She wanted this. Wanted him.
Heat spiraled through his chest, chasing away the cold fear that had gripped him moments before.
This time when their lips met, there was no hesitation. Rose kissed him back with a sweetness that made his head spin, her mouth soft and warm beneath his. Her fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, holding him close as though she was afraid he might disappear.
He knew that fear well.
After years of dreaming about this moment, of wondering what it would feel like to hold her in his arms as a woman instead of the girl he’d lost, the reality surpassed every fantasy he’d ever harbored.
Her mouth moved warm and soft beneath his, tentative but willing. When he tilted his head to deepen the kiss, she followed his lead with a trust that made his chest ache.
This was Rose—his Rose—finally in his arms where she belonged.
His walking sticks clattered to the barn floor as he brought both hands up to cradle her face. He wanted more of her, to pull her tight against him and submerge himself in her.
But Rose was precious—fragile in ways that went beyond the physical—and he couldn’t let his hunger for her override her needs.
Yet when she moved closer, eliminating the small space between them, rational thought scattered completely. Her body pressed warm and soft against his, fitting into his arms like she’d been made for this moment. The trust in her touch, the way she gave herself to this kiss despite everything she’d endured, made emotion swell in his throat until he could barely breathe.
And that’s why he didn’t hear the sound of footsteps until it was too late.
“What—”
The voice penetrated his haze, and James jerked back from Rose so fast he nearly lost his balance.
Thomas stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the midday sunlight outside. James could barely see his expression, much less read it. But something in the way Thomas held himself pressed wariness through James’s chest.
He was surely taking in the scene—Rose’s flushed cheeks, the walking sticks scattered on the floor, the way they’d sprung apart like guilty children caught stealing cookies.
Heat crawled up James’s neck as he bent to retrieve his supports, his injured leg protesting every movement. But did it really matter if his baby brother walked in on him kissing the woman he loved?
A surge of annoyance crept through him. Once he had the sticks, he straightened, sending his brother a glare as he propped the supports under his arms.
Thomas stepped farther into the barn, revealing the smirk twisting the corners of his mouth. “Enoch sent me back for a hammer and nails. We need to reinforce the shelter in the north pasture before the next storm hits.”
“Hammer’s hanging on the wall where it always is.” James nodded to the spot. Somehow he kept his voice steady despite the way his pulse still hammered from that kiss. “Nails are in the crate by the door.”
Thomas’s smirk widened as he moved toward the tools, but something flickered in his eyes when he glanced at Rose. Something that looked almost like…a warning?
The look lasted only a moment before Thomas turned his attention to gathering the supplies.
But an uncomfortable weight settled in James’s chest. What had that expression meant?
Rose stood frozen beside him, her cheeks still flushed from their kiss, her breathing slightly uneven.
The taste of her lingered on his lips, sweet and warm, making him want to pull her close again despite his brother’s presence. He would wait though. And they needed to talk about this change between them. He had to make sure she didn’t feel awkward or uncertain.
No matter what, he had to protect her.
But before James could reach out to reassure her, before Thomas had even gathered all the supplies he’d come for, Rose moved toward the barn door. “I should get back to the house.” Her voice sounded strange—too bright, too careful. “Mrs. Wang will be ready to work on the evening meal.”
“Rose, wait—” He started after her, his walking sticks catching in the dirt as he tried to hurry.
But she’d already reached the barn door, her steps quick and purposeful, putting space between them with every stride. Then she was gone, disappearing into the bright afternoon light.
He could only stare after her as a knot coiled tight in his gut.
CHAPTER 21
