The Old Fashioned Way (A Homespun Romance) by Geeta Kakade Page B

tired."
    Daniel had always gone after what he wanted in life.  Standing back now, giving in to Abby, was a first with him.  Impatience gripped him.  Knowing Abby was like a game of snakes and ladders.  Every time he thought he'd made a little progress he slid back a whole lot. 
    "Is it the memory of your husband?  Do you feel no one will ever take his place in your life?"
    Abby stared at him.  "My marriage was a failure before Rod died."
    The minute the words were out she covered her mouth with her hand.  Now why had she gone and blurted that out.  It was the effect Daniel had on her.
    My marriage was a failure.  That cleared up so much.  Abby's lack of confidence.  Her nervousness around him.  The insistence he should leave.
    Putting a hand out, Daniel turned the key in the ignition.  "You're quite safe with me, Abby.  I've never forced myself on anybody and I don't intend to start now."
    "I...I don't know what you mean."
    "You do," said Daniel firmly.  "The fear and unwillingness you exude is like a red light."
    "A red l…light?"
    "Yes," Daniel retorted firmly.  "Even if I wanted to kiss you, the touch-me-not signals you put out would prevent me from doing so.  I have never kissed a woman against her will and I don't intend to start now."
    "Signals?"  What on earth was he talking about?
    "There are stages in establishing a relationship, just as there are stages in establishing a business.  First a man and woman are aware of each other.  Next they exchange subtle signals that they want to touch, hold, be more to each other.  No stage evolves into another without these signals."
    Where had he got his degree in the psychology of courtship?
    As Daniel set the car in motion, Abby thought of what he had said.  Most men don't proceed till they get a green signal from a woman.  Abby hoped all the signals she put out were red.  Bright red.  She couldn't afford to be sending out any other kind. 
    Abby had the door open as soon as the car stopped.  "Thank you," she said and fled into the house.
    Daniel went through his pockets for the key to the guest house.  His spurt of impatience had faded.  He might have been angry under normal circumstances, but these weren't normal.  The fear on Abby's face had been very real.  Her marriage seemed to have bulldozed her faith in men. 
    Daniel put a hand up to his head just to make sure he really hadn't sprouted the horns Abby Silver saw whenever she looked at him.
    Abby stared out of her bedroom window.  She was too keyed up to sleep.  Daniel's words relentlessly repeated themselves in her head.  The hoots of the owls calling to each other failed to comfort her.
    Tonight she couldn't take refuge in the soothing influence of old, familiar things.  The new sensations flooding her mind and body drowned everything else.
     

 
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    "Where's everybody?"  Daniel asked entering the community room, Monday morning.
    Hamish looked up from the piece of wood he was whittling in a corner of the community room.  "Out."
    The man would win a prize for Monosyllable King of the Year, thought Daniel. 
    "Abby said she would be in the store today."  He had to see her.  Since Saturday night, she'd made sure they were never alone. 
    "She's gone to visit a sick friend.  Sarah and the others are at a swap meet clear across town," added Hamish.
    As usual, business came last. 
    "Would anyone mind if I opened the store?"  Daniel asked. 
    "Nope," said Hamish without lifting his head.
    Daniel went into the store, unlocked the front door and turned the closed sign to open.  His impatience, he had to admit, wasn't only due to the fact the store hadn't been opened.  It was because Abby wasn't around.  The word elusive could have been created just for her.
    He moved around the store restlessly, fingering the finely crocheted lace tablecloths, the hand knitted sweaters, the silk jackets.  He was thinking more of Abby than he was of the store these days.  It was