Delilah. Shelia M. Goss

five feet even with heels on, walked into Samson’s office handing him a pink slip of paper. “William Trusts says he’ll be waiting on your call,” she said.

      Samson took the paper and balled it up before aiming for the trash can as if he was shooting basketball. “I hope he’s not holding his breath.”

      “Would it really hurt you to meet with him? At least one more time?” she asked as she stood in front of his mahogany wooden desk.

      “It’s only a waste of time. Unless the Lord places it on my heart to give up the land that Trusts wants, I will not, nor will Peaceful Rest, have anything to do with him,” Samson said sternly. Samson and the church had agreed to use the land they had purchased on the south side of the neighborhood to build a community action center, something that in Samson’s opinion would be more beneficial than a shopping center.

      “It would be something good for the community. It’ll bring jobs,” Elaine added.

      “I refuse to make a deal with the devil. And Trusts should be wearing a red suit instead of those black pin-striped ones he likes to wear,” Samson said.

      “Pray about it again. I have to finish up the programs for Sunday, so I’ll let you do what you do.” Elaine turned around before walking out the door. “I forgot to tell you, Julia will be here any minute.”

      Before Samson could take in what Elaine had said, Julia stormed into the room almost running Elaine over. “I’ll be out here if you need anything,” Elaine said with a raised eyebrow before shutting his office door.

      “Samson Judges, I’ve been calling you all night,” Julia said, sounding agitated.

      “I—” he stuttered.

      Julia stood in her cream-colored designer suit with her hands on her hips. Her arched eyebrows were coming together due to the frown on her face. She used her freshly manicured nails to illustrate her frustrations as she talked.

      “Don’t even think about lying to me because I sat outside of your house until two in the morning and you, mister, didn’t return home.”

      “What had happened was…someone called and needed prayer. It took longer than I had expected, so I just spent the night.”

      Julia walked closer and stood over Samson. “Who was the person? You could have prayed for them over the phone.”

      “You know I like to be sitting face-to-face with people when I can,” Samson responded.

      Julia folded her arms and tapped her feet. “I’m waiting. Who was this person in desperate need of prayer?”

      Samson mumbled, “Delilah,” but it sounded like he said, “David.”

      “Oh, now you act like you can barely talk,” Julia said.

      “It doesn’t matter. It’s done and over with. I’m here. You’re here,” Samson said as he stood up and tried to wrap his arms around Julia.

      Julia resisted at first. Samson touched her chin. “Come on. Let me see those dimples. Pleeeease,” he cooed.

      Julia pouted. “Samson, I don’t know if I’ll be able to deal with this as first lady—the midnight calls and not knowing when you’ll be home. I just don’t know.”

      Julia turned away from Samson and walked near the large bookshelf located on the opposite side of his office. Samson went and stood beside her. He reached for her hand. “Julia, you’ll be a perfect first lady. You are my Proverbs thirty-one woman. Peaceful Rest will be blessed to have you as its first lady. Not to mention me.”

      Julia’s frown turned to a smile. “I guess the wedding is stressing me out.”

      “It’s going to be all right. In two weeks, we’ll both look back on this time and laugh.” Samson rubbed her hand and then pulled Julia in for a hug. He got a strange feeling that between now and their wedding, the drama was just beginning, and it’d be no laughing matter.

      Chapter 3

      Delilah sat in the church parking lot listening to her favorite morning show as she attempted to calm her nerves. She could slap Elaine for not putting her call through to Samson. She knew why her calls were being filtered when she pulled up on the lot and saw Julia’s green Mercedes parked next to Samson’s SUV. Delilah watched from a distance as Samson walked Julia to her car.

      He’s such a gentleman, Delilah thought as she watched him hold Julia’s door open.

      She waited until she was sure Julia was off the church grounds before zooming in to the parking spot Julia had just abandoned. Before Samson could re-enter the church, Delilah was on his heels. “Just the man I wanted to see,” Delilah said as she touched his shoulder.

      Startled, Samson jumped before turning around. “Whew, Delilah. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

      Pretending to be shy, Delilah apologized. “I hated the way you left this morning.”

      Samson interrupted her. “Let’s stay outside. I don’t want anyone to hear our conversation.”

      “But, Pastor, it’s eighty degrees out here, and you know brown sugar melts,” Delilah teased with her eyes.

      “It is hot for April. Follow me to my office. I’ll just tell Elaine to hold all of my calls.”

      Delilah smiled as she followed him to his office. She didn’t bother to speak to Elaine as they passed by her. In the past, Elaine had made it obvious that she didn’t like Delilah, and as far as Delilah was concerned the feelings were mutual.

      As soon as Delilah closed and locked Samson’s office door, she pounced on him. Samson didn’t resist her as she stuck her tongue down his throat. He moaned, giving her the desired effect she wanted, and that’s when she pulled away from him. She straightened her skirt and took a seat in one of the chairs across from his desk.

      It took Samson a minute to recover from the French kiss. “Delilah, we can’t keep doing this,” he said as he took a seat behind his desk.

      Delilah made sure the short skirt she wore eased up even more as she crossed her legs, giving Samson a view of what he would be missing if he didn’t continue their liaison. “You still have time to call off your wedding,” she said.

      “Why would I do that?” Samson asked, looking puzzled.

      Delilah leaned in closer, showing her cleavage. “You could have this every night if you would tell Ms. Prissy to take a hike.”

      “I love Julia,” he responded.

      Delilah laughed. “Yeah, right. If you loved her so much, there’s no way you would have been in my bed.”

      “That was an accident. I had too much to drink.”

      Delilah enjoyed watching Samson squirm. He didn’t think she would let him get off the hook that easily, did he? She was not a piece of old clothing he could just throw away. No, she was human. She was flesh, and she was in love with him.

      “Is that the excuse you’re going to give her when she finds out about us?” Delilah asked.

      “There’s no need for either one of us to say anything to Julia. It happened one time, and it won’t happen again,” Samson said in a low voice.

      Delilah stood up and eased her skirt up over her hips. She walked around the desk and swirled Samson’s chair around.

      “What are you doing?” Samson asked, stuttering.

      She sat her naked bottom on his lap. “Oh, you might be a man of God, but you know exactly what I’m doing. And if you don’t, he sure does,” Delilah said, pointing between his legs.

      Samson panted, “The door. Anybody could walk in.”

      “The door is locked. The only way anyone will know what we’re doing is if you make noise.”