in the best way possible.
Through her spirit.
He’d asked a million questions about God.
Geneva realized the verse about the Holy Spirit bringing things back to her remembrance was true. Because He was bailing her out with answers every time. Geneva didn’t know if it was Joshua’s insatiable curiosity about God or his thoughtfulness, but she needed a Joshua fix every day.
This made her question her feelings about his namesake. Josh who?
Geneva’s recovery after being dumped by her love of three years had been quick. Unless… It had never been love. She knew the volcanic emotions she felt in Joshua’s presence couldn’t compare to the sizzle she had felt for Josh.
Geneva hadn’t been prepared for such a potent reaction, but from their first date, her heart, her mind, and everything above and below were in tune with Joshua, a man she had just met. His considerate nature also reeled her closer to him.
Joshua gave. Geneva had no idea JJ-LUV was involved in so many charitable projects in the U.S. and Africa. His voice had held pride when he showed her pictures of children in Panama wearing shoes for the first time.
“There’s nothing like that feeling,” he had said. “I wish I could do more, but the money only goes so far.”
“You’re doing your part,” she said, patting his hand. “All you can do is pray for God to reach where you can’t go.”
Joshua touched her cheek. “You know the right words to say.”
Geneva recalled how his touch heated her skin. She had wanted to lean into his hand and kiss his wrist, but Geneva had given herself a mental shake, and said, “It’s easy when it’s the truth.” She prayed Joshua wouldn’t hear how her heart raced like a cheetah.
Then Joshua had bent his head toward hers.
Geneva had licked her lips, her eyes half-closed. She had been positioned for a kiss, but Joshua stepped back. Geneva had pushed aside her disappointment. How could she want him to kiss her when she had been engaged less than a week ago?
Thinking about it now, she frowned. Maybe Joshua had felt it was too soon as well. She shrugged, deciding not to dwell on it. Let things flow, she had reminded herself.
Geneva danced during the worship hour, and Joshua impressed her with a few moves of his own. While they worshipped, more people entered, including a lot of young men.
After the praise session, her father stepped up to the podium. He scanned the crowd before resting his eyes on the man next to her. Geneva tensed. She could never be sure of what her father would say.
“I see we’re squeezed tighter than sardines this morning,” Pastor Samson said. He cocked his head Joshua’s way. “I’d like to think God brought you here, but I suppose it’s because of our special visitor this morning.”
A few chuckled.
Pastor Samson projected his voice. “But I know God works in mysterious ways and that you were meant to be here today. I’d like to talk about the compassionate nature of God. The Bible says He is a High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.”
Geneva peeked at Joshua. He was listening keenly to the message.
“God cares if we are hungry, if we’re sick, if we’re in pain, and if we’re lonely. He knows some of what we go through, we can’t bear ourselves, so He told us to cast every care—every burden, every disappointment, every reason for sorrow or grief—cast it upon Him. He’s big enough and man enough to handle it every time.”
Geneva clapped her hands. Her father was under heavy anointing as he spoke today. She glanced over at Joshua and was glad to see he appeared engrossed in the word.
Her father continued. “To the world, you might appear okay. They might think you have it all, but God is concerned with how you feel on the inside. Too many people are walking around smiling when on the inside they’re hurting. They’re lonely, wondering, ‘Why me?’ But God says to tell you, He hears you. He’s ready to be your Friend above all friends.”
Her father preached for awhile, ministering deep into their hearts and then gestured for the congregation to stand. Some made their way up to the altar. Joshua stood in place with his head bowed in worship. Geneva saw a young woman in distress at the altar. She followed the direction of the Holy Spirit and went to pray with her.
“God will ease your burden,” Geneva said to her. “Give it all to Him.”
The young woman fell to the floor and cried. Geneva allowed her to pour out before God, but kept a hand on her shoulder. When they finished praying, she hugged the young woman, took her name and number and promised to remain in touch.
Geneva meandered her way through the crowd toward Joshua. He opened his arms. When Geneva went into his embrace, her heart smiled. It was as if she was home. Fear filled her that she could feel so connected to someone she had known a total of three days.
“Sorry I kept you waiting,” she said.
Joshua reassured her. “It’s cool. I was busy as well. I collected about three CDs and four business cards from prospective talents.”
“Does that happen a lot?”
He shrugged. “Every day. Everywhere. I can’t use the bathroom without having someone hit me up to listen to a track.”
“I’m sorry it had to happen here at Rock of Hope.”
He smiled. “I’m used to it.”
They exited the church. “Are you hungry? A few of the church mothers get together and do a potluck. There’s so much food that we all leave with to-go boxes.”
Joshua shook his head. “I have to leave for Atlanta tonight.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders sagged. “I wasn’t thinking. Of course, you need to get back to your life. I’ll gladly have you come with me on vacation if you’re still interested.”
He nodded and then grasped her shoulder. “I have a video shoot in Atlanta. We start up at five-thirty a.m.”
“I understand.” But Geneva didn’t understand why disappointment filled her voice. The man was a celebrity with obligations.
Joshua used his index finger to lift her chin. “I’ve seen your world. I’d love to show you mine. Come with me.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his proposal. Any other woman might have screamed with excitement, but not Geneva. She thought of her lesson plans and her pile of laundry at home. They could wait. She smiled. “I’d love to see your world.”