Chapter 9: Losing Faith

Faith Greer hooked her pinkie into the bar handle of the sliding door, pulling it open just enough to wedge a foot between frame and door to scoot it open the rest of the way. Her right hand held two glasses of cranberry juice with a carafe of coffee dangling from her index finger while the other balanced two plates of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and blackberry jam on toast. She could have been a waitress with that balancing act. Selby finished setting the table on their wooden deck as Journey serenaded them from the speakers. The salt spray brushed against her face as the breeze pulled playfully at her wheaten hair, whipping it around her face and shoulders.

"Will you take these please," she laughed. "I can't see where I'm going."

Selby laughed with her, but instead of helping her, he pulled the strands of hair from her face and licked her nose. "But you look so cute helpless."

"You won't think it's cute when your breakfast hits the deck."

He continued to laugh but unwrapped the carafe and juice glasses from her hand. "I can think of something better for breakfast." He wiggled his eyebrows at her as he set the glasses upon the table.

Faith set the plates down and wrapped her arm around Selby's neck. "I thought men's sexual peak was in their twenties?" She kissed his ear softly, her wet tongue licking his lobe as she pulled away.

He smiled at her, and her breath caught at the sparkle in his eyes. "You, my sweet Faith, make me feel like a teenager."

"Oh, great! Now, I'm a pedophile." Her laughter mixed with the crashing waves not far away.

His grin threatened to consume her. "Take me, Mrs. Greer. I've been a very naughty boy."

She laughed, and her forest green eyes glinted with mischievous desires. "You are a naughty boy, wanting me to be late for work."

Selby laughed as he ushered her to the flower-patterned chair, holding it out for her to sit. "You're just eager to get to those construction hunks. You don't have me fooled one bit."

Faith tucked her hair behind her left ear as she sat. "What can I say? Every girl loves eye candy, and most of those guys can give me a sugar high to last all day. Rippling muscles, six-pack abs, strong powerful hands that can grip…"

"Okay, okay," Selby held his hands up in surrender, laughing even harder. "I get it. My scrawny frame doesn't compare to those well-toned hunks." Selby let out an overdramatic sigh. "Your puny husband doesn't measure up."

Faith picked up a crisp slice of bacon as she patted his cheek with her right hand. "It's okay, my stick man. You have other uses."

Selby arched his eyebrows and bit into her bacon. Faith laughed and bit off a piece herself.

Within the next thirty minutes, Faith dressed for work—gray slacks, a black pull-over low-cut blouse that showed off her orange-sized breasts, and sandals. She was five minutes late, but it wasn't the end of the world. Edwin was pretty easygoing. He had to be to put up with all the nonsense Cherish kept putting him through. The office was casual as long as the work got done. And there was plenty of work. Besides, it's hard getting construction workers to be businesslike. It just wasn't part of their job description.

"Morning, Ashley." Faith waved as she passed the young receptionist on her way through the front lobby.

"You're in a chipper mood this morning," the twenty-two-year-old said, her store-bought tits overflowing her blouse.

Faith paused at the door leading into the warren of offices that made up Rutherford Construction. With a playful grin pushing at her cheeks, she turned back to the young blond. "It's Friday. Who can't be chipper on the last day of the week?" She pulled the door open and entered the inner world of Rutherford Construction and all its trappings. She was in a great mood, and she determined to keep it that way.