“I understand Ida Schulz’s niece is helping you at home these days,” Freda said. “How is she working out for you?”
Bret had just arrived at the hospital a few minutes before. Rather than give an immediate answer, he looked around the room, then walked over to one of the chairs. Settling into its depths, he stretched his long legs in front of him, crossing his ankles with a sigh. “Okay, I guess,” he muttered, staring at the toes of his scuffed boots.
“Now there’s some real enthusiasm for you,” she said after a moment, when she realized he wasn’t going to volunteer anything more. “What’s the matter, afraid I’ll get my feelings hurt to hear how well she’s taking care of everything?”
He glanced up at her. “I miss you, Freda.”
“I miss you, too, Bret. And I miss the kids.”
“Life was a lot less complicated when you were at home with us.”
She shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position. After four days in that infernal bed, she was ready to get out of there. “What’s causing you problems now?”
He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I don’t know how to describe it exactly. Things are different these days. Noelle seems to have taken over.”
“And you resent that?”
“Not exactly. I’m just puzzled by it all.” He glanced up, giving her a halfhearted smile. “Travis insists she’s our Christmas tree angel come to life.”
“Yes. He was all excited about her visit when Roy brought them in yesterday.” She eyed his pensive expression and said, “I don’t see any harm in his believing she’s an angel, do you, Bret?”
As though he could no longer sit still, Bret straightened and leaned his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor between them. “At this point, I’m too confused to know what to think,” he finally said. He looked up at her, his pain evident. “When Patti died, I wanted to die, too. If I hadn’t had the children I wouldn’t have made it through these last few years. Even with the children, I’ve been too busy to think about anything but getting through each day.”
“And now?”
“Now all I seem to think about is a slip of a girl who seems to have wrapped my kids in some kind of magical cloak. They seem so happy these days. They don’t argue as much, they’re so helpful around the place, I’m constantly amazed.”
Freda started laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Well, I would say that you’re finally waking up and noticing the world around you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s Christmastime, Bret. The children have always behaved themselves around Christmas, hoping that their behavior will encourage you to get everything on their list.”
“You think that’s all this is?”
“What I think is that in the past you’ve kept yourself aloof from Christmas. You’ve let me take the kids shopping, you’ve had Roy pick up the special gifts they find under the tree. You did everything you could to ignore the whole business.”
“I guess that was a lot to ask of you and Roy.”
“That’s not my point. My point is that you’ve encased your feelings in some kind of deep freeze…until now.”
“You think so?”
“Oh, yes. I see a definite thawing going on.” She smiled. “Chris says Noelle is one awesome babe.”
Bret blinked. “Awesome babe? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I took it to mean he’s impressed with her looks.”
He fidgeted a moment before saying, “The kid’s got good taste.”
“Definitely thawing, I would say,” she murmured. “It’s time you let Patti go, Bret. She wouldn’t have wanted to see you like this, all grim and uptight about everything. What I remember about Patti is how she could always get you to see the humor in every situation. One of your problems recently is that you take life too seriously.”
He met her gaze without smiling. “Life is serious, Freda.”
“Actually, life is too important to be taken seriously, Bret. Life is meant to be enjoyed…each and every moment. I believe the reason Noelle has come into your life…and the children’s lives…is to remind you of how much life has to offer, to shake you out of your rut, to make you look at your life.”
“Noelle came into our lives because Ida Schulz told her to come help us out after you fell.”
“Ah, Bret. Must you be so literal?”
“Well, I certainly don’t see her visit as some kind of miracle. I’ll admit that it was a help to me that she happened to be visiting from California, and that she heard about—”
“God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.”
He raised a brow. “You think God sent her?”
“I wouldn’t be at all surprised.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I’m in deep trouble because I’ve been having some unheavenly reactions to her.”
“No doubt you’re reacting like a normal, red-blooded human being who’s been living too long without a companion. It’s all right to admit that you get lonely, you know.”
“I haven’t had time to think about it.”
“You haven’t wanted to think about it, which is why you’ve kept yourself so busy, burying yourself out on that ranch and refusing to take part in anything.”
“So what do you think I should do?”
“Join in the celebration of Christmas. Be a part of it all. Allow yourself to feel again, to believe again.”
He shook his head. “I’m not a kid any longer, Freda.”
“Sometimes I wonder if the children aren’t the wise ones. They accept—with gratitude and without questioning—all the good things in life. Perhaps we could learn from their example.”
