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Jack bolted to attention and handed over the green beans, cheeks and ears aflame. “Sorry.”

Millie elbowed Ernie in the side. “Do you not remember how distracted you were the first time I came over for dinner?”

“This isn’t exactly his first time coming to dinner,” Ernie grumbled.

“But it is his first time coming to dinner to court Constance, so give him a break, why dontcha?”

For a moment, Ernie looked like he might rebel, but then his gaze softened as he gazed at his wife. Millie really had done wonders for Ernie. Jack couldn’t have been more grateful that the two of them found each other.

Thank you, Jack mouthed at Millie while Ernie gazed at her adoringly.

She winked back and then kissed her husband on the cheek. “Jack,” she said, without breaking eye contact with Ernie. “Why don’t you take Constance for an evening stroll while we have dessert? I’m sure she’d enjoy that more than cookies.”

Ernie looked like he’d been hypnotized by a mesmerist. “Maybe we should go for a stroll too.”

Millie grinned. “Or maybe we should head home. After all, we have to drive all the way back to Manhattan. And I’m suddenly feeling very tired. Don’t you feel like going to bed?” She feigned a yawn, and Ernie’s eyebrows shot up.

“Mom, Pop, you don’t mind if we head out early, do you?” Ernie practically leapt out of his seat in his eagerness to enjoy an early bedtime with his wife. “See ya, Jack. See ya, Constance.”

“Goodnight, everyone.” Millie took Ernie’s hand and dragged him down the stairs without waiting for a response.

“If you don’t mind, Reverend, I’m just going to take Constance for a quick stroll around the block.”

Reverend Pritchard smiled and shook his head. “Have her home in half an hour.”

It wasn’t much time, but Jack would take what he could get. Taking Constance by the hand, he led her down the stairs and out the front door as she giggled behind him. Instead of taking her on the promised promenade, he hurried up the stairs to his own place and slipped inside with her, desperate for a private moment.

The second the door closed behind him, Constance reached up and ran her hand through his hair and pulled him against her, pressing her lips to his. All his best intentions were dashed. Her kiss obliterated all his willpower, and a moment later, he had her pinned against the wall, running his hand up her skirt. She wrapped her legs around his hips as he pressed his hardening length against her core.

This was getting out of control. He’d just promised her father to take things slowly, and here he was doing the opposite. But for God’s sake, he was only human. She’d been so close all night long, and he’d been dreaming of her for days.

“I want you to touch me again,” she whispered in his ear as she raked her nails down his back.

“Oh, sweetheart. I want that too. You have no idea how much. But we can’t right now. I have to get you home. And I just finished promising Ernie and your father⁠—”

She clutched his jaw and held his gaze. “I don’t care what stupid promises they made you make. I’ve waited so long for this. Please. I need you.”

They couldn’t. Not when her family was waiting up for her right next door. But maybe… “Come over tonight after everyone is asleep. You can use the treehouse rope ladder to climb into my backyard so none of the neighbors will see. And this time, don’t forget to close your bedroom door.”

This was a terrible idea, but he couldn’t resist. He needed this as much as she did. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt anything as long as he had enough self-control to stop short as he had last time. If he could do it once, surely, he could do it again.

With difficulty, he lowered her to the floor and kissed her softly on the lips. “Go home. They’re waiting for you. I’ll see you in just a few hours, sweetheart.”

She ran her hands down his chest and then his hips and let them drop. “I’ll see you soon.” Rising on her tiptoes, she pressed another kiss on his lips and turned to walk out the door. He opened it for her, determined to be a gentleman at least in this small way.

Willing his body to behave, he walked her back to her door and settled for kissing her cheek as she let herself in. In a few hours, he would have her all to himself. All he had to do was be patient and bide his time. All he could do was hope his meager willpower would save him from taking things too far once again.

23

Constance had so little experience sneaking around, and the last time she tried, it had been such a disaster. But this time, Ernie was at home with Millie instead of prying into her business. Thank you, Millie! And she knew from experience that Mom and Pop were deep sleepers. After all, how many nights had she stayed up late practicing typing during secretarial school? The twins slept on the top floor, so she didn’t need to worry about them.

Still, her heart raced as she descended the stairs a little after midnight in her thin, cotton nightgown, floral dressing gown, and house slippers. Every creak made her pause as she tiptoed into the kitchen and opened the door to the back yard. Was this what it was like to be a burglar? She was certainly up to something she knew she shouldn’t do, but a force greater than her willpower compelled her.

As she scurried across the grass to the old rope ladder, hardly daring to look back, a chilled mist dampened her face and hair. She shivered as she climbed the wobbly rungs, glancing back at the house every few seconds, looking for signs of life.

Her house remained dark and silent as she climbed onto the old platform in the tree and slid down to the rungs nailed to the trunk in Jack’s yard. A light was on in his kitchen, and the back window framed his silhouette. Thank God he was waiting up. A part of her feared he would give up on waiting and go to bed before she could sneak out.

As she hurried across the lawn, the drizzle thickened to rain, and she had to dash to the kitchen door, tapping as loudly as she dared.