The Apple Of My Eye (6 page)

Remedial tree pruning- McIntosh apple tree
              $250

Remedial tree pruning- Fireside apple tree
              $200

Preventive pesticide application
                            $75

Tree litter removal
                                                        $50

Top soil and mulch replacement
                            $50

3 year old apple tree x2
                                          $160

Estimated Service Total
                                        $785

              Michelle let out a tiny dismayed squeak when she saw the total at the bottom.  That was over a half of the total money she had saved up for the repairs on the house. She covered her consternation by sipping the glass of wine which had just arrived at the table.

             
“Michelle? What’s the matter?” Hayes frowned at his date’s discomfited expression.

             
“Oh.” Michelle looked away 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 yourself.”

“I am too. Kara is good company, although my uncle said I should get a dog.”

“That’s not bad advice, actually. I did some work for a collie breeder last year. She sometimes has puppies or even adult dogs available. Would you like her number?”

Michelle chuckled. “Sure, just don’t tell Kara you gave it to me. She would be dragging me over there tomorrow.”

“It will be our secret, I swear!” Hayes grinned, and dug out his wallet. He pulled out a crisp business card, with a picture of a gorgeous brown and white collie printed on it. Michelle tucked the card safely into her purse.

“Do you get a lot of business from referrals?” she asked.

“Actually more than half of my business comes from referrals from my past clients. Plus I’m happy to pass on their information to other clients, and friends.”

“That says something for the quality of your work, if so many people are willing to recommend you to their friends.”

Hayes smiled at her. “I’d like to think so. Oh my god, is that our dinner?”

Michelle turned to look at what had drawn Hayes’ attention. Their server was walking towards the table, this time with two plates, two empty champagne flutes, and a fresh bottle of wine. “With the house’s compliment’s sir.” Andy cleared the table of their appetizers and salad, and then set the plates down with a flourish.

Michelle gaped at her dinner. She had ordered a breast of duck. Looking at her plate, she wasn’t sure the dish could even be termed food. It looked more like art. With a pop, the waiter uncorked the champagne and poured the rose pink wine into the two flutes. He carefully set the flutes in front of the couple. “Bon Appétit.” With a little bow, the server stepped away from the table, and left them in peace.

“I think I’m going to owe John a favor after this.” Hayes murmured wonderingly. He shook his head and raised his flute to Michelle. “To the loveliest lady in Greenville and to the start of something wonderful. I hope.”

Michelle’s heart fluttered in her chest, and her smile felt like it was going to break her face. “To the start of something wonderful” she answered and the two glasses chimed together like crystal bells.

“Are you sure you want to go for a walk in those shoes?” The couple stood just outside the back door of The River Bell. They had finished their divine meal, which had been topped off by a flourless chocolate cake so rich Michelle barely managed to eat a quarter of it. The rest she had put in a box to bring back to Kara. Afterward, John had welcomed them to check out all of Hayes’ hard work on the back patio. Michelle had eagerly accepted, excited to see the finished results of one the arborist’s projects.

“Of course I’m sure. The pavement’s dry and it’s really not that cold outside. Plus we aren’t going for an hour jaunt, just a quick tour of the patio and a stroll by the river. I will be fine!”

“Anything you say,
Beautiful. Let’s go.” Putting his strong arm firmly about her waist, Hayes escorted Michelle out into the cool evening. They walked slowly around the perimeter of the patio, stopping to look at each of the improvements and plantings Hayes had made.

“John wanted color and blooms throughout the growing season. He needed privacy from the neighboring buildings too. So I brought in some lilacs for privacy.” Tall shrubs flanked the cobblestone square, giving the space a feeling of intimacy, even while leafless. “There’s a star magnolia here.” Hayes pointed to a small tree tucked into a sheltered position near the building. Michelle reached out and touched one of the fattening buds. “It should be blooming in another couple weeks. The magnolias are usually the first bloom.”

“My mother has one at her house. They smell heavenly.”