“I’m surprised you can say that considering that you’re lying here in a hospital with a broken leg.”
She smiled. “I’m here to tell you that it’s been downright good for me. I’ve discovered several things about myself and my life while I’ve been forced to lie here. It isn’t so bad to take time out to reflect about life. I found that I’m not indispensable. You and the children have been doing quite well without me. I discovered that I’m enjoying having some time to myself where I can catch up on my reading and such.” She watched him closely as she said, “You know, my sister still wants me to go to Austin when I get out of here.”
“You were planning to spend Christmas with her, anyway. Does the doctor think you can be released by then?”
“Oh, I think so. He’s pleased with my progress. I’ve got to learn to get around on crutches first, and I can’t do that until my sprained ankle gets a little better.”
“You’re certainly cheerful about the whole thing.”
She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “I always believe that things work out the way they’re supposed to. I already see a lot of good coming out of my accident.”
“If you say so.”
“Think about taking the kids Christmas shopping, Bret. Get out there with them and look at everything. Listen to the music, watch the people, catch the holiday spirit.”
“Hah! Now that would be a miracle.”
“I happen to believe in them, myself.”
He got up and leaned over the bed, hugging her. “Thanks for the pep talk, Freda. I appreciate your comments and concern.”
“You’re going to do just fine, Bret. I know you will.”
“Wish I had your faith.”
“Eventually you probably will.”
On the drive home Bret thought about his conversation with Freda. Perhaps she was right about his having put his emotions in a deep freeze. He loved his kids but he wasn’t sure how much he showed them his love. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done anything with them, just for fun.
He hadn’t realized how self-absorbed he’d been, totally wrapped up in his own misery.
The first thing that had happened to him after Noelle’s arrival was the realization that he wasn’t a eunuch! The dream he’d had the first night had certainly made that fact clear. He’d had trouble looking at her for the rest of the day without being reminded of all that his subconscious had him doing with her.
He hadn’t had the courage to ask her what she’d meant about enjoying their time on the beach together. Had he had some kind of mental lapse and actually told her? He shook his head, wishing he understood what was going on at his house these days.
Like it or not, he found himself working closer around the house, stopping more often to check on Travis, even though he quickly learned how much Travis enjoyed his new friend.
Then there were those times when he’d catch her looking at him and their gazes would lock until he felt as though he was going to drown in those deep blue eyes. Somehow she made him feel as though he had no secrets from her. Normally he would be upset to think he was so easily read and understood, but with Noelle, he almost felt a sense of relief.
He drove into the ranch and followed the lane to the house, reminding himself to call Ida Schulz and thank her for sending Noelle to them.
At dusk the house looked like something on a calendar, or maybe a Christmas card. The building itself was a mellowed gray and the bright glow of golden color from the downstairs windows beckoned any weary traveler to come inside and find comfort. He wasn’t certain what it was about the house that made it so different. He couldn’t believe that Noelle’s presence could contribute to the overall restful quality but he couldn’t deny noticing some of the changes.
In the four days she’d been there he could see the effect she’d had on the children. There seemed to be more laughter in the house since she came. Travis had turned into a chatterbox, giggling and repeating stories she’d told him.
And what stories! He’d never before heard of such a powerful imagination as this woman had. She admitted that she seldom watched television and he guessed he’d have to accept that since he’d never seen any program to match her tales.
In addition to the changes he’d seen in the children, he’d also noticed that the house appeared brighter…almost newer, especially the old linoleum in the kitchen. When he’d mentioned the difference, Noelle explained that she had found a new cleansing agent that brought back the original color and shine to the old covering.
The oak floors in the rest of the house looked as if they’d been refinished and buffed so fine he could almost see his reflection in them, causing the thick area rugs to look like colorful islands floating on a polished sea.
The sofa in the living room had lost its sagging appearance, and new throw pillows had added bright color to the room.
Whenever he commented on some change, Noelle made light of her efforts, so he hadn’t bothered to mention that his clothes had never looked brighter or cleaner. He either found them neatly folded in his drawers or hanging with precision and precise pleats in his closet.
Bret stepped up on the back porch and let himself into the kitchen. As usual, the room was spotless and gleaming, but he could still smell the savory remains of supper. She’d set large helpings aside, no doubt for him, and he intended to eat every bite as soon as he washed up.
