Nathaniel smiled. "I don't know how long it's going to take to get my car fixed, but I'll make arrangements to have it taken to town tomorrow morning. I know it's asking a lot, but I would appreciate your allowing me to stay here until, well, until the car's fixed. I probably could make other arrangements if this doesn't suit you, but I'd really rather not leave my car here."
For once, Grace wished she could be as mean-spirited as some of the girls in town, the same ones who always teased her about the clothes she wore. But even while the thoughts whirled inside her head, she found her lips curving into a congenial smile. "Well, Waverly doesn't have a hotel and the boarding house closed a few years ago, so I guess you'll have to stay here." The words had a bite to them in spite of good manners. She didn't understand why men got so attached to pieces of machinery or why she couldn't just come out and say no.
Nathaniel walked toward her and Grace fidgeted with her hands. She couldn't remember the last time a man had looked at her the same way Nathaniel looked at her. He stood in front of her, his hands in the pockets of his slacks. "I really do appreciate it."
Her heart thumped sluggishly and an almost languorous heat flooded her veins. The town's ladies would call it the vapors, but Margie Baron, the closest thing Grace had to a friend, would call it something entirely different, something Grace blushed just to think about.
Grace looked up into those eyes the color of evergreens and tried to swallow. She knew she was expected to say something, but the words weren't coming as fast as they usually did.
Nathaniel took another step closer and Grace felt the heat from his body. Please don't let me faint, she begged silently.
She tipped her head back to see his face. "You're standing very close to me," she pointed out inanely.
He rocked forward on the tips of his shoes. "I know. It'll make it easier to kiss you."
Grace's heart began to hammer against her chest. Kiss her? Why, she would never allow him to kiss her. That was positively out of the question.
Then he kissed her.
What was the question again?
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