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“I’m taking the couch tonight because I’m not sure how well I will sleep up there,” he began… and smiled affectionately at her, making her heart flip wildly in her chest. “If you are a cuddler or sprawled all over me, I’m really not wanting to pull you off, and it could end up hurting my ribs. You know?”
She chuckled and looked at him, shaking her head.
“You just have to make this dirty, don’t you?”
“You make it so easy,” he teased and hesitated. “And I like seeing your cheeks get all pink while you get flustered. It makes me happy to know I’m getting on your nerves.”
“Why?” she smiled up at him. “We barely know each other and just met today.”
“Because then I’m getting atyou…” he admitted as she circled around him for the last time, securing the bandage with a small clasp he’d provided. He put his arms down and nodded at her before reaching for his shirt. “You mentioned tea?”
“Yes. I made two cups and thought we might watch a little television before turning in.”
“What time does everyone meet for breakfast?”
“Early,” she admitted, chuckling. “I’ve got to get the eggs from the hens first and then we start getting things together.”
“How about I make the coffee, and we’ll start our day the same way we finish it,” he offered quietly, and there was a flicker of hope in his gaze that touched her deeply.
“I think I would like that… Jake.”
His unfettered smile took her breath away.
* * *
They watched television for a little while, almost awkwardly, as she kept from trying to look at him and caught him looking at her once or twice before he looked away quickly. When the episode was over, she made her excuses and grabbed her things, changing into a T-shirt and sweatpants instead of her nightgown, determined to hide it. There was no way she was wearing a little slip of a gown in front of him, much less climbing the ladder up to the loft where her bed was.
“Do you need help?” she asked politely, seeing him fidget just a bit as he tried to get comfortable on the loveseat that was obviously too short for him. How did Jill or Houghton think any of this was going to work? That they were just going to hop in bed together? Was that what Gideon and Christina did?
“I don’t suppose you have an extra pillow up there so I can use it to help me slouch down a bit, do you?”
“Yes, just a moment,” she started and climbed up the ladder quickly, reaching over the bed and yanking one of the two pillows toward her – and hesitated.
She grabbed both.
“Here, let me help you,” she offered and stuffed one under his back as he leaned forward, sliding down slightly and then hanging his feet over the arm of the couch. He hesitated, then bent his knees and leaned toward the back of the couch, moving and adjusting a few times. Moving toward one of the baskets, she pulled a folded quilt out and unfurled it only to see him wince before he moved again slightly.
“You aren’t going to sleep there easily,” she began. “Why don’t you take the loft, and I’ll sleep here?”
“No,” he uttered bluntly – not elaborating or commenting any further.
“This is ridiculous. You’re a foot or more longer than the couch and…”
“Drop it, Lena. I’m not letting you sleep down here.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m the man.”
“So?” she laughed, staring at him in disbelief… which only resulted in him glaring at her. “You are a guy – big deal. You think a woman can’t sleep on a couch?”
“I didn’t say that – but I am not going to let a woman sleep alone downstairs while I’m tucked away in the loft. If someone breaks in or…”
“Likewho?”she gaped, amazed at the way his brain was twisting things. “We’re in the middle of nowhere and…”
“Bears,” he snapped. “There are bears here… and… and bison or other big things that can attack people. Wolves. I bet there are wolves here or…”
“I sincerely doubt thata wolfis going to manage to turn the doorknob on a locked door or enter through a window.”
