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My jeans securely fastened, I turn and face her. “After you…finished, I might have…”
Her cheeks heat. “Oh my gods.”
“I didn’t…leave any evidence.”
Jo reels in horror. “Well, I would hope not!”
She immediately regrets saying anything, and so do I.
I suppose the two of us are not quite as comfortable around each other as we’d assumed yesterday. I have to defuse the situation.
“Does my admission make you feel less embarrassed, or would you prefer to banish me to the woods?”
Her face turns to a mixture of shock and disgust. “Your emission? Jakob!”
I bark a laugh so loud it wipes the disgust right off her face. “Admission! I said admission!”
Jo’s mouth forms an O, but no sound comes out.
“Take all the time you need,” I say, backing away and stripping the sheets, pillowcases, and blankets from the world’s tiniest sofa.
I feel her eyes follow me for some time.
Suddenly, she blurts, “I don’t think you’re a pervert!”
“I wasn’t wondering, but good to know.”
Another pause follows as I wordlessly gather up the linens and drop them in her washing machine, her eyes on me the whole time.
Finally, I turn, leaning in the doorway of the laundry closet. “So what’s next?”
“Next?” Jo asks.
“Where do we go from here?”
“Go?”
“After I leave.” Yes, I’m toying with her. Testing her, to force her to tell me what she wants.
“Oh. That.”
Not going to lie, it feeds my ego to hear her sound somewhat chagrined at the idea of me going home today.
“Where will you go? If you’re still laying low because of what happened with the princess and the princess’s missing ring?”
Oh, the ring. I might have stretched the truth on that one; I’ve no idea if anyone is looking for that. The ring is inscribed with a letter “B” which doesn’t fit with anything relating to the crown. The fact that the palace hasn’t issued any statements that they are looking for that ring tells me that the princess doesn’t necessarily want it publicly discussed.
“I might do some traveling,” I say. “The apple orchards all over the country are hiring, and I might?—”
“Stay.”
That one simple word pins me in place.
“You want me to stay?”
Slowly, Jo moves closer. “I could use some extra help around the house. With the garden and the chickens. I need help getting things ready for winter.”
I nod, watching the wheels turn in her head until she’s right up close to me, so close I could tip up her chin for a much desired kiss.
