Page 19 of The Apple Tree

“Pastor Peter Jacobson never sings my praises,” I replied, leering at my dad.

“I give credit where credit is due, young lady. And Kyle said you offered to help with Josh.”

Before I could respond, Kyle said, “You’ve done a great job raising Eve. She’s very generous, dare I say selfless, with her time. Cleary a young woman with pure motives and an abundance of selflessness.”

Speaking of motives, I wasn’t sure what Kyle’s were with his glowing compliment meticulously wrapped in bullshit. I offered a fake smile, which seemed to please him.

“Wow, Kyle. I can’t tell you how much that means. Things have been a little rocky with Eve, but I think she’s come to her senses and reached a new level of maturity,” Dad said, and my mom nodded.

Kyle canted his head and looked at me. “Yes. She seems to make good choices.”

There wasn’t a proper response to be found, so I stood there with parted lips, a dry mouth, and a narrow-eyed gaze pointed at Kyle.

“Peter, weren’t you going to ask Bill Ferguson about the board meeting?” Mom grabbed my dad’s hand.

“Oh, yeah.” He spied Bill getting into his car. “Excuse me, Kyle.”

Kyle nodded.

When my parents headed toward the parking lot, I asked, “Do you pay such high compliments to all of your babysitters?”

Kyle shrugged as Josh wiggled out of his jacket. “Only the ones who ask to borrow a flashlight, blanket, beer, and gun.” He took Josh’s jacket before his squirmy son ran toward a group of young kids playing chase under the oak trees.

Was he flirting with me? I couldn’t imagine. My attraction toward him made it hard to interpret how he looked at me with what felt like mischief in his eyes and a flirty grin.

“Your parents invited Josh and me to your house for Sunday dinner. And your mom said you made apple pie with the apples I gave you. But I only recall you picking one apple, which you ate the night I walked you home.”

“She misheard me. I told her I used apples from the ground that blew off your trees and landed in our yard.”

“Hmm, I don’t recall a windy day since we moved in. It’s a little way from my trees to your fence.”

I crossed my arms over my chest without responding.

“You have a beautiful voice. Did you sing in the high school choir as well?”

I pinched my lips together to keep from grinning. When I thought I could maintain my composure, I cleared my throat.“My father made me join his choir after my older sister, Sarah, moved out of Devil’s Head. I don’t like to sing.”

“I figured. Your lips didn’t match the words,” Kyle said, flashing me a gotcha grin.

“You said I have a beautiful voice.” I scowled at him.

“You do. It’s rather pleasant. But I didn’t say you’re a talented singer. I’ve never heard you sing. Neither has anyone else, huh? If you’re going to stand in the front row where everyone can see you, I think you should, at the very least, memorize the correct lyrics.”

Idid notlike him. Sure, I wanted him to tear off my clothes and do ungodly things to me, but not because I liked him. Why did he have to be so sexyandcall me out like an errant child?

“Mr. Collins, I don’t know how my father would feel about you staring at my mouth during his sermons. Seems a little inappropriate to me.”

Kyle’s smile died as his Adam’s apple bobbed on a hard swallow. I enjoyed having the upper hand, but never imagined having it with him. Riding a wave of confidence, I stepped closer and stared at his shiny brown shoes momentarily before dragging my gaze up his body like he had done to me on more than one occasion.

When our eyes met, I grinned. “See you at Sunday dinner, Coach.”

He took a step back and adjusted his tie.

My hormones exploded like a volcano. Despite my feigned confidence, I trembled, drowning in a sea of impure thoughts about a man much older than me.

“CanI go to Ben’s after we eat?” Gabby asked, setting the dining room table.

“No. Sunday is a family day,” I replied, filling the water glasses from an orange Tupperware pitcher.

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