The Apple Of My Eye by Christine McGreggor Read Free Book Online Page B

from the handsome man, suddenly uncomfortable. “Well, it’s just a bit more than I had hoped to pay right now.” Michelle twisted her napkin nervously. “Not that I can’t afford it. I have some money saved up for repairs and remodels on the house.”
                  “You just weren’t counting on having to spend it all saving your grandmother’s apple tree,” Hayes answered, reaching for Michelle’s hand. She nodded, blushing. “Don’t worry about it. We can figure out a payment plan or even split up the work.” He gently stroked the back of her soft fingers with his callused thumb. “The replacement trees can go in later or even in the autumn if need be. My priority is to get that McIntosh taken care of for you so you can stop worrying about it.”
                  “Thanks Hayes, that’s very generous of you. Maybe I could pay you half when you get started and the other half in a few weeks?” Michelle stared at his thumb, as it moved back and forth along her hand. The rhythm sent frissons of heat up her arm where it pooled in her core.
                  “If that’s what you want to do, that’s fine. Don’t worry about it right now.” To Michelle’s disappointment, he released her hand as the waiter approached their table, carrying a tray laden with their appetizer of crab cakes and small dinner salads. “I’ve heard the house dressing here is really good.”
                  Michelle allowed Hayes to steer the conversation away from her tree troubles. While they ate, he asked her about what she did for a living. Swallowing a bite of the delicious salad, Michelle answered him. “I am an underwriter for a life insurance company. I review people’s insurance applications, then decide whether they should be insured, and at what rate.”
                  He blinked at her. “Oh, that sounds…”
                  “Kind of boring?” she giggled as Hayes struggled to find the right words.
                  “A little bit, yes. Make sure you remember you were the one who said it, not me.”
                  “It’s more interesting than you might think. It can also be quite stressful, especially when an agent wants a better rate than the one you have assigned their client. I have had some very heated conversations since I started a few years ago.”
                  “So do you work close to Greenville?” Hayes asked as he tried a crab cake, his eyebrows shooting up in appreciation when he bit down.
                  “It’s about a twenty minute commute on a good day. Actually, Greenville is closer to my office than my old apartment was. Kara works just down the street from me, so we are planning on carpooling.”
                  “Oh, so she’s your roommate?” Hayes asked, swirling the wine idly in his glass.
                  “Well she is now. We’ve been friends since we were little. She needed a place to stay, so she’s staying with me.”
                  Hayes nodded approvingly. “That’s good. Your neighborhood is pretty quiet, but you really shouldn’t be living alone. There are plenty of people out there who would try to take advantage of a woman living on her own.”
                  “People like your Uncle?” Hayes flinched, and Michelle regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth. “I’m sorry. I had no business saying something like that.”
                  He put the glass of wine firmly back down on the table. “No, Ed Olson deserves all of that and probably more. He is not… well, he doesn’t do anything to endear himself to the people who know him.”
                  “I have noticed that. Why do you help him if he’s so unpleasant to be around?”
    Hayes shrugged. “He’s family, and it’s complicated. Either way, I’m glad you aren’t living by