LET IT NOT SNOW!
by Jacelynn
.script by Monique.
|story visited times|
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"I should have gotten the cabin without the phone."
mumbled to himself as he tied the flannel robe around his body. The instant chill of the cold mountain air had a bitter bite compared to the steamy warm shower he had so rudely been interrupted from. Leaving a wet trail he padded into the large rustic living room and picked up the phone,
Someone better be dead.
He swore at the unwelcome interruption to his secluded getaway.
"What?"
He rudely answered into the receiver.
"?"
A familiar and unwelcome voice responded on the other end.
may be his best friend, but this vacation wasn't about best friends. He wanted nothing to do with work; nothing to do with Westlife; nothing to do with . That's why he had chosen the remote resort in Wyoming. In the U.S. he had freedom to walk around, for the most part, without being recognized. And up in the snowcapped mountains of picturesque Jackson Hole, nobody cared at all about a singer from Ireland, they cared about skiing, skiing and more skiing. He was a snowy nobody here and he liked it.
"Goodbye ."
He told the voice that interrupted in an uncharacteristic pleading,
", no man, wait! I know I promised I wouldn't bother you over here unless it was an emergency. But this is! I need your help, please listen to me."
rubbed a hand through his still dripping wet hair; shaking droplets onto the floor as he stood contemplating his friend's plea. All he wanted was to crawl back into the hot shower for another half hour before finally coming out and throwing on his favorite cologne and a thick sweater before heading over to the lodge to warm himself with the warm, wiling body of some snow bunny. He hadn't figured out why yet; maybe it was the fire, maybe the snow, hell- maybe it was the cocoa, but the women up here seemed exceptionally horny and had at least three more weeks to bask in his good fortune.
But on the other hand was his best friend asking, no begging, for his help on the other end of the phone. The same friend that had always been there whenever he needed him and many times when he didn't.
With a big relenting sigh asked,
"O.k. fine. What is the emergency?"
"It's ."
There was a long pause. waited for to continue; concerned now about what might have happened to 's little sister.
"She’s, uh in trouble. And I was really hoping you could help her."
"Sure. Whatever . What does she need?"
Another pause, didn't miss the hesitation in his voice
"A place to stay."
"What?!?"
He pulled the phone away from his ear like it was a poison snake, still hearing talking distantly on the other end
"! ?"
Slowly bringing it back up to his ear, he thought
No way! There is no way that shy little tomboy is coming to stay with me!
"Sorry Man. I don't think I can help with that. I'm in the middle of nowhere."
Taking a quick glance out of the large picture windows that lined the front room; sighed- the house had 360 degrees of magnificent views; just as the website that won him over had promised.
"Actually she's not that far from you. 's living in Colorado, remember?"
Damn!
cursed under his breath.
"She only needs a place to stay for a few days. She has a big presentation at work coming up or else she would've just flown back home. Please just for a couple nights- two days max. She got kicked out of her apartment; and has nowhere to go."
He could picture the desperation on 's face as he practically begged on the other end. But the other face he could see was . She was 's mousy little sister; forgettable in every way. She had moved to America as soon as college had ended. was nothing like her popular, good looking, well dressed brother; was short and lanky, eyes buried behind thick glasses and a smile hidden with braces and then a retainer. had always found her nice and easy to talk to and the few times she had hung out with them he remembered her with a decent sense of humor, but someone's baby sister was definitely the last thing he needed in his cabin of snow bunny seduction, even if it was for just a few days.
"Sorry , there's a...." scanned the large cottage, with gourmet kitchen, wrap around deck, three guest rooms and three luxury ensuite bathrooms, " no room."
"It's fine she'll sleep on the couch. Just two days. You know I'd do the same for you."
Double damn - guilt!
"Fine!"
growled- owed him big time for this.
"Excellent! I'll call her back with directions to the cabin. She'll be there tomorrow morning. I really appreciate this !"
And with that the line went dead.
After he had hung up the phone no longer felt like going to the lodge; he could see the lively glow of it from his window. Somehow, the news of babysitting ’s nerdy little sister squashed whatever mojo was once buzzing inside of his blood. Walking back into the large two story master suite that was his room he pulled some pajama bottoms and a tee shirt out of his drawer and grabbed a bottle of beer from the stocked fridge before plopping down on the leather couch and scanning pay-per-view. Just then the phone rang again.
Give me a break!
mumbled reaching behind him to pick up the handset,
"Leave me alone -"
"I'm sorry I must have the wrong number,"
A female's voice purred through the phone interrupting 's tirade.
"No- uh sorry. Who are you trying to reach?"
" ," she said his name with a sexy taunt, "this is Laura from the lodge-"
grinned to himself,
"Laura, baby. This is . Sorry about that. Just goofin' with a friend. How are you?"
stretched out on the couch; remembering the way he had laid himself on top of the tall blond woman on that very couch just two nights ago. She was visiting for the week from Canada and had fallen for all the Irish charm that he was a master of pouring on thickly.
The morning sun reflecting off the mounds of fresh snow was almost blinding. blinked against it; far too early to wake up. He shifted on the couch; pulling the cordless handset out from under his back; he had fallen asleep talking with Laura. The woman had full sexy lips and legs that went on for miles but in the conversation and intellect department she was seriously lacking, had learned after five minutes of talking to her on the phone. The warm, earthy aroma of fresh brewed coffee from an automatic timer wafted in from the kitchen tempting him awake further.
