"Are you all right?"
She staggered on legs of rubber and he lifted her to the counter, sitting her in front of him.
"Put your head down." He grabbed the towel and turned the cold water on. Lifting the hair off the back of her neck, he applied the cool towel. "Better?"
"I feel stupid," she answered through her hands.
Finally he removed the towel and she straightened cautiously. "I think I'm all right now."
He helped her down, his hands lingering on her waist as he gazed down at her. "Are you sure you're all right. I think you've been working too hard lately."
She laughed nervously, acutely aware of the warmth of his hands through her cotton dress.
"Don't be silly. I was simply hanging upside down too long."
Her heart was pounding hard and warmth invaded her neck. The way he was looking at her - was he going to kiss her?
Unsure what to do with her hands, she rested them on his arms. Through his shirt sleeves she could feel the swell of his biceps and her heart jumped into high gear. A wave of warmth rushed up her neck and broke over her cheeks.
Her blush brought a shy smile to his lips. "You know, Cindy, we could ..."
But he got no farther. Claudette spoke sarcastically from the kitchen doorway.
"Well, well - isn't this cozy."
Cynthia fairly leaped away from Cade, her face flaming.
"It isn't what you think. I..."
"Oh, I believe you," Claudette interrupted flippantly. "Now if you been a male..."
Cade looked as if he'd been slapped. He glared at Claudette and swung around, jerking the range from its cove.
"You can get that salt shaker now, Cynthia."
She moved past him and gingerly felt behind the stove until her fingers closed around the shaker.
"I've got it." She pulled the shaker out and glanced up at Cade.
His face was pale and drawn as he shoved the range back into place. His jaw muscles worked as he spun on one heel and marched to the outside door, slamming it as he left.
Cynthia turned on Claudette. "That was a mean thing to say. Don't you care that you hurt his feelings?"
Claudette laughed. "Russie? He doesn't have any feelings. Haven't you learned that yet?"
Claudette had gone one step too far. Cynthia slammed the shaker on the counter, spraying salt on the floor.
"Everyone has feelings, Claudette, though some people are extremely successful at hiding them. If you knew Mr. Cade nearly as well as you think you do, you would know that he is actually very sensitive."