Carolina Rodriguez

"Yeah, I'll stay. And what are you sorry about? You have nothing to be sorry for."

"For... being clingy... I don't know. Let me... let me get dinner started," I said and went in the kitchen.

"I didn't mind." Felt pretty good actually. Different in a way. I sat down in a chair and took off my wet boots, setting them next to the fired and then my shirt. I hung it up close by so it could draw some of the heat.

I turned around to look at him and faltered when I saw he didn't have his shirt on. "You... you didn't?"

"To be honest. I'd never complain about you wrapping your arms around me."

I couldn't stop my eyes from gazing down his bare chest, then forced them back up to his face. "And why is that?" I asked softly.

I smiled at her "Because I liked it, of course."

I blushed but didn't look away from him. "I liked it too."

Her blush was beautiful "Do you need help with dinner?"

"If you want to. You don't have to though."

I wasn't sure if I should join her in the kitchen or not. Close proximity could lead to...things. "It's up to you, I don't mind."

"I wouldn't mind the help. I'm still not very good at cooking."

I stood up and walked over to the small kitchen area "Do you have a hankering for anything particular?"

"Not really. I was just trying to see what I have around here. Not much, I'm afraid. I haven't gone to the storage in a few days."

"We'll find something." I told her and started looking around the kitchen.

We found enough things to make a stew and I started cutting up the vegetables while he did the same with the meat. Our arms kept brushing against each other and I tried to ignore how my body heated up every time they did.

We got the stew started and I cleaned my hands off, I felt like breaking a sweat and it sure as hell wasn't from the fire.

"Here," I said and handed him a towel so he could dry his hands off.

"Thanks" I said as I took the towel and dried my hands. "Dinner shouldn't take long, I know you have to be hungry."

Yeah but hungry for what was the question. I nodded. "You must be too. It's been a long day."

"Yeah, it has. I'm going to talk to the kids tomorrow...make sure they all stay away from that river."

"Good. I hope they listen. I wish there was a way to... build a fence in front of it or something."

"I'll talk to Ethan, he's the carpenter. I'm sure they'll listen to me though, we usually don't have too many issues with the kids."

"That's good. I really hope they do. I'm just glad you were there. I don't know what I would've done if I lost him."

"Yeah, I wasn't going to let that happen." I said and looked at her small baby bump. "Can I ask how far along you are?"