by Lindsey
Jo stood stiffly in front of the house as she watched the Laurence's carriage drive out the front gate.
"You okay, Jo?" Nick asked, coming up behind her and touching her arm gently.
"Yes," she sighed. "It's just that Meg and Amy infuriate me sometimes. Coming out here, bossing me around, trying to tell me how to live my life…"
"They're just looking out for ya, Jo. They're only tryin' ta help."
"I know. But to come out here and lecture both of us like that… To tell us how we ought to-well, our relationship isn't any of their business!" She turned away, red-faced. "In any case, I'm sorry you had to be a part of it. I'm their sister, I have to take it from them, but you certainly don't."
"It's okay, I wanted to be a part of it," he assured her. "An' they got a point. There's a lot at stake here with the kids an' the school an' all. An' it's an awkward situation, the two of us almost livin' together."
"I know," she agreed. "But all the rules! The formalities! I'm just afraid if we do everything by the book we'll lose the best part of "us"-our friendship."
"It's all kinda ridiculous when you think about it." He grinned and gave her a low, exaggerated bow, asking with a flourish, "My dear Mrs. Bhaer, might I ask permission to kiss you?"
She faked surprise and then replied coyly, "that depends. Whose permission are you asking?"
He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "Whose permission would I need ta kiss you like this?" he asked.
Jo laughed. "Even Meg and Amy couldn't disapprove of such a gentlemanly gesture!"
He smiled and then, moving closer, kissed her softly on the forehead. "And if I wanted ta kiss ya like this?"
"That's such a-a brotherly kiss-I'm sure my parents wouldn't object," she teased, though her pulse was starting to quicken.
"And who would I ask if I wanted ta kiss you here?" he inquired, now moving to her cheek.
She fumbled for an answer as she felt his nearness. "Well, I imagine the children would be pleased to see a, uh, friendly gesture like that."
Then he brought her hand to his mouth a second time, now kissing her palm. "An' ta kiss you like this?" he asked softly, reaching for her other hand.
Jo caught her breath. "Um, Nick, there's a way that I might give you permission to kiss me…" she began, leaning towards him. Nick didn't need any further prompting.
"Wow," he murmured when he finally pulled away. "I guess we'd better go in now. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need a preacher's permission ta kiss you any more than that!"
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