Margreet put her bag of knitting in the laundry room by the coat rack, she would pick it up later. Humming, she started taking out the laundry. She did not notice that Huib had been watching her for some time. She was startled when he put his hands on her shoulders from behind and started to give her soft kisses in her neck. Vibrations shot through her entire body.

"What are you doing?" she asked bewildered in a hoarse whisper, turning around with her eyes wide open.

"I just had to... when you have your hair in such a cute bun, there are still some of those playful curls on your neck, they were calling to me, I think they just wanted to be kissed," he said mischievously.

Margaret's mouth fell open... then she burst out laughing. "You really are goofy!"

"Really? Really? Do you want to know how a guy like me gets really goofy?" Huibs voice sounded fiery. "By having a woman like you around him! I don't know how it's possible, you've only been here for about four or five days, but I long for you so intensely! It feels like you've always been here and like you belong here, indeed... like you belong in my house. Here to work, in my house to live and love!"

He saw her big eyes and open mouth. "Oh shit, I shouldn't have told you this at all yet, I'm overwhelming you with it. Forget it, Margreet, I'm a klutz!"

Huib shook his head, rooting his hand through his hair as he took a big step back. "Sorry... I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have done this."

It had indeed caught Margreet off guard, she felt overwhelmed, but in a happy way. "You are indeed a klutz Huib, but a very sweet klutz!"

She took a step toward him. "I don't understand it myself either, but I've felt something inside a few times, something new to me. And..." she began to falter a bit, bothered by her new feelings, "I can't get you out of my mind, I... I dreamed of you last night that we were dancing together, not just like last night, but really swaying. And I was so happy in that dream! When I woke up, I still felt so happy, but... I'll be honest... I also scolded myself. You're my employer, you treat me like a sister and that's it, full stop! That's what I thought... but my thoughts today revolved almost exclusively around you you you! I found it incredibly difficult, I longed for you, but I was not allowed to show it to you, I thought, do you know what I mean?"

Huib stood staring at her, at first in amazement, until a smile came on his face, an intensely happy smile. He took another step forward and put his arms around her. Margreet followed his example, wrapping her arms around his waist. She laid her head against his shoulder, as if she had never done otherwise. She sighed deeply and whispered, "Is this real, really all real? Am I not dreaming? I just can't believe it..."

Huib grabbed her head with both hands so they were looking at each other. He saw tears in her eyes, tears of joy. A smile of wonder made her whole face glow.

"Really, totally real, Margreet, my desire is for you, whether I want it or not!"

His face moved closer.

"So real," he whispered and butterfly-lightly he placed his lips on hers. He caressed her lips with his and covered her with soft kisses, on her mouth, on her cheek, across her forehead to her other cheek and finally on her mouth again. Margreet felt her whole body respond, soft shudders went through her, strengthening her desire for him. She answered his last kisses, by kissing back just as softly.

"Ow dear girl, you set me on fire," Huib moaned. "How am I supposed to treat you like a sister any longer? How can I be your big brother any longer? I want to call you my lover, my wife ... I want to marry you! Margreet? It's crazy, I know, but I really want to marry you. I want to live with you. Please tell me you want it too!"

"Marry you? Become your wife?" It seemed as if Margreet suddenly found herself with both feet back on the ground. Her thoughts began to win out over her feelings and she began to protest, "That's impossible, we barely know each other. Imagine that it won't work out, then we'll be stuck with a divorce! I can't do that Huib, I don't dare. A marriage is nothing for me!"

"What do you want then? Live together?"

"No, not that either! It's just not possible, I can't do it!"

Margreet jerked away, "Sorry Huib, I'm all confused about this. I have to go on, pick up the laundry, do my work..."

Huib saw the fear and uncertainty in her eyes and reassuringly put his hand on her shoulder. "I went too fast Margreet, I'm really sorry. I do understand you, I think, but my desire for you is so real, so pure and so strong... I will try to let it go, not really let it go, but, darn it, how do I put this into words. I can't throw my desire in the trash, but I will be patient, I will wait for you, until we are both sure we can't go on without each other. I'll go on with the veranda for a while, we'll see each other later with dinner."

He turned around, walked lankily, not knowing what to do with himself, back to where he had been working.

Margreet looked after him, her heart beating fast, longing... Her feelings and her thoughts were competing for first place at the moment. Her longing for Huib seemed to dominate for a moment, but her thoughts, her doubts, her uncertainty did not give up yet.

.

Neither of them knew, that Anton and Joke had seen everything. They had taken a walk and had been with Sjaak in the garden for a while. When they had walked back to the guesthouse, they were silent witnesses...

To chapter 30. Margreet and Huib try to act 'normal'

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