Boaz's Wager Read online

She gasped in excitement. “You found the music?”

  “Yep.”

  “Are you sure you want Herb playing the violin around me?”

  Catching her teasing tone, he kissed the side of her neck. “Yes, I’m sure. Besides, I’ve had time to think about it and realized I’m better looking than him.”

  With a giggle, she turned to the children. “Supper’s just about ready. Go and play in the parlor and I’ll call you when it’s done. And tonight I made blueberry muffins.”

  Their eyes lit up before they turned and hurried to the parlor.

  “You sure do get them to behave,” he commented while he removed his hat and placed it on the hook.

  “As a teacher I learned that children need a routine. If they get used to doing the same thing every day, they know what to expect and are less likely to make a fuss.”

  Turning back to her, he brought her into his arms and gave her a kiss. He’d meant it to be a simple one, but he couldn’t resist the urge to trace her bottom lip with his tongue. She parted her lips and he deepened the kiss, his tongue interlacing with hers. She had a marvelous passion about her, one that didn’t need much coaxing to ignite. He wouldn’t have known such fire existed beneath her prim and proper exterior, but it was the kind of surprise a man was very happy to get from his wife.

  When the kiss ended, he brought his forehead to hers and continued to hold her. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a wife,” he whispered.

  “And you’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a husband,” she replied. After a few moments passed, she pulled away from him and took his hand so she could lead him to the kitchen. “I need to get the muffins out of the oven. Leroy will never forgive me if they burn.”

  “Aren’t muffins for breakfast?”

  She grinned at the teasing tone in his voice. “A child doesn’t care if it’s morning or not.”

  He thought to agree, but when she let go of his hand and went to the oven, he got the most wonderful view of her rear end as she leaned forward to take the muffins out. He closed the gap between them and rubbed her behind.

  She let out a gasp and quickly placed the tray on the worktable. “Boaz! You can’t do that when I’m cooking.”

  Laughing at her pink cheeks, he asked, “Why not?”

  “Well…because…”

  Amused by how flustered she was, he drew her back into his arms, this time choosing to kiss her neck. She rewarded him with a low moan and ran her hands down his back. Then she gripped his shirt in such a sensual manner that he couldn’t resist lifting her up and settling her on the worktable. He wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed his erection intimately against her. Bringing his hands up to her breasts, he caressed them, brushing his thumbs along her nipples which grew hard.

  She shivered and moaned his name.

  He lowered one of his hands and slipped it under her skirt, pulling back far enough so he could slide his hand up her thigh. The bloomers hid her flesh from him, but it was all the more sensual to be teased with clothing. Finding the slit in the bloomers, he slipped his fingers in. He traced the patch of curls that hid her secret place then slid a finger into her.

  This time he was the one to let out a slight groan. “You want me,” he whispered into her ear.

  She gripped his shoulders. “We can’t do this. Not right now.” Even as she voiced the thought, she shifted so that his finger went deeper into her.

  “The kids aren’t in here. We’ll be quick,” he promised and proceeded to slide another finger into her.

  She was hot and wet. It was absolutely wonderful to know he could arouse her so easily, and it was even better when she bit her lower lip and shifted again in an effort to help him along. Bringing his mouth to hers, he silenced her moans as he proceeded to stroke her core. His thumb found her sensitive nub and rubbed it, knowing this would only add to her pleasure.

  She rocked her hips in rhythm to his ministrations, grasping his shirt and moaning into his mouth. There was a sense of excitement in knowing his touch could affect her in such a way, that when she finally climaxed, he was the one who brought her to completion. She stilled, her flesh clenching around him, her lips leaving his so she could whisper his name.

  He lowered his head and kissed her neck once more. This was nice. With Eva, he was free to explore all the joys of an intimate life.

  Still out of breath, Eva brought her hands to his erection which strained against his denims. Knowing she intended to bring him to completion, like he had just done to her, he gently pulled her hand away from him. “You can do it tonight after the kids are in bed,” he whispered then kissed her.

