Was it possible that they had lived nearby all this time and never seen each other before? The touch of his hand, brief though it was, felt like electricity against her skin and Gretchen’s throat went dry. Her heart was beating like a jackrabbit in her chest and she longed to reach up and kiss him forever.

“Do you?” Gretchen replied guilelessly, having no notion what one might do in an empty house but a general sense that it was wrong for her to even wonder. It felt somehow dangerous to be in Mr Prewett’s home when they were alone. “How convenient,” she said eventually, not sure how she was supposed to respond to the information.

Licking her lips she glanced around them, taking a few steps back into the shadier corner of the entrance hall that was, almost miraculously, empty.

“I shouldn’t be caught alone with you, Mr Prewett,” she said, lips twitching into a small, teasing smile.

---

Bee is tremendous, isn't she?