Loving Him (Him Series Book 1)

Twenty-One

Kyle roped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer, creating tingling sensations throughout my body.

When he lowered his head and smiled, my belly flip-flopped. He was breathtakingly dressed like an outlaw in all black from his cowboy hat to his boots and looked like he'd just stepped from the Wild West. I was wearing a prim blouse with a long skirt and my hair was pulled in a bun. Glasses completed my schoolteacher costume.

"You're the prettiest teacher I've ever seen."

"Why I bet you sprout that flattery to all the girls," I drawled in a Southern accent.

I felt his deep chuckle in my chest.

"Only you Miss Donovan." He took off his hat and bowed. "Would you do me the honor of escorting you to the town party?"

"The townsfolk night gossip," I said coyly, lowering my voice. "You are a notorious outlaw. Are your intentions honorable?"

"I am an outlaw." Tilting his head to study me, his eyes darkened.

"In that case, I will have to accept another gentleman's offer." I decided to stir the waters. "Perhaps Jase will like to escort me?"

I'd just finished the question when he reached for me, and I squealed with laughter when he hauled me to his side.

His head dipped and I felt his breath against my ear. "I'll have to keep a firm hold on you, Miss Lucy."

I trembled. "I suppose that will be alright."

"You almost make me want to go to this party. I'll enjoy anything with you."

Lifting my chin, I looked at him quizzically. "I thought you wanted to go."

He shrugged.

Halloween was one of the holidays I questioned when I became a believer. When I asked Kyle about it, he seemed like he'd given it a lot of thought.

"We live in a fallen world. Even Christmas has become a secular holiday. It's not like we can avoid nonbelievers, and I don't think Jesus would want us to."

Lines of concentration etched between his brows. "If our friends and family weren't going, I wouldn't either. Not that I do everything they do, but I don't want to miss opportunities."

"Opportunities to share the gospel?" I thought about this, and it made sense.

"Yes."

"Jesus did say it was the sick who needed a physician."

Kyle's eyes warmed. "That's right. I mean I'm not going to launch into a sermon." His lips twitched with a smile. "It wouldn't be appropriate. Sometimes you have to meet people where they are."

I thought about that. "What do you mean?"

"In Mark's gospel after people realized Jesus could heal, the whole city came to his door, probably thousands of people. Jesus didn't preach, not then. He just healed them."

I didn't remember exactly the order of events in Mark's gospel. "I thought he said in Galilee, The time if fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

When I finished quoting Jesus, Kyle's face glowed with pleasure. "You're right. He did share the gospel, just not when a town of sick people came to his door needed help."

"Oh." I gasped. "I get it. He met them where they were."

"We're called to be the light, even at a Halloween party."

"Some people we meet will one day be believers."

"Hopefully. I tell as many people as I can about the gospel." He gripped the back of his neck. "I don't force it. If there's an opportunity, I take it. Sometimes people listen, sometimes not."