Faith was surprised at how much she enjoyed the church service. From the very beginning it was clear Michael preached with an eye toward including everyone. Several times he mentioned welcoming members of all denominations and beliefs or lack thereof. His passionate words inspired Faith to try and infuse her music with the same enthusiasm.

Her jaw dropped after the first song ended and the audience broke into applause. When she looked over, Michael was grinning at her encouragingly. She'd expected the service to be far more somber. She got chills as she looked out from her spot on the altar to the sea of people so excited about her music. It had been a long time since she'd felt this spark while playing.

Her most recent gigs had been in some real dive bars around Brooklyn and a couple out on Long Island. The patrons seemed more interested in seeing the bottoms of their beer glasses than hearing her play. Over time, the lack of passion in her audience seemed to be reflected in her playing.

She beamed a smile over at Michael as he gave his homily. She didn't know if he felt the same pull between them as she did. She didn't know if someone like him could ever be interested in someone as unconventional as she was. What she did know was that he had given her a gift beyond measure in pushing her to fill in tonight. He'd reminded her about her love for music, and instilled her with the knowledge it was time to make some changes in her life to get this feeling back.

In the gathering room behind the church, parishioners mingled and munched on the goodies everyone brought. Faith piled a plate high with cookies, a brownie, and a small hunk of decadent dark chocolate cake.

A number of the churchgoers stopped to thank her for filling in for the music director and to tell her how much they enjoyed her playing. She had a few animated discussions about the merits of one kind of music over another, and several people told her how bringing "real" music into the service—Michael's idea apparently—had brought them back to church again and again.

Warmth filled Faith as she took in this community. Everyone she met welcomed her and made her feel at home. She wondered if other churches were like this or if this was just the result of Michael working his magic, making everyone feel like they'd found a place they belonged.

That thought stopped her dead in her tracks. Maybe that's all he'd been doing with her. Maybe what she had seen as flirtation and attraction had just been Michael's normal behavior, the way he drew people in and made them feel immediately at home. Had she misjudged what was happening between them?

Before she could get too deep into introspection, she caught sight of Michael across the room. When their eyes met, his polite smile turned to one filled with something slightly more intimate. She couldn't be wrong, could she? He must feel the attraction.

He held her gaze as he made his way across the room. He reached her and took one of her hands into one of his larger ones. "You were amazing tonight, Faith. I had a feeling you were talented from the little bit you played yesterday, but tonight...I was blown away."

"Thanks. I'll admit it was more fun than I thought it'd be."

"What did you think it would be?" Michael asked her, his eyes intently sweeping her face.

Faith felt like they were the only two people in the room at that moment. It was like something out of a fairytale. Their eyes meeting across the room, making their way to one another. Could this man really be interested in her? Everything in her screamed yes, except for one niggling thought teasing at the back of her mind. That thought told her she wasn't good enough for someone as good as Michael. He was better suited to someone else. Someone better. Someone like...her sister.

The thought dimmed her enthusiasm. She looked down for a moment, only to be startled by the feel of Michael's hand on her chin. He lifted her face up until their gazes met.

"Hey, where did you go just then?"

"Sorry," Faith said with a small shake of her head. "I was just thinking about playing tonight. It's been a while since I've felt that kind of spark when I played. Thank you."

"No, thank you. You're incredibly talented. It was a gift to all of us to get to hear you."

Faith's eyes searched his, looking for some answers. She needed to know if he was simply grateful for her help this weekend or if he felt as amazed at finding her as she was at finding him.

"Father Michael." The voice that broke into their staring match was familiar. Of course Maddie had to come break things up.

"Maddie," Michael said, waiting a moment, holding onto Faith's stare, before glancing over his shoulder at the other woman. "What did you think of the service? Wasn't Faith great?"

"Oh," Maddie's mouth formed a perfect O for a second as she obviously searched for the appropriate response. "We've always enjoyed listening to Faith and her little hobby."

Faith bit her lip. As much as part of her wanted to snipe at her sister, the other part of her was mentally jumping up and down because Michael continued to hold her hand. Was he as loath to break the connection as she was?

Maddie waxed poetic about the service for the next few minutes, ending by telling Michael, "I'll definitely be back next week."

Before Michael had a chance to respond, another church member called him. He gave Faith's hand a quick squeeze before excusing himself to tend to the rest of his congregation, all vying for a little of his time.

"What do you think you're doing, Faith?" The moment Michael took his leave, Maddie grabbed Faith's upper arm tightly, her voice coming out as a hissed whisper through her teeth.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the way you've been throwing yourself at Father Michael. Honestly Faith, it's downright embarrassing."

Faith's heart hurt at her sister's words. Her eyes sought Michael out. From across the room his tall form and broad shoulders made him easy to pick out of the crowd. He was smiling down at an elderly couple as the woman chatted animatedly.

"How is it embarrassing? I'm talking to Michael about the service we just did together." Faith tried to play it off as no big deal. If Maddie had an inkling about the depths of Faith's feelings for the priest, she might really go off on Faith. "It's no big deal."

"Oh, please. I see the way you've been looking at him. It's obvious you have feelings for him."

"So what if I do?" Faith's teeth clenched as she tried to hold onto her temper. "I don't know why it's any of your business."

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep you from making a fool of yourself." Maddie's tone changed to conciliatory as if she had been trying to be a good big sister all along. "I mean, can you really see yourself with Father Michael?"

"I hadn't really thought about it," Faith said tiredly. This was not a conversation she wanted to have with Maddie, and she had already admitted too much.

"Faith, he's a priest, for heaven's sake. You're a musician. You haven't ever held down a real job. Father Michael has an important position as head of this church. He has to put his reputation before any feelings he might have for some...well, some musician."

Faith looked down at her feet expecting to see a pool of blood from the cut her sister just made. Guess this wound only showed on the inside. Maddie's words reflected all of the doubts Faith had over the last few days. She'd always been a screw-up. A man like Michael needed someone he could be proud to have by his side. He wouldn't think of her in a romantic way. Thinking of the way she'd acted toward him, probably making cow eyes like a lovesick twelve-year-old had her face burning with embarrassment.

The only thing holding her together was the determination not to give her sister the satisfaction of knowing she'd made a direct hit.

"I don't know why you'd think I was chasing after Michael, Maddie. Do you remember my last few boyfriends—tattoos, motorcycles, artists—any of that ring a bell?" Her voice dripped sarcasm in the hopes Maddie would believe her final words, "Like I'd ever be interested in a priest."

As the words left her lips, Maddie gave her a triumphant smile. Something was not right here. When Faith looked around she realized Michael had come up behind her and heard her last words loud and clear.