ChapterNine
After the introductions were all done, Roy and Beverly got back toward. There wasn't quite as much talking now as they settled into their duties. Beverly would tell what to do, and he did it willingly. She often picked up things that he thought might be too heavy for her, and he found himself no longer asking if she needed help with stuff like that because she could handle it herself.
They worked until well after Roy normally would for the day, and he was fairly certain all of the others had left already.
"Any chance you want to get dinner together?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"I already have plans," she said.
The wave of disappointment that washed over Roy surprised him. "Oh, of course. A boyfriend?"
"My mom. She's coming home, and we'll probably eat, or else I'll make her something."
"So..." He wrinkled his nose and shook his head. It probably wasn't appropriate for him to ask if she was single or not.
"So... I'll be back again early tomorrow morning."
"How early is early?"
"Maybe a little before the sun's up. I'll be placing an order for more material. I'll have to put a rush on the items if they aren't readily available."
"Pass that charge onto us," he insisted.
She made a face but nodded. "I will."
"Good. So... tomorrow then."
"Yes. Have a goodnight, Roy."
"You too, Beverly," he said, and he laughed astray fell into step with one another astray headed for the parking lot.
"Do you think you and your brothers will eat together?" she asked once she reached her car.
"Possibly. We do eat together a lot. Not every night, though."
"Do you not live together? I won't specifically looking, but I noticed that none of you are sporting rings..."
"Colton's in a relationship. It's new yet. They just got together over Valentine's Day. Susan's her name. They dated back in high school, drifted apart, and now, they're stronger than ever before. The rest of us... we're all single."
He didn't want to admit that his brothers were unattached, and that gave him pause. Beverly wasn't working at the orchard to try to find someone to date, and he hadn't hired her because he had been interested in her.
But now he was. There was something alluring about her.
Yet, there was a voice in the back of his mind that warned him to remember a promise he had made to himself long ago.
He wanted to only date women he thought he would one day marry. What was the point otherwise? And he just didn't see himself marrying a girl who wasn't a Christian.
Maybe, though, God had brought Beverly into his life so he could help lead her to the faith. More likely, God had brought Roy into her life when she needed someone the most, after her father passed away, but if he could also reach her heart...
He shook his head. Roy couldn't deny that he was probably getting ahead of himself.
"I figured most of you had to be, what with Jack flirting with me and you warning me about how friendly Myles is."
Roy rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah..." he mumbled. "They're good guys, but if they ever make you feel uncomfortable—"
"Oh, no. They're fine! I can tell they're harmless. Trust me, in this line of work, there's all kinds of people, those who think I can do anything, those who think I'm just... I don't know. Decoration. It's refreshing to be treated like one of the guys." She laughed. "Seriously. Besides, I don't think Jack is earnest."
"Maybe, maybe not," he said nonchalantly. "I wouldn't call him a flirt, but..."