Jimmy leaned against the door frame, gazing hungrily at the woman mending his shirt. Between her teeth, she gripped the needle as she snipped the thread from the spool. Then she stuck out her tongue to wet the end, threading it through the eye. After knotting the ends together, she began sewing up the hole in the sleeve. Watching her hands flutter in a hypnotic dance of domesticity caused a tightening in his loins. How could simple housework be so alluring?
He cleared his throat, and she lifted her head. Her sparkling smile: every time, it stole his breath away. “I have something for you.” He held up a small brown basket.
“What is it?” She set down the shirt, jumping up in excitement.
“A picnic. Tony’s friends with the cook. He arranged for us to have a basket and Liesel gave me a speci
