Ten

Kyle was out back on the deck grilling when I showed up the next day.

Turning, he flashed a heart-stopping smile that made my pulse dance. Wearing aviator sunglasses, he looked like a movie star. Flustered, I managed to croak, "Hey."

He glanced at the sports watch on his left wrist. "You're late. I was beginning to think I scared you off."

"Do women usually get scared when you show interest in them?" I teased.

"You're the first one in years. Go easy on me. You could crush my ego."

I fought a smile for fear it would turn out more of a big, goofy grin. "It'll take more than the threat of a date with you to scare me."

"Good to know." He chuckled. "I'm grilling burgers. Stay and have dinner with me?"

Plates, napkins, buns, and other condiments were set on the table. "Ok." Had he planned to ask me? Butterflies fluttered in my belly. "Can I help?"

"Talk to me." He turned to me. "I grill better with conversation."

My blood hummed with what I thought was desire. I wished I could see his eyes. It would help to know what he was thinking, but maybe it was better I couldn't.

"Have you finished the book of Samuel?" I blurted, needing to stop the trespassing images in my head of Kyle and me.

"Both of them. I shifted gears and headed to the New Testament. I'm reading Mark." He answered easily, seeming unsurprised by the question, and I realized he wasn't overcome with desire or whatever it was muddling my brain.

For a few seconds, I wished I was wearing something more appealing than scrubs. I firmly pushed that thought aside. "Ah, the shortest book in the gospel. He didn't elaborate like the other writers did."

"I take it you're more of a John fan."

He studied me behind the glasses. I echoed something I'd heard Sarah say. "Each gospel has something we can learn from."

"Wise and beautiful. I like having someone I can talk to about the Bible."

He flipped burgers and watched the muscles work in his arms. My mouth went dry. When he slid the glasses down his nose and peered at me, I realized I'd been staring. "Who do you talk to?"

Kyle threw me a questioning look, a smile playing on his lips. "I meant you."

I blinked. "Me?"

One brow arched. "You're a believer, aren't you?"

"Well, yes, but I—I'm new to the faith. You should probably talk to someone else."

He gave me a strange look.

"I'm sorry." I had a distinct feeling I'd let him down. "I wish I understood more. Jesus is the only way to heaven. I know that much."

"That is everything," he said gently.

"A lot of the Bible I don't understand," I confessed, feeling inadequate.

"Hmm." He watched me, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe you understand more than you think."

"I do a lot of searching for commentaries when I read."

"You mean you're not one of those people who think they know everything?" he asked with a smile in his voice. "Next you'll tell me you don't post out-of-context Bible verses on social media."

I laughed. "I've done that a time or two. When I first found Jesus. Guess you've never made that mistake."

"I'm not much for social media. I delivered those messages in person," he said with a self-deprecating smile. "A few people still run when they see me."

"I'm fortunate Izabelle and Katie don't run from me."

He hooked the glasses on his t-shirt, letting me see his eyes. "I like talking to another believer. Most of my friends aren't. Not yet anyway," he added hopefully. "Izabelle, well, she's not ready."

"I've tried too—with Izzy, Katie, and my dad. I thought it was my lack of experience. It wasn't until you went missing that I became a follower of Jesus."

That caught his attention. Before I lost my courage, I finished what I'd started. "I guess that tells you a lot about how I feel about you."

Before he could answer, Jase's voice called from the doorway. A couple of guys were behind him. "Hey, sergeant! You out here?"

Kyle held my gaze another few heartbeats before answering. "C'mon out, Jase."

"Uh, hey Lucy, Kyle." Jase smiled, wagging his brows at Kyle.

When he saw me watching the exchange, he cleared his throat. "Sorry, I'm not used to seeing Kyle with a girl."

A bubble of pleasure filled me. "Here I thought he was a player," I joked, fishing for information.

"Are you kidding me? Not this guy. No girls for him. For years, we thought he was a virg—."

"Hey, I'm sorry. I forgot all about the card game," Kyle said, stopping whatever his friend was about to say next. "Stay for dinner." He held up his arms, grinning. "The grill master is back."

