Harvest Moon (Borrowed Brides 2)

She flushed, looking at him, staring at his lips, remembering their magic. Tessa swung around, then hurried out the door.

David heard the clatter in the kitchen as she banged around at the stove. He stood up and shrugged into his robe as he walked to the washstand. “Ouch, dammit!” David’s curses carried into the main room, reaching Tessa’s ears.

“Stop your cursing on Sunday. It’s blasphemy,” she called from the kitchen.

“I stepped on a piece of the water pitcher,” David shouted. “I cut my foot, and it hurts like hell!” If he expected sympathy, he was disappointed. He hopped to the bed and sat on the edge.

Walking back to his door, Tessa peeked in and watched as David propped his injured foot on his other knee and began a tentative search for the fragment. “You should be more careful,” she finally said.

“You’re the one who dropped the pitcher.” He sucked in a breath when he touched the tiny shard.

“You saw me do it.” Tessa smiled at him. “You made me do it.” She entered the room and knelt beside him. Brushing his hand aside, she began gently probing the wound. “Let me.”

“Stop! I’ll do it.” He cradled his foot.

“Don’t be such a baby!” she snapped.

She found the sliver and pulled it out. A tiny speck of blood dotted the wound.

“Ouch! Dam—”

“Watch your mouth!” Tessa scolded. “It’s a good thing we’re going to church.” She tossed a length of towel at him. “You can ask forgiveness for your foul mouth.”

Tessa felt his dark-eyed stare and looked up to find him watching her.

David reached out and touched her hair, neatly coiled in a thick braid around her head. “What about you, contessa?”

“What about me?” She couldn’t take her gaze away from his lips.

“Are you going to ask forgiveness for my mouth?” He leaned forward to kiss her. “For the things it does to you?”

She saw it coming, yet she made no effort to move away. “I told you to watch your mouth,” she reminded him.

“You watch it for me,” he answered, tasting her lips for the second time and finding them sweeter than before.

* * *

David was almost dressed by the time Coalie returned with breakfast.

Coalie set the basket of food on the table, and Tessa took out a sealed milk pail and a selection of pastries. She poured milk into cups for Coalie and herself, then poured a cup of coffee for David.

“I brought some breakfast from the hotel,” Coalie announced as David entered the room. “All kinds of pastries. See?” He waved a doughnut around. The boy’s green eyes sparkled at the display of sweets.

David’s eyes sought Tessa’s, his gaze locking with hers before he turned his attention back to Coalie. “I’m not much of a pastry eater. You and Tessa go ahead and enjoy them. I’ll just have coffee.”

He nodded his thanks as Tessa set a cup and saucer down in front of him.

She seated herself next to Coalie and selected a sugar-coated confection. “You’re sure you don’t want any?”

He grinned at her, arching one eyebrow.

She felt the flush of color staining her face.

“No, thanks. I’ve already had my breakfast sweet.” He noticed the becoming pink on her cheeks, then concentrated on her mouth, where a bit of powdered sugar clung to her lips. He ached to lick it off.

“What kind?” Coalie’s question caught both of them by surprise.

“A very special kind,” David answered.