Pressing a hand to her stomach, she listened to the sound of John’s boots cross the floor below and wondered if she had finally lost her mind. “Leah?” he called from the base of the stairs. Heart in her throat, hands trembling, she walked to the landing. Her bare feet made no sound on the well-worn floorboards. The long whisper of red nylon she’d found in the back of a drawer skimmed over her body and swirled around her ankles when she moved. Gripping the railing, barely able to breathe, she looked down at John. His hair was damp, as if he’d washed up before putting on the new clothes he’d bought in town. He must have heard her heart hammering in her chest, because he glanced up sharply. His eyes widened. “Sweet heaven,” he exclaimed, obviously stunned. Leah knew she’d made a terrible mistake. She’d misread the situation, embarrassing them both. Face hot, she took a step back on legs that shook. “No, don’t go!” he protested, his hand on the banister and one foot poised on the bottom step.
