Dear readers, hello!:)

I'm posting a new chapter.

Thank you so much for your reviews, your thoughts, I love reading them.

Sometimes I get comments that it would be nice if I had a beta. I know I'm not a native speaker and I apologize for any mistakes. As much as I don't edit the text, I know there are mistakes and I feel embarrassed. But I understand that it would be hard for me to find a beta, as I try to post updates quite quickly, and we all have our own lives, I don't think there will be anyone willing to spend time correcting my mistakes quickly... Just knowing myself, if I don't write all the time, I'll burn out and lose all my words.

I can relate, believe me, I often get into that state of mind when I'm posting a chapter or a passage, or a dialogue that makes me emotionally overwhelmed (yes, yes, I'm an empathetic person, even these stories go through me, not to mention how cruel our heroes talk to each other in the novel and I just can't reread some passages right now). So there are times when you think you've lost all your words. That there's no more line to write. The first time I felt that I was in shock and it helped that I didn't stop writing, that I had a plot and your reviews. That's all:)

Oh, a very long preface that probably has mistakes in it, haha:)

Anyway, I'm not refusing help at all, but I'm afraid I won't be able to find a beta at my writing pace. If anyone wants to help me edit the stories I've already published, I'd be grateful!

Again, I apologize for any mistakes!

P. S. Sorry I'm a bit late with this chapter, real life tears me apart sometimes :)

Enjoy reading!:)

I own nothing in regard to GWTW.

Chapter 9.

It was so quiet in Rhett's office and Scarlett thought the frantic pounding of her heart after his light kiss could be heard across the room. She blushed slightly, and without raising her eyes, noticed that he didn't let go of her hands, but held them in his own against his chest.

"Come to your senses Scarlett, it's only Rhett," a thought flashed through her mind, and then another, "Say something already or he'll laugh at your blush!"

Coughing slightly, Scarlett boldly looked up at him and meeting his eyes with an equally bold gaze, she swallowed and said in a businesslike tone, trying to gently release her hands from his warm palms, "Rhett... Hmmm... Let me fix my hair, it must be a mess..."

He gently, she even thought reluctantly, let go of her hands, and said with a smile, "It's okay, Scarlett. You look beautiful."

She looked at him in surprise, when had he ever given her compliments so easily without accompanying them with another joke?

Rhett intercepted her gaze, smiled, but remained silent as he watched her move away from him to the table, carefully pulling the pins out of her hair, placing them on the papers, her hair falling over her shoulders as he held his breath.

She was standing sideways to him, and Rhett could see her nimble, slender fingers quickly braiding the dark curls.

Reaching into his jacket pocket, Rhett found an object that distracted him from his pleasant thoughts, and he frowned slightly.

"Scarlett," he called to her, and she looked up at him questioningly, fixing her hair with the last pin.

"Yes...?"

"Why did you return my gift?" he asked her bluntly, looking seriously into her eyes.

She looked at him with a sad but serious look, pondering how best to answer. At last she decided to be frank with him.

"Rhett, I thought it was the right thing to do," she began to answer carefully choosing her words.

"Why?" he asked his question again and stared at her intently, waiting for an answer.

Scarlett lowered her gaze for a moment, smoothing the skirt of her beige dress, then said clearly, meeting his eyes, "I don't want you to think I'm that kind of girl."

"What kind, Scarlett? Answer me!"

"Available, willing to do anything for gifts!"

Rhett looked at her incomprehensively and she clarified, "I'm not the only one who gets gifts from you, am I? Hmmm... The whole town is always discussing her and..."

"Are you talking about Belle?" he asked still not quite sure what she was getting at.

She only nodded.

"Scarlett," he said, suddenly coming closer to her, "you accepted my gifts during the war, didn't you?"

"You never gave me anything expensive Rhett, like that comb... Except for that green bonnet... Besides... Our relationship... There was no... No arrangements before," she finished, blushing slightly.

