Kit huffed a laugh. “Then I suppose I should ask your mother about that dowry your sister mentioned. How many cows did she decide on?” He stroked his chin in mock contemplation while I stood, aghast.
“You heard that?” I squeaked.
“Those walls were thin,” he replied. “I heard everything.”
My shoulders crept up, and I wished I could shrivel inside my shirt. “I’m sorry…”
Kit put his arm around my waist and hooked his fingers onto my hip bone. “I didn’t mind,” he said.
I eased into him, running both hands up his sides.When he tipped his head toward mine, I stretched up to meet him. Our lips had barely touched when I heard a gasp from across the kitchen.
I pulled back, and Kit whirled around to the doorway where Rosie gawked with wide brown eyes. She said nothing, but the abrupt flap of her hands followed by her rapid retreat spoke volumes.
Kit raced after her while I stood stunned. By the time I made it to the living area, Rosie was flurrying about. The handled basket hung from her arm as she stooped and collected the tabby kitten and stuffed her inside.
Kit came alongside her. When he reached toward her, she stood bolt upright and glowered at him.
“He’sjustyour recruit, Mister Koesters?” she snapped. The moisture gleaming in her eyes filled me with guilt.
Kit winced at the use of the formal name. “Please, call me Kit…”
Sidestepping him, Rosie collected the black kitten and tucked her into the basket alongside the other.
“You could have told me the truth,” Rosie said to Kit, then aimed her ire at me. “Either of you could have. It would’ve been kinder.”
Kit moved into her line of sight, blocking me from her view. “Pennyismy recruit,” he said, his body tense. “But yes, heismore than that. If I had known you were interested in him, I would have told you?—”
“Thatyouwere?” she cut in.
Rosie headed for the exit, but Kit beat her to it, leveraging his long legs and arms to hold the door closed. The two of them squared off ahead of me, Rosie stern and Kit sincere.
After a few seconds, she cut her glare aside tofix it on me. “This is why you said those things to Tessa. That you knew Kit doesn’t fancy women. That you were so sure.”
I nodded.
“You love him, don’t you?” Rosie demanded. “Have you? The whole time?”
Glancing at Kit, I pushed aside a flutter of shame to admit, “Not thewholetime, but…” I swallowed. “For some time. Yes.”
Kit’s expression eased into one of affection, and it took all I had not to run to him.
In contrast, Rosie’s shoulders slumped, and I wanted to go to her too. Instead, I stood as though mired in place while both of them stared.
“I wanted so badly to tell you, Rosie,” I said, words rushing out. “You’re my dearest friend here. I didn’t like keeping things from you. Especially big things…”
“Then why did you?” she asked, her eyes still cutting and cold.
I’d thought she would be happy for me. Now, I realized that may not have been the case. I floundered for reply until Kit spoke up in my stead.
“You know how these things can be,” he said. “Some of the people here see care and affection as weakness, and I’m not ignorant to the fact that some of those same people wish me ill. I won’t have Penny hurt because of me. I don’t think you want him hurt, either.”
Rosie stood for a long moment, and Kit remained similarly unmoving.
“No one can know, do you understand?” Kit told her more than asked. “This can’t leave here.”
Finally, she glanced over at me, resigned. “I won’t say anything,” she said.
Kit sighed and released the door handle. “Thank you. Can we walk you home?”
