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Jenna stood with her mouth gaping, having brought one hand to her face. She is in shock, astounded, and, hopefully, a bit pleased.
“How …” she can’t finish the rest of her sentence.
I take her hand again and escort her inside. I slowly close the door, the world outside us evaporating into memory. We stand in the entryway, stomachs churning with hunger, hearts beating with a craving for something else entirely.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I pose.
Jenna looks around. The candlelit table, the tranquil music playing, and the delicious food seducing her, and for the first time in our interactions, she allows herself to relax.
“I really am,” she confesses.
I helped her remove her coat and boots, but she remained quiet, seemingly calm. I pulled out a chair for her at the table, her eyes darting around with excitement and eagerness.
“I’m guessing this is all okay to eat?”
I let out a laugh of my own, placing myself next to her, the fire next to us warm and inviting.
I don’t know why, but I want to romance this woman. I want her to forget anyone who ever tried.
“It's all edible,” I reply. “I promise you.”
Jenna trusts me and reaches for the capra.
TEN
JENNA
The cabin is comfortable and, dare I say, even a little romantic with its soft music, glowing candlelight, and blazing fire. I feel like I am in one of those stories we tell kids to hide how terrible the world truly is. There are even scatters of snow falling outside in some rendered environment Verrin conjured with the waves of his hands.
Plus, the food that he somehow manifested smells delicious, so I dig in without hesitation. Everything … the meat, the sautéed vegetables, the wine, the dessert … is succulent, popping with flavor at every bite. I haven’t let myself indulge in such a way for so long, but I can’t help myself. I hadn’t even realized I was restraining myself from such a pleasure until I ate everything my gluttonous eyes came across.
Verrin sits next to me, eating slowly and politely. Every now and then, he looks at me, smiles, and poses a question that is curious but not too penetrative. I find myself telling him truths I hadn’t even formulated in my own mind first.
“So, how long have you been working the farm on your own, Jenna?”
He cut up a thick, juicy piece of steak while I gnaw on maple carrots. I sighed before replying but felt eager to share.
“It’s been a few years since my dad passed,” I say, gazing down at my plate. “Then, last year, my mother got sick. I did everything I could to get her moved into town closer to the healer, and now she’s where she’s able to receive care. So since then, I suppose.”
Verrin placed his fork and knife down, leaning forward on his forearms. The fire behind me is toasty, reminding me of the snug serenity of home. Well, home before catastrophe hit.
His eyes are sincere and captivating.
“I am so sorry to hear that, Jenna,” he said softly. “It must be a lot of work to take care of a farm all on your own.”
I have an impulse to shrug it off like most women do, unable to take pride in the labor thrust upon them. But I don’t want to be that woman with Verrin.
“It really is,” I reply, unable to meet his gaze. “It’s not a matter of options, though. It’s a matter of duty and responsibility. To carry on the way my parents would be proud of.”
Calm piano chimes play on the record player as Verrin fingers the stem of his wine glass, swirling it slowly in my peripheral vision.
He is still leaning forward when he asks me a profound question that makes my heart begin to race.
“Can I ask you something vital, Jenna?”
I nod, placing the last of the carrots into my mouth.
He leaned back in his chair, and I was compelled to look up at him. He is peering thoughtfully at me, possibly preparing me for his intense inquiry.
