He shrugged. "I figured I'd get in trouble if I broke a dish."
"You're not going to break anything."
He looked at me, then at the scar on my arm, then back. "You're really not scared of anything, are you?"
I almost laughed. "Only losing control."
He came closer. His pulse was going so fast I could see it at the base of his throat. "You think I'd ever hurt you?"
I snorted. "Not a chance."
He took another step, so close I could feel the static off his skin. "Good."
He was pushing his luck.
I liked it.
I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him flush, our chests colliding. He gasped, then melted into it, all soft submission and hungry want. I didn't kiss him. I didn't have to. He knew what I wanted. He always had.
But I let him go, because the window was open and Ma had ears like a wolf. "Go help Harlow in the barn," I said, voice low. "I'll find you later."
He nodded, but he was smiling, a real one, the kind that showed all his teeth and made my guts twist.
As he left, I caught Ransom lurking in the hallway, watching with a look that said he'd seen everything. He raised his eyebrows at me and mouthed, "Finally."
I ignored him and went back to my work, but the whole time, I could smell Newt on my hands.
It was going to be a long, hard afternoon.
By evening, the house had settled into its usual chaos. Harlow was asleep on the porch, a giant hound curled up on his lap. Ma watched TV with the volume cranked to eleven. Ransomhad gone off with his motorcycle buddies, which meant the house was, for once, quiet.
I found Newt in the living room, stretched out on the couch with a book balanced on his chest. He looked up, startled, then grinned like he'd been expecting me all day.
"What's up?" he said.
I wanted to say, "You are." Instead, I sat at the far end of the couch, propping my boots on the coffee table. He watched me, waiting. "You like it here?" I asked.
He nodded, serious now. "Yeah. I really do."
I thought about what Pa had said—about taking the good with the bad, about fighting for what you claimed. "You're not leaving," I said, just to hear it out loud.
He smiled, slow and knowing. "Not unless you want me gone."
I stared at him until he blushed and looked away.
Mission parameters: unchanged. Tomorrow, I'd have him. Tonight, I'd let him think he was safe.
I got up and headed for the door. "Get some sleep," I said. "It's going to be a big day tomorrow."
He watched me go, eyes bright with anticipation.
I closed the door behind me, fists clenched at my sides.
I was done waiting.
* * * *
Next day was hotter than forecast. I spent the morning in the shop, pretending I was interested in the rough planed cedar on my bench, but the only thing I saw was the window.
