nodded, a small smile on her lips, as she placed the items in the cupboard. “True. And I would be able to set aside my failures more quickly as well."
He chuckled. “An experiment that doesn't bring about the results you expect isn't necessarily a failure. Simply one way in which not to combine the various ingredients.” He reached around her and placed the containers alongside the others.
She turned her head, her lips scant inches from his. Her sweet scent seeped beneath his skin, his hand stilled where it held the last jar.
"I never looked at it that way before,” she said, her voice soft and inviting.
"Well.” He stepped back and cleared his throat. His intention of maintaining his distance was not going to be an easy one. “I'm sure you would have eventually."
"Perhaps.” She retrieved another vessel of powder from the crate.
Curious he eased closer to attempt to read the labels. “What are these substances you're working with?"
"I've calcium, nitrophosphate, and potassium. A proper combination of these to meet each plant's requirements will undoubtedly create the desired results. It's a matter of balance."
She placed the last jar on the shelf, brushing his coat with her arm. He jumped back out of the way.
"You really ought to put on an apron of some sort, you're liable to get quite dirty in here,” she said with a soft laugh.
"You mean you'd wish I'd go away and leave you to your work.” He'd voiced the truth before thinking and wished to take it back.
She spun from the cupboard to face him. “Oh no. I rather like your company.” Her lashes lowered for a moment as her face warmed. “Although I'd accused you of just the opposite but a few hours ago."
"And rightly so.” Perhaps distance on all fronts was not what she wanted after all.
"I was no better,” she said.
"I beg to differ,” he said.
She looked to her apron and brushed at a smudge of dirt. “I-I want to apologize for my manners at luncheon. I shouldn't have—well I should've behaved better. I hope I didn't cause you too much embarrassment."
His heart fell. She regretted her actions, kissing him, to be exact, but he would endure the slice of pain. “You don't need to apologize. I understand. You were—surprised."
Her lips turned up ever so slightly in the corners. “Yes, I was.” She lifted her head and gazed up at him, her deep brown eyes filled with hope. “And you don't mind my being a scientist?"
"I find your work fascinating.” Almost as fascinating as you. He swallowed hard against the desire to pull her into his arms and taste her sweetness.
Her face lit up. “Truly?"
"Yes.” Reaching out, he brushed the back of his fingers across her warm cheeks, then jerked them away. He had to try harder, much harder.
"Well then,” he said, rubbing his hands together briskly. “If you're certain I wouldn't be a nuisance, perhaps I could open the other crate or assist you in another way. Move more plants, for instance."
She dropped her chin to her chest, averting her gaze. He wondered if it was his face she couldn't bear to look at or if something else was bothering her.
She removed her gloves and set them aside. “No, I have it under control, but I—I was wondering—that is—"
"What is it you wish me to do? You need only to ask."
She clenched her hands together and stepped closer, the tips of her slippers touching his boots. “Would you kiss me?"
He stood frozen, stunned by her request.
She focused on his weskit, her cheeks flaming. “Of course, I'll understand, and I shan't ask again if it's uncomfortable for you."
She wasn't repulsed by his touch—or his kiss? Hope roared to life in his chest.
"Or if you'd just rather not,” she murmured.
He reached for her with false ease and pulled her against him. “I'd rather,” he murmured, then pressed his lips to hers.
A quivering sigh gave him entrance to her mouth, and he explored her, tasted her, indulged in absolute paradise. Her hands trembled where they
He chuckled. “An experiment that doesn't bring about the results you expect isn't necessarily a failure. Simply one way in which not to combine the various ingredients.” He reached around her and placed the containers alongside the others.
She turned her head, her lips scant inches from his. Her sweet scent seeped beneath his skin, his hand stilled where it held the last jar.
"I never looked at it that way before,” she said, her voice soft and inviting.
"Well.” He stepped back and cleared his throat. His intention of maintaining his distance was not going to be an easy one. “I'm sure you would have eventually."
"Perhaps.” She retrieved another vessel of powder from the crate.
Curious he eased closer to attempt to read the labels. “What are these substances you're working with?"
"I've calcium, nitrophosphate, and potassium. A proper combination of these to meet each plant's requirements will undoubtedly create the desired results. It's a matter of balance."
She placed the last jar on the shelf, brushing his coat with her arm. He jumped back out of the way.
"You really ought to put on an apron of some sort, you're liable to get quite dirty in here,” she said with a soft laugh.
"You mean you'd wish I'd go away and leave you to your work.” He'd voiced the truth before thinking and wished to take it back.
She spun from the cupboard to face him. “Oh no. I rather like your company.” Her lashes lowered for a moment as her face warmed. “Although I'd accused you of just the opposite but a few hours ago."
"And rightly so.” Perhaps distance on all fronts was not what she wanted after all.
"I was no better,” she said.
"I beg to differ,” he said.
She looked to her apron and brushed at a smudge of dirt. “I-I want to apologize for my manners at luncheon. I shouldn't have—well I should've behaved better. I hope I didn't cause you too much embarrassment."
His heart fell. She regretted her actions, kissing him, to be exact, but he would endure the slice of pain. “You don't need to apologize. I understand. You were—surprised."
Her lips turned up ever so slightly in the corners. “Yes, I was.” She lifted her head and gazed up at him, her deep brown eyes filled with hope. “And you don't mind my being a scientist?"
"I find your work fascinating.” Almost as fascinating as you. He swallowed hard against the desire to pull her into his arms and taste her sweetness.
Her face lit up. “Truly?"
"Yes.” Reaching out, he brushed the back of his fingers across her warm cheeks, then jerked them away. He had to try harder, much harder.
"Well then,” he said, rubbing his hands together briskly. “If you're certain I wouldn't be a nuisance, perhaps I could open the other crate or assist you in another way. Move more plants, for instance."
She dropped her chin to her chest, averting her gaze. He wondered if it was his face she couldn't bear to look at or if something else was bothering her.
She removed her gloves and set them aside. “No, I have it under control, but I—I was wondering—that is—"
"What is it you wish me to do? You need only to ask."
She clenched her hands together and stepped closer, the tips of her slippers touching his boots. “Would you kiss me?"
He stood frozen, stunned by her request.
She focused on his weskit, her cheeks flaming. “Of course, I'll understand, and I shan't ask again if it's uncomfortable for you."
She wasn't repulsed by his touch—or his kiss? Hope roared to life in his chest.
"Or if you'd just rather not,” she murmured.
He reached for her with false ease and pulled her against him. “I'd rather,” he murmured, then pressed his lips to hers.
A quivering sigh gave him entrance to her mouth, and he explored her, tasted her, indulged in absolute paradise. Her hands trembled where they
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