Page 12 of A Letter to Carolina
“Then riding from the house to town every day is out of the question.” He slid across the step so that their sides were touching. “There is another option.”
The quiet of the night was oppressive, and Nate could practically hear her throat bob up and down as she tried to swallow her fear. He wanted this to work so badly that he held his breath, waiting for proof that she was just as invested in this relationship’s success as he was.
“No more games. Tell me what you’re thinking. You might have the poise and grace of a panther, but they don’t toy with their prey.”
His cheeks hurt from the smile that took over his face. Leaning down, his lips brushed her ear. “You could marry me.”
Carolina whipped her head to the side, her lips brushing his before he could pull away. Nate lifted one hand and caught the back of her head in his palm, holding her mouth to his before she could pull away.
He deepened the kiss, pleased to feel her melt against him. He could kiss her forever, but he knew it would be improper. Nipping her bottom lip lightly as he broke the kiss and leaned back.
“You can’t just lean over and plant a kiss on me when you think you’re getting the upper hand!” she exclaimed.
“Do I have the upper hand?” he grinned in the darkness.
Carolina felt the heat spreading through her body like wildfire and knew that her cheeks must be bright red. No one had ever kissed her before, and the sensation differed vastly from the passionate embraces she’d imagined in all her daydreams. Everything seemed to happen so quickly, and a part of her feared that if she didn’t take a moment to catch her breath, it would all come crashing down around her.
But she didn’t want to stop. Not ever.
She pressed her lips back against his, her heart beating in her chest like a hummingbird’s wings. She could feel his body vibrating with tension under her fingertips, like a bowstring pulled taut. Suddenly, he broke away, his eyes staring into hers under the porch light.
“Carolina,” he said, his voice rough. “We should stop.”
“I don’t like this game.” She watched as the merriment on his face disappeared. “You kiss me, then pull away.”
“This isn’t a game. I find you attractive. Emily thought we would be a good match, and you’re a nurse. For the first time in a long time, it looks like I can have all my dreams come true.”
“Yes. All your dreams. We don’t know each other, and I think we should wait a bit.”
“We have the rest of our lives to get to know each other.”
She blew out her breath and stood. If it weren’t so dark already, she would go for another walk.
He didn’t try to stop her, but his words cut her to the core. “Please don’t leave because you’re upset.”
“Nate, I have been traveling for several days. You seem like an amiable man, but we both know that people should not decide things when they are scared, upset, or overtired. I’m all three. I’m going to go lie down, and if you’re available, we can speak more tomorrow.”
She watched as he dropped his head into his hands and wiped his face before running a hand through his overly long hair. Moments later, he was standing beside her. “You are correct. We are both tired and it has been a big day. I look forward to chatting with you in the morning.”
Carolina nodded and climbed the steps, darting into the house and down the hall to the small room Emily had settled her in earlier. Once the door was closed, she leaned against it, taking deep breaths.
In what world did a man who looked like that choose a woman like her, and not expect her to be a broodmare instead of a whole person?
Slipping off her shoes, and the day dress she’d put on after her bath, she pulled her light blue nightgown over her head and pulled the ribbon out of her hair. Brushing her light brown waves was a soothing habit of the past. Her mind wandered over the people she’d met, to treatment ideas for Miss Cleo. While she was sure that the men had thought through traditional remedies, perhaps there was something she could do as well.
Letting the brush settle on the dressing table, Carolina used the wash bowl to wash her hands, neck, and face. Though she’d bathed, she could still feel the dust from her travels. A little extra attention wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Lying back on her pillows, her mind finally drifted to the thought she’d been avoiding. Nathaniel Pickett was only two years older than her. That was young for a doctor. Most of the doctors at the hospital were much older than that. Maybe things were different out here.
In his casual clothes, his body appeared trim, and his height still made her feel petite at five foot six inches. The draft of the advertisement was something she could have written by exchanging a nurse with a doctor.
She was drifting off when she started thinking about weddings. Carolina would accept Nate’s proposal, but he would need to understand they weren’t going to consummate their marriage until they knew each other better. It was the only way she could see it working.
Tomorrow they could spend the day together and if they were still in mutual enjoyment of the other’s company, she would agree. Now if only she could figure out how to get him to ask, not tell her what was going to happen. Or she could do the unheard of and take the forward approach, asking him instead of waiting for fate to intervene.
Chapter Six
Nate stirred in his bed as the sunlight filtered through the window. The familiar sound of Gunther crowing across the garden was a stark contrast to the silence of his room in town. He didn’t miss the rooster announcing the morning’s arrival when he was in town.