His friends laughed. They took in the table set for two. "Thanks, Sarge, but we'll pass."

One guy winked at me. "I'm Ethan. We'd never crash a date."

Kyle clapped him on the shoulder. "Next time the beer is on me."

They seemed cool with the promise of free beer.

"That's generous of you since you don't drink," Ethan said with a smile. "But hey, I'm not complaining."

"You're getting around good," his friend Jack said before his gaze slid to me. "How'd you meet our fearless leader, Lucy?"

Ethan's gaze moved to me as well and the other guy whose name I didn't know. "I've known him since high school."

"He's talked about you a lot." The nameless guy stepped forward and offered his hand. "I'm Dawson."

"Don't forget the beer next week!" Ethan reminded, cutting off Jack's next question and grabbing his arm. "We're outta here."

Jase was the last to go. He eyed us with interest and directed a look at me that I suspected was a warning. It was clear his loyalty was to Kyle. I guessed he was telling me not to hurt his friend. "You two kids behave. Don't do anything I would do."

Kyle shook his head good-naturedly and smiled. "You're embarrassing Lucy."

Jase stopped laughing immediately and seemed contrite. "I'm sorry Lucy. I didn't mean to offend you."

"No worries, Jase. It's actually, Kyle who's embarrassed." I delivered the words with a smile amusing them both.

When his friends were gone we sat down to eat. I was nervous. This felt like a date.

"Don't think you're getting out of our real date," he said, reading my mind. "This is a sneak preview."

"You mean I have to go out with you twice in a week?" I tried to say it with a straight face, but I ended with a giggle.

His gaze held mine. "It that's all you'll agree to, then yes."

Forbidden images came to mind, but I refused to let them linger. "What else do you want me to agree to?"

From his expression, he realized what I was thinking and appeared contrite. "I want us to only date each other." He swallowed hard, leaned back, and gripped his neck. "If it's too much, I'll take whatever you're willing to give."

His words were sweet, and he actually appeared as nervous as I felt. "You mean like a girlfriend?" I like the sound of that. "And you'll be my boyfriend?"

Kyle seemed to be gauging my reaction. He nodded. "That's usually how it works."

My heart swelled with joy, and my insides felt like a warm, gooey, marshmallow. I'd never wanted any man except Kyle, but I hesitated. "I don't want to hurt Ava and Izabelle."

A shadow fell across his features. "Ava stopped by last night."

"I know." I did not want to hear about the naked, just out of the shower kiss. "She told me."

Kyle's expression was wary. "She told you?"

"Yes. She was with us last night at Shooters."

"I'm sorry. That had to be awkward."

"Don't apologize. Izabelle was really upset. She thinks you and Ava belong together."

"I'll talk to my sister. She shouldn't be encouraging Ava. That's not going to help anyone."

"About Ava. Are you sure it's over?"

He sighed softly and rubbed his jaw, something I noticed that he did whenever something was on his mind. "Lucy, I don't want this between us."

Kyle glanced away, as if searching for the right words, and when he turned back to me his gaze locked with mine. "You know Ava is a friend."

"Yes."

"I care about her."

His words felt like a physical blow. He must have seen my reaction.

"No, Lucy," he whispered almost desperately, clasping my shoulders when I would've turned away. "You have to hear this."

"When Ava and I...became more than friends, it seemed right at the time. I thought I was in love with her, but we were both young. It was wrong."

I closed my eyes, letting what he'd said sink in.

"If I'd been a believer back then, things would have been different. I hurt Ava and now I'm hurting you. I'd take it back if I could, but I can only ask your forgiveness. I've already asked for God's."

I dragged in a shaky breath. "Of course, I forgive you. None of us are perfect."

I could tell my answer meant a great deal to him.

"I'm sorry for doubting you, Kyle. I won't do it again." He reached for me and pulled me into a hug.

I'd never had a boyfriend. The word felt strange, but it was also exciting and soothing at the same time, which probably wouldn't make sense to most people.

It wasn't until later I remembered that not only did I have a boyfriend I had a date with Stephen Hotchkiss.