  “That hardly seems fair,” she replied, her voice low so the children wouldn’t overhear them from the other room. “You’re still in need of release.”

  “I don’t dare push my luck. Leroy and Hannah won’t stay in the parlor much longer.” He winked at her and retrieved a clean towel so he could dry her off. “Besides, it’ll be that much better if I continue to long for you through the evening.”

  “I’ll make it worth the wait.”

  “I know you will.”

  When he was done cleaning her up, she scooted off the table and took the towel from him. “I’ll put this with the dirty laundry.” She gave him a kiss, and though it was chaste, it did nothing to quench his desire for her. “I’ll be right back.”

  He washed his hands then decided to set out the plates and utensils. The poor woman was behind on her schedule, and it was all because of him. A wicked smile crossed his face. He should disrupt her routine more often.

  ***

  The next afternoon Eva checked on the pot roast she had in the oven. Everything looked good. She tried not to get too anxious, but she couldn’t wait to hear more of the lovely music Herb would play.

  “What’s so great about a fiddle?” Leroy asked.

  She jerked and turned from the oven. “Leroy, you scared me.” She laughed and reached out to tickle him, delighted when he chuckled. “You’re as quiet as a mouse.” After she released him, she scanned the room. “Where’s Hannah?”

  “She fell asleep.”

  The poor girl had played hard at the park. Eva couldn’t say she was surprised. “So, are you here to help me?”

  “I can if you don’t make me cut vegtacles.”

  The corners of her lips turned up at the way he pronounced the word ‘vegetables’. “You’re in luck. There are no vegetables to cut. I already did all that.”

  “What do you want then?”

  “Well, I have a cake that could be decorated. Interested?”

  His eyes lit up and he hurried to grab a chair to bring over to the worktable. As he stepped up on it, she set the bowl of icing she’d made next to the cake. Giving him the spoon, she said, “It’s a big responsibility. Can you be careful to not get the icing all over the table?”

  He nodded and dug the spoon into the bowl.

  While he worked on icing the cake, she checked on Hannah and sure enough, she was sleeping on the couch. With a smile, she went back to the kitchen to help Leroy finish with dinner.

  She was setting the table when Boaz came into the kitchen, covered in dust except for his socks.

  She opened her mouth to ask him what happened when he said, “I got pulled a bit by a horse. Don’t worry. I’m not hurt.”

  “Herb and Rachel will be here any minute,” she replied, scanning him up and down. “How long do you think it’ll take for you to clean up?”

  “Not too long. I just need to wash up my arms and face. I’m afraid the clothes will take longer to clean than I will.”

  She chuckled. “Put them in with the other dirty clothes and I’ll wash them tomorrow. I just wanted to be sure you weren’t trying to get out of letting Herb play tonight.”

  “No, I know better than to do that. This,” he gestured to his clothes, “was a coincidence. I shouldn’t be longer than a few minutes.”

  After he left the kitchen, Leroy peered up at her. “What’s so
funny about him getting all dirty? You don’t like it when I get like that.”

  “I don’t need to clean him up.” She tapped him on the nose. “We better get your sister up before our guests arrive.”

  “I’ll do it!”

  She followed him out to the parlor and didn’t think to stop him from yelling at Hannah until he made a high-pitch cry that made her wince. But his tactic worked, and Hannah woke up. “Alright, Leroy, she’s awake. Why don’t you go outside and tell me when Herb and Rachel get here?”

  “Can I show them my frog?”

  She nodded. “But make sure you don’t let go of him. I don’t want him hopping all through the house.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  As he zoomed by her to go to his bedroom, she shook her head in amusement. “Your brother can be loud when he wants to be, can’t he?” Sitting next to her, she put her arm around Hannah’s shoulders and brushed back some of her unruly hair. “Supper will be ready soon.”

  She yawned and leaned against her.

  “Are you hungry?”

  She nodded and yawned again.

