Frustration welled up. “I… mean more,” she said then and finally just… was out with it. “I want ye to be more than me friend. I admire ye that way, Lorn.” Her face then went red and she turned away, quickly clearing her throat. “It isn’t wise for us ta be alone together all the time if ye don’t feel the same in regards to me. Like right now…” She turned back to him, her eyes big and searching.

“I’m not supposed to admire ye this way, but I do. Ye’re my employer,” she gave a humorless laugh. “And ye… ye’re just… wonderful… and… warm, and sweet. I watch ye with me bairns and… I don’t want ye to think I like ye just because ye hired me or anythin’ like that because I would admire ye whether ye had done so or not.” God, was she babbling?