He watched her blush, then wanted to be angry with her, because he'd never thought of her in that way and she couldn't seriously think that, but he kept his mouth shut. "Damn deal!" was his thought, and Rhett decided to be honest with her too, but about another thing.

"Scarlett, listen," he began to say, at the same time pulling out a comb from his jacket pocket. He took her hand gently and placed the gift in her palm, covered it with his palm and continued, "it's just a gift. To you, as a beautiful young woman, I dare say, as my... Hmmm... My friend... Yes, it doesn't matter. What matters is that I gave it to you and I'm giving it to you again, without asking for anything in return, without counting on any of our 'arrangements'. I'll be happy to see it in your hair, not on my desk. I just want to make you feel joy, that's all. Please don't do that again," he finished his speech, then he let go of her hand and, pretending that the subject was closed and he didn't notice her surprised face, took his hat from the table and said, "Come on, Scarlett, I promised to take you home."

They traveled in the buggy, taking their time and enjoying the warm spring sunshine.

Scarlett wrapped herself in her black shawl, holding it in one hand and the comb Rhett had given her back in the other.

She was basking in the sun and if they had been travelling in a carriage, she would have fallen asleep for sure.

Even now she was tempted to lean against his shoulder. They were sitting so close, the sun was warming his dark jacket, and he smelled so good. Scarlett always thought of Rhett, and his scent was the first thing she thought of. It was a mixture of cigars, whiskey, and something else. Maybe it was some kind of cologne, she didn't know.

Sitting quietly next to him, she took another quiet but deep breath and then yawned.

When Rhett heard her yawn, he took his eyes off the road, glanced at her affectionately, and asked in a calm tone that hid the worry in his voice, "Scarlett, are you not sleeping well?"

He had been watching her for a long time, and he could see that she was obviously not sleeping well or enough. Sometimes it was the slight shadows under her eyes, sometimes she yawned, and he remembered how she'd fallen asleep at the table, remembered how his heart had been flooded with waves of tenderness and concern. He wanted to know what was wrong.

Scarlett didn't answer right away, and he thought she wasn't telling the truth.

"Rhett, you know... It's Wade... Sometimes he comes to sleep with me, especially when he's sick or frightened. It happens, it's no big deal, we're getting used to life in Atlanta with him after Tara," she tried to tell him in a confident tone.

Rhett smiled slightly and nodded, not believing her, he decided to bring it up later if he could, but for now he just rode in the silence that wasn't about the quarrel, it was just something that united them now. He and his favorite woman, the sun, the spring, the young leaves, the fresh smell of the earth, the delicious air. He was simply in love.

Scarlett felt tired after their explanation. It was the first time in her memory that she had revealed her true feelings to a man. "Okay, not the first time," she thought, remembering her confession to Ashley and watching the road slowly wind its way out to the outskirts of town. Anyway, today it had been emotional with Rhett, and she was devastated, as if she could breathe easier now that she had told him and heard his reaction.

Scarlett glanced at the reins, then at the man's hands holding them. Then, quietly, so Rhett wouldn't notice, she looked at him. He was focused, staring down the road, but it seemed to her that he was almost smiling, that his dimples were about to show. He looked peaceful.

"I wonder what he's thinking about," Scarlett asking herself, taking her eyes off him and looking around again. They had already entered town, and Scarlett saw them pass her brother-in-law's store, where his assistant was working. Frank, Suellen, the Wilkes, and India had gone to Tara to stay, visit Carreen, and look after Gerald.

As if reading her thoughts, Rhett asked with a grin, "You've seen your guests off, haven't you, Scarlett? Will Peachtree House be quiet again? Aunt Pitty must be overjoyed, eh?"

Scarlett chuckled and nodded at him. Aunt Pitty had indeed been very nervous about having so many guests in the house, even if they were relatives. Now that she was saying goodbye to them, although she sighed sadly at the thought of separation, one could see that she was enjoying the peace of the house and the routine of her day.