"Ugh! Isn't a person aloud to sleep in on his vacation?"
complained to no one. The house was dead silent except for the rhythmic dripping of the coffee. When Westlife had been given two months off for vacation; they were ecstatic. Each man planned what their get away would be. was going to the Caribbean, had a soft spot for Australia and was spending some quality time back home with his family, but felt like he really wanted to get away. The last tour had been particularly draining on him and he just wanted to melt away for awhile. Accidentally stumbling on a skiing website with listings of the top luxury ski rental homes in the world he had found Jackson Hole. A local ski paradise which was fairly unknown to the rest of the world and renting his own private luxury cottage in the mountains it was a celebrity-in-hiding's dream. But after two weeks alone in the house; hearing his own voice bounce off the walls- it was beginning to seem a bit empty. The random women that came home with him some nights were fun for a one-nighter, but he was anxious to offer them a cup of coffee on their way out the next day.
This is what you wanted - solitude!
He reminded himself just as a pounding at the door startled him; causing him to spill the scorching hot coffee down the front of his tee shirt.
"Ow! Shit!"
He patted fiercely at it as he walked to the door, still dabbing the burning mess with one hand as he opened it.
"Um."
looked up from the mess on his shirt into a pair of deep eyes that seemed to render him speechless.
"?"
The woman asked him with a questioning smile; that made her angelic eyes squint up in a playful way and her already frosty pink cheeks turn a shade deeper.
"Uh- yeah." He answered in a speechless, frozen stupor.
". It's me ."
For a minute it felt like the wind had been forcibly pushed out of his lungs, causing his breath to come to a screeching halt in his throat. He took a very obvious scan of her body; catching his breath at the way her sweater and jeans seemed to hug every curve in cotton perfection. Under the pink ski cap he could see silky hair cascading down her shoulders and even through the layers of winter clothing a hint of vanilla and something spicy attacked his senses mercilessly.
There's no way this woman is !
His head insisted.
" ?"
His voice came out sounding choked.
She laughed a feminine carefree laugh that caused 's knees to buckle and the urge to place his mouth on hers swallowing every charming sound was overwhelming. He shook the thought from his head.
"I look a little different from when I left home, I suppose."
She shrugged as if her amazing transformation from ugly duckling to traffic stopping beauty wasn't any big deal.
"It's really nice of you to let us stay here. I thought my life as over when I got kicked out of the apartment. I promise we won't be any trouble. A few days and we'll be out of the way."
rubbed her mittened hands over her arms and realized he'd been standing in the doorway just staring at her for the past few minutes,
"Oh, sorry come on in."
He opened the door wide and gestured her in, just as something occurred to his still lagging mind.
"Did you say we?"
Behind in waddled something wearing a blue and green knit sweater over its white feathers. Once it was inside the door it cocked its long neck towards and gave him either a warning or a greeting quack- wasn't sure which.
"What the hell is that thing?"
He motioned at the duck so disgustedly reached down and picked it up.
"This is Gil. Didn't tell you?"
ignored the big eyes and the innocent look on her lovely face; there was no way he was letting a duck stay in his house even no matter how sexy she batted her ridiculously long eyelashes.
"Gil's my pet. I rescued him a few eeks ago. I found him trapped in a six pack ring at the park; starving to death. I took him home and freed him and nursed him back to health, but when I took him back to the park to release him he just followed me home. I couldn't leave him out in the cold, so I brought him inside. But my jerk manager found out and kicked me out of the apartment."
"That's why you were kicked out? For this...this... entree?!"
held the duck close to her, shooting a look of shock,
"Gil is not an entree! He's my best friend!"
He took in a big breath and turned around so he wouldn't be looking at her as he spoke,
"Well there is no way you and that THING are staying here. No ducks!”
"Oh please. You won't even know he's here."
He could hear her set the duck back down on the floor and strip her heavy parka off, laying it over his couch.
"Please . I promise- just two days- we'll be like invisible ghosts I promise."
Turning around was his first mistake, the pleading look on her face was impossible to resist. And the way the fireplace silhouetted her from behind couldn't help but imagine having his hands drag up and down her body against the firelight on a snowy night together in the house. Suddenly his throat felt like he hadn't had a glass of water in days.
"Fine. Only because you're 's sister," he lied. "I’ll show you your room."
Once she had safely locked herself and Gil inside the massive room that had given her to stay in let out the breath she felt like she'd been holding since she had first knocked on the large mahogany door. When her brother had first told her that he had convinced to let her stay with him; she had been so angry with . Of all the people in the world why had asked him? Half of her wanted to scrape the entire presentation and just go home. But she had been preparing for this pitch for over a year; she couldn't do that to everyone else who had worked so hard. So instead had spent the entire night trying to prepare herself to once again see the man that had filled all her dreams since she was twelve. When he had opened the door; a wet shirt clinging against his sculpted chest; all the courage she had worked so hard to muster quickly blew away with the wind. He had sleep mussed hair and early morning eyes blinking magnificent against the bright sunshine. She was sure he could hear the thudding of her heart edhoing off the vaulted ceiling; it felt like it was going to leap free of her chest at any moment. Her whole body felt like it was on fire when she caught his eyes raking up and down her body. And now here she was; alone and sleeping under the same roof as him. fell back onto the four poster king bed hoping she would never wake up from this dream, as something tugged on her jeans reminding her to feed it.
