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Taking them in one last time, she walked out and left them alone.

In the silence that followed Rhine said, “All things considered, I think we handled that pretty well.”

Eddy laughed.

They fed on each other visually in the quiet kitchen, and he wondered how much of a fight she’d put up when he asked her to marry him. “What time would you like dinner?”

She replied, “Six? Seven?”

“Let’s make it six. If we start the evening early we’ll have more time to enjoy each other’s company. “I’ll send Jim around to drive you to the saloon.” He hated that they needed to be discreet, but it was necessary due to the times.

“That would be fine.”

Rhine didn’t want to leave her but knew he must. The proof of how much he wanted her had eased enough for him to stand. “I’m going to keep my distance and bid you good night from here because if I walk over there, I’ll kiss you again.” He loved seeing the lingering remnants of desire in her lips and eyes.

“That might be best.”

Taking a moment to view her a few seconds longer, he inclined his head, shot her a smile before his departure. Outside, he climbed into his carriage. Driving toward the Union her words came back: Why would you kiss me on the table?

He chuckled all the way home.

“So you decided to have dinner with him?” Sylvie asked Eddy on Friday evening as Eddy stood at the kitchen door gazing out unseeingly at Mount Davidson.

“Yes.”

“You look very nice.”

“Thank you.” She had on one of her nice Vera-­made blouses and a lovely brown skirt.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

Eddy looked back. “Yes.” She thought back on her heated encounter with Rhine, and just the memory made her nipples tighten shamelessly.

“Then you’ll get no lecture from me.”

“Is there an insane asylum nearby?”

Sylvie smiled. “No honey, but you’ll have to be very discreet—­both of you will.”

“We’re only going to have dinner this one time.”

“That’s what I said about me and Oliver. Passion can change your life.”

Eddy would be the first to admit that it already had. “Thank you for not judging.”

“I’m the last person to be judging anyone.”

Eddy was grateful for her counsel and understanding.

Jim arrived a few minutes later and handed her into Rhine’s carriage before driving them away. Eddy didn’t want to second-­guess herself but she was terribly nervous and the silence in the carriage was awkward.

“I made you an angel food cake.”

That cut some of the nervousness she felt. She smiled. “Thank you.”

“Rhine’s a good man, Eddy.”

She nodded and wondered who she’d be after their evening together.

The drive was a short one. Jim halted the carriage at the saloon’s back door then came around and helped her down.

“He’s in the kitchen waiting for you.”

She gave him a nod of thanks. As he drove away, she drew in a deep calming breath, turned the knob, and walked inside.

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