Yes?The word appears slowly, one letter crawling onto the page in the blockyVale of Gemscopyrighted font at a time.
It feels like the book is judging me.
Which is completely stupid.
Yet no less paralyzing.
What’s wrong?it asks.
“Never mind,” I whisper. “It’s stupid.” I gasp. “Wait.”
I am literally not going anywhere.
Yeah. Right. That’s true. Moving on… “Is it appropriate for me to wear this in front of a guy in this time period or setting or whatever you’d call the social constructs that surround the Gem Ridge society?”
My book, shockingly, does not answer me. Instead, it says,For someone so focused on wooing Samson, you don’t seem all too keen on seducing him now that you’ve been given an opportunity.
I clap my hand to my mouth, hissing, “Don’t beridiculous. I’madorable, like a baby orange,notseductive in any way.”
The more we get to know each other, the more concerned I am for your mental health.
Rude.
Scowling, I snap, “You are no help at all,” and clap the pages closed.
It takes one hundred percent of my strength to fold up my bra in my dress, hook my bag over my shoulder, and deposit both my clothes and it into the tidy spare room Samson pointed out before.
Samson’s already in the kitchen by the time I ease myself out into the hall, tug his shirt as far as it will go past my rump, and tiptoe across the living room. I swallow as the full-bodied scents of simmering meat and potatoes flood my senses. “S-sorry I took so long. I…have been cleaning up in a cold bucket of water for a week, so this was a luxury.”
His brow dips. “No worries.” He won’t look at me. “Is my shirt comfortable enough? My pants wouldn’t fit you, but if you fold up the legs and use one of my belts, maybe it could work if you want?”
I think the last thing I need is to swim in both his shirt and his pants. “N-no, that’s okay. Your shirt is practically a dress on me.”
His gaze flicks my way, and his every muscle stills. Moments pass. His head alone turns to face me while the rest of him remains rigid, facing the stove. His throat bobs, and he wets his lips before a gruff, “That it is,” pulls from somewhere deep in his chest.
Sudden, he whips his attention back to the stove and drags his hand down over his mouth as he turns over the meat in the cast iron pan. “Have a seat at the table. Food’s almost done.”
Flesh tingling, I look at the dining room set and see myself to a chair. Circling a polished knot on the surface before me with a fingertip, I wait, patiently, not nervous at all. When Samson’s footsteps start toward me, I don’t even startle. And my shirt doesn’t even slip down my shoulder. And his gait doesn’t even stammer as I tug the fabric back into place.
Crimson to my ears, I stare at the table when Samson plants a plate of food before me and drops heavily into another chair with his own meal.
Air leaves him, audibly. “I think…” he begins, voice rough, “…maybe I should ask Ines to make a house call tomorrow when I drop off your dress to be cleaned.”
“A…house call?” I pick up the fork with my free hand, still clutching the fabric for dear life with my other.
“So she can—” He shoves a bite of meat in his mouth, chews twice, and forces it down. “—get your measurements.” Breath expands his chest. “Making sure you have a handful of outfits is a good idea.”
I concur.
Samson gives his head a firm shake, fortifying himself before he meets my eyes. “So it’s settled. Getting you enough clothes, making sure you have things to wear in the coming seasons, is step one in getting you adjusted to life here.”
Nodding, I nudge the chopped cabbage in my plate with the prongs of my fork. “That sounds like a good place to start, yes.”
“Once we get more of the basics taken care of, I’ll talk with Gabbro and see what he’ll need to refurbish your farmhouse.” Samson’s eyes drift to my neck, then he cements them on his plate. “I know we’ll need iron, for pipes. I’ll work my schedulearound spending time in the mines with you so we can continue compiling resources.”
I choke on my cabbage.
Samson’s on his feet, in the kitchen, then back and shoving a glass of water toward me before what he said can compute.
