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How about another snippet.
Daniel peered in the firebox, saw the tree trunks she attempted to ignite, and shook his head. “You’ve never started a fire before, have you?”
“No,” she said in a small voice.
“Do you know how to make a pot of coffee?”
“Of course I know how to make a pot of coffee,” she snapped. Then she lowered her eyes, and in a sheepish voice, added, “But only with an electric coffeemaker.”
His eyes widened. “You can make coffee with electricity where you come from?”
“Yes. And make waffles and iron clothes. But I don’t do either. I use frozen waffles and wear permanent press.” She wiped another ash from her eye.
“How can you eat frozen waffles? And what the hell is permanent press?”
She started to explain and he cut her off. “Never mind. I probably wouldn’t understand anyway.” He wrinkled his nose. “By the way, what’s that awful smell?”
Lily shrank in her too-large nightshirt. Then she raised her arm and unrolled her sleeve.
Daniel’s eyes bugged out of his head. “That was my good shirt!”
“I know, and I’m so sorry. But I’m sure it can be fixed. Maybe both sleeves could be cut off at the elbow and hemmed. At least you’ll still be able to wear it.”
He considered her suggestion. “Okay,” he said at length. “I guess that will have to do. You can do that today while I’m at the livery.”
“You want me to do it?”
He looked at her and frowned. “Don’t tell me you can’t sew either?”
“Sorry. I suppose I am pretty useless when you get right down to it.” Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned her head away, despising the helpless female she’d suddenly become.
“Hey, don’t cry.” He tipped her face to his. “I’d be just as useless in your world too.”
“No, you wouldn’t. In my world you wouldn’t be doing manual labor for minimum wage. You’d have gone on to higher education and been paid the really big bucks that corporate execs and internet phenoms get.”
He stared back. “I have no idea what you just said.”
She smiled through her tears. “Oh, Daniel, how can you be so forgiving? Even when I destroy your good shirt, you don’t get mad. I really wish I could take you back with me.”
He cupped her chin with his callused palm. “I wouldn’t fit in, Lily. From what you’ve told me, there’s no place for me in your world. My time is here and now. Besides, what would your husband say?”
Lily thought about that. What would Sam say? And would he even care? From his behavior recently, she doubted it. She thought about the rules she’d imposed upon herself and wondered how best to show Daniel what his kindness meant to her. Rising up on tip-toes, she impulsively touched her lips to his.
Instantly, he pulled away. “I thought you didn’t want to . . . ?”
“I didn’t ban all contact. Only—naked contact.”
“You are one confusing woman,” he said, shaking his head. “And as much as I’m attracted to you, I don’t feel comfortable kissing another man’s wife.”
Lily stared back, unsure if she’d heard right. Having been set straight by his gentle censure, she apologized. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have done that.” She gave an embarrassed chuckle. Who would’ve guessed? A man of honor. Now why should that surprise her?
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Thank you for reading and I hope you'll download a sample at Amazon or Smashwords. Another excerpt can be read on my website, joycedebacco.com.
Joyce
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