Gentle touch (3)

"I do not have any animals in my room. It is not allowed for us to have pets and any insects that are in there were probably there before me so who am I to chase them away from their home? As long as we do not bother each other, we can share the space. They know to keep off the bed," Annalise said.

"You are peculiar," Rafael said as he wrapped cloth around her hand. "I don't know any woman who would enjoy having insects in her room and not want to remove them. I am still puzzled by the fact you like snakes."

"Then maybe you have been around boring women," Annalise answered. She could give a few examples of who they were.

"Perhaps," Rafael replied. "Women like you are rare in this town. If there were more, there would be fathers and brothers losing their minds."

Annalise leaned forward and asked, "Is that something bad? Am I seen as terrible in this town?"