Mr. Green elbowed him in the ribs. “Keep your head in the game, man.”
Seth’s neck warmed because someone had noticed him admiring Evie. She was quite the distraction in her shorts and T-shirt. He refocused on the stake at the end of the field. There wasn’t time to gawk at his wife. If he and Mr. Green won this game, he might be able to convince Mr. and Mrs. Green to vote with him during the church board meeting.
Mr. Green pulled a quarter out of his pocket and told Mr. Lucas to call it in the air. Mr. Lucas won and lined up to throw his shoes. Mr. Green ran the game with military precision. He probably tied his shoes, made his bed, and ate his breakfast with soldier-like attention.
Mr. Lucas threw one ringer, and the other shoe landed an inch away.
“Good job.” Seth stepped up to the line. He threw, his shoe bouncing on the sand to hook the stake with one side. He breathed out a sigh of relief and glanced over to meet Evie’s eye. She grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. He puffed his chest out.
Mr. Lucas smacked him on the back. “Quit being such a rooster. She’s already in love with ya. Get on with the game.”
“Aw, don’t give him a hard time.” Mr. Duncan, the fourth man in their group and usually the quietest of the bunch, swatted at the air. “He’s still in the puppy stage.”
“Better him than me. I don’t have the energy to chase her around the bed every night.” Mr. Lucas threw his shoe and missed entirely.
“Guys.” Seth held up a hand. “Come on. I’m a preacher, for heaven’s sake.”
“What—that means you can’t be a man?” asked Mr. Green. He set his jaw. “Don’t know if I trust a preacher who doesn’t understand the desires of the flesh.”
Seth’s mouth dropped open. “What do you mean by that?”
Mr. Green lifted a shoulder. “How can you relate to us—” He waved his hand around, indicating the attendees. “—if you don’t know how we feel? Or the temptations we’ve faced?”
Seth silently hoped these men weren’t facing the types of temptations he waded through when he walked through the front door. “I came from a rough background. I’m no saint—I promise you that. But I’m always trying to be close to Christ.”
Mr. Lucas nodded toward the ladies quilting happily, his wife among them. “That sweet woman, and loving her in every way provided, has brought me closer to Jesus than any sermon on death or hell over could.”
“I think what he’s trying to say is, just because it’s fun don’t mean it ain’t right.” Mr. Duncan snickered.
Seth shook his head. “You’re all shameless, you know that?”
They laughed. “We’re experienced enough to appreciate the good things in life,” said Mr. White. “Youth is wasted on the young. That’s for sure.”
Seth softened at their teasing. They weren’t trying to make him feel inferior; they were imparting wisdom hard-earned and long-taught.
“That wife of yours, she’s the best thing that’ll ever happen to you.” Mr. Duncan touched his heart. “Make sure she knows it.”
“I will,” he replied automatically. On the outside, he looked like a newlywed, a man who shared longing looks with his new bride. Inside, he was a bundle of confusion. If only he hadn’t put restrictions on their marriage in the beginning. If only he’d left the possibility of a physical relationship within their grasp.
Evie wasn’t angry about the kiss. She’d seemed to enjoy it in the moment. But he’d felt guilty breaking their vows. The best way he could care for her was to be the man of truth and honor he’d promised. Even if that meant he couldn’t tell her how he felt.
Besides wanting to kiss her, there was a deep, warm feeling that spread through him whenever she was near, or if he thought about her, or smelled her perfume in the living room. The feeling was getting stronger with each passing day. He had to shore himself up, be a mountain of willpower, because if he crumbled, he could lose her.
And that was the last thing he wanted.
Chapter Sixteen
Evie
Evie’s skin felt tight from being in the sun all day. It also felt warm and wonderful. “What a beautiful day,” she said as she stared down at her empty plate. They’d had picnic leftovers for dinner. She stood and took her plate to the counter. “We have enough food in the fridge to feed a village for a month.”
Seth leaned back and rubbed his impossibly flat stomach. The man put away enough brownies and potato salad to feed three men but didn’t gain a pound. “I did my part.”
She giggled. “Yes, you did.” She turned on the faucet. “You know, if we had a youth group, we could put on quite the spread this week. It was so much fun playing volleyball with those girls. They’re good and innocent and happy. I can’t help but want to protect that inside of them. It’s all too soon that life will hit and they’ll have to grow up.”
Seth didn’t answer, so she prattled on. “I’ve been thinking on ways to organize. We could have a prayer and a scripture—maybe something shared by one of the kids. It would mean so much more coming from them than it would coming from you or me.”
“Well, maybe me.” Seth got up, brought his dish over, and then began clearing the table. “I’m pretty sure those girls would follow you to the moon.”
