The Amish Christmas Sleigh by Kelly Long Page B

was supposed to handle it.
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    Kate tried to be casual after his impromptu kiss, but she secretly rejoiced. Surely he must have some feelings for me. How easy it would be to love him . . . Love? Was that what these mixed feelings of joy, comfort, safety . . . attraction . . . were? She snuck a glance at him as he savored another cookie. Everything about him was so perfect—not just his handsome looks, but the gentle heart and giving spirit that lived beneath the surface. How could she not love him?
    But . . . how could she tell him without sounding desperate or immature? They had only known each other for a short time, and while feelings couldn’t be measured by the ticking of a clock, he might not agree. And she couldn’t bear to ruin this evening. I must bide my time and give him a chance to grow to know me better . . . . And once more, as she cooked, she thanked Gott for her job as Sebastian’s hauskeeper. She realized she was also thankful that Sebastian was willing to reveal some of the sadness of his life with her, and surely, she would one day understand more. She’d grieved for the loss of her own parents for years and still missed her mamm on certain holidays, but Gott’s will was His own even if she couldn’t understand it at times.
    She brought two plates of piping hot food to the table, and Sebastian sat down with his earlier sadness seemingly passed. They prayed and then he began to gently tease her and she realized with some deep intuition that he was flirting with her. Me . . . Kate Zook .
    â€œYou’re blushing,” he said with a smile as he forked up some of the tender potatoes. “Why is that?”
    â€œ Ach . . . the heat from the stove is—was . . .” She broke off helplessly, a novice when it came to idle words, but he didn’t seem to mind at all.
    â€œ Jah . . . the heat from the stove, which is over there, would surely affect a woman over here.” He grinned at her, and she couldn’t help smiling back at him.
    â€œI would think you know well enough why I’m blushing,” she said evenly. “I bet Tabitha Deitweiler would blush, too, if she’d been kissed by you. . . .” She clapped a hand over her mouth in abject horror and he started to laugh.
    â€œKate Zook, you were eavesdropping! Where were you? Ach, I know—the second pantry.”
    She dropped her head to hide her face in her hands, but he put down his fork with a clink and pulled her hands away. “I feel terrible,” she moaned, not wanting to look him in the eye.
    â€œDon’t.” His voice lowered to nearly a whisper. “I’m happy that you were interested enough in me to eavesdrop.” He continued to gaze at her. “Kate,” he whispered, all laughter gone from his voice.
    â€œ Ach . . . ” she whispered, unsure what to do, then she turned to look at him and saw that his own cheeks were flushed and his pupils were dilated and she understood what he wanted, perhaps even needed. She drew a deep breath and half-closed her eyes, then tentatively pressed her mouth to his.
    She gasped against his lips as he pulled her out of her chair to sit firmly on his outstretched knee. She felt his arm encircle her waist and draw her close as he deepened the kiss. She wasn’t a small woman, but in his arms and pressed against his broad, lean body, she felt positively delicate. Her heart began to thump in earnest at his encircling nearness. Yes . . . this is love.
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    Sebastian was torn between sensations: the gentle softness of her bottom against his knee, the tender pressure of her hesitant kiss, and the fullness of her breast pressing on his arm. He forgot about rumspringa and all the other girls he’d ever kissed until time collapsed into one heated funnel of touch and taste and yearning.
    He realized after a few moments that he needed to set her from him because he couldn’t act on the clamorous drive of his thoughts,