Ruthless by Shelia M. Goss Page A

fire.”
    â€œAfter I get Sheba where I want her, the first thing I’m going to do is tell her not to trust her sister. Because as much as I want Sheba, Delilah shouldn’t be scheming behind her back.”
    Nathan laughed. “Man, you’re a trip. What do you call what you’re doing? You’re scheming behind her back. In fact, you sent the woman’s husband to Afghanistan. Come on, man. Afghanistan. I hope she’s worth it.”
    David slammed the weight down on the floor. “Why do you always have to be so judgmental?”
    â€œAs your friend, it’s my role to keep you on the straight and narrow.” Nathan looked David directly in the eyes.
    â€œAs my friend, I need for you to mind your own business.”
    â€œI wish I could do that. Remember when we were in college?” Nathan asked.
    â€œWhat does that have to do with anything?”
    â€œOh, I don’t think you do. Remember when I walked up to you and told you that God wanted to do great things in your life, if only you would submit to Him?”
    â€œYes, I remember. I started going to church more because of you.”
    â€œWell, David, you must have forgotten what else I told you.”
    David tilted his head from side to side as he tried to recall the conversation Nathan was referring to. “I honestly don’t remember what else you said.”
    â€œGod sent me to you that day. I had no intentions of coming to the student union. I was napping when I heard God tell me to seek you out. The description I got of you in my head was eerie. That was one of my most vivid visions. So when I saw the light-skinned black man with curly red hair sipping on a cola like in my vision, I knew you were the one.”
    â€œOh yeah, I remember now. I thought you were just kidding.”
    â€œNo, man, I was serious then, and I’m serious now. God sends me visions. We’ve talked about some of them before.”
    â€œI know. God speaks to me, too.”
    â€œHe would speak with you more if you would stop and listen.”
    â€œI listen.” David wouldn’t look Nathan in the face. “Well, most of the time.”
    â€œAre you listening now?”
    David didn’t say a word.
    Nathan stood up. “You don’t have to answer me. This is between you and God.”
    â€œThen see your way out of my business.”
    â€œDon’t shoot the messenger,” Nathan said as he retrieved another bottle of water from the refrigerator. “I got a date, anyway, so I’ll catch you later.”
    â€œFor a preacher, you sure go out on a lot of dates,” David said.
    â€œI’m trying to find a first lady, because I’m tired of the single women coming to church with their dresses getting shorter and shorter and their blouses cut lower and lower.”
    â€œMan, I need to be coming to church more often if that’s the case.”
    â€œYes, you do, but you need to be focused on the word, not the women.”
    â€œThen what’s the fun?”
    â€œLord, what are we going to do with him?” Nathan said as he looked up toward the heavens.
    After Nathan left, David thought about his own life and his weakness for women. Would God forgive him for what he had set in motion?

Chapter 17
    It had been almost a week since Sheba moved Delilah temporarily into her and Uriah’s home. Now she was beginning to think Uriah was right. Delilah wasn’t the easiest person to get along with. In fact, she could be quite demanding. Sheba ended up having to do another round of grocery shopping, because Delilah was picky about the things she ate.
    â€œYou would think someone opening up their home and refrigerator to you would make you a little more grateful,” Sheba blurted out.
    â€œWell, you’re the one who invited me here. Remember?” Delilah snapped back.
    Sheba rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, “I’m not going to let you get under my skin