Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
He chuckled before sipping his coffee. Then he held it out to me. “Try it.”
I had no interest in trying his coffee, but I was very interested in sharing a drink with him, putting my mouth close to where his had been.
I pushed off the post and took the mug, taking a small sip.
It was still grody.
“Better, huh?”
I shook my head, handing him the mug. “No. Not better. Orange juice is better. The apples on your trees are better. Brussels sprouts are better.”
“You look extra nice today. What’s the occasion?”
I glanced down at my blouse and pleated khaki shorts. “They’re just clothes.”
“Do you clean rooms in those?”
Why did everyone have to comment on my clothes?
“Where are you taking me fishing?”
“Black Paw Lake.”
“Nobody fishes there.”
“Exactly. But there are fish in the lake, so two birds, one stone.”
“You don’t want anyone seeing us fish?”
“Bingo.” He winked.
I opened my mouth to protest his need to be so secretive, but then it hit me that we would be secluded and alone, which was fine too.
He stood and sipped his coffee again before heading into the house.
“You should know that three desperate women in town are interested in you.” I followed him into the kitchen. “They asked my mom about you. I said she should stay out of it. You just moved here. You have a new job. And you have Josh. So …”
He set his mug by the sink. “You assume I don’t have time to date? Or you don’t think any of these women are a good match for me?”
“Yes.” I returned a sharp nod.
Kyle grinned. “You don’t think I have time to date, and you don’t think any of these women are a good match for me?”
“Correct.” I pressed my lips together and shrugged.
“Or is it that you don’t want me dating anyone, which makes no sense.”
“First, why would I care if you date someone? And you’re right; it wouldn’t make sense for me not to want you to date, but why do you think that?”
“Because if I date someone, I’ll need a babysitter. And if you babysit for me, then I’ll owe you which means you’ll learn more things on that long list of yours. You should want me to date.”
Or you could date me.
“True. But we don’t have time to discuss this any longer. You have practice, and none of these women are the ones. I’ll let you know if I find a good fit.”
Kyle’s eyebrows made a slow ascent of his forehead. “Are you my babysitter and my matchmaker?”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “I hadn’t planned on it, but I’m obviously the best qualified, so I’ll do it.”
He grabbed his keys. “Why are you best qualified?”
“Because I’m young. I know almost everyone in town. I hear all the gossip. And I have totally awesome taste in everything.”
“And you’re humble. So humble.” He smirked, stopping beside me before continuing to the door.
I didn’t turn my head at first, but when I did, he winked.
Why was he such a winker? And why did I think it meant he liked me? Like … liked me.
CHAPTER NINE
JOHN PARR, “NAUGHTY NAUGHTY”
Eve
We met at the lake after dinner.
Kyle was already in his fishing boat when I arrived. I walked at double speed, clenched my fists, and told myself to slow down and chill out. But I couldn’t. He was taking me fishing on a lake that didn’t have another boat in sight.
“What took you so long?” he asked, offering his hand to help me off the dock and into the boat.
I didn’t need his help, but I liked how my hand fit into his. “You didn’t tell me which dock. And there are three at this lake. I drove to the other two first.”
“Oh, I thought there was only one.” He gave me a half grin. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, I can tell,” I said before nodding to the engine. “Okay. What’s the first step?”
“Oh, you're driving it today?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Yes. What did you think we were doing?”
“Fishing and filleting.”
I shrugged. “Well, show me how to drive the boat, and I’ll take us to the fish; then we can catch and fillet.”
“Okay. First, make sure the engine is fully tilted down like this.”
I nodded.
“Then you need to squeeze this priming bulb until it’s full.”
I squeezed it. “Now what?”
“Make sure the throttle is in neutral.” He showed me that. “Key on. Choke out. Pull the cord.”
I followed his steps. “Ouch!” I grabbed my shoulder after a failed attempt at pulling the cord.
Kyle chuckled. “You have to use your muscles. Do you have any?” He playfully squeezed my upper arm.
I batted his hand away. “It’s not funny,” I said, but I laughed anyway. “Let’s skip the starting part. I just want to drive it.”
“Eve, if you can’t start this boat, I won’t let you fire a gun. And there’s no way you can pull my bow back to shoot an arrow.”