Page 48 of More than Words Can Say

“During your argument last night?”

“You heard?” Abigail nibbled her lip.

Rosalind nodded. “It’s a small house.” She patted Abigail’s knee. “But I also spied a rather enthusiastic kiss when I peeked down the hall after things quieted down, so I assumed the two of you worked everything out.”

Heat flared in Abigail’s face.

Her sister grinned at her discomfort. “So, will you be moving out of my room soon?”

Abigail shrugged. “Possibly.”

Rosalind laughed. “It’s about time.”

“I didn’t realize you were so eager to kick me out.” Abigail pushed her sister’s shoulder.

“Never.” Rosalind’s face grew serious. “And if I had any qualms about how he might treat you, I’d lock you in with me. Zach might be a little grumpy, but he has a good heart.”

“He’s not grumpy, he’s just . . . not talkative.”

“And you’re completely besotted.”

Abigail met her sister’s gaze. She couldn’t verbalize her agreement, but the warmth in Rosie’s eyes told her she didn’t have to. They both knew Abigail was well on her way to falling in love with her husband.

“You made a good choice, Abby.” Rosalind’s hand enveloped hers.

“I know.”

She just wished she knew if Zach felt the same way. He obviously believed in making the best of any situation he found himself in and was doing an admirable job of making the best of their marriage, but if he could go back in time, would he make a different choice?

CHAPTER

24

Zach pushed open the bakery’s back door and made sure not to limp when he entered the kitchen. He couldn’t have the womenfolk thinking him battered by a little afternoon sparring. But the show was for naught, since his womenfolk were nowhere to be seen.

Clicking the door shut, Zach glanced about the kitchen. Empty. No pots on the stove. No food on the counter. Abigail usually had supper ready when he dragged in from the lumberyard, but the only evidence that she had even been home recently came from a haphazard pile of red, white, and blue decorations on the worktable.

With no one around to impress, he rolled his shoulder to ease its stiffness and rubbed at the sore spot beneath his ribs as he hobbled over to the stairwell. “Abigail?” His voice boomed up the stairs. “You home?”

Footfalls echoed above him a moment before a pair of lovely ankles encased in familiar brown leather half boots appeared at the top of the stairs. Zach enjoyed the view afforded by his wife’s slightly raised petticoats as she bustled down to greet him.

“I’m so sorry. I lost track of t—”

He grabbed her by the waist, cutting her off mid-word while she was still two steps from the bottom. As she squealed in surprise, he spun her around, his achy shoulder and tender rib cage forgotten. The bruises on his instep smarted, however, when his off-balance bride stumbled over his feet to find purchase as he lowered her to the floor. He ignored the insignificant twinge. After their breakfast discussion of abductions and box dinners, he’d been fantasizing all day about having her in his arms and all to himself.

Slightly breathless, Abigail peered up at him with a delightfully dazed expression, her dimples winking at him. “My! Had a good day today, did you?”

His mouth tugged up at one corner. “Havin’ a good one now.”

Her lashes dipped to hide her tawny eyes. The shy smile she sported widened, deepening the creases around her mouth, which immediately put him in mind of kissing. Too bad the click of additional footsteps on the stairs warned that their privacy was about to disintegrate.

Not one to let a good hand go unplayed, however, Zach slid his palm from Abigail’s waist to the middle of her back, pressed her up against him, and planted a kiss on those plump lips just as they formed an O of surprise. The kiss was quick but mighty sweet. So sweet, he had to turn away to collect himself before greeting his young pupil.

Rosalind’s gaze darted from him to her sister, the light in her eyes glinting as she pieced together what she’d interrupted. “I think I’ll, uh, take these decorations upstairs,” she said as she crossed to the worktable and started piling fabric and streamers into the crook of her arm.

That sounded like a good plan to him. Unfortunately, his bride disagreed.

Abigail dashed over to her sister’s side and laid a staying hand on her arm. “No, that can wait. We need to get supper started. Zach’s bound to be hungry.”