"She's had enough of me and Wade," Scarlett replied as she and Rhett walked leisurely across the lawn to the porch. "I'm glad my son isn't more like me, because I was unbearable as a child," she continued, smiling. "Mammy called me 'Spindle,' and I was always running away, hiding, climbing trees with the twins. They lived closest to us, Rhett," she told him as she climbed the stairs.

They came on the porch just as Scarlett finished her story.

She stood in front of him, slightly out of breath, her hair a little out of place, a few lovely curls curling around her neck.

Rhett froze again, looking at her features, the glint in her green eyes, the slight blush on her cheeks, then cleared his throat and said, smiling, "Darling, our conversation is certainly interesting, but I'll listen to your nostalgic reminiscences another time."

When he saw her raise her eyebrow slightly in question and her lips curl into that familiar sarcastic grin, he hastened to add, "And again, Darling, I can see that you have a sharp line on the tip of your tongue that you're eager to share with me, but don't, Scarlett," he finished with a laugh when he saw how her eyes had gotten round. "I saw you were a little cold in the spring wind, look, your hands are cool," and he reached out and took her hand gently, trying to warm it a little.

"How did you notice that, Rhett?" she asked in surprise. Even though the sun was bright and spring-like, she felt a little chill in the wind. Just a little.

"You touched your neck a couple of times with your hand, Honey, you do that when you get cold."

He didn't wait for any more questions, just smiled, kissed her hand and walked away, leaving her standing on the porch, very surprised.

"And why does he always know and notice everything about me?" pondered Scarlett that night, sitting in front of the dressing table and brushing her hair.

"It's not fair that I know absolutely nothing about him! His habits, what he thinks about... What an unsolvable riddle this varmint is..." she thought as she went to bed.

Scarlett didn't like puzzles, unsolved questions, or losing, so the thought of learning to 'read' Rhett was on her mind.

"There must be a way to get to know him better, to understand him," she thought, settling more comfortably on the pillow, and she already knew who could help her begin this endeavor.

"I'm going to learn all your secrets, Rhett Butler," a thought flashed through her mind before she fell asleep.

The next day, after a quick breakfast, saying goodbye to Wade and patting his hair, Scarlett walked out of the house when she saw the familiar buggy. But when she saw Tom in it, she was a little sad at first, but then was happy when remembered her goal.

"It's even better that way," she thought as approached Tom, smiled and said hello.

"Good morning, Scarlett! Rhett asked me to apologize, he has an important meeting in the morning, the man is passing through Atlanta, so he asked me to pick you up," Tom said as he helped her into the buggy.

"By the way," he continued, smiling mischievously and taking the reins in his hands, "I guess you two made up yesterday? That's it, the silent strike is over, Scarlett?"

She grinned and just nodded.

"The Wilkes are gone, Scarlett, aren't they?" he asked suddenly, and she noticed the slight flush in his cheeks.

"Oh, India really charmed him," Scarlett thought in surprise, then smiled and said, "Yes, Tom, they're gone and so is India. But Melly and Ashley are living on our plantation for now until Ashley gets a job in town, but India went to see the places of our childhood, I told you they were our neighbors, remember?"

Of course Tom remembered, he remembered everything Scarlett had told him about India. This young woman had caught his attention, she was stern at first, but as soon as they started talking she relaxed and even allowed herself to make jokes that were quite sharp.

"But India's coming back in a week, she's staying here with me and our Auntie for now, and she's going to help me with Wade, he's her nephew too," Scarlett explained, not very happy at the prospect of living under the same roof with India, but she didn't swear at her or even look at her coldly like she used to. "Maybe it's because I'm helping Ashley and Melanie... Who knows?" thought Scarlett.

Tom nodded happily and they drove off in silence, but on the way out of town Scarlett decided to bring up a subject that wouldn't leave her alone.

"Tom," she addressed him politely, "you've known Rhett a long time, haven't you?"

Tom looked at Scarlett in surprise and just nodded, "Yes, we were in the blockade together."

