LITMIR.BIZ

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short-sleeved shirt he wore, she could see all the yummy planes and ridges of his sculpted chest and arms. Sure she was about to melt, she fanned herself with the nearest scrap of paper she could get in her hands.

      “Are you warm?”

      “Just a little.”

      “You could take off the jacket.” His gaze dropped to her chest; then he said, “On second thought, I could open the door.” He pressed his palms to the desktop as he started to rise from his chair.

      “Oh no!” she said, halting him. “I’m fine. Really. I’ll take privacy over creature comforts any day.”

      “Okay. But you’ll let me know if it gets too hot?”

      “You betcha.”

      He settled back into his chair again. She drank in the sight of him, so yummy in so many ways. Perfect hair, perfect face, weirdly wonderful eyes that again looked like molten chocolate. Shoulders, chest, narrow waist and hips. She could hardly believe she was in this room with this man. And even more, she could hardly believe he seemed to be flirting with her! No one who looked like he did ever gave her a second look, let alone a come-hither one.

      “You wanted to ask me a question?” he said a few moments later, probably feeling weird being ogled again. She was definitely stuck in ogle mode.

      “Oh, yeah. Um. Well, why is a professor of natural science doing research on religious relics? I’d expect that to be appropriate research material for a professor of religious studies or even history. But biology? What would an old spear and shield have to do with cellular reproduction?”

      “More than you might think.”

      She leaned forward, intrigued. When he didn’t elaborate, she said, “That’s all you’re going to say?”

      “For now.”

      “Meanie.”

      He chuckled as he cracked open the book and thumbed through several pages. She liked the way his voice seemed to frolic with her insides like a bouncy puppy. She also liked the way he moved his fingers. They looked deft and capable of doing some wonderful things to choice parts of her anatomy. She fanned herself again but the bitty scrap of paper did nothing to cool her flaming face.

      “This is the only book I’ve found that refers to the Spear of Joshua, or Romakh Yehowshu’a, and Shield of David, Mawgane Dahveed.”

      “Do you think they really exist?”

      “Yes, I do. But I’m beginning to wonder if they are literally a spear and shield.”

      “If they aren’t, what would they be?”

      “Well, the Bible’s full of metaphors and symbols. There are those who believe every word is to be taken literally and those who believe none of it should. I’m somewhere in the middle. Some of the historical references have been collaborated by extrabiblical sources.”

      “I see you’ve done your homework here. I’m impressed. I can’t say I’ve read the Bible cover to cover. I’ve read bits and pieces, the popular stories mostly, like the stories of Noah and Adam and Eve.”

      “Do you know who David and Joshua were?”

      She rummaged through the deepest recesses of her mind where she stowed little-used facts learned when she was a kid. “David was the kid who killed the giant Goliath, right?”

      “Yes, he did that, among other things.” Ric rested his elbows on the desktop and steepled his fingers. His forefingers rested just below his lips. Adorable lips. Kissable lips. “And Joshua?”

      “I’m a little rusty on the Bible but, I vaguely remember he was a warrior of some kind, I think,” she answered, still staring at his mouth.

      “Yes. That’s correct.”

      She already knew he would taste wonderful, sweet and spicy. She wondered if he’d object if she took up where they’d left off in the classroom.

      “So, uh.” She leaned forward. He leaned back. Guess he wasn’t in the mood for a lip-lock now. Bummer! What were they talking about? Oh yeah. David. “Why wouldn’t you think they were literal if the guys were real? Didn’t David have a shield when he fought Goliath?”

      He shook his head. “No.”

      “Oh.” She let her gaze wander for a few. It decided to take a rest on his shoulders for a while. After all, that was some rough terrain, climbing all those bulges and bumps. She fanned herself harder.

      Concentrate, you hussy! This is for Dao, the guy who held you together after your sister died. Remember him?

      That chastisement cooled her raging hormones considerably, and her foggy head cleared a bit too.

      “If you remember the story, David went before the giant with no sword or shield. He had his slingshot and a handful of stones.”

      “I guess I forgot that part. I feel a little stupid. I should know this stuff, went to Catholic schools for years.”

      “Don’t feel stupid. There are parts of the Bible I know nothing about too.”

      His confession didn’t make her feel a whole lot better but she continued the conversation anyway. Obviously the time of impressing him with her knowledge of all things biblical had passed. It was time to get answers. For Dao. “Didn’t Joshua have a spear when he fought with…whoever he fought with?”

      “Yes.”

      “And didn’t David eventually fight with a shield against somebody?”

      “Most likely.”

      “Then there you go! What makes you think the spear and shield aren’t literally an old spear and shield?”

      He pursed his lips, then drew them into a long, narrow line. Yet his face was still as sexy and perfect as it had been before. “Tradition for one. The Magen David is the Star of David, the symbol worn by the Jewish. The six-pointed star. According to tradition it has magical powers and appeared on King David’s shield and King Solomon’s ring.”

      She struggled to keep from falling back into lust mode again. Parts south of her waist refused to listen. “So we’re looking for something with the Star of David on it?”

      “Perhaps, and then again, maybe not. I read something once…” He shuffled through the stack of papers sitting next to the book. “This was written about thirty years ago. I think the author was ahead of his time.” He pulled out a smudgy copy of an article and set it in front of her.

      She scanned the page. “This is from that tabloid you see at the grocery store? The one with stories of Mary’s likeness burned into roast beef or promises of the Second Coming written in tea leaves?”

      He shrugged. “At the time it was probably the only medium that would take this story seriously enough to print it.”

      “Maybe there’s a reason for that.”

      “You said you had an open mind,” he challenged, his gaze drilling hers until she squirmed, for more than one reason. “Read the whole thing before you make a judgment. We must know what we are searching for before we can find it.”

      “That part I can agree with.” She gave him a quick questioning glance, which was answered with a slight shake of his head. Then she dropped her eyes to the article and started reading.

      After about two paragraphs, however, Sophie realized she didn’t understand a single word the author was saying. She handed the paper back to Ric. “This is way over my head. It should be in a theology textbook, not in a tabloid.”

      “My point exactly.”

      “Why would they print this?”

      “Because it has a spark of truth yet seems unbelievable as well.”

      “Want to give me a layman’s summary then? I mean,

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