  Eva chuckled. “You’ll get your energy in no time.” And when the girl did, she’d be running all over the yard with her brother.

  Leroy ran back out with the frog. “Hannah, want to play with Elroy?”

  Hannah perked up and scrambled off the couch then followed her brother outside.

  Surprised at how the girl could be so tired one minute and so energetic the next, Eva rose to her feet and decided to see how Boaz was doing. When she got to the closed bedroom door, she opened it. Boaz had his back turned to her as he washed his face, and she took the opportunity to look at his naked body. He was well sculpted, his muscles toned from hours of working with horses.

  Feeling a bit mischievous, she slipped into the room and closed the door softly behind her, thinking she might surprise him. But he turned around just before she reached him.

  “The clothes are over there,” he said, gesturing to the corner. “I can help you wash them.”

  “I don’t mind washing them, Boaz.”

  He took the towel and dried his face and arms.

  Her gaze lowered to the male part of him and she couldn’t help but recall how she’d brought him to completion with her hand the previous night. The whole process was still new to her, and in some ways, she couldn’t help but be fascinated with the way his body responded to her advances.

  He put the towel back on the hook and looked at her. “What is it?”

  With a shy grin, she said, “Oh, I was just thinking about last night.”

  His smile widening, he pulled her against him. “You were?”

  Settling her hands on his biceps, she nodded. “We had a good time.”

  “Indeed, we did.” Bringing her closer, he lowered his head and kissed her.

  She responded to him, parting her lips in a silent invitation to deepen the kiss and he obliged her. She loved this. Finally, after years of wanting to be loved passionately, she was. And it was much better than she ever dreamed it’d be.

  “I suppose I better get dressed before Herb and Rachel show up,” he said when their kiss ended.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind him playing the violin? We could just enjoy a nice meal and talk for a while.”

  “I owe this to you and him. He loves playing the kind of music you enjoy, and I don’t think anyone else appreciates his talent as much as you do. Besides,” he went to the dresser and pulled out new clothes, “can you honestly resist listening to Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetic?”

  Her jaw dropped at his horrible mispronunciation. “That’s Sonata Pathétique.” When she saw the twinkle in his eye, she burst out laughing and playfully nudged him. “You’re wicked. How could you intentionally do that knowing full well what a genius he was when it came to music?”

  “I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention to me instead of thinking about Herb’s playing.”

  “You’re silly.” She kissed him. “Of course, I’m paying attention to you. You’re the one who doesn’t have his pants on.” Unable to resist the urge to touch him, she reached down and stroked him, noting he was still erect. “And apparently your mind isn’t on music.”

  “You’re a tease,” he chided as he brought her back into his arms and nuzzled her neck.

  Giggling, she gave him a squeeze and was rewarded with a low groan. “If it’s a battle you want, I think I can win.”

  “You’re probably right,” he consented. “And as much as I’d like to have you bring me pleasure this way, I don’t want Leroy coming in here yelling that our guests have arrived.”

  “We’ll just have to wait until later.” Then, just because she knew it’d torment him, she stroked him a couple times before letting go of him.

  “And you call me wicked,” he muttered, though he grinned. “You owe me tonight.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t leave you unsatisfied.”

  The front door opened and Leroy called out that Herb and Rachel were there.

  “I’ll stop him before he runs in here,” she promised and hurried out of the room. She made it to the entryway just as Herb and Rachel stepped into the house. When she saw the music sheet in Herb’s hand and a violin tucked under his arm, she clasped her hands together. “Are you really going to play Sonata Pathétique?”

  “I am,” Herb replied.

  “And he spent all yesterday and earlier today practicing,” Rachel added. “You’re right about him, Eva. He’s a wonder when it comes to playing the violin. All he needs to do is play the music through a couple of times and he has it down perfectly.”

  “I love the Sonata Pathétique. I can’t wait to hear it,” Eva said, her excitement growing. “It’s been so long since I heard it. It’s such a beautifully haunting melody, don’t you think, Rachel?”