He paused in the hallway because he heard Noelle’s voice. It sounded as though she was in the middle of one of her stirring sagas. Without giving his actions much thought, Bret sank onto the bottom step of the stairway to listen.
“…so when the train started up the steep grade the engine had trouble pulling all that weight up the hill, which meant the train was forced to go slower and slower,” she was saying.
“I know, I know,” Sally interrupted, obviously excited. “That’s how that mean ol’ robber could jump on, isn’t it? He didn’t have to make the driver—”
“The engineer—” Chris interjected smoothly.
“Yeah—the engineer—slow down, ’cause he could get on without anybody noticing.”
“But wouldn’t one of the train guards see him?” Brenda asked.
“Maybe he made himself invisible,” Travis suggested gravely.
“Oh, Travis,” Sally began, “People can’t—”
“Shh! Let Noelle go on,” Brenda snapped.
Silence reigned for a telling moment before Noelle continued.
“The robber knew exactly where the guards were stationed. He waited until the perfect moment to leave the boulders he’d used for cover and raced toward the train. He leaped for the train and grabbed on to one of the metal steps that led to the top of the baggage car. He scrambled to get his feet on another one so that he could—”
“Are you trying to glamorize the profession of train robbery, by any chance?” Bret interrupted from where he now stood, leaning against the doorjamb, his arms folded across his chest.
“Daddy, you’re home!” Sally announced.
“Hey, Dad, did you see Freda?” Chris asked.
“Dad, Noelle said you might take us shopping tomorrow,” Brenda said, catching him off guard. How had Noelle known that he’d considered going this year? Brenda was still talking. “I told her that you usually had Roy or Freda take us but she said to ask you, anyway. Will you?”
Travis grabbed him around the knees and said, “Don’t you want to hear about what happened to the train robber?”
He looked over the children’s heads to where Noelle sat in the middle of the sofa. The children had been clustered around her, listening intently. A small fire danced in the fireplace, giving off a rosy glow.
The most surprising addition was Rex stretched out asleep in front of the fire while Mischief sat nearby, ignoring his presence while she fastidiously groomed herself.
He’d found a very domestic scene, one that was rarely enacted in this house. Somehow this woman had managed to captivate all four of the children with her tale, a tough job with such a wide range of ages.
“How was the last day of school?” he asked, hoping to buy himself some time before facing all their questions.
Brenda beamed. “Oh, Dad, I aced my test this morning. You know, I didn’t really understand the theory behind the equations. I felt like such a dunce because the teacher had explained it over and over, but somehow it just didn’t make sense to me. When I showed Noelle my homework she immediately saw where I was confused.” Brenda glanced at Noelle. “Somehow she explained it in a way that made the whole thing seem so simple. I was trying to make something hard out of it!” She laughed. “Even the teacher was surprised when he saw my test score.”
Sally interrupted. “Since there’s no school tomorrow, can we go to town and do some Christmas shopping?” she asked, her eyes bright. “I’ve had some great ideas for gifts lately. Freda isn’t here to take us. Don’t you want to?” She took his hand and looked up at him with soulful eyes, filled with pleading. “It’ll be fun, Daddy. You’ll have a good time, really you will. Can we go?”
If this child did not find a lucrative calling on either stage or screen he would be very much surprised. The look, the tone, the body language—she could give lessons.
Bret stared down at his youngest daughter and sighed. First Freda, then Noelle, now this. He knew when he was beaten. “All right, gang. I’ll take you shopping.”
He and Patti used to go to Austin each year. He couldn’t face going to the same stores, doing the same things they used to do together. However, there were other places to go, places that didn’t hold painful memories.
“Why don’t we drive in to San Antonio tomorrow and make a day of it?”
“San Antonio!”
“Really?”
“Oh, boy!”
“Yippee!”
With everybody talking at once he didn’t try to respond except to the little guy who had him by the knees. He glanced down at Travis. “Do you want to go to San Antonio?”
“Uh-huh. Will I get to see Santa?”
“More than likely,” Bret replied, remembering when the older children had been young enough to be excited by the thought of seeing Santa Claus.
“Good, ’cause I gotta talk to him,” Travis said, sounding very serious.
Bret knelt down beside his youngest. “You do?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you plan on telling him what you want for Christmas?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What do you want?”
“I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.”
“But you can tell Santa?”
