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deep breaths to calm herself did no good as the corset restricted the action. Instead, a series of halting gasps escaped her throat. “What am I going to do?”
    “Survive. Look forward to tomorrow and the next day. Do the best you can with what you have available, and be thankful you’re alive. What other choice do you have?” He wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest. “Life is gone before we know it.”
    Her breath hitched as she relaxed into the impromptu hug. Safe in his embrace, she knew everything would turn out okay even if the circumstances looked otherwise. “I guess that’s true.” She’d always fought for the jobs she’d wanted and the positions she’d lusted after. It was how she landed the job she had now—or had. Placing a palm against Sam’s broad chest, she pushed away, a tad regretfully. It felt like he had a great set of pecs, if the firm wall was a giveaway.
    Ask him for a room…
    She ignored her wolf’s urging. If only I could ditch the damn corset, I’d be fine.
    Liar.
    “Would you like to resume the walk to your residence? If we tarry any longer, your guardian will come searching for you. I wouldn’t put it past her to tie me to a tree.” His grin set the lights in his eyes dancing.
    “I guess that would be best.” Yet she remained in her spot. “What do women in this time period do for a living? I’ll probably need to take a job, huh?”
    Sam shrugged, then clasped his hands behind his back. “You can be a midwife, teacher, dressmaker, nurse, or domestic servant, which would include cook, housekeeper, and laundress. These choices are all open to you.”
    “Ick.” The thought of doing any of those things turned her stomach.
    Her wolf agreed as she howled in humor. Somehow I can’t see you as a midwife delivering babies, let alone handling them.
    Shut up. The whole point to kids was spending an hour with someone else’s because then you could give them back, go home, and snag a glass of wine.
    You’d feel differently if the baby was your own.
    Ava shook her head. Maybe. It’s not like it’ll happen anytime soon. No worries there.
    “Or,” Sam regarded her with a speculative light in his eye, “you can become a clerk in the bank where I work. I’d be happy to have you.”
    A rush of heat shot between her thighs and robbed her of breath. Oh man, what I wouldn’t do to have you, too, stud muffin. “Sounds great.” Giving in to the urge that had plagued her since meeting him, she closed the distance between them and stood on tiptoe. Damn, getting close to a guy without the stilettos was annoying. “How do you feel about kissing on the first date?”
    “If by dating you are referring to a first meeting, then I fully endorse the action.” He grasped her waist and hauled her against his body. “Proceed at will.” The wink that accompanied the request made her knees buckle.
    Spurred on by her wolf’s panting, Ava slipped her hands around his neck and fit her lips to his. Soft but firm, he immediately asked for her surrender with the forceful movement of his mouth on hers. Seeking to deepen the kiss, she pressed closer, but a jerk on her shoulder tore her from his arms before she could finish what she’d started.
    “What the hell?” She swung around, determined to chew someone out. Shock skittered through her chest when she encountered her frowning, very angry, new mother figure.
    “Proper ladies do not deport themselves in such a manner, especially in the open.”
    With her mind spinning and her insides on meltdown from Sam’s laughter, Ava nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” She shot a glance at him, hit again by a new resurgence of desire as he wiped a bit of moisture at the corner of his mouth. “See you tomorrow?” At least she had someone in this town she could talk with, maybe steal a kiss or two.
    He gave her a slight bow from the waist. “I shall call on you. I only have three more days on this earth, and I’d like to make the best of them