  “It is beautiful,” her friend consented, “but it makes me think of a meadow filled with flowers. It doesn’t haunt me at all.”

  “Oh. When I hear it, I think of a woman who looks back on her life and regrets all the risks she never took but wishes she had.”

  Rachel grimaced. “That is horrible. I had no idea you were so morbid.”

  “Morbid? It was a good reminder not to let opportunities pass me by. Why do you think I decided to venture all the way to Circle?”

  “It’s still morbid, Eva. When you listen to it tonight, think of something more uplifting. I know! Think of Boaz and how nice he is to you. Maybe think of Leroy and Hannah and how they like to play with their frog.”

  “His name is Elroy,” Leroy piped up.

  Surprised Leroy had been listening to the conversation, Eva turned to him. “Bring Hannah in. I want you two to listen to one of the most beautiful songs ever composed.”

  “It’s about the joys of summer,” Rachel inserted. “You can imagine all kinds of wonderful things.”

  “It can be about anything you want it to be,” Eva insisted, knowing full well her friend only said it so that Leroy and Hannah wouldn’t be as morbid as her. “The beauty of music is that it’s up to the person listening to it to determine what story goes with it.”

  Though Rachel sighed, she followed Eva and the children into the parlor.

  “Should I start playing or wait for Boaz?” Herb asked as Rachel held the first sheet of music up to him.

  “No need to wait. I’m here,” Boaz called out as he came into the room. He sat next to Eva and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s see how many notes you can miss.”

  “He’s going to surprise you,” Rachel told Boaz. “He hasn’t missed a note at all today when he’s practiced it.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “It’s true.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Enough, you two,” Eva chimed in, noticing that Leroy and Hannah already seemed more interested in the frog than the music they were about to hear, but she supposed being children, they couldn’t help it. “It’s a lovely haunting piece—�
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  “Please don’t talk about the miserable old lady again,” Rachel interrupted. “I swear, Eva, it wouldn’t hurt you to have happier thoughts.”

  “Happier thoughts?” Boaz asked, turning his gaze to Eva.

  Eva waved her hand dismissively at her friend. “Don’t mind her. She likes dime novels. She thinks everything has to be sunshine and flowers and meadows.”

  Though Boaz’s eyebrows rose in curiosity, Herb began playing and the room fell silent. Eva’s attention was immediately drawn to the beautiful melody that came from one of the loveliest instruments man ever created. In her mind, she saw the entire scene play out about the sad, lonely woman and all the chances she’d never taken but wished she had while still in her youth. At one point, Rachel glanced at her and shook her head, but Eva didn’t pay her any mind. If Rachel wanted to dream of meadows instead, let her. Rachel might not understand Eva’s fascination with her particular daydream, but it was a reminder to Eva that she needed to live each moment to the fullest, to take risks and find out what life had to offer.

  It was why she didn’t linger on in Nebraska. She could have. She would have been surrounded by her parents, siblings, and their children. She would probably have continued on as a teacher. She might have been content to spend the rest of her life there. But she would never have been fulfilled. She had wanted an adventure, to go somewhere new, to see more of the world than the town she grew up in.

  It’d been the most daring thing she’d ever done, and it had led her to Boaz and her two sweet children. The risk had paid off much more than she ever imagined it could. She glanced at Boaz who smiled at her and gently squeezed her shoulders. Returning his smile, she settled against him and continued to listen as Herb flawlessly played the rest of the melody.

  When it was over, she clapped enthusiastically. “That was perfectly played.”

  “Yes, unfortunately, you didn’t miss a single note,” Boaz muttered, though his grin betrayed his joke.

  “You should never underestimate me,” Herb told Boaz then gestured to Eva. “Your wife has good taste in music. I had a lot of pleasure playing it.”

  “Is it time to eat yet? I’m…” Leroy looked over at Eva. “My stomach is hungry.”