Picket Fence Pursuit by Jennifer Johnson Page A

risk her shutting him out completely.
    He shoved another fry into his mouth as Kylie nibbled on a piece of salad. They really were different. Kylie ate a chicken salad with light dressing while he devoured a hamburger and french fries drenched in ketchup. She was a classic beauty sitting with a Richie Cunningham look-alike. She was steady; he was fly-by-night. Quiet Kylie. Outgoing Ryan.
    And yet, she was right.
    Everything about her drew him, especially their differences. He just had to wait for her trust issues with God to be resolved. God, in His perfect, humorous way, chose to work on Ryan’s lack of patience at the same time.
    “Have you already raised the money for the trip?” Kylie’s question interrupted his thoughts.
    Now would be the perfect time to tell her the truth. Vanessa’s face flooded his mind. The expensive outfit she’d bought and handed him the receipt for the day after he’d shared the truth with her. She’d fawned on him, tried to manipulate him, and his heart had shattered. No, he couldn’t tell Kylie. Not yet. “Uh, I haven’t raised any money.”
    “Well, what kinds of things can we do? I just don’t know how I’ll ever come up with enough.”
    “You know about the craft fair in early November. That always goes over well.”
    “Yes.” Kylie twirled a piece of salad with her fork. “I’m making Christmas-colored hair bows for that, remember? Do we do anything else as a group?”
    “A bake sale, I know.”
    “That sounds good.” She pushed a cherry tomato to the side of her plate. “Money. It’s a constant pain in my side.”
    “God always provides.”
    “Yes. That’s true.” Kylie pinned him with her gaze. “But it’s a lot easier for some than others. Like you. How in the world do you work for an amusement park and not think anything about the cost of doing this type of thing?”
    Tell her now. This is your chance. Trust God with her response. “Well, I—”
    “Does your grandfather pay for it? I guess since you live in his house, you can save up or something. Are you still working at the park on weekends until it closes?”
    She thinks I’m a moocher. I need to tell her right now. Ryan sat still, unsure how to say the truth. “Just spit it out,” Gramps would tell him, but it wasn’t that easy. He probably did appear irresponsible in her eyes. Jim’s words about a woman needing to feel safe and settled replayed in his mind. “The truth is—”
    “I’m sorry, Ryan.” Kylie pushed her salad away. “That was so unkind of me. And not my business at all. I have a big project due and a test coming. Brad called last night wanting to have another ‘getting acquainted’ dinner. I—I think I’m just stressed. Could you take me home?”
    Brad Dickson. Just the mention of his name sent a wave of revulsion through Ryan. He remembered the way Brad had looked at Kylie as if she were dessert after the main course. The man had been condescending and rude, but Ryan hadn’t missed that Brad also viewed Kylie as a physical beauty. Ryan also recalled Kylie’s kindness toward the snake. “Sure, I’ll take you home.”
    Ryan drove back to her apartment. He watched as she went inside, waved hesitantly at him, then shut the door. He couldn’t fault her for believing he depended on Gramps. In her eyes, he worked at Holiday World. Soon he’d be unemployed.
    His heart stung at the thought of her feeling he took advantage of others, but he had to put his pride to the side, had to wait until she loved him for the man he was and no other reason. His ego had to step aside and wait.
    He turned the ignition as thoughts of Vanessa and Brad whirled inside his mind. Maybe it is about my pride—only in a different way.
    ❧
    I’m such a jerk. Kylie flung herself onto her bed. I can’t believe I said those awful things.
    A tear slid down her cheek. How can I be so attracted to him? She cuddled her pillow. This is worse than falling for a man who works in the coal mines. Ryan