Mary trailed her fingertips across Nora’s lips, and then replaced her fingertips with her mouth.

Nora wanted to object—she wanted to back away and tell her to stop—but her body and heart had other ideas. She rose to meet her, and her carefully cultivated façade of restraint and indifference shattered in an instant.

Afterward, as Mary dressed, Nora’s sense of foreboding returned. “Promise me, you’ll not take any chances with being seen with me unless it’s here, under cover of darkness. At work, we will continue to have absolutely no contact or interactions. You must pay strict attention to your D unit. On the job, your concentration must be absolute.”

Mary rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

“This is beyond serious, Mary. The slightest hint of impropriety will be our downfall. Some of the girls already resent me for my position. They’d love an excuse to have my head on a platter.”

“They can’t have it; it belongs to me.” Mary, now fully clothed, kissed her one last time. “I give you my word that I will do my best to divert suspicion. I’ll come and go only at off times when I have the least chance of being seen.” She shrugged into her coat and shoved her hands in her pockets. “Oh, I almost forgot. I heard from my father.”

“You did? That’s great!”

Mary held out the letter and let Nora read it.

“I bet you are much relieved.”

“I am.”

“I’m glad for you.” She handed the letter back to Mary, who stuffed it back in her coat pocket. She paused in front of the door.

“What is it?”

“It’s daylight. I have to leave now or I won’t be able to get any sleep before my shift tonight, and the big boss wants me to concentrate.”

Nora frowned. She searched around until she found the book she was looking for. “Take this. If anyone sees you, you can say you came to borrow this book from me.”

“Okay.” Mary leaned in and kissed her once more. “I love you. Thank you for giving us a chance. I don’t think I could’ve gone much longer without seeing you.”

“I missed you too.”

Mary slipped out the door, and Nora fell back on the couch. Oh, how I missed you. She hadn’t realized until she saw her standing outside the church just how true that was.

“Mary? Mary, are you in there? Come quick, there’s a phone call for you. She says it’s urgent.”

Mary roused herself from a deep sleep. She’d been dreaming that she was still wrapped in Nora’s arms.

“Mary!” The pounding on her door continued.

“Wh—” She cleared her throat. “What is it?”

“Urgent phone call for you. Hurry up, already.”