“Jack, if you’ve changed your mind in the last decade, I’ll understand.” She gave him a teasing smile. “But you’re stuck with me until the next storm.”
Jack blinked, realizing he was giving off wrong signals. “No, Jewel, I haven’t changed my mind. It’s just that… well… I don’t know how to begin. I feel sort of at a disadvantage; you know all about me, but I know almost nothing about you.”
She pulled free of his hands and slid hers around his neck. “Why don’t you come up to my room and get to know me?” Her sultry alto voice only made that proposition seem more wanton.
He placed his hands on her back. “It’s 1919, Jewel, and this is a small town. With you a stranger, everyone will be watching. About all I can do right now is kiss you good night.”
A corner of her mouth quirked up. “Well, at least there’s that.”
He stood nervously looking down at her until her brows rose in question; then he shook off his timidity and inclined his head to put his lips on hers. The contact nearly stole his breath, and her response made his head spin. He pulled her in closer, and his hat slipped off and hit the porch floor. He didn’t care. She was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted, and she seemed to enjoy his explorations as well, sliding her hands into his hair, and matching his intensity.
The sound of footsteps registered in the back of Jack’s brain somewhere, but it wasn’t until someone cleared his throat that Jack abruptly broke away from Jewel, blushing from his hairline to his collar when he turned to find Reverend Niemeyer and his wife, Doris, standing there.
Jack blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair before bending to pick up his hat. “Reverend, what brings you out to Barker House so late?”
“Pie and coffee, Jack.” His eyes flicked to the woman slightly behind him. “I guess I don’t have to ask you the same question.”