My Sweetheart

“One part is mine,” Joseph laughed in the face of Kathy’s expression.

Kathy shrugged. Getting out of bed, the two of them sat at the table. Joseph poured her soup, and added condiments for her, his ministrations precise and gentle. Kathy was at a loss. One day he’d treat another woman like this. The thought wrenched at her.

Impulsively she asked, “Hasn’t Grandfather pushed you to remarry?” She remembered that when she’d become part of their household, Grandfather had been quite nervous about their marriage.

“He hasn’t been around, so no.”

“Oh.”

“You really want me to remarry?” he feigned hurt.

She furrowed her brow. “Not really.”

“Why?”

“No reason,” Kathy replied, and left it at that. The thought of him marrying another woman was torture for her.

“If you don’t want me to, I won’t,” he told her seriously.

Hearing this, she looked up, unable to hide her surprise. “It’s your affair, not mine,” she said evenly, concealing her joy.

“Is that so?” Joseph asked, giving her a long hard look.

Kathy felt she could hide nothing from him. “Of course it is. Or else what?” she countered.

He laughed lowly. “I don’t want to hurt my ex-wife.”

“You won’t,” she insisted.

He stayed with her till that evening, to the point where she asked him, “Won’t you go home?”

be scared here all alone?”

“No.”

I’ll go.” With

of him walking away was torment. “Don’t,” she said

his tracks, turned,

she forced herself to

how will you make it up to

She swallowed hard, her face turning red. He was enticing her on purpose! Regaining her senses, she said, “I got hurt at your company, shouldn’t you

right. How?” he asked

stared. What had she gotten herself into? “Well, of course you…” But before she could finish, a searing kiss had covered her lips, a familiar scent filling her nose. Her eyes went wide in shock. He settled her against the head of the bed, wrapped her

Breathing deeply, she forced herself to say, “Get away

Just couldn’t help myself.” Kathy grabbed a tissue to scrub at her lips. He didn’t even look, just went to sit

permeated the room, yet even so, she gradually drifted to sleep. Joseph watched as her eyelids fluttered

he stopped short. “For you to be here

being here is more appropriate?” Joseph inquired

friend, while you’re her

coldly. “Has she said as much?” He had never once heard Kathy mention Bertie as a friend. At this, Bertie’s complexion changed,

countered Bertie, sitting on an opposite end of

but she didn’t want to open her eyes. Yet with

stay with you?” Joseph asked,

use feigning sleep any longer. Opening her eyes to see both handsome men, she felt

Get some rest.” Joseph stood

determined, did not. Sternly Kathy said,

really don’t want to

contact with him. Once the room was quiet, for some reason she couldn’t fall asleep. All she could think of

against the wall, watching Bertie exit. Bertie asked with narrowed eyes, “What,

interested in