After unpacking in the room and making up a bed for Gil in the corner decided to venture out and thank her hero again for the spare room; grand as it was. As much as she wanted to she couldn't hide in the room trying to avoid him and his charms the next few days. Besides- she pep talked herself- you aren't the same shy nobody from school; you are a successful creative consultant for a top advertising company and you have definitely had your share of attention from good looking men. But this wasn't any of those "other men" this was - the man who could make any woman lose all sense with one smoldering smile or cause a woman to become his mindless love slave just at the sound of his smooth Irish brogue in her ear. shivered. She waited until the duck settled down and buried its head into its feathers; figuring it would be better to face without Gil. As she opened the door that lead down a short hallway into the grand front room heard the front door unlatch and could see standing with his back to her. She tried to ignore the sight of him; he had changed into well fitting destroyed jeans and a charcoal turtle neck sweater, cut just right to show off a prefect denim clad ass.
Planning to make her way into the kitchen for water, her feet failed as she heard the obviously hushed voice was using with whoever was on the other side of the door. Curiosity being her weakness, hung around the corner trying to catch what was being said.
"Melanie, baby. I'm sorry. "
She could hear a high pitched slightly whiney female voice and then again,
"I know I promised you a romantic lunch today. But things changed. I'll call you tonight o.k.?"
felt like someone had just punched her in the chest. In school had been very popular; always having the prettiest girls in school on his arm. So many of 's old diary pages were scribbled full of her dreaming that one of those girls were her. always had treated her well, saying hi in the halls and standing up for her if she was being bullied. But he never once looked at her the way he did the beautiful woman that he walked arm in arm with to the school dances. That was until that morning. She had felt his eyes look her up and down; burning her with something that she felt too. There was no way she could have mistaken the instant heated attraction between them. In the back of her mind were ’s last words on the phone after giving her directions to the cabin last night,
"Oh and . s a good guy, but remember he's a player to the very core. Please don't fall for his charms. "
Over the phone she had blushed bright red, knowing if ever attempted to seduce her she would go willingly. But here was proof of her brothers words in front of her and suddenly she was jealous; an emotion she had no right to, but one that engulfed every cell of her body.
Hearing the front door shut she stepped out of the shadows that she had been hiding in and walked past him without acknowledgment into the kitchen; searching the cupboards for a glass.
"Looking for something?"
"A glass."
She continued opening and shutting doors.
"Above the sink."
She filled it with water and rolled it around the glass waiting for him to say something,
"Oh that was just the local girl scouts selling cookies" or " the new hairstylist that I have absolutely no attraction to saying I missed my last appointment."
But she could feel him silently watching her. He had no reason to explain anything; she was a guest in his home. Probably unexpected too, by the way she seemed to be interrupting his "appointments."
"Soooo, who was at the door?"
tried to sound as casual as possible.
"Oh that?"
pulled his eyes away from the woman that had caught the scene he had so desperately hoped to hide from her. He had completely forgotten the invitation made in the thoughtless heat of passion a few nights past. Seeing Melanie show up at the door had been an unwelcome surprise. He almost felt guilty about explaining her to .
This is your house ; you don't have to explain anything to her.
"Just a friend. I promised to have lunch with, but forgot."
"You forgot lunch plans?"
tossed her long hair over her shoulder, fiddling with a string on her sweater; hoping he couldn't see the possessive jealousy in her eyes.
"Yeah."
slid in to a bar stool across the counter from where rested. There was something funny about the way she was talking to him, but he couldn't quite figure out what.
"Nah. I just feel like resting today. Woke up with a scratchy throat and all. So I just told her...uh...another time."
Before could respond he quickly changed the subject, the awkwardness was unnerving and he didn't want to try to explain some woman that meant nothing to him to .
"So where's the - duck?"
"His name's Gil."
couldn't hide the smirk at her instant defensiveness to that dumb bird. She stared him straight in the eye, challenging him to insult the thing again. And seriously considered it.
"He is housebroken isn't he?"
"Of course."
"You know that if your brother would have mentioned you were coming with that...that...” she shot him a death look and he smiled overly sweet, "duck. I would never have agreed to let you stay."
Lie!
"Thanks again ." It was such a silent surrender, he almost couldn't hear her. "It was really wonderful for you to let me stay here. I promise I'm just going to be working on my big presentation and I'll keep Gil with me all day. You won't even know we're here. We won't get involved with any of your plans."
She gestured towards the front door. Suddenly feeling ashamed for having ever been jealous over him; she had no claim on him- far from it.
smiled at her. She was just as sweet as he remembered. All her changes were physical only; she still had the same humble, sincere, innocent heart that he had admired about her as a teenager.
She grew up!
He watched as walked back to her room; his eyes lingering long after she was gone.
"This isn't going to be easy."
He told the now empty kitchen that still held her intoxicating scent within it's walls.
