“Oh.” Satisfied, the boy nodded. “That makes sense.
But you must have your own e-mail address, too, right?”
“Yes, I check that at the library when I’m down in
Danson.”
“Wow, not having a computer here must be weird.”
Everyone at the table except Fiona nodded in amazement and apparent sympathy for him. They couldn’t imagine a life so primitive it didn’t include unlimited
access to the computer.
After lunch, the kids dispersed, and Fiona went back
to the laundry room. John followed her, taking the precaution of closing the door behind him.
In the act of moving wet sheets between washer and
dryer, she looked from him to the door.
“The kids will wonder.”
“They’ve all set about their appointed tasks. I told
them I’d clean up from lunch.”
“You shouldn’t let them off the hook.”
“I was getting rid of them,” he corrected. “Washing
a few dishes is a small price to pay to get you alone.”
“Oh. In that case…” She flung a few wet towels in,
shut the dryer door and pushed Start, then came to him.
“And just why was it that you wanted to get me alone…?”
“To argue.” He reached up and smoothed her hair
behind her ear, loving the sleek feel, so different from
his own coarser hair.
“Um. About?” she whispered, lifting her face.
“Whether you should hand over the van keys to
Dieter and just stick around?”
He hadn’t known he was going to say that, or even that
he was thinking it. Oh, hell, he knew it was an impossibility, but a damn appealing one. He pictured the two of them standing side by side, waving as the van turned
onto the newly packed highway and sped up. He could
even see the faces in the window behind circles of steam.
Fiona laughed. “Maybe Dieter could take over my
classes, too. I’m pretty sure he’s smarter than I am.”
He nuzzled her nose. “I’m pretty sure Dieter is
smarter than just about everyone.”
Eyes closed, she murmured, “Smart enough to
realize you were getting rid of him?”
“Probably.” About to kiss her, John paused. “Or
maybe not. He’s a child.”
The way his hands moved up and down her arms, alternately caressing and kneading, was meant to be a distraction. Not enough of one, apparently, because she argued, “I’m not so sure about that. He and Willow are
definitely flirting.”
“They’re like fifth-graders. My friend says her friend
says Jennifer says Fiona likes me.”
Her breath escaped in a warm puff when she giggled.
“Fiona does like you.”
“Ah. Now we’ve achieved high school directness.”
She stood on tiptoe and nipped his lower lip. “Quit
talking.”
A rumble of laughter started in his chest. “Careful.
We may make it into college.”
“Probably not if the snowplow comes today…”
God. He wished it wouldn’t come. He wanted to
take her back into his bedroom and peel off her clothes,
then lay her back on his bed…
Not happening. She wouldn’t allow it with her
students in the lodge.
He kissed her with an edge of desperation. Maybe
similar thoughts were running through her head,
because she answered fervently, one hand gripping his
hair while the other arm wrapped around his neck. John
gripped her buttocks and lifted, hungry to feel himself
cradled between her thighs. She moaned and sighed
and stole quick snatches of breath when he lifted his
mouth, then met his lips as eagerly when he came back
for more.
He forgot they were in the laundry room, forgot
about the kids. Getting lost in her was so damn easy.
The skin on her neck was satin soft, and as he kissed
his way down, her throat vibrated with a hum of delight
that brought him back up to the lush pleasure of her
mouth. Her hips and butt were nicely rounded despite
her slender figure, her waist tiny. If her breasts hadn’t
been squished against his chest, he’d have filled his
hand with one, but that would have meant opening an
inch or two between them, and he couldn’t bear to do
that.
A distant sound didn’t penetrate. The dryer