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think I’ve ever been this close to such a gorgeous woman.”
    Had Lisa been just a few shades lighter, she would have turned bright red. Flattered, she put her lipstick away and the only thing she could think to say was “Please, just call me Lisa.”
    â€œOkay, Lisa. . . . I hope I’m not being too forward. That wasn’t a come-on line. I do think you’re beautiful.”
    â€œThank you, Minister Freeman.”
    â€œIt’s okay to call me by my name. It’s Eric, in case you didn’t know.”
    She laughed suspiciously. “Have you spoken to Olivia anytime recently?”
    â€œNo, why do you ask?”
    â€œJust wondering. . .Are you sure you don’t mind being on a first name basis with me?”
    He frowned. “Why would I? It’s not like being a minister makes me any better than you. You asked me to call you Lisa, so I’m asking you to call me Eric.”
    â€œI don’t want to be disrespectful.”
    â€œLook, some people get ordained and it goes to their heads, but I’m not on any kind of ego trip. Minister Freeman sounds so Sunday morning-ish. I never understood why brothers and sisters in Christ feel the need to be so formal with one another. We’re not taking titles with us to Heaven, so why do we press the issue down here? Besides that, I want you to get to know me—Eric Freeman—and not be stuck on the fact that I’m a minister. You do want to get to know me, don’t you?”
    Oh, yes! Of course I do! Lisa prayed those words wouldn’t slip from her mouth. “Yes, Eric, that would be great,” she said as though she was trying the name out.
    â€œThen that settles it.” He took Lisa’s hand, sending an adrenaline rush through her veins as they continued their journey through the park. “So. . .how’s planning for your daughter’s graduation party coming along?”
    â€œFine. The big day is just a few weeks away.”
    â€œAm I invited?”
    â€œI. . .um, didn’t think you’d be interested in coming.”
    â€œAre you kidding? I’d love to be there. It would give me a chance to get to know Chanelle outside of church; and of course, I’m looking forward to meeting your mother.”
    â€œI don’t know. . .a graduation party isn’t really a good setting for you to get to know them well.” Lisa wasn’t intending to invite him. RJ would be there and it would be awkward enough avoiding him on her own. She didn’t want to drag Eric in the middle.
    â€œYou’re right; perhaps I can come over for dinner one night soon. I’ll still come to the party, but if we’re going to tell them about our relationship we should do it before then. Don’t you think it’s time they knew about us.”
    â€œOkay. . .” she said cautiously. She didn’t know that they had officially become an “us.” Part of her thought Minister Freeman—Eric—was moving way too fast but, then again, perhaps it was simply her fears taking over. Though she may have entertained one or two dinner invitations after her divorce, they were nothing really serious. Getting involved in a relationship had always been the furthest thing from her mind. RJ was her first everything! They’d known each other since junior high and eloped within weeks of graduating high school. After years of thinking that she knew him and then having his true colors show, really put a damper on Lisa wanting to trust anyone else. But, somehow Eric had caught her attention. Even if she wanted to, Lisa couldn’t suppress the magnetism drawing her towards him.
    It wasn’t as much a physical attraction as it was a spiritual one. His barely average appearance wasn’t anything she’d brag about. Men in their early forties with spots of gray and receding hairlines were a dime a dozen. He wasn’t excessively tall or