“That
sounds
rather
nice,”
he
said,
his
voice
sounding
hoarse.
He
wanted
to
take
a
bath
and
soak
his
tired,
aching
muscles
but
something
had
him
rooted
in
place
and
he
couldn’t
seem
to
move
from
that
spot.
He
continued
to
stare
at
her
while
his
insides
ached,
throbbed.
A
long
period
of
silence
suspended
every
sound,
except
for
his
breathing…and
hers.
They
both
jumped
when
a
piece
of
burning
log
crackled
in
the
fireplace.
Stone
shifted
his
gaze
from
hers
to
the
fire.
“It
feels
real
good
in
here.
Thanks
for
getting
the
fire
started,”
he
said,
although
his
mind
was
on
another
type
of
fire
altogether.
She
shrugged.
“It
was
the
least
I
could
do
while
you
were
outside
taking
care
of
the
horses
and
getting
the
generator
started.
And
I
took
the
liberty
to
unpack
dinner.
Mrs.
Quinn
sent
a
container
of
beef
stew
for
us
to
eat.
It’s
warming
now.”
Stone
nodded
and
sniffed
the
air.
There
was
the
faint
smell
of
the
stew.
He
hadn’t
picked
up
on
it
when
he’d
come
inside.
The
only
scent
his
nostrils
had
caught
had
been
of
her.
“Smells
good.”
“It
should
be
ready
by
the
time
you
have
finished
your
bath.”
He
nodded.
“All
right.
I
guess
I’d
better
get
to
it
then.”
Seconds
passed
and
he
still
didn’t
move.
He
continued
to
look
at
her.
Absorb
everything
about
her.
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