Ben dug his fingers through his hair and stared at her. “He says my mother is en route. She called to tell him. She’ll be at the farm within the hour.”

Jenny saw the hurt of a little boy and the anger of a man suddenly staring at her.

“I have to go.” His hand brushed her shoulder as if he suddenly remembered what he was leaving. “I . . . this was . . .”

She saw it in his eyes. He didn’t want to leave her. “I know, Ben.”

“No,” he answered. “You don’t know how much it means to me that you’re here. I feel . . . I feel dead inside when you’re out of reach.”

Jenny smiled, finally able to read him. “I’ll go with you, if you like. We’ll have time to talk about us later.” She brushed his hair back. “And there will be an us.” She held him for only a moment as she whispered, “I feel the same as you feel.”

He slowly pulled away and nodded once, then took her hand. “I’d like you to come with me. I don’t know what we’re stepping into with my parents, but whatever it is, I’ll handle it with you near.”

Three minutes later they were running downstairs. He slowed as he stepped on the street.

“I’ll stay by your side, Ben, for as long as you want me to.”

To her shock, he leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. A quick, hard kiss in the sunshine. In the street for everyone to see.

Ten minutes later when they drove toward his father’s farm, Ben had finally calmed. “There are things that need to be said between us, Jenny.”

“It can wait.” She grinned, expecting him to have more rules. “We’ll figure it out in time.”

“No.” He glanced over to her.

He couldn’t seem to find the words, so she helped. “Sleeping together, or maybe having afternoon delight, is nice.”

“Stop.” His one word came low, almost like he didn’t realize he’d said it aloud. “Don’t make light of this. You have to tell me where you stand . . . I don’t want to put it off . . . not again. I don’t know if I could survive you walking away again. I . . .”

For a man who lectured all day, Benjamin seemed to be losing his words.

She leaned her head sideways, making her soft red curls bounce. He didn’t even know how to ask for what he wanted. She guessed. “You want to know what I bought at the drugstore?”

Ben frowned like she wasn’t making any sense. “What?” he snapped as if angry once more.

“I bought you a toothbrush to keep at my house.”

She stared at the professor as she watched his face relax and a smile spread across his face.

Jenny folded her arms to keep from touching him. “Is that enough talk for now, Benjamin?”