Chapter 10
“Yoursister?”
“Yes, my sister Franny. Her husband owns the restaurant—did you really think I would invite you to dinnerwith another woman?”
Her mouth worked for a moment before she resumed her state of righteous indignation. “You put a flower in her hair!”
“Because she loves flowers!”
“You invited her to sit with us!”
“Because I wanted her to meet you. Sadie…” He trailed off as he cupped her cheek, and something behind her breastbone broke free and floated.
Her voice was a whisper when she spoke again, all the fight having drained out of her. “Why did you want her to meet me?”
She knew the answer.
She just wanted to hear him say it. Otherwise, she would never believe it.
“Because… because it’s important to me that she likes you. Because Franny is important to me… as are you.”
“I am?” Normally she would despise how weak she sounded, how her chest bubbled like she’d consumed too much champagne, how everything in her life paled compared to this remarkable man calling her important.
“You are. Now tell me, are there any other reasons you don’t want me to kiss you? I’d rather know now so I can take care of debunking them immediately.”
She released a tremulous laugh as she shook her head. “None that I can think of at the moment.”
His perfect face relaxed and a smile tugged at his lips. “Good. May I kiss you?”
Words escaped her, for possibly the first time in her entire life, so she nodded, and he laughed and pulled her closer, and everything was perfect.
And then they heard the crash.
Of course, it was less than ideal for a tree branch to fall through one of the massive windows of the firehouse, sending in a flood of ice and snow onto the concrete floor. But watching Garrett work—how convenient he couldn’t find the shirt she’d stashed under her pillow!—made the ordeal worthwhile.
“You should put your coat on,” he called over his shoulder as he nailed a plank over the hole in the glass.
“It’s still wet. Besides, I’m plenty warm.” She leaned back in her chair and openly ogled his rear end as he bent over for another nail.
He must have sensed her attention, because he lifted the hammer as though it weighed more than he could manage, flexing the muscles of his arms and buttocks as he swung it into place with a grunt.
She chuckled as she continued watching him work from the confines of her quilt, pausing her perusal for long enough to sip her whisky and nibble a scone.
Could they have a life together like this? Preferably somewhere with unlimited heat, food, and more extensive reading material than suffrage pamphlets, but would being with Garrett—trulybeingwith him—be as easy? As… fun?
Good lord, when was the last time she hadfun?
“That should hold.” He rolled his shoulders, and she nearly swooned. “Now what?”
She grinned. The man made hergrin!“You take me back to bed and ravish me properly.”
His brow popped. “Was I ravishing you improperly before?”
“No, it was as proper as impropriety can be, but…” She cleared her throat and mentally scolded herself. As a liberated woman, she should have no issue with asking for—no,demandingthat he pleasure her. “We haven’t yet… engaged in… relations.”
Had she been wearing undergarments, his smirk would have melted them. “Relations? I have several cousins living in Poughkeepsie. Is that what you meant?”
Damn him.“I mean,” she drew out as heat climbed to her cheeks. “Amorous congress.”