The inability to concentrate was extremely frustrating but not at all surprising. She could hear him humming through the walls of the bedroom and it distracted her mind from the work that needed her creative touch in order to win the client at Friday's presentation. But all she could hear was the soft, sexy golden voice through the walls. Her brain fought between swooning and just being really irritated at him for distracting her. Setting all her paperwork on the end of the bed after another yawn told that she needed to rest. It had been a sleepless night followed by an early morning trip up to the mountain and it was all beginning to catch up to her. Peeking over she saw Gil was still sound asleep in his corne.r stretched out onto the big bed and easily fell into a vivid dream filled sleep.
"What the - !? !!! !!"
snapped her head up from the pillow- in her dream had been whispering her name sweetly and seductively into her ear, slowly his voice had gotten louder and angrier until she realized she wasn't dreaming at all. was yelling for her. Scrambling off the bed; still disoriented from the sudden startled awakening she bumped into the door as she rushed down the hall to where the shouting was coming from. Pushing open the bedroom door at the end of the hall gasped at the scene in front of her.
Gil had apparently wandered out of the room sometime after she had fallen asleep; making his way into 's enormous bedroom. pushed open the door and gaped for a few moments at the two story room that have easily fit her entire apartment within it's walls. It had rustic log walls and even it's own small fireplace on the far wall. The picture windows boasted the same breathtaking view as the front room.Scanning over local scenery pictures and hand carved furniture her eyes quickly came to rest on the crime scene. Gil had snuggled himself onto 's bed, nesting in the expensive comforter and clothes he had laid out on top of the bed and was red faced and furious trying to get him to move, but every time he put out his hand to knock Gil off his bed the duck would only snap his bill; threatening to take a finger or two if dared move him. tried to hide her laughter; but the stand off between the two stubborn "males” was too much and she let out a loud giggle. Only to have turn his attention to her; his irate face looking incredulously at her-
She thinks this is funny?!
"Get your damn bird out of here ! He's ruining my bed and my clothes! You promised me he'd stay in his room! "
stopped laughing instantly and reached out for her new pet; pulling him off the scavenged nest he'd made himself; eyeing the damage to the bed and clothes from where he'd gnawed. But she protectively tucked Gil under her arm.
"- I'm so-"
"Just leave . I don't think it's going to work to have you and that beast stay here. Look what he's done!" He gestured wildly at the mess on the bed. "I'll give you a ride to wherever you need- I'll pay for a hotel room whatever- you just can't stay here."
"I understand."
She tried to smile at him as if she did understand, but his words hurt. He was so mad and she didn't really see the big deal.
Without another word she turned and left his room to go and pack back up the suitcase she had just emptied.
A warm shower and two cups of coffee later sat on the bed and stared at the ruined comforter. It wasn't really that bad. Only a small scratched area where Gil had dug his flippers in. The clothes weren't his favorite either. And now the guilt at his overreaction was settling into him like a lead weight on his body. In his mind he could see 's dejected face as she walked out of his room- after he had basically thrown her out.
You're a jerk !
He scolded himself cringing at the replay of the temper tantrum in his mind. He had never been a real animal lover and true- 's extra guest had been a shock to him, but he didn't really hate the duck. He just had lost it and totally blown up at her.
You have to fix this!
He resolved and with that pulled on his ski parka, grabbed his keys, scribbled a note and taped it to 's door before hoping in the rented jeep in the garage and heading down the mountain.
Seeing the folded white piece of paper taped to the door as she opened it, set down her suitcase and rolled it between her fingers before curiosity won out and she had to read it.
I'm Sorry
Please don't leave.
Her heart fluttered for a brief second; it was the closest thing to a love note that she would ever have from him. But as her new best friend nuzzled against her ankles remembered the way he'd yelled at Gil. He really didn't like the duck and truly didn't want them there.
Probably just feels guilty.
She decided folding the note and putting it in her pocket. Picking up the suitcase turned back around calling Gil who faithfully followed her everywhere like a loyal dog.
"Gil. Let's go."
But the duck was no longer at her feet. Walking back into the room to search for him she found him comfortably nestled in his corner bed she'd made out of old blankets.
"Gil. Let's go."
She demanded again.
The duck gave her a weak quack and buried his head into his wing, ending the discussion.
sighed and put her bags down right inside the door; she sat down on the bed and pulled her laptop out of a thin black satchel.
I'll have to carry Gil out once he's asleep, she thought. Meawhile might as well get some work done.
Tap tap tap
was furiously typing away on her laptop; burying herself in work to try and forget where she was and who she was with that made the dormant butterflies come madly to life every time she thought of him sleeping just down the hall from her door.
Tap tap tap
Attempting to ignore the knocking that was interrupting the brainstorm she was trying to get written down before it was lost; it was the first breakthrough she'd had in weeks on the ad
"?"
Pressing the save button she blew out her bangs; satisfied with the work and now able to concentrate on the voice belonging to the man on the other side of the door. Checking the mirror at the sad state of her hair; she yanked off her reading glasses and tried to smooth out the crumpled blouse she was wearing, but catching herself primping for him she messed up her hair again and put her thick glasses back on her face.
He has no affect on me!
She tried to convince herself without luck as she opened the door. The anti- mantra dying in her brain as he stood there standing sheepishly against the frame. His face had a warm light to it; rosy cheeks and darker than normal eyes; he had bare feet but a crisp white button up shirt and pressed slacks on.
inhaled deep trying to steady herself and remind her mutinying heart that he wasn't supposed to have this affect on her- even if he did look like some earth bound angel.
