Sinful By Nature

Chapter Two

Leah fastened the buttons on her long coat, examining herself in her mirror to make sure the outfit underneath was completely covered. 

She spritzed her signature perfume behind both ears, on her chest, and rubbed it into her wrists.  Smiling coyly as she breathed in the deep floral scent, she set the glass bottle back down on her dresser and picked up her bag. 

Guess I'll finally get some use out of this after all, she thought as she grabbed her Bible, clutching it to her chest.

Leah walked down the stairs, meeting her parents in the kitchen. Her mother was stood by the stove, stirring the pot of whatever she was cooking for dinner. Her father was sat at the kitchen table, reading his Bible and taking notes for his next sermon. 

"Oh, honey, sit down. Dinner is almost ready," her mother said, turning to her as she entered the room. Her father peered over his glasses, nodding in silent approval over her attire.

"Noah will be here any minute, Mama," Leah said. "We don't wanna be late to the Bible study."

"Make sure you're taking care of Noah, alright? He's a shy boy," her father said, keeping his eyes glued on the work in front of him. 

"He's in very good hands, don't worry," Leah responded slyly, smiling to herself at her own joke.

The ring of the doorbell twisted Leah's stomach in knots.

She wasn't nervous. She definitely wasn't nervous. She was just excited to finally be moving on to phase two of her plan. That was it.

There was also a possibility that she wasn't used to any guy coming to her door to pick her up - even if it was just for a fake Bible study. The most she'd ever gotten was a simple 'here' text; and they say chivalry is dead. 

Leah moved into the living room, taking a deep breath and opening the door. 

Noah Oliver stood on the front porch, hands buried deep into the pockets of his slacks. He still had a crisp white button-up tucked in, but had changed his tie. His face flushed and he straightened his posture as he locked eyes with Leah.

"Well, don't rush off," her father called out from the kitchen. "Bring the boy inside."

"I guess you're not getting off that easily," Leah joked, earning a shy smile from Noah as she ushered him inside.

The pair walked into the kitchen, greeted by Leah's parents' smiling faces.

"It's good to see you again, Pastor Stevens. Mrs. Stevens," Noah said, nodding with a smile at both adults.

"Oh, please. Call me Tammy," her mother told him, bringing her father a plate of dinner. 

"Workin' on something for next Sunday?" Noah asked her father, eyeing the notes splayed out on the table.

"It's like I've told you, Noah. The Lord never stops talking. You just have to always be ready to listen." 

Noah nodded at the anecdote and Leah suppressed an eye roll.

"I don't wanna keep you, we can't have the preacher's daughter showing up late to the Bible study," her father joked. Leah bit her lip to keep her snicker to herself. "Y'all just be safe, alright?"

"I'll have her back before ten, sir," Noah said, shaking her father's hand.

Leah couldn't help but giggle at the adorable gesture, causing a blush to creep up Noah's neck.

Hugging her parents goodbye, she grabbed Noah's arm and pulled him out the front door. 

As they approached his old pick-up truck, Noah jogged ahead and opened the passenger door for her. She stilled for a moment, surprised at the small act of chivalry, but quickly regained her wits. He grabbed her hand, carefully helping her in.