She looked up to find him leaning back against the range, studying her thoughtfully.
“What?” she asked crossly.
“I’m thinking about second dates.”
She would have blushed if she’d had a proper physical form for it. Then she realized what he was saying.
“Your second dates with other women?” she asked in surprise.
He pushed away from the range and walked across the great room to hunker down in front of her. “Actually, I was thinking about second dates with you.”
“Were you?” she managed.
He nodded. “Will you date me now?”
She could scarce believe she could blush in her current state, but apparently ‘twas possible. She looked at him, then nodded.
“Or something maybe a bit more permanent?” he asked quietly.
“Your eggs are burning.”
He swore, then jumped up and strode over to rescue them. She watched him quickly prepare the rest of his meal, then come to sit next to her. He ate, but he was a man and likely rarely found himself put off his food.
He finished, put his dishes in the sink, then returned to sit next to her. He looked at her and simply waited.
“What?” she asked finally.
“I asked you about something more permanent than dating,” he said gravely.
“Is that a proposal?” she asked.
“You knew me when I was ten,” he said dryly. “I would likely be taking a very great chance even asking you out, never mind anything more serious.”
“I’ve lov—erm, I meanbeen very fondof you for your entire life,” she said seriously. “Ask me again another time.”
“I’ll remind you of this conversation.”
“I won’t believe you.”
“I’ll find a way to convince you.”
“That won’t be difficult.”
He smiled briefly, then rose and went to wash up his supper things. She watched him as he did so and suspected he was dragging out the entire business because he was entertaining thoughts he knew she wouldn’t care for. She had no trouble divining what those thoughts might be.
He walked over to her, then dropped to his knees in front of her.
“Let me change this,” he said quietly.
“Oliver—”
“I beg you.”
“How do I agree?” she asked frankly. “How do I leave you alone all those years in your youth?”
“I’ll survive.”
“I’ll forget all the English I’ve learned,” she said, trying to dredge up something that sounded reasonable.
