Page 418 of Conveniently Wed
She was a quicker study than he’d expected. “Now you’ve discovered the main reason why I’ve stalled teaching you the books. I wanted to keep this private for your pa’s sake. I have no doubt he’ll pay it all back in time.”
She stood and stepped into his arms. “Josiah Richardson, will I ever be able to repay your kindness?”
He encircled her petite body, pressed against him, with both pleasure and agony.
He didn’t want repayment. He longed for love. For now, he would take the hug. Beggars could not be choosers.
15
Josiah followed Jeb and John into the Williams’ kitchen. Their long day of work had been productive. The hay of another field was harvested and stored safely in the barn for the long winter months ahead. John’s help the past week had been a gift.
The door slammed, and Katherine and her Aunt May walked into the kitchen arm in arm. His eyes followed her as she spoke to her ma, then turned his way. His heart did a trip, skip, and dip, as it always did when she looked at him.
“Smells mighty fine in here,” Jeb said. “You got yourselves some hungry men to feed.”
“We’ve arranged supper together since this is the last day before Aunt and Uncle leave. Hope that’s all right?” Katherine raised her brows in hopeful expectation.
She could have most anything she wanted when she looked at him like that. Best he never let her in on that little secret. “No problem on my part, but Delilah might have supper underway.”
She smiled. “I sent Amelia over with a message for her earlier. Abe and Delilah are going to join us. She’s bringing over the food she prepared, and we’ll throw it all together.”
Josiah tried to busy himself playing with the children, but he could barely keep his focus with the way Katherine’s eyesfollowed him. The laughter and squeals while he played the role of Big Bad Bear didn’t offer enough distraction from the burn of her gaze. Why was he suddenly garnering her attention? At dinner, she motioned him into the chair beside hers. Normally, she tried to place herself at arm’s length—or further away.
After the meal, while the adults sat at the table and conversed, her leg brushed up against his several times. Sweet torture.
When she got up to help clear the dishes, he caught her staring again and lifted one brow in question. Instead of lowering her eyes like she usually did, she held his gaze. What had come over her?
He winked. That would send her back to busy, busy mode. But no. She lifted her head and sent him a grin that could almost be called flirtatious.
He almost spit out his coffee, struggling to swallow the gulp of hot liquid he had just taken. It was his turn to look away.
He had worked hard at keeping a respectable distance. That small feat would be impossible if she kept looking at him the way she was tonight.
God, have mercy.
There he was, praying again. She seemed to bring out the desperate in him. But did God really care about the minute details of life? He couldn’t deny the power of Delilah and Abe’s prayers. They’d been praying for a wife for him for a long time. And not just any wife, but a partner he connected with. Kat filled the lonely in ways he’d never expected. Without the physical they had become friends. Good friends.
She was carefree and relaxed in his presence, at least, until the time came to say good-night. Then, the tension would rise between them, his with desire, and hers with fear. But he’d realized something profound. Even if life never took themfarther, he still wanted her as his wife. He enjoyed her company, no matter how difficult.
“Isn’t that right, Josiah?” Kat’s voice broke through his thoughts.
All eyes were on him. What had the question been?
“Yes.” Did his answer make sense?
A knowing look curved the corners of her mouth upwards. “That is wonderful.” She flashed him a radiant smile.
Had she just bamboozled him? Whatever he’d agreed to put that incredible beam on her face, and he wasn’t about to squelch it.
“We’d better get going,” she said. “As you’ve often reminded me, sunrise comes early. But could we walk back? It’s a warm evening, and we won’t have many of those left.”
The thought of a walk through the orchard in the moonlight stirred his blood to a dangerous level. She, naturally, had no idea where his thoughts had just been, or where they would take him walking beside her in the moon’s soft glow.
“Is that all right?” She looked uncertain. “I know you’ve been working hard all day.”
Not hard enough.
“Sure.” He infused his voice with as much calm as he could muster. “You’re right. It’s a fine night for a walk. The weather has been agreeable as of late.” He pressed his lips shut. He sounded like a babbling idiot. But the last thing he felt confident about was a walk in the moonlight with her when he wanted so much more.
