Page 45 of Spring Showers

The bell continued with no letup.

“Oh gosh.” Thandie took stock of the surroundings.

Her eyes went to the empty bottle of wine, the skewers resting at the threshold of the fire, and her robe that had opened slightly but didn’t expose anything. She promptly and discreetly crossed the front sides of the robe and held it tight at her neck. He sensed her unease, perhaps embarrassment or vulnerability, in waking up on some man’s floor. Giving her space, he stayed back near the front windows.

“It’s bad out there,” he said. “Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll call up to the barn and see what’s going on.”

“I don’t have anything to wear. My things are all in my cabin.” She gestured to her robe as though he didn’t see that she was only wearing the white fluffy garment, which he most definitely was aware of.

“I did the laundry. The power came back on, and I threw your things in from yesterday,” he said with pride evident in his tone.

“You cleaned my clothes?” she said and looked like she wanted to die. Her hands covered her face.

“Did I do something wrong?” He didn’t think he had. He was very respectful and neat in the manner in which he did their laundry. “I was awake, and I knew you would want something more than that to wear today. Nor would you want to be seen leaving my cabin in only a bathrobe.”

She looked down at her garment and nodded. “I appreciate it, I do. Thank you.” She pointed to the bathroom and raised an eyebrow.

“It’s all folded on the counter in there.”

Thandie stood and walked to the bathroom door. “This place has a laundry?”

“There’s a machine in the kitchen, under the cabinet beside the sink. It’s small, but it does both the wash and the dry,” Grant said and walked to her. “I thought I was doing the right thing, but I apologize if I’ve offended you.”

“You haven’t.” Thandie brushed some of her curls back from her face. Her color was high on her cheeks. She craned onto her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you. It was kind of you to wash my panties. No man has ever done my laundry before, is all.”

The door closed in front of him, and he stood in stunned silence. The way she said panties was the sexiest thing he’d ever heard. A deep breath and a headshake later, he made himself busy cleaning up the night’s mess. He started by washing the dishes, folding blankets, fluffing pillows, and doing anything else to take his mind off of her getting dressed in those pink lace panties that he had so expertly laid out for her.

Grant was already dressed and ready for the day, though he hadn’t predicted the morning beginning with church bells. He picked up the phone and dialed the office extension. Even after several rings, no one picked up. With the rain still pouring outside, he wasn’t prepared to go out in it just yet, and the only window in the cabin that viewed the barn was in the bathroom. “Thandie, can you see the barn from in there?” he said through the door.

“Um...” she said, and it sounded as though she stumbled over something and caught herself on the porcelain sink. She giggled. “I’m okay, but I can’t see the barn well. The rain is too heavy. Did you get anyone on the phone?”

“No one answered. We should head that way, right?” he said.

Thandie opened the bathroom door and was finishing tucking in her blue shirt at the waist of her black cargo shorts. Folding her clothes in the middle of the night, he had only noticed her delicate pink undergarments. And on the nature walk, he had been too preoccupied with his darn gesture to see what she was wearing. He had hoped the flowers would make her day, but instead, they messed him up. What was worse was the way he had reacted to the fear grappling inside of him.

She pulled her hair back into a low ponytail and slicked back the sides where her hair was curlier. “I used your hair paste. I hope that’s alright.”

Of course it was okay. He had done a good job showing her what kind of person he was and that he wouldn’t be offended by her use of his products. She was comfortable with him, and that was exactly where he hoped she would be. The alternative was that she was a thief, albeit an honest one. He nodded and took in the sight of her.

She was stunning, and natural. And worried.

Her brows pinched together in the middle, and although she tried for a smile, her mouth turned down at the corners. Without her asking, he embraced her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She leaned into him, and her body relaxed into his as though they were meant to fit together. The moment was carefree, until the bells rang out again, tensing her muscles beneath his hands.

“I’d offer you coffee, but I don’t think we have time for that. How ‘bout a jacket instead?”

“I appreciate it, but you should stay here out of the weather,” she suggested.

“Like hell I will. I’m not letting you go up there alone.” He handed her his flannel jacket and a poncho with The Foundry logo printed on the back. She slipped both items on and tied her boot laces—pink, he noted—while he retrieved a slick yellow raincoat from the little closet outside the bathroom. “You ready?”

She nodded, and he opened the door to a blast of cold, damp air. The mist hit his face, and he recoiled from the shock to his skin. He took her hand, and they dashed into the rain towards the barn. Between dodging downed limbs and puddles, the ground squished beneath his feet as they ran across the field. It was the most direct route and the only way not washed out between his place and the barn.

As they got close, the door opened. Margret’s head poked out and she waved them inside. Thandie went first and Grant helped close the door upon making it through. The bells rang out from nearby again, and he looked around for the source of the sound.

“What’s with the bells?” Grant asked Margret as he caught Anne’s eyes where she sat in thecucina. “Have you both been in here all night?”

“Afraid so,” Anne said. Her face drooped from lack of sleep, and he realized his mug unlikely looked any better.

“We were in here waiting for dinner when the storm hit hard. Been here since,” Margret said. “As for the bells, Leo has been out there ringing them for a while. The telephone lines are down, and he mentioned Pa would know what to do.”

---