Page 94 of Unforgiven

“I thought she was doing better. Is she not?”

Watching him eat, she shrugged a shoulder. “Oh, she is, but I’ve been more concerned about her feelings. Seth told me how she used to be practically afraid of her own shadow. At first, she wouldn’t even come out of the house when he would leave her food or chop wood.”

“Do you think this attack is going to make her be afraid of everything again?”

“Maybe. How could it not? She was dyeing wood on her front porch when Leon attacked her. If she hadn’t run, he could have held her hostage in the house.”

“It’s good she ran.”

Looking pensive, Melonie nodded. “I think—” She stopped abruptly when footsteps sounded down the hall.

“Melonie, who are you talking to?”

Staring at him, Melonie answered. “Lott, Mamm. He paid us a surprise visit tonight.”

And . . . now he was sitting at their table eating a sandwich. Not exactly the best way to ingratiate himself with her mother.

Her mother shuffled in. Her dress was a little rumpled and her eyes a bit strained. Her hair and kapp were neatly arranged, though. “Hello, Lott.”

He stood up. “Hi, Anna.”

She looked at them curiously. “You’re hosting him in the kitchen, Mel?”

He answered quickly. “Your daughter was kind enough to make me a sandwich.”

With a distracted glance, she eyed his plate before focusing on Melonie. “Did you tend to the animals in the barn?”

“Nee. I made you some chicken and rice, though.”

“Danke.” She turned and wandered back into the hallway. “Don’t forget to tend to the animals.”

His mouth was dry as he realized he’d finished the rest of the sandwich while Melonie had answered her mother’s questions. Now that they were alone again, she seemed flustered.

He stood up and held out a hand. “Come on.”

She looked at him curiously as she got to her feet. “What do you want to do?”

He smiled slightly. “If I said run away to the beach, what would you say?”

“I’d ask if I had to pack a bag before we got out of here.”

He wished he could offer her that. A break from everything sounded wonderful. No, it sounded like relief. They needed a little bit of that. “Since I haven’t bought any bus tickets, how about we settle for going to your barn and tending to the animals?”

“That’s not necessary. I can do it.”

He couldn’t deal with the distance between them anymore. No, he couldn’t handle the idea of her standing alone, trying so hard to be strong. “Come here,” he murmured, though he didn’t really give her a choice. He pulled her into his arms, and Melonie hesitated a mere second before relaxing against him.

The best choice would be for him to offer comforting words and pat her upper back. Like a brother would. But Lott rarely made the right choice.

Cupping her face in both of his hands, he kissed her. Gently nipped her bottom lip, encouraged her closer, and finally kissed her the way he’d dreamed about in the middle of the night. For her part, Melonie didn’t hesitate. She kissed him back, clung to him like he was her lifeline.

On and on their embrace continued, and he savored every second of it. Melonie was responsive, and so good that he could practically feel all of that goodness seep into him. He pulled away before he did anything more.

Startled, she gazed up into his eyes. Her lips were parted and she was breathing heavy.

“I’m not going to apologize,” he said.

Her lips closed. She blinked. Stepped back. Giving them additional space. Breathing room. “Good,” she said at last.

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