"Hungry?"
's eyes twinkled as he tried to contain the smile threatening to burst from his mouth at any moment.
"Not really."
shrugged muffinge her growling stomach.
"Oh, o.k. then. I guess I’ll have to eat alone then."
At that moment the aroma of whatever he was blackmailing her with snaked it's way to her bedroom. The tantalizing smells were heavenly; her stomach rumbled underneath her hand.
"I guess I could use a quick bite to eat."
I will not enjoy this!
She vowed following down the hall and into the kitchen, stopping suddenly as she entered in. On the bar was set out two elaborate place settings with china and gold cutlery; crystal glasses holding a deep, rich burgundy wine; candles that not only illuminated the bar but also spilled into the living room and foyer; casting a romantic glow on the entire cabin, even a silver bow tied box sat on the counter; promising sugary pleasures to come. Covering the plates were generous servings of a decadent looking porcini and ricotta stuffed pasta shells and red wine risotto with wild truffle butter and a crusty French loaf between the two plates.
"Wh-what is this?"
"Dinner'
He smiled satisfied by the stunned look in her eyes
"Where did it come from?"
"I went out for awhile and picked up dinner; I figured I had tortured you enough with my bad mood you didn't need to suffer from my cooking as well."
He placed a hand on her back and guided her to the chair; pulling it out and even unfolding her silk napkin and placing it in her lap.
just took in everything with a complete loss for words. No one had ever done anything like this for her before; she had considered it incredibly romantic when her last boyfriend went in halfsies for a pizza delivered to the apartment, but this- this was very expensive gourmet food. Her ears perked up as something familiar played in the air.
"Is that Tchaikovsky?"
The tune delighted her ears.
smiled as he sat down in the chair beside hers,
"Yeah. I remembered that you said once he was your favorite composer."
stared at the man next to her; he had remembered that? She had told them about Tchaikovsky one time back when she was a teenager and he had remembered it even now. There were no words to explain her amazement and giddiness at the dream scene she was now sitting in. One bite of the incredible food confirmed that there was no possible chance she was awake; she had never had food this amazing in her life- this was most definitely a dream.
Feeling watchful eyes boring into the side of her head she tried not to greedily devour the food, but it was heavenly.
Turning to she studied his face for a moment before speaking, but as she opened her mouth to thank him he spoke first,
"You've changed so much; in some ways. You certainly aren't the same little girl who left Ireland years ago."
She knew it wasn't just a statement it was a question. Finishing off the last sip of wine dutifully replenished her glass and waited for her response.
"I know I was a bit of a geek. I guess I just grew up- I don't know. I got contacts, my teeth were finally straight, roommates took me shopping and eventually I ended up liking girl's clothes instead of the baggy boy’s overalls and tee shirts,”
laughed remembering what a tomboy she had been always walking around in boys clothing and baseball caps; always bringing home piles of rocks for her rock collection and various animals that she would find outside to keep as pets.
That would explain the duck! He realized.
continued,
"A stylist friend showed me how to do my hair and I guess I sort of liked being a girl."
"You're still the same on the inside."
For a moment 's breath stalled in her chest and the nervous smile slid across her face as she tried to figure out if what he had said was meant as a compliment or not.
"That's a good thing ."
He grabbed hold of the restless hand that was fiddling with her wine glass; noticing her sudden apprehension.
Inside felt all of twelve and about as hormone laden as any twelve year old girl, sitting at a private romantic dinner with the man of her dreams. He was touching her; it was delicate and on purpose. His eyes studied her; she wondered if he was actually seeing into her very soul- maybe he was reading her mind; crystal orbs; that seemed to penetrate every secret hiding place she didn't even know existed inside of her.
was careful to watch her reaction as he tried to take her hand as casually as possible. But the way his pulse raced at impossible speeds he knew there was no way that touching in anyway could be just casual. She was like some super powered magnet that his body was helplessly drawn to. If he didn't run his fingers through her hair very soon he was sure he'd die. The second their skin touched it didn't disappoint; the electricity was more potent than he had imagined; it was like touching fire; velvety smooth, lust scented, purely female fire!
"… This was just really, um, too much."
She stuttered.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I don't know why I blew up about the duck. I feel really bad and I don't want you guys to leave. Please stay here until your presentation. I'll even stay out of your way if you want."
NO! Anything but that! Spend every waking moment with me; lose me in your kiss, hold me in your strong arms, fulfill every erotic fantasy I've ever created of us together- anything but stay away from me!
Her mind screamed so loudly, she was worried that maybe she was actually saying the word aloud..
"You sure you won't mind us staying here?"
"I am one hundred and ten percent positive that nothing would make me happier than having you and that duck as my roommates for the next two days."
"Thanks . For everything."
"Don’t thank me yet," he had that mischievous glint in his eyes that made her heart skip at least two beats and as he stood up and released her hands; causing her body to instantly go cold.
"The night isn't over. We still have dessert."
Picking up the small neatly wrapped box on the counter he dangled it temptingly in front of her face and a strong whiff of dark chocolate taunted her nose. Although it was nothing compared to the "dessert" her sex starved brain had been hoping for.
"And we can enjoy it while watching a movie."
"Sounds good."
She said half heartedly; not in the mood for one of the action movies that and would stay up all night watching together.