“Course! How else is he gonna know?”
“Good point.”
Noelle came over to them and, as though she’d been doing it for years, brushed a wisp of Bret’s hair off his forehead. “You look tired,” she said in a soothing voice. “Have you eaten?”
He jerked his head away from her as though she’d burned him with her touch, and straightened from his kneeling position beside Travis. “I’ll eat in a few minutes.”
She clasped her hands behind her like a small child whose fingers had been slapped, but she didn’t drop her gaze. “I’ll warm supper for you.”
He turned away and started up the stairs. Without looking around he spoke over his shoulder, “Don’t bother. I’m sure it’s fine the way it is.”
Bret reached his room and closed the door before leaning heavily against it. What was wrong with him! She’d merely brushed her fingers against him and he’d felt a charge of electricity shoot all through his body, as though he’d touched a hot-wired fence!
He was acting like a fool—a lovesick fool who’d never been around an attractive woman before.
He’d better eat and get to bed early tonight. He’d need every ounce of energy he could muster tomorrow to deal with the shopping expedition.
After washing up, he returned downstairs. When he walked into the kitchen his place was set, fresh coffee scented the air and Noelle waited to fill a plate for him.
“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble for me,” he began, politely.
“It was no trouble,” she replied, equally polite.
Uncomfortable with the need to apologize, he managed to blurt out, “Look, I didn’t mean to be rude earlier. You just startled me, that’s all.”
She clasped her hands in front of her and gave a brief nod. “I understand. Some people don’t like to be touched. It won’t happen again.”
He sat down and within moments she set a full plate of steaming food in front of him. “It isn’t that I mind being touched, exactly.…” he said slowly, searching for words.
“It’s me, isn’t it?”
She’d sat down across from him and watched him with those mesmerizing blue eyes of hers.
He sighed. “You’ve gotta admit this is an unusual situation.”
Her grin was full of mischief. “It certainly is!”
He relaxed a little, now that he realized she wasn’t going to take offense. One bite of food told him that as usual, she’d prepared a heavenly meal. He gave up all pretense of conversation and applied his entire attention to the meal in front of him until his plate was clean and he was sipping a fresh cup of coffee.
“There is one thing I’d like to caution you about,” he began in a mellow tone, feeling immeasurably better now that he had a full stomach.
Her eyes met his gaze calmly and she waited to hear what he had to say, a personality trait he’d come to recognize in her. She never appeared defensive or unsure of herself. He couldn’t remember ever having known anyone who seemed as comfortable with herself as Noelle. Even if he was going to reprimand her—which in this case came close to what he had in mind—she didn’t appear anxious or disturbed about what he might say.
“I couldn’t help but hear you telling the kids about that train robber earlier. You were making him out to be some kind of hero, eluding the guards and everything.”
“Oh, he was far from a hero. He was a very stubborn individual, determined to ignore any helpful advice about his choice of livelihood.”
He smiled at her prim tone of voice. “You talk like you knew him.”
“In a manner of speaking.”
“Except that people don’t go jumping on Amtrak and attempting to rob the baggage cars.”
Thoughtfully, she nodded. “That’s true.”
“You’ve got a rich imagination, you know. Have you ever thought about writing some of your tales down? People might enjoy reading about some of these characters you’ve been talking about. But you’d have to make it plain that they aren’t real people. You’d also have to explain how good generally triumphs over evil, no matter how glamorous the bad guys seem to be at times.”
Her smile sparkled and lights seemed to dance in her eyes. “So you understand that, do you? That’s wonderful.”
“What?”
“Nothing, really. I guess I was thinking out loud. If you had let me finish my story, I would have told the children what happened to the bank robber.”
“He got caught and ended up in jail?”
She shook her head. “Worse. He didn’t get caught and he spent his life running, never being able to trust anyone, never being able to have friends or loved ones, or a family. Never learning how to live.” She sighed. “It was a very sad life. Such a waste…especially since it didn’t have to turn out that way.”
“Was this some movie you once saw?”
She glanced at him in surprise. “Oh, no. I mean, I heard about him from members of my family.”
“Oh.”
She straightened, and placed her hands on the table. “About tomorrow,” she reminded him.
He rolled his eyes. “How could I forget. I’ve taken advantage of Freda’s and Roy’s generosity enough. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t realize that sooner.”
“Don’t you ever take the children Christmas shopping?”
