“Surely that’s not true,” he said, his eyes wide with shock.
"When you grow up in a small town, there is either someone here for you, or there isn't. I fell into the latter category. And when I moved to New York, I was so busy with school and work that I didn't have time to date."
“So, you’ve never been on a date?”
“No.”
"You've never had a boyfriend?"
“No.”
A pause as he tried to form his next question.
“Have you ever been kissed?”
This time, his voice was much softer and gentler, as if he knew I hated the answer.
"No." Another deep sigh slipped from my lips. "In every other area of my life, I am successful, confident, and capable. Even this mess with the farm didn't seem so impossible, at least not all the time. But when it comes to dating or relationships, I am hopeless. I am like an adolescent teenager who daydreams about happily ever after." I decided to tell him where I stand intimate relationship-wise, so I don't have to talk about it again.
“Do you daydream about me?”
His suddenly husky voice caught me off guard, and my head twisted around so I could see his face. His eyes had gotten darker somehow, and he now lay on his side, his head cradled in one hand, his entire attention focused on me.
“I’m done having this conversation.”
That reply seemed like a worse option than telling the truth as it sent a wide grin across his face.
"Okay, okay. But can I ask you one more thing?" He was serious again, and I was intrigued, so I nodded. "Are you going to kiss me tomorrow when we are pronounced husband and wife?"
“I don’t know.”
"What have you done?" I muttered to myself as I moved through the kitchen.
I felt as scrambled as the pan of eggs I was in the middle of making. After Alex's final question last night, I had tossed and turned for hours, suddenly unsure of what I would do. Kissing him was a part of the arrangement I didn't consider.
I knew I would have to play the part of his wife and convince people that we were married. I had assumed that meant holding hands or attending fancy dinners together, not that there were any of those in Voss. But kissing had not even crossed my mind. Now it was the only thing on my mind.
I needed to call this whole thing off. I couldn't do this. t might solve some problems in the short term, but it was sure to create a distinct set of issues eventually. The way my stomach fluttered every time he looked at me told me that much. I knew this was the right thing to do for the farm business, yet I had still gotten up this morning and made him breakfast. I told myself that it was easier to accept rejection when you are not hungry, but even I doubted that was my true motivator.
A rumbling of noise pulled me from my thoughts, and I peeked around to the back door to see what all the fuss was about. The farm workers have gathered around, their heads together in a tight circle. They all seemed so excited that I couldn't help but step outside to see what was causing all the commotion.
“What’s going on out here?” I called, a warm smile on my face.
“Oh, thank you, Agotia. Thank you for being so generous.”
“Yes, thank you. This is amazing.”
“A simple thank you is not enough.”
Each of the half a dozen men went around and thanked me in turn. What for? I had no clue. Warm hands wrapped around my middle, startling me. The smell of leather and fresh soap filled my nostrils as I tried to turn my head to see who was behind me, although I already had a pretty good idea of who it was.
“Agotia is very generous," Alex agreed, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.
I could feel my face redden as the farm workers took in Alex's comfortable closeness and the fact that neither of us was fully dressed. Despite the morning chill, he had chosen to forego a shirt this morning while I had not bothered to change out of my pajamas or brush my hair. I wriggled out of Alex's grasp, so I could spin around and face him, but his arms wrapped around me once more, only tighter this time.
“Play along,” he whispered against my skin as he bent down to nuzzle my neck.
Suddenly remembering that he did not know that I had changed my mind and wanted to call off this arrangement, I stopped trying to pull away. Instead, I leaned up to whisper in his ear.
