A loud knock on her door signaled Caleb’s arrival.
“Missed you.” She leaned in for a kiss.
Jenna melted against his frame.
“I have a surprise. I made it.”
“Cute and crafty.”
“Cute?” Caleb stole another kiss. “Crafty?” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “It was anything but cute. You have to come to the kitchen to get it. I’ve been so worried about you since everything happened. You need to start eating better. You’re losing weight.”
“I eat.” She scowled.
“You’re not eating much of anything. Are you still not feeling well?”
“I’m fine. Better than fine.” She shrugged. “I haven’t been hungry. Maybe I’m in love and can’t fathom something as trivial as food.”
Caleb’s eyes danced. “Promise me you’ll make an attempt to eat a few bites of the surprise. It took a lot of hard work. Ask anyone who was in the vicinity.”
“Don’t ruin it. Let’s go see.”
“Promise?”
“I promise to eat everything on my plate but only if I get something in return.”
“What would you like?”
“You.” Jenna ran her hand up his chest.
“I walked right into that one, but I am happy to oblige your request. Come with me first.”
They entered the empty dining hall. A plate sat on a wide-planked, wooden table. The dish contained heart-shaped cookies with her name etched in icing.
She turned to Caleb. “You made them? Beyond cute.”
“There’s the word again.”
“How about adorable, wonderful, beautiful. Thank you.”
“We’re so glad you’re fine. Everyone helped, but I stirred the batter and baked them with supervision, of course. I want you to know, getting cookies into the shape of a heart is harder than it appears. So is writing with icing.”
“How did you do all this?”
“We had most of the ingredients, and I had some extra time to go looking for the rest.”
Jenna’s heartbeat trilled. “You went scavenging?”
“It was fine. I had a lot of help, and the inn constantly needs new provisions. We’re not anywhere near self-sufficient yet.”
“I keep forgetting.” She wished for safety, security, and hoped the outside world never intruded again. Those thoughts made Jenna lose her appetite, but to make a point, she devoured every crumb of one of the masterpiece cookies.
“Good?” he asked before taking a bite of the cookie he held.
“In another life, you might have had a chance at being a chef.”
“In another life, I’d be the stay-at-home dad, and you’d be the tough-as-nails business executive, bread winner.”
“I like that alternate reality.”
“Me too. I dig hot women in tight business suits.” Caleb smirked and moved closer. “What do you want to do tonight? A rousing game of Monopoly or Risk? Nothing too strenuous, you still need to rest up.”
“Any chance you’d want to play a certain song for me?”
“Soon. I have the music, but it’s not perfect. I need a few more days.”
“I don’t need perfection. I need to hear it.”
“What you need is patience.” He leaned over and kissed Jenna on the nose. “We can save the rest of the cookies for a midnight snack.” He leaned in for a real kiss. “It’s your night, what would you like to do?”
“How about a walk? It’s not too cold out, and the weather looks like it cleared up from earlier.”
“A walk. I was thinking something a little different.”
“We’ll do a lot of that later.”
“I guess I couldn’t stop you if I wanted to.” He chuckled. “Are you sure a game of Battleship isn’t an option.”
“I’ve been spending too much time inside recuperating. Fresh air will do me good.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He bowed and followed her to the front porch. “But I think it might rain soon.”
“Do you want to risk it?”
“A little water can’t hurt us.”
Caleb got her, whether she was happy or miserable, and everything was bright and shiny around him, or at least, had the potential to be.
The moon was huge with silken threads of silver-gray clouds easing their way through the sky. The soft glow framed Caleb in shadows. The trees across the field blended into a Matisse painting, inviting Jenna to become part of the canvas.
They sat on the front steps, enjoying the stillness of the night, broken only by the occasional wind-driven, fallen foliage.
His fingers intertwined with hers, and she rested her head on his shoulder. A few minutes passed. He caressed her back and neck, and then drew her in for a kiss.
Jenna’s stomach warmed, and with the meeting of lips, she understood his love.
Caleb lifted her and sat her on his lap. His kisses continued, first light and playful, but soon demanding more. And she desired more from him too, her hands roaming over his shoulders.
Sitting back, his gaze returned to the overripe clouds. “We should go inside.”
“It’s so beautiful out here tonight. Where is your sense of adventure? Let’s take a walk.”
“I’ll be adventurous in bed.”
Jenna stood. “Coming?”
“If I must.”
The two traipsed down the stone stairs and out into the meadow. Cat met them in the field, loud purr disrupting the peace. The feline twined between their feet.
“Do you see this? He’s intentionally trying to trip me,” Jenna said. “He has an evil side.”
“You’re telling me, I got you a devil cat.”
He was teasing her of course, but it brought forth shreds of her dream.
Something wicked is inside you. Just a dream. She shook off her unease.
“I never know what your evil mastermind plan is. World domination. New Racers taking over.”
His brow furrowed.
“Too soon?” She asked.
“Too soon to joke. But if you must have an answer, my master plan is to make you happy.”
“Works for me.”
Caleb grabbed her hand. And together, she meandered through the meadow with him. “I’m so happy you’re better. I miss you every minute you’re not by my side. And I was so scared. Actually, you had everyone worried.”
He drew her into hug, and she found the closeness comforting. His warm lips fell to hers, and his hand traced the curve of her spine. His kiss was home, and she wanted more. Her arms encircled his neck, then twined in his hair.
An owl’s hoot made Jenna jump.
Broad pine