Scarlett smiled and began to speak carefully, "You see, Tom... How can I explain it to you... Hmmm... Can you tell me about Rhett?" she finally asked bluntly, clenching her fingers nervously.

Tom almost stopped his horse and looked at his companion in surprise.

"Why would you do to know that, Scarlett?" asked Tom, looking at her curiously.

Scarlett squinted into the sun, then fixed her bonnet and said in an almost disgruntled child's voice, "He knows everything about me, Tom! Almost everything! What I think, when I'm cold and when I'm hot. He almost always knows what I mean to say. Oh, he's unbearable, Tom!"

"What do you think, Scarlett," Tom asked, smiling, "why does he care so much? Why must he know so much about you?"

"Why, why? To drive me crazy and defeat me, that's why!" she replied irritably.

Tom looked up in surprise at Scarlett, who was looking at him with determination. "Yes," he thought, "this isn't just a bet to win," and continued with a smile, "Okay, Scarlett, I'll tell you, but first answer me, what do you even know about Rhett?"

"That he's an arrogant, selfish varmint! That he always gets what he wants from everyone, even from me! That he has an unbearable temper, that he's always joking with me, that nothing is serious for him, I guess. Hmm... That his face is unreadable, I don't even know what he likes apart from his cigars and whisky... Hmm, I said he was arrogant, yes?"

Tom chuckled and stopped the horse, they had already arrived. "These two are obviously made for each other," he thought as he climbed out of the buggy and turned to Scarlett to help her too.

"Well, now that you've said the main thing, Scarlett, let me tell you a little details," he said and Scarlett nodded happily.

They walked down the path to their workhouse and Tom began to speak slowly. He didn't want to tell Rhett's big secret, but he did want to give some details so that Scarlett could understand his friend better and could see him in a different light.

"Rhett was a very responsible captain, always thinking of the crew, the ordinary sailors. He shook hands with everyone and wasn't afraid of hard work. So his respect wasn't demanded, it was earned.

However, he's always impeccably dressed, Scarlett, but he won't let anyone touch his suit, like fixing a knot in his scarf," Tom continued and Scarlett froze at the memory of how carefully she had fixed his scarf in the evening garden during the wedding party.

"At the card table, he is second to none, no matter how much he drinks, he always keeps his face. Do you know what his favorite phrase is?"

Scarlett shook her head negatively and Tom continued, "I don't get lucky, I make my own luck."

Scarlett snorted and replied, "Typical arrogant Rhett Butler!"

Tom chuckled, but then added, "There are a couple of things I've noticed personally, Scarlett, I think I can share with you."

"Oh, Tom, please!" she exclaimed impatiently.

"If you want to know what or who our friend is thinking about, don't expect him to tell you directly, look into his eyes, Scarlett. Eyes and looks tell you a lot about a person. Where he's looking or who he is looking at... How he listens... And gestures! If Rhett is nervous or upset, he'll have his hands in his pockets, if he's angry, he'll be silent, but his hands will be clenched into fists," Tom went on, and Scarlett listened intently, picking up the smallest details.

They talked for a long time until they heard the clatter of hooves and Scarlett saw through the window as Rhett rode up on his black horse, dismounted and, smiling slightly and adjusting his grey hat, hurried into the house.

"Tom," she managed to say, "let's keep this conversation between us, shall we?"

Tom only had time to nod and smile before Rhett entered.

And Scarlett began to look at Rhett more closely. Sometimes, when she was concentrating on counting columns of numbers, she would look up and meet the familiar gaze of black eyes. She couldn't read them because Rhett would smile at her or wink at her or make some other joke to distract her.

She'd left her shawl on the chair a couple of times before she'd gone home, and before she could return, had felt Rhett throw it around her shoulders. It seemed carelessly, but she could feel him running his hands lightly over her shoulders, touching her very gently.

His sometimes caring tone, his gestures and looks made her think, "Why is he treating me like this?"