“Not if I can help it and I’ve generally managed to be unavailable each year. Talking to Freda today helped me see how selfish I’ve been with my time.”
“The children were telling me about their visit with her. She sounds like a warm and caring person.”
“Yes, she is. She’s been a good friend to me through everything.”
“I’m glad.”
He shifted in his chair. “The truth is, this is always a tough time of year for me. Patti always looked forward to Christmas…decorating the house…planning all sorts of gifts…baking…teaching the children all the time-honored stories. Once she was gone, all the joy left.”
“I wonder why? The season is all about experiencing the joy of love and fellowship. She left so much that could remind you of her and her love. The children have shared with me so many wonderful things they remember about their mother. She’s very real to them and always will be. She left you a legacy of love, you know. But you have to claim it before you can fully experience it.”
He stared at her for an interminable amount of time before he asked, “How old are you?”
She blinked. “What possible difference does that make?”
“Because some of the things you say surprise me, that’s all. It’s as though you’ve lived a long life filled with all kinds of experiences and from those experiences you’ve drawn some fairly profound insights. But you’re too young to have experienced very much.”
“I don’t think of age very much. I suppose I consider it more of an attitude rather than a fixed number.”
“An attitude, huh? Then I feel about eighty years old today, too old for all this exuberance and enthusiasm.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But I want my kids to be happy and I’ll do whatever I can to help make this a fun time for them.”
“You’re a very loving father, Bret. You’ve done a great job with your children.”
He could actually feel his ears burning with embarrassment. “I make all kinds of mistakes with them every day.”
“So? Don’t you think they need to see that fathers don’t have to be perfect? You also show them that each of them is very important to you. You aren’t afraid to show your love for them. You’re also willing to admit your mistakes when you make them. How can they not find you endearing?”
“They need more than I can give them, though. They need their mother.”
“I believe they’ve come to terms with her loss better than you have, Bret. They’re getting on with their lives while you’re still looking back, wishing for what was rather than accepting what is.”
“Maybe so. Maybe I don’t know how to get on with my life.”
“That’s because you haven’t tried. You need to get out more. You need to socialize, find some nice woman to date, enjoy being—”
“There! You’re doing it again!”
She looked startled. “Doing what?”
“Talking like you’re some old woman. I don’t—”
“Dad?”
Bret glanced up at Chris who’d just come in the back door.
“Roy was just telling me that he’s planning to go shopping tomorrow, too. Would it be all right with you if the girls and I went with him? He said he’d take us to San Antonio and we could meet you all there later.”
Bret smiled at his oldest son. “Are you saying that you don’t want to see Santa this year, Chris?”
Chris laughed. “Well, it won’t break my heart if I miss standing in line for hours like we had to do last year. Besides, Roy lets us shop on our own so our gifts are a surprise to everybody.”
“And you think I’ll insist on tagging along behind you, is that it?”
Chris looked startled, then concerned. He walked over to the table and stopped beside his dad. “I guess I wasn’t thinking, was I? Does it sound like we don’t want you to go? It isn’t that at all! It’s just that we’ve kinda set up a routine with Roy, that’s all. But, hey. It’s no problem. I think it’s great you’ve volunteered to take us. We can all go in together and make a day of it. It will be just like old—” He paused, then swallowed and looked away.
“I like your idea just fine, son. You and the girls go with Roy. Noelle and I will take Travis with us and we’ll meet you at a designated place and time.”
Chris’s eyes met Bret’s. “You sure you don’t mind?”
“I’m positive.” He didn’t drop his gaze.
Chris gave a sigh of relief. “That’s great, Dad. I know we’ll have a good time tomorrow. Having you there will make it even more special.”
The room seemed to fill with silence after Chris went upstairs. Bret wasn’t sure what to do or say. Noelle quietly gathered his dishes and washed them, then began putting them away.
“I hadn’t realized how protective the children have been of my feelings,” Bret finally said.
“They love you very much,” Noelle replied, standing on tiptoe to put one of the serving bowls away, her back to him.
“It’s bad enough that they had to lose their mother without worrying about the remaining parent, as well. That’s a lot to push off on a child.”
“Children are strong. Otherwise they’d never survive.”
Bret slid down into his chair, his legs stretched out in front of him. “Patti used to say that every child was born with at least one guardian angel making certain they would be safe.”
“You don’t believe that?”