"Well I hope so. Do you know how hard it was to find Guys and Dolls at the video stores in Jackson Hole?"
"Guys and Dolls?"
For the second time that night she was sure her ears were playing tricks on her. Had he really said that he had rented her all time favorite musical? How on earth had he known it was her favorite- she was sure she'd never told him?
" told me it was your favorite."
He explained; seeming to read her mind as he extended a hand leading her into the living room.
Sinking onto the plush couch; two filled wine glasses, a plate of truffles, 's warm body leaning against her; all while watching her all time favorite movie by candlelight- was sure she could die happy - although there was no way heaven could be much better than right here and now.
If this is him trying to seduce me; then he won. He deserves for me to fall for it; he's too good at the game~
She sighed feeling his strong arm wrap around her neck; protectively and comfortably pulling her head into the nook of his shoulder, letting his fingers lightly graze her cheek.
"Thanks for staying."
He whispered into her ear so closely that could feel his heated lips against her sensitive skin, causing a shudder throughout her entire body. As she turned her face to meet his; she could see the reflection of the fire dancing in his eyes; his whole face silhouetted in perfection.
This is exactly how being swept off your feet looks like in the movies- it does exist!
Her brain screamed to all those people that had mocked all her hopelessly romantic ideas.
Time stood still around them as his face fell to hers and she waited for the electric, the all consuming magical touch of their first kiss.
"You have four new messages"
" darling it's me, Angela. Why haven't you called me? I had a great time the other night and was hoping we could do it again.bye"
Click
". Hi, it's uh Diane. I promised myself I wouldn't call, but I really want to see you again. The other night was amazing and I can't stop thinking about you. Call me."
Click
"Hey lover- it's Tiffany. My boyfriend is out tonight, I was hoping you would come by again - give me a call. Bye for now."
Click
", it's Melanie. Why haven't you called me?"
Click
"End of messages"
The robotic voice announced, leaving a suffocating silence in the large room. The voices on the screen sounded as if they were a million miles away.
couldn't move; every muscle in his body was frozen; not responding to any command his brain gave. It probably didn't help that his brain was equally stupefied.
Did that really just happen?
The silence was unbearable, but no words came to mind. was just as stiff in his arms. He didn't know whether to let go of her or pretend nothing had happened. The quacking filled the entire room as he looked over just in time to see Gil step on the large play button again and the woman's voices filled the room once again.
"Shoo, shoo"
swatted at the duck, scrambling to hit the stop button. But Gil didn't move; holding his ground proudly on top of the answering machine. When the last voice finished playing again, Gil stepped down from his perch and waddled up next to who finally moved.
Finally her legs solidified enough for her to stand up; she had to get out of that room. When had warned her that was a player she had no idea she was just going to be Wednesday's night conquer, to be ignored the next day like all the others. The thought of how many others there probably were made her stomach ache; all the food meant to seduce her now felt like a heavy brick gnawing her insides.
" wait."
quickly jumped to his feet chasing after her; grabbing her hand as she tried to leave.
"Let go of me!" She threw his hand off of her like it was some horrible disease infected insect. "Don't touch me . I can't believe I fell for it all- food, wine, chocolate, candlelight, movie and meaningless sex."
She cursed herself over and over for being so willing only moments before.
"No it's not like that. I... It's.... "
There were no words to explain anything, because the truth: that she was right. That was how he seduced woman and since he'd been at the resort it had been many more than when he was on tour. There was no way to explain that there was something different about this time. That when he did all that for tonight he just wanted to make her happy; to do something nice for her; no obligation to it. There was no way she'd believe it, he had trouble believing it himself; maybe subconsciously he was trying to seduce her. But she wasn't like all the other nameless, faceless girls; he didn't care about them. He didn't care if they were good people or not on the inside, didn't care what their favorite movies or musicians were. He didn't know nor care to know what they looked like when they were ten and in pigtails and football jerseys. All those things he knew about and made his heart pound like it was going to burst if he didn't get to know more about her.
"It's what?"
She shot; trying hard not to melt into a furious puddle of hurt, embarrassment and anger. The fight she was having with her emotions caused her to shake.
"It's not like you have a new woman in you arms every night? That that wasn't the few voices of the many women you seduced and then discarded the next morning?"
He had never thought of it like that; in 's mind he was having fun; being a guy, doing what all celebrities were entitled to. And somewhere along the way he had dehumanized his actions; completely forgetting the other set of emotions attached to a one night stand. And of all people to throw it back into his face like a moldy dishrag; it had to be .
"Maybe I have done those things, but that's not me . I wasn’t going to use you, I swear it!"
She snorted at him,
"So what you've completely changed in a day? It's me . I saw all the starry eyed girls in school that'd do whatever you wanted at the drop of a hat. I've seen the shows now; I've talked to - don't tell me you don't take advantage of the fact that at any given country in the world there is at the very least a few thousand girls willing to be used by you."
She's wrong- he thought. I'm not like that; it's just been since I've been at the resort. Back home I don't bother with any of that woman: I know they don't want me just my name; my fame- of course would never believe that.
"I have no excuse , I've just been...I'm just...”
"What?"
