Harmony (Part 8 Of 16)
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Eduardo searched through her backpack the next morning, his stomach growling. Nothing. No food. “We will eat a big breakfast once we get to the village,” he promised.
“What will we have?” She winced as she combed through her snarled hair.
“Here, let me.” He took the comb from her, sitting behind her, gathering her hair up in his hands. It was the color of raw honey. Pearl earrings glistened in her ears. “We will have fryjack, lots of fryjack.” He carefully separated the strands with his fingers as he had often seen mothers do with their little girls.
“Hhhmmm… is that like a pancake?” She was no little girl. Her eyes closed, her head lulled back. He wanted to kiss that exposed neck. “I like pancakes.”
“Better than pancake.” She’d changed her clothes, this blouse bright and frilly and feminine. It suited her. “And we will have black bean and egg.”
“That sounds yummy.”
She sounded yummy. He combed, singing softly, happy to care for her. Javier would come for them soon, the shooting long done. Until then it was him and her and a beautiful Belizean morning. “Stacy”
“Eduardo.” Her eyes opened. She turned her head slightly.
He kissed her, a light, harmless brush against that full mouth. Her lips parted with the contact so he kissed her again. Harder. Longer. Not a kiss a lover would give but not a kiss of a friend either.
Although he wanted more, he didn’t risk rushing her. He reluctantly drew back, returning to combing her hair, trying to act like nothing happened, like a missing piece of his heart hadn’t been found. She stared straight ahead, the emotions flying across her face easy to read. Passion, bemusement, realization, guilt.
“About…, that is…, I mean…,” A pause. “Daniel asked me to marry him,” she blurted out.
Had she been thinking of that half man while kissing him? “Do you see him here? No. I don’t. This has nothing to do with your almost fiancé.”
“It does. I’m an honorable woman, Eduardo.”
“And I dishonored you?” He drew himself up, offended at the implication. “I would never dishonor you.” She was a treasure.
“We…,” She waved her hand.
Could she not even say the words? He set down the comb not trusting himself to be gentle.
“We kissed. That is all. There is no dishonor in kissing.”
“It shouldn’t happen again.”
Eduardo didn’t agree because it would happen again, many, many times.
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