He removed his hat.
“Yes.”
“You expected separate rooms.”
“I expected you might want one.”
She looked into the room intended for her.
New curtains.
Blue.
The same shade she once told Mrs. Whitcomb she liked.
“You bought these.”
“Yes.”
“Before the wedding.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Caleb looked confused.
“Because the old ones smelled like mice.”
Abigail laughed.
He smiled.
Then became awkward.
“About tonight…”
She looked at him.
“What about tonight?”
Caleb’s ears reddened.
The terrifying Butcher of Black Ridge suddenly looked sixteen.
Abigail almost enjoyed it.
He cleared his throat.
“You can sleep wherever you like.”
“I understand.”
“My room.”
“Your room.”
“Spare room.”
“My room.”
“Yes.”
“The sofa.”
“That seems uncomfortable.”
“I’ve slept outside.”
“So have cattle.”
Caleb stared.
She smiled.
Then the humor faded.
Abigail touched the low lace edge of her bodice.
“Caleb.”
“Yes.”
“My first husband made intimacy feel like an examination I always failed.”
His expression changed.
She continued before courage disappeared.
“I don’t want that again.”
“You won’t have it.”
“I’m not asking you to promise perfection.”
“I’m asking whether you understand that sometimes I may believe you’re disgusted even when you haven’t done anything.”
He stepped closer but did not touch.
“What should I do when that happens?”
The question almost undid her.
Not:
Why would you think that?
Not:
Don’t be foolish.
What should I do?
“Tell me the truth.”
“I can.”
“Even if the truth changes.”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“And tonight?”
Caleb’s voice softened.
“The truth?”
“Yes.”
“I want to kiss you until neither of us remembers Bell’s name.”
Abigail laughed through sudden tears.
“That is extremely specific.”
“I’ve had several hours to think.”
She looked at him.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“I want you.”
Her breath caught.
Caleb stepped closer.
“Not because I’m grateful.”
“Not because I pity you.”
“Not because Bell put us together.”
“I want you because every time you look at me like you’re about to argue, I start wondering what you’ll sound like when you stop arguing.”
Abigail’s face became very warm.
“That was indecent.”
“A little.”
“Again.”
He smiled.
She kissed him first.
The mystery waited until morning.