He gave her a wistful smile. “Wouldn’t it be a great world if that were true? Babies wouldn’t be born addicted to whatever their mothers’ choice of drug was…they wouldn’t be born with physical defects…they wouldn’t be born in parts of the world where they’ll probably starve to death before they reach school age.”
“You think that guardian angels could prevent all of that?”
He raised his brows. “Don’t you?”
“Not all angels are capable of performing those kinds of miracles. I like to think that the angels guard those little babies as much as they are able, comforting them, helping them to feel safe and loved, preparing them for a better place, regardless of what eventually happens to them.”
“I’d like to believe that, too,” Bret admitted. “I can scarcely remember those first months after Patti died, but somehow Travis managed to survive anyway. I must have cared for him and loved him, but I don’t remember much of it. It’s almost like I was in some kind of fog, or a bad dream.”
“It’s time to wake up, Bret.”
He glanced up and saw that she was standing beside him. He gave her a lopsided smile and obeying an impulse, snaked his arm around her and pulled her down on his lap. She would have slid down the length of his legs if he hadn’t caught her with his other arm. Before he could quite believe what he’d done, Bret discovered he had one arm wrapped around Noelle’s hips, the other around her waist, and she was lying along his chest and shoulder.
Slowly he straightened in the chair, keeping a firm grasp on the woman in his arms. She felt good there. Very good. For the first time in a long, long time, he felt alive.
“I’m awake, Noelle,” he murmured, his voice rumbling deep in his chest.
He could see that he had caught her totally unprepared, which pleased him considerably. She seemed to know so damned much about so many things, but there was one area where she didn’t know diddly…and he was just about to show her!
“Uh, Bret, I don’t think—” she began, pushing herself away from him slightly.
He wasn’t having any part of her retreat. She was now resting squarely on his thighs, which freed up one of his arms. He tilted her chin up with his thumb.
She smelled tantalizingly feminine and his body no longer felt eighty years old. He tilted his head slightly and kissed her.
He’d been right. She didn’t know a blamed thing about kissing, but that was fine. He had plenty of time and he was a very patient instructor.
Her mouth felt so soft. He watched her eyelids flutter, then close. When she gave a tiny sigh he used the opportunity to touch his tongue to her lips, edging her mouth gradually open until he could explore more fully. He increased the pressure, enjoying the pleasure of holding her close, feeling her respond to him. He allowed his hand to slide along her neck and throat downward until it came to rest cupping her breast.
Yes! She felt just the way he had dreamed she would, her breast filling his palm as though made with him in mind. He could feel her heart beating so rapidly her chest shook.
She was so innocent and he was taking advantage of her.
That thought washed over him like a sudden cold and drenching rain. Reluctantly he forced himself to move his hand until it safely circled her waist once more. He even tried to end the kiss, but even his strong willpower couldn’t overcome the intensity of their shared experience.
When he finally released her, he buried his face in her hair and shuddered with the depth of his overwhelming desire for her.
She clung to him and he was thankful that he hadn’t frightened her with his strong reaction to the kiss. He was a grown man and he should have known better. But he was also human, and no one short of a saint could have withstood the temptation that Noelle presented to him.
As soon as she stirred, he released the pressure of his arms around her. She pulled away until she could look into his face. “I didn’t know,” she said with wonder.
“You didn’t know what?”
“How it felt. I had no idea what happens…I mean the way we react to each other.” Her eyes were wide. “Kisses are pretty potent stuff, aren’t they?”
He grinned. Did she have any idea how adorable she looked perched on his lap, her hair all mussed, discussing the ramifications of their first kiss?
“They can be, yes,” he replied, still grinning.
“I had no idea.”
“Are you telling me you’ve never been kissed?”
“Not like that,” she replied emphatically.
“Are you beginning to understand why I was concerned about your staying here?”
She looked at him warily. “Why? Do you intend to do that again?”
He laughed. He couldn’t help it. She looked like one of the tiny kittens whose fur had just been rubbed the wrong way.
“Not if you don’t want me to, of course. I’d never force myself on you. But I got a distinct impression that you didn’t mind that kiss at all, and that you wouldn’t argue if I proposed another one.”
She thought about that for a moment, then smiled, obviously delighted with her conclusion. “You’re right. I didn’t mind it at all and I’d very much like to enjoy another one.” Without waiting to see his response she closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with a burst of innocent enthusiasm.