Secret Agent Minister by Lenora Worth Page B

Poor Amy.”
    Distinguished Gentleman looked confused. “Who—”
    “Very Evil People,” she said to him over her shoulder as Pastor Dev gathered her up. He lifted her into his arms, then headed toward the bathroom, but Lydia couldn’t enjoy his touch—it hurt her skin to be touched. Then she heard water being turned on, but that didn’t bother her half as much as the white-hot pokers branding her skin and the fact that Pastor Dev had her in his arms and drat, she couldn’t even enjoy it.
    “Ugh, pesticides?” she said, her fingers scratching at her burning, itching skin. “I’m allergic to things like that. Hives. I told Amy—I told Amy I couldn’t wear strong perfume. I used the lotion, because the perfume made me sneeze. I only used the lotion. I get the hives if it’s too strong.”
    “This will be more than hives if we don’t hurry,” Distinguished Gentleman said. “Most common pesticides don’t cause an immediate reaction, but we don’t know how much she’s been exposed or how long, especially if the girl put it in the lotion. And we don’t have much time before they find out where you two are. This might help temporarily, but she will still need medical help.”
    “Do we have people posted?” Dev asked.
    “Yes. I’ll alert them immediately.” Then the man nodded toward Lydia. “You take care of her.”
    Pastor Dev put one hand on her chin. “I’m sorry to have to do this, Lydia. Please forgive me.”
    And then Lydia felt the warm wash of water hitting her in the face, along with Pastor Dev’s hands on her shoulders, holding her under the shower spray.
    “Let me go,” she cried out, the lukewarm water merging with the agony racing down her body. Her skin was raw with pain and heat, tears were streaming down her face, and she wanted to be somewhere else. Somewhere safe. So she tried to pound that thought into him as she hit against his chest. “Let me go.”
    But he didn’t let her go.
    Instead, he got inside the open shower with her, both of them fully clothed, and held her so tightly that soon they were both completely soaked, too.
    Lydia looked at him, sobs moving throughout her body, the sensation of being burned alive clawing at her flesh. “What’s wrong with me? What did they do to me?”
    He held her face in his hands, his eyes focused on hers. “Listen to me. You’re going to be all right, Lydia. I promise. I promise.”
    “You always promise so much,” she said, angry now. Angry with him, and with CHAIM, and with the world in general. “You always promise, but…I’m hurting. I’m hurting.” She realized she was screaming now, but she didn’t care. “So don’t make me any more promises, all right?”
    “All right,” he said, his voice low and calm, even though his eyes blazed with the same tears and frustrations she felt. And the same rage. “All right. No more promises.”
    And then he kissed her.

EIGHT
    H e’d had no other choice, Dev kept telling himself as he kissed Lydia, and he kept right on kissing her long after she’d stopped pounding her tiny fists into his chest. Long after she’d slumped against him and settled into his embrace. He probably would have continued, since her lips had gone warm and tender, if they hadn’t been interrupted by their gray-haired friend.
    “You must leave. Now!”
    That urgent command brought Dev back to full alert. And made him realize that once again, he’d been distracted enough to put Lydia in even more danger. But she had been near hysterics, so what else could he have done? He wouldn’t strike a woman. Kissing her quiet had seemed the best plan at the time. But now…
    Their helper turned off the water and tossed a big towel at Lydia. “Get her out of there.”
    “What’s going on?” Lydia asked, her eyes dazed, her skin flushed. Chill bumps dotted her arms.
    Dev pulled her out onto the tiled floor and tugged the big pink towel around her ruined dress. “C’mon, Lydia. We have to get you some medical