Page 12 of The Apple Tree

Eve was a handful, and even that was an understatement. She was like a cigarette, addictive and bad for me, yet oddly alluring.

“Why do you think she would choose me?” I turned toward the kitchen, and Eve followed me.

“Just for reasons.”

“Such as?” I grabbed a six-pack of beer from the fridge. “Because I’m good-looking?”

“Pfft.” She rolled her eyes. “I withdraw my statement, Your Honor. On second thought, you’re too full of yourself for her to be interested in you. Are you taking those with you or hiding them from me?” She nodded to the cans of beer I tucked under my arm.

“Neither. Well,” I thought about it, “maybe both. I probably shouldn’t leave them where you can be tempted. I’m taking them with me.”

“Drinking and driving is a bad thing,” she said. “There have been some real tragedies around here.”

“Good thing I’m not driving. Listen, Josh is upstairs playing in his room. His jammies are on his bed. Tell him to brush his teeth at seven and read him a bedtime story at seven thirty.He’ll pick out the book. No water after seven. He’s had dinner, so don’t let him talk you into any snacks. He’s sly and ornery.” I grabbed an old blanket and flashlight and shoved my feet into my boots.

“Where are you going? Why do you need a flashlight and blanket?” Eve asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

I opened the back door. “I’m going down to the creek. I hear it’s a great place to stare at the stars and drink.”

Eve’s jaw came unhinged. “You’re a cruel man, Mr. Collins.”

I laughed.

“By the way, I charge ten dollars an hour to babysit.” She pulled her long, dark hair over one shoulder and inspected the ends as if her outrageous babysitting fee was no big deal.

I held back my response for a few seconds because she was something else. And whatever thatsomethingwas made me want more of it.

“Idon’t make ten dollars an hour. I’ll pay you four an hour, and I won’t tell your parents that you were planning on sneaking out tonight.”

She planted her hands on her hips as if that and a slight chin lift made her look tougher.

Damn. I had to fight my grin.

“Five an hour, and I won’t tell my dad that it was Josh’s poop he had to clean up off the bathroom floor yesterday.”

I cocked my head to the side. “You said you unclogged it.”

“I lied.”

“Why?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Because I didn’t want you to feel bad.”

“But you’re okay with me feeling bad now because you want to blackmail me into paying more?”

“No. I’m okay with making you feel bad now,andI’m blackmailing you because you’re going tomycreek to domything, and you’re doing it just to spite me.”

I slowly nodded. “Five an hour, and I’ll be back in two hours.”

“Perfect.” Eve looked at her yellow and red banded Swatch. “I’ll have my mom come over to check in around seven, so when you return at eight, I’ll be in the clear to leave. Have fun, Mr. Math Teacher.” She spun on her toes and sauntered toward the stairs.

Devil’s Head was a terrible idea. That girl was trouble.

CHAPTER FOUR

JODY WATLEY, “LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE”

Eve

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