“When?”
She handed him the towel. “We can stay up late in the living room, when everyone has gone to bed.”
“I look forward to it,” he said, drying his hands.
She looked at his wounds. “The blood has stopped. I don’t think you’ll need bandages.”
Bruno set aside the towel and lowered his hands, feeling the outline of a key in his pants pocket. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach. “I went to the boardinghouse today, and I secured a room for us.”
She looked at him. “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for me to be away.”
He stepped to her and placed a hand to her cheek. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too, but—” She lowered her eyes.
He stepped close. “I know you feel obligated to be here for Max. But it might be good for him to spend more time alone. Soon, he’ll move away with his dog.”
“It’s not that easy,” she said.
“It can be.” Using a finger, he gently lifted her chin.
Her eyes met his.
His pulse accelerated. He leaned in, drawing his lips toward hers.
Norbie’s singing, accompanied by the piano, erupted from the floor below them.
Anna eased back. “We should go.”
“Wait.” He placed his hands on her shoulders “I know things feel a bit strange between us. You do know that my affection for you hasn’t changed.”
She drew a breath. “I do.”
“The war has been hard on you, and the fighting at the front has taken a toll on me. But time together will mend the distance between us.” He caressed her shoulders with his thumbs. “Do you remember how happy we were when we first met?”
She nodded.
He searched through his memories. “I wrote you poems to convince you to spend time with me.”
“Ja.” A slim smile formed on her face. “They didn’t rhyme all that well.”
“They were awful, and I’d assumed it was your pity that allowed me to court you.” He leaned in, his forehead touching hers. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make things as they were.”
“I have so much that I want to talk to you about,” she said, her voice soft.
“Me too.”
“Anna, Bruno!” Norbie called. “Come and join us!”
Anna swallowed. “We should go.”
He straightened his back, feeling space grow between them. “Tomorrow, meet me at the boardinghouse after you’re finished at school.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
He looked into her eyes. “We’ll only be gone a short while. I promise.”
“Anna!” Norbie called.