Sometimes she felt he was a childhood friend, sometimes a brother, sometimes he reminded her of her father. And sometimes... Sometimes his gaze would burn her, and their occasional touches would take her breath away, and Scarlett would wonder what Rhett was feeling at that moment.

One day in mid-April, there were a lot of bills and paperwork to be done, Tom had gone to see a customer, Scarlett and Rhett sat alone in the silence of the office for a long time. The sound of the wind, the occasional bird song, even the workers were quieter than usual today.

They finished later than usual and on their way out, Scarlett cast another curious glance at Rhett. He was thoughtful, something was clearly on his mind, something important. She was beginning to notice the characteristic wrinkle between his eyebrows at times like this.

As she stepped outside, Scarlett smelled that distinctive smell. It was a smell before the rain, a smell before the heavy rain. Having spent her entire childhood on a plantation, in the countryside, she recognised it unmistakably.

Rhett didn't seem to notice, but helped Scarlett to sit into the buggy and took the reins himself.

Taking another deep breath, she said carefully, "Rhett, can we get home before it rains?"

He looked at her puzzled, then at the sky, between the trees, which showed no sign of a storm, and said with a slight grin, "Darling, I think it rains when there are clouds, but the sky is cloudless, look up."

Scarlett snorted and just replied, "Don't you smell the rain?"

No, he didn't. All the time they'd been sitting together in the study, he'd been smelling nothing but the subtle scent of her perfume and driving himself crazy with the desire to touch her. It was torture for a grown man and he wondered where their relationship would go.

So he wrinkled his nose slightly and just said, "Scarlett, you're such child. The 'smell of the rain'...Hah..."

She pursed her lips slightly like a hurt child and turned away from him.

As they drove, the wind grew stronger, the leaves rustled, and the sun hid behind clouds that had come from nowhere.

Rhett looked up at the sky with concern, but he didn't say anything, only sped up the buggy a little.

Scarlett, seeing him notice the clouds, glanced triumphantly at his handsome profile, but remained silent.

The first drops of rain caught up with them as they drove to the outskirts of the town, where there were old, destroyed warehouses.

The drops grew larger and larger, and Rhett only whispered, "Damn it!" and turned his head toward Scarlett to see her laughing eyes.

"Okay, okay, Miss "Rain Foreteller", you were right and you won! But, we both lose, Scarlett if we get soaked to the skin and catch pneumonia."

Scarlett pointed him to one of the wooden old buildings, they could shelter themselves there and even the horse could stand under a wooden roof.

Rhett nodded, the rain had already soaked his hair and hands, so there was no choice.

When they stopped at the destroyed building, Rhett quickly dismounted from the buggy, helped Scarlett, brought her under the wooden roof, then made sure the horse was standing near them and soon joined Scarlett, who stood quietly, holding the bonnet in her hands, watching the stream of water from the sky.

He stood near her and when he saw her shoulders shake slightly, he suddenly took off his jacket, which was so warm inside and slightly damp outside, and carefully threw it over her shoulders, leaving him with only his shirt and waistcoat.

"Rhett..."

"Shhh, Scarlett, you're getting a little wet and you might catch a cold..."

"You too, Rhett," she told him, suddenly turning round.

Seeing his always neat hair in disarray, with a strand on his face, she giggled and without thinking, reached and gently fixed it.

"Oh, Rhett, this is the first time I've ever seen you like this..." she spoke with a frank laugh.

He looked at her, watching her unruly hair curl from the weather. It was a long, burning gaze of his.

Scarlett raised her eyes, met his look and in a moment he leaned to her and she closed her eyes.

His lips, so warming, barely touched her cool lips as if asking permission to continue. And she did, opening them and responding to his kiss.

His hot breath, his warm hands wrapped tightly around her waist beneath his jacket. His scent that made her dizzy. Her arms wrapped around his neck, lightly stroking his wet hair.

The whisper of her name as his lips left hers for a moment. And again it was the swirl of smells, sensations, and his strength that swept her up.

The sound of the rain enveloped them, hiding from the world.