The Parting Gift(22)

Its presence was not lost on his companion, however. Before he knew what was happening she had reached out a tender hand to caress his brow, delicately touching him the way a mother might a child. Her emerald eyes mirrored his own surprise as she met his gaze, but shone with… something else. Something that drew him in.

Instinctively, he reached out, taking her wrist gently in his hand, noting how soft her skin felt against his own. Mara’s eyes never wavered from his as he slowly brought her fingers the short distance from his cheek to his lips and brushed the fairest of kisses across them.

Her fingers trembled. In awe, he stared into her eyes as she slipped her hand from his grasp and slid her delicate arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight embrace.

The sweet essence of jasmine and lilac invaded his senses, unsettling his grasp on reality. Suddenly he wanted much more than mere comfort from her.

As she held him, his mind jumbled with such a bombardment of confusion, he couldn’t think straight. When she began to pull away, an emptiness worse than he could have imagined knocked the wind out of him, nearly driving him to his knees.

But it was different, far different than the bitterness and loneliness which had held him captive for so long. It was almost as though he had spent his life as a starving man, in need of food, and she was the only person capable of giving him what he needed.

He wanted more.

When Mara offered him a soft smile and turned away, Blaine panicked and twisted her back towards him. Before he had a chance to think of the ramifications of his actions, his lips were on hers – inviting, begging, starving for something only she could give.

She pushed at his chest, an unconvincing weak effort to free herself from his grip. It only incensed him more.

Then she relented and kissed him back. Sliding her hands to his shoulders first, then to his neck, possessively pulling him closer.

It rocked him to his core.

Their lips parted, both of them gasping for breath. Coming back to himself, Blaine opened his mouth to apologize but found no words there. His feet were brought firmly back to earth by the sudden humbling sound of a lady clearing her throat. He peeked around the equally shocked Mara to see an elderly woman with groceries in hand staring at them.

Mara whipped around so fast, he thought she would fall on her face. His hand shot out to steady her, but she dodged him and stepped out of his reach.

“Oh, Mrs. Smith! I, um, we were just….”

Mrs. Smith cocked her eyebrow and grinned. “Yes, my dear, no need to explain. I can see exactly what you were just doing…”

Averting her guilt-ridden gaze, Mara struggled to fill the awkward silence with something. “Uh, have you… have you met Captain Smith, Mrs. Graham?” A nervous giggle. More blushing. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Smith. I meant Captain Graham. He’s visiting from Boston. His father – he’s here to see his father.”

She offered a curt nod at Blaine, concealing her amusement. “Ah, yes. Captain Graham. I remember you as a little boy. Your mother and I were close friends.” She cast a sidelong glance at Mara, who was still trembling and wide-eyed. “My dear, you don’t need to explain anything to me.” Then glancing back and forth between the two, she added, “Carry on, dear. I’ll just be putting the groceries away.” She motioned to the kitchen and winked impishly, then stepped past them and disappeared through the doorway.

Mara’s face flushed crimson and she wrung her hands nervously. Her eyes darted about the living room. Anywhere but at Blaine. “I...”

“My apologies, Mrs. Crawford. I shouldn’t have been so forward.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Mara said, turning and nearly bumping into the wall.

“Careful.” Blaine moved to steady her again out of reflex, but stopped himself before he touched her. I hope she doesn’t want to talk about this. The thought shot a charge of fear through him. His need to escape the room was increasing by the second. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled and slipped his hands into his pockets with a sigh. “Um, I need to go check something outside.” Good one. He spun on his heel, strode to the front door and left.





Chapter Eight





The room was still spinning around her. What just happened? She reached out to steady herself on the arm of the sofa, and lowered herself down to sit on the floor.

It was undeniable she was attracted to him. But that kiss had happened so fast. Too fast. And she wasn’t certain who started it.

They were in too close of quarters. That was it. She was just going to have to tell him that wouldn’t happen again. It couldn’t happen again.

Mara closed her eyes, braced her hands against the floor and took a deep breath. Glancing up at the window, she could see Blaine outside pacing in the snow with his fists clenched. His breath was visible in the cold night air, and the snow was already dusting his sandy blond hair and broad shoulders.

Too bad he had walked out without his coat. He was probably freezing. She could take it to him. But it was too soon. Mara wasn’t sure she could trust herself alone with him, even out there in front of all the neighbors. They were likely already talking about the two of them under the same roof.

And now Mrs. Smith– Oh. No. Mrs. Smith.



****



Blaine sat on his cot with letters littered across the thick blanket. He had begun to re-read them, searching his father’s chicken scratch writing for words that would help make this easier instead of the most difficult moment of his life.