“Say it anyway.”
He raised his hand, touched her cheek with his fingertips. “I’ve been waiting for you all my life.”
She put a hand against his and held it there. “I think you mean it.”
“I do. Do you believe there is another woman I would have approached with my wildly absurd proposal? Not just in Frost Falls. I meananywhere.”
“Didn’t you come to me because you thought I was needy?”
“Needy? You?”
“Vulnerable, then.”
“You disabused me of that when we spoke about Clay.”
“But before then, when you sat for supper that first time, you knew I was nervous.”
“Skittish, is how Clay described it. I think that’s accurate.”
She removed her hand and his slid away. “So you came to me because...”
“Because I wanted to be with you.”
“Just like that.”
“Mm-hmm. Just like that.”
“But—”
“Listen to me, Lily. For now. For later. For always.”
She blinked. “Oh, my.”
“Indeed,” he said. His mouth twisted wryly. “It seemed the right thing to say when it was only in my head. Now I’m not so sure. How did it sound?”
“Perfect.”
Roen chuckled and sat up. “And now for the prosaic, I need to wash.” He lifted the covers, got out of bed, and padded to the basin on the other side. He raised his nightshirt and started to wash. When he glanced toward the bed, he saw Lily was watching him with interest. She didn’t look away even when he kicked up a questioning eyebrow.
“Something you would like to ask?” Roen dropped his shirt and laid the washcloth over the lip of the basin. “Would you like me to wash you?”
“Um, no.” Suddenly shy with thoughts better kept to herself, Lily looked elsewhere, getting out of bed as he climbed back in. She picked up a cloth and dampened it before stealing a glance at Roen. He was watching her, and she turned her back on him. “I should have put out the lamp,” she said, more to herself than to him, but a moment later he further endeared himself to her by extinguishing the light. She cleaned herself and then returned to bed. “Thank you for that,” she whispered. “For the lamp, I mean. I’m not so comfortable yet.”
“May I point out that you seemed comfortable watching me?”
“It’s different when the shoe is on the other foot. And besides, you didn’t mind or you would have turned around.”
“You have me there.”
“For now,” she said, and left it at that.
Roen waited for her to say more, and when she didn’t, he reached for her and hauled her in. Her low laughter stirred him to action. She fought off his tickling fingers, surrendered to his kisses, and finally between breaths, she said the words he wanted to hear. “For later,” she whispered. “For always.”
“Huh,” he said, letting her go. “It does sound perfect.”
“Well, the next time I’m only going to say uncle.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest. “That will sound perfect, too.” He waited for her to settle. When she backed up against him, he made a cradle for her bottom with his thighs and slid an arm around her waist. “Good night, Lily.”
