Free The Preacher's Daughter by Fiona Wilde Page A

over-made. They want to be the next sexy thing. But you are just sweet and sweet his hard to find."
    He smiled a fatherly smile.
    "Thank you," she said.
    "So if you bring your photo portfolio to me later this week we'll get you set up."
    "Photo portfolio?" Naomi had felt her bubble of happiness burst. "I don't have a photo portfolio."
    Randy Edge turned to Jasper. "You brought her here without portfolio?" He shook his head.
    "She's getting one done this afternoon!" Jasper said.
    "I am?" Naomi looked at Jasper like he was crazy.
    "Yes, silly. Don't you remember?" He shot her a look that suggested she needed to go along with him.
    "Oh, right." She nodded.
    "Good," Randy Edge said. "I'd like to see it. I'm busy the rest of this week but Monday would be a good time to meet again."
    "We'll be here. Same time?" Jasper asked.
    "Just set it up with my girl at the desk," he said.
    Jasper had hastened her out. "Are you crazy?" she asked after they were back outside. "I can't afford a photographer."
    "It's OK. I'll pay for it. He likes you."
    She gasped. "No. You can't," she protested. "What if I don't get the job? I won't be able to.."
    He stopped and grabbed her by the arms then and his mouth was on hers before she could say another word.
    "You're so pretty," he said. "And so sweet. Mr. Edge said so himself. And there's something about you. Something that makes me think that together..."
    She looked at him, at his handsome, deceptively innocent face and fell head over heels in that moment. She wasn't alone. She'd found someone who believed, someone who believed enough to take care of her.
    Only later would she find out it had all been a sham. When she went back to Mr. Edge, he announced she wasn't what he wanted after all. Naomi fell apart; the man she loved had spent his last dime on her portfolio and hotel bills and clothing for her. She had to get work and he suggested she start dancing.
    She'd been unbelievably nervous. He'd given her a pill to help. And the pill became nightly pills. The tattoos came later as she sought to deal with the pain and guilt of her new life.
    The money was good, until it began to disappear in "fees." Jasper moved on to another girl, not that she cared any more. Naomi went from loving to hating him when she learned that the nightclub where she danced, Pinnacle, was owned by Excelon Enterprises.
    The entire thing had been a set up from the start.
    Jasper had targeted her and pursued her like prey. Now he wanted her back. Hanging up on him wouldn't get him out of her life, no matter how much she wanted to think it would.
    Naomi began to cry. Jasper had pretended to care and she'd fallen for it because she'd never been around a man who really did. Now she had that man in her life, but if she was honest with him he'd end the relationship. After all, what good Christian man would want to be with a former stripper?
    Naomi got off the bed and sunk down beside it. How many years had she been since she'd gotten on her knees in prayer? Ten? Fifteen? Twenty? She'd told herself she'd never pray again. Now she couldn't think of anything else to do.

     

Chapter Six

    "Are you all right, Naomi?" Eric looked up into the driver's mirror of the bus, a concerned look on his face. They were heading with the youth group to a local farm to pick strawberries and Naomi was having a hard time staying awake.
    "I'm OK," she said. "I just didn't sleep well last night."
    "Something on your mind keeping you awake?"
    "No." Naomi looked out the window. "Just couldn't sleep."
    It was a lie, of course, and Naomi knew it would lead to more and more. But the truth of her past would extract too high a price. People who said honesty was the best policy didn't "stripper" on their resumes.
    "Well you'd better summon some energy somehow," he said. "Carson's Farm is a big place and picking berries in the heat isn't for the faint of heart."
    Naomi tried to muster a laugh but all she could manage was a weak smile. She felt frustrated with herself