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)
“When she answers the door in nothing but a fur coat, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He turned before opening the driver’s door. “It’s a little hot for a fur coat.”
“That’s why she’ll slide it off her shoulders when you step inside her house.”
Kyle lifted his eyebrows.
“And I’m not saying it should matter, but she won’t look like one of your centerfolds. I’m not sure you’ll find the gesture admirable.”
He coughed a laugh and opened the door. “Eve, I don’t think most women look like a centerfold. I’m sure she’s nice,” he said, climbing into his truck.
I stepped closer so he couldn’t shut the door. “Most women in Devil’s Head are nice, but that doesn’t mean you should date, envy, admire, or be inspired by them. I told you I’d find someone for you, but you haven’t given me enough time.”
He slowly nodded. “Well, good thing it’s just a handyman job and a thank-you meal, not a date.”
I deflated. Denise was nice. And pretty. She was closer to his age—twenty-seven or twenty-eight. And she worked at the animal rescue shelter one town over.
“Eve?” He woke me from my thoughts.
I glanced up at him.
“I have to go. If you can’t watch Josh, that’s fine. I can ask your sister or take him with me.”
I perked up. Denise would have to keep her clothes on if he took Josh.
“Sorry. I have a date tonight, and Gabby’s going to a movie.”
It was a lie and a half. Maybe two lies. I wasn’t sure if Gabby was going to a movie, but it was her usual Friday night plan.
Kyle inspected me as if he didn’t trust me.
I didn’t blink. That was how I made all of my lies believable. No blinking. No smiling. I just stood like a statue until he accepted it.
“Fine. I’ll take him with me. Now, I have to go.”
I stepped backward and mumbled a “goodbye” before he closed the door and sped down the driveway.
“Maybe I need my toilet fixed too,” I said to no one except the wind as I spun on my heels and headed back into the house.
“Where are you going?” Dad asked the next morning. After I inhaled the waffle Mom had made me, I headed toward the door.
“Kyle—uh, Mr. Collins asked me to come over this morning because he and Josh are target shooting with bows, and Josh wanted me to see him hit the target.”
“He’s really taken a liking to you, huh?”
I glanced up, hair hanging in my face as I worked my heel into my sneaker while balancing on one leg. “It’s not like that. Josh is the one who wants me to come over.”
Dad narrowed his eyes. “I was talking about Josh.”
“Oh, yeah. Duh. Yes, Josh likes me. He’s a sweet boy. Sure, he clogged our toilet, but who hasn’t?” I shot my dad a toothy grin. “See ya.” I ran out the door before he could ask any follow-up questions.
I had intended on baking something to bring them that morning, but I was angry at Kyle for fixing Denise’s toilet, so I showed up empty-handed.
“Let’s go!” Josh yelled from the porch as soon as he saw me. “Come on, Eve! I’ll show you.”
I wanted a boy just like him: full of life, endless smiles, and contagious giggles.
Kyle slowly stood from the porch swing and sipped his coffee. He looked hot in his white T-shirt, faded jeans, and wet hair.
“How was your date?” I asked when Josh was already halfway to the barn.
Kyle descended the porch stairs. “Disappointing. You told me she’d be naked under a fur coat, but she was wearing scrubs and smelled like dog urine. However, dinner was good, and she let Josh finger paint, so he instantly loved her.”
My face soured, so I glanced in the opposite direction as we followed Josh. “That’s great,” I mumbled in a tone opposite of great. “It’s not like she made him homemade applesauce,” I mumbled under my breath.
“What?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“How was your date?” he asked.
“My what?”
“Your date. You said you couldn’t watch Josh last night because you had a date.”
“Oh, yeah. It was fine. Good. Maybe one of the best dates I’ve ever been on.” I should have stopped at fine, but jealousy made me reckless and a big liar.
“Sounds like it could be serious. Was it a first date?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t look at him, so I watched my feet as we walked.
“A friend? Someone you graduated with?”
“Uh, no. He’s not from Devil’s Head. It was a blind date. He’s uh … he’s a lawyer.” I tugged at my lower lip after pulling that doozy out of my ass.
“Wow. You’re into older men, huh? How does your dad feel about that?”
“When I go places with older men, I don’t tell my dad.” I felt proud of my response, so I glanced at him with a sly grin.