“Yes they do. There are crab apples at the ends over here” Hayes pointed to two trees positioned on the river side exit of the patio. “In the summer, once the lilacs and crab apples are done, the rugosa roses will take over.” He led her towards the end of the patio, where two oval shaped beds were packed with thorny canes. “Finally in the autumn, the PeeGee hydrangeas take over.” He pointed to four trees, one in each corner of the patio, where brown flower tufts still hung on to the slumbering branches. “I need to remind John to clip the flower heads off before the trees start to bud.”

Michelle giggled and poked the arborist in the rib. “Always working, huh?”

Hayes chuckled in response. “I guess so. That’s a bad habit of mine.”

“This is beautiful, Hayes; even though all the plants are still sleeping. I can imagine how everything will look when spring gets here. I bet John can’t wait to show it off.”

“Thank you, I’m quite proud of it. My specialty is trees, but I enjoy doing landscaping services too. Especially setups like this one, where I am able to plot out the entire scheme, top to bottom.”

“I bet the garden at your house is amazing.” Michelle said, still admiring his handiwork.

“If I had a house, it would be. I’m living in an apartment right now. Houses are expensive and well…” He glanced at Michelle, and suddenly shy, looked away again.

“What? What is it?”

“I didn’t really want to buy a house until I had a wife to live in it with me,” he said. Michelle could make out the faintest hint of pink in his cheeks.

“That’s one of the most romantic things I think I have ever heard,” Michelle said and sighing lay her head against his shoulder.

“Michelle?”

“Yes, Hayes?”

“It behooves me to tell you I am not going to propose until at least our second date.”

Michelle’s peals of laughter rang out across the patio mixing with Hayes’ deeper throaty chuckles. Feigning a fit of disappointment worthy of Scarlet O’ Hara, Michelle threw her hand over her forehead. In a very poor southern accent she bemoaned “Oh very well, Mr. Marshall. If we are not to be affianced this eve, at least take me for a stroll by the river to assuage my tears.”

“As you wish, Miss Perry, this way if you please.” Bowing Hayes claimed her hand again and led her off of the patio, down the walkway that led to the river.

              The moon had begun to rise and the white orb’s reflection glimmered on the softly flowing water of the river.  The stars were bright in the cloudless sky, and the bare trees glowed yellow in the reflected light of the lamps which lit the river path. For a while, the couple walked hand in hand, simply content to be with one another. Then a cool March breeze blew cross the river, ruffling the surface of the water and chilling Michelle’s bared legs. She shivered and stepped closer to Hayes.

             
“You’re cold. We should turn back and get you somewhere warm.” Hayes turned the lovely young woman towards him and brought her close.

             
“No, please not yet. It’s so beautiful out, I don’t mind the cold, really.” She shook her head, refusing to leave the idyllic scene.

             
Hayes cupped her delicate chin in his hand, and tilted her head up so she was gazing into his eyes. “Are you sure?”

             
“Yes, please.” Michelle pleaded, caught in the strength of his gaze, no longer certain what she was asking for.

             
“Very well.” He growled, and bending down, closed the distance between them. His lips claimed hers and for a moment everything around Michelle stopped. There was no moon above, or river flowing next to them. The cold night air had ceased to blow. There was only him. He tasted of the champagne they had drunk. Beneath that was something earthy and masculine. It was as if all the time he had spent working outside had instilled something elemental in him, something which made her burn with longing. His lips moved on hers, opening, his tongue teasing her lips, demanding entry. She submitted and he slipped into her, his tongue twirling, tasting, and commanding her to respond. Michelle moaned deep in her throat and buried her fingers in his hair, clinging to his waist with her other hand. A year’s worth of loneliness, grief and longing lifted from her. Suddenly she couldn’t get close enough to him.

             
Michelle pressed her body tightly against Hayes, feeling the evidence of his arousal against her inner thigh through the flimsy cloth of her skirt. He moaned in turn at the contact, one hand pressed at the small of her back, while another came forward to cup her right breast through her coat. All the while his tongue moved rhythmically, insistently within her, making her ache to have him claim her completely. His hand moved from her back, down to the edge of her coat. Then she felt the leather of his glove wrap around her thigh, lifting her leg to curl around his. Michelle moaned, and then gave a sharp cry as a blast of icy cold air followed Hayes’ gloved hand up her leg.