She yelled; her hurt having turned to anger- how dare he even attempt to defend himself. Shuffling his bear feet across the shaggy wool rug on the floor, dug his hands deep into his pockets; his head wishing it had room to burrow in alongside them. He couldn't look her in the eye; he couldn't bear hearing her accuse him of these things.
"I've just been lonely."
opened her mouth to continue yelling at him, but no words came out. I t was the one excuse she hadn't planned on hearing. He was surrounded by screaming fans everyday- how could he be lonely? She was mad but knew she had no more right to yell at him; hadn't she done numerous stupid things based on loneliness? was still human. She looked at him; he had turned his back to her; but she could still see that his head was hung; ashamed.
Grabbing hold of Gil who was still sat contently at her feet she left the room as silent as possible.
For the next two days and Gil stayed locked in the bedroom. tried to be alert to whenever she'd open her door and come out to get something to eat or drink, but even if he timed it right to bump into her; she still wasn't talking to him. Even the duck seemed to give him the silent treatment. He could hear her typing away; sometimes till the early morning hours and knew his time with her was almost up. Her presentation was this evening; she had taken a cab half an hour ago and then she'd be flying out tomorrow. He couldn't find anyway to fix this though, as much as it felt like a noose choking the very life from his body; all he could do was watch her go; angry and hurt and wanting nothing to do with him. He had called the girls from the answering machine; apologized for leading them on, but explaining that there would be nothing between them. Most of them seemed o.k.; very few had actually expected anything more. After tomorrow he'd be alone again in the big massive cabin; in the middle of a snowy, white skiers paradise; roaring fires, gourmet kitchen, plasma TV with movie projector and a king size canopy bed that he would be in all alone.
Around nine o' clock in the middle of the news cast he was watching; heard the front door knob turn. He tried to hush the excitement bubbling inside his veins at her return; he didn't even realize he'd been waiting for her, but it had now occurred to him that he had missed her; the six hours she'd been gone; the house had seemed empty. She had taken Gil with her in a pet carrier .. He had actually missed the squeaky sound of the duck waddling on the maple floors throughout the house too.
Doing his best to make sure his voice sounded casual he didn't bother to look away from the TV screen; although the second he smelt the uniquely exotic scent of her permeate the living room when she stepped in; he wanted to see her and hope that the look of disappoint was no longer stamped permanently on her perfect face.
"How'd it go?"
"Fine."
she said shutting the door and walking right past him down the hall and to her room.
This wasn't much better than the silent treatment. He called after her,
"What time's your flight tomorrow?"
Her voice came from down the hall, "Ten a.m. The cab's picking me up here at seven."
"You don't have to get a cab; I can drive you."
Grasping for anytime he could spend with her.
"Don't bother ."
And with that the door slammed shut - he decided he preferred the silent treatment.
Once safely behind the sanctuary of the locked door; could finally exhale. The meeting had gone fantastic; she was exhausted but it was all worth it. The company had hired her and her team for a million dollar ad campaign and her agency was thrilled. She was so excited on the cab ride home; telling Gil every detail of the meeting- he was an excellent listener. Even as the cab drove her up the windy, recently plowed and well illuminated private drive to the house, she was excited to tell about her day. But the moment she stepped in the door; seeing his head peeking over the couch back; his masculine, smooth voice sounding genuinely interested in her day she was instantly angry again. But it wasn't because of ; was mad at herself. He had been the one that screwed up, but the past few nights she kept replaying the whole disastrous night in her mind; and every time she hit replay-she found less and less at fault. This was HIS vacation; she wasn't his mother or his girlfriend- she had absolutely no claim on him and no reason to be upset over who he was with. But that didn’t stop the jealousy from engulfing every ounce of her body. Every time she saw or thought about him all she could do was picture all those other women that he had whispered sweet nothings to and gently brushed their cheeks with his electric fingertips. This was not the strong confident woman she had worked so hard to become; this was a pathetic puddle of envious lovesick goo and she swore never to be that weak for anyone. Walking in the door tonight felt like that silly little girl fantasy that she would never admit to keeping alive and well in the cobwebs of her mind: coming home after a long, but exciting day to a handsome, caring man in their beautiful home; he would ask her about her day and she would tell him all about her successful career while running her hands through his hair only to fall into his arms and they'd make love until sunrise and longer. But this wasn't her fairytale; she was 's nothing. And the sooner tomorrow came and she could fly across the ocean from this man that could so easily become her addiction- the better!
He couldn't help but snicker as she waddled the same way Gil did; a suitcase in each hand coming down the hall. It couldn't have been more perfect if he had arranged it with the forces-that-be himself; a cruel and unfair twist of fate in his favor and inside him every body part was smiling- his liver was grinning from one side to the other.
"You're off then?"
He went for somber and played it off well.
"Yeah," she set down the heavy matching luggage pieces and slid into the chair across from where he sat at the couch. "Thanks again for letting us stay here ."
For a moment his mind drifted as her full pink lips spoke; still puffy from sleep; he couldn't take his eyes from them- licking his parched mouth; using all restraint not to reach over and drag his fingers over them. A hard cold object on his ankle snapped him out of his mindless desire. The object moved further up his leg and jumped.
"Whoa!"
"Gil!"
scolded, but the duck snaked his beak further up 's flannel pajama bottoms. waited to be bit at any moment.
"He likes you. He doesn't want to leave."
"You don't have to you know?"
Forgetting his leverage entirely.
"No. We do have to."
stood up removing the duck from halfway up 's trousers; again he tried to stifle the laughter developing inside him- if only she knew! He thought; not to mention the feathers tickled.
He stayed sprawled on the couch; remote poised in hand from when he had quickly shut off the TV as soon as he heard her door open while she quietly walked to the front door; it was five past seven.
"I'm going to wait out front for the cab."
"Suit yourself."
Wait for it, wait for it- he felt like a school boy anxiously waiting for the teacher to sit down on the whoopee cushion left on her chair.
"What the hell?!?"
His smile burst forth; no longer able to be contained as it had been since he woke up and turned on the TV to find out that it was a white out. Roads were closed, over four feet of fresh snow had fallen during the blizzard overnight and another twenty to thirty inches were expected today. They were one of the few lucky cabins to even still have power.
Slamming the door against the bright white world that stretched for as far as could she; she shivered. The snow was piled almost as tall as the front door and the small space that wasn't snow covered just let the blustering winds blow violently into her face. This couldn't be happening!
"? What's going on? Please tell me that this is supposed to end soon and the plows are clearing the roads."
She felt panic begin to rise in her throat; she had never considered this in her carefully calculated escape from the tall bond temptation that she so desperately needed escape from.
"Nope . It's a blizzard- white out conditions. All roads are closed and you are snowed in here with me."
"What?!? That's impossible."
Inside one of the biggest houses she had ever been in her life and she suddenly began to feel claustrophobic; there was no way she could be stuck here with him; her brain wouldn't wrap around the idea- she was too....weak.
"But my flight. And 's going to be waiting for me at the airport." she babbled.
"All flights will be rescheduled when the airport reopens and I already called and told him what is going on."
Gil was immune to his owners panic; as soon as the snow had blown in chilling his feathers he had scurried over next to the oversized fireplace; and curled into a content little ball
Duck's don't have to worry about missed flights
thought as she scooped him up and went back into the only safe place in the house; locking the door behind her.
The power didn't go out until lunch time. had spent the entire morning gathering all the gas lanterns, flashlights, candles and other emergency gear that was included with the rental cabin. He had pulled out at least a weeks worth of firewood as it would be the only heat source. however hadn't factored that into the misery of a blizzard and was in the middle of a shower; watered down with shampoo dripping and stinging her eyes as the bathroom suddenly went pitch black. And the water quickly turned to ice.
heard the scream from down the hall and came running. Using the key he had for her bedroom door he unlocked it and went to the bathroom door; knocking,
"Are you o.k.?"
"How did you get in?"
"Key."
Figures!
She sighed as shampoo dripped into her mouth.
"It’s dark in here; I can't see anything."
She stuck her head under the freezing spray of water and rinsed herself as best she could; quickly shutting off the frigid waterfall. But once the shower was off and she opened the glass doors; the room looked like a hazardous cave, even as her eyes adjusted there wasn't even shapes to make out; there were no outside windows to provide light.
"Do you want help?"
"No!"
she quickly answered; stepping out of the shower and onto the bath mat- so far so good- taking a baby step forward and reaching out her arms she felt for the towel she had left hanging somewhere on the wall. As her fingertips rubbed against the terry fabric she smiled to herself- this isn’t so bad!
That's when she took another step and slammed into the hamper; the mahogany hamper that was set next to the cabinet and fell against the pedestal sink; as the dominos of heavy furniture fell; something crashed to the ground but as soon as her knee slammed into something hard and sharp the blinding pain was all she could think about. Falling hard to the cold marble floor; she cradled her leg and felt a wet liquid come from her knee; she was bleeding.
In a soft, surrendering voice she called out to him:
" I need you."
It was exactly what he had been waiting to hear. As soon as he heard the crash and loud thud on the floor he was already beginning to turn the knob and come in to help her but as he opened the door he heard the soft cry for help. She wasn't lying; it was the darkest place he had ever been in; there wasn't even an outline of anything to use as a guide. He could hear her breathing though; it was deep and panicked; that’s what he followed to find her.
The first thing felt was the soft, warm towel wrap around her trembling body; she hadn't even realized it had fallen off in the crash, but carefully replaced it and then swooped her up in his arms. She wasn't sure how he was going to see any better than she could in the room, but his arms felt safe and secure and she let her head burrow deep into his shoulder until he set her down gently in the safety of the lantern lit living room.
"Thanks"
said as she pulled the small fabric around her naked body. The howling wind outside beat against the windows that made up most of the living room, but the blazing fire kept going made the room warm and cozy.
had tried to not touch anymore skin than necessary as he carried her, but silky, still damp skin his fingers had grazed across sent shock waves throughout him. She looked so vulnerable sitting only feet from him with nothing more than a piece of woven fabric keeping his hands from exploring every inch of the body he had spent the last few nights fantasizing about. Her hair hung damp and dark down her back; her face bare of any makeup.
She's breathtaking!
He thought.
"Thanks. For well, um, saving me I guess."
He couldn't keep his heart from swelling at the sound of "saving me".
"I feel so stupid now."
She blushed trying to stand up as lady like as possible, but without much practice in mini skirts; she ended up doing an awkward scoot almost half fall off the side of the couch.
Trying to maintain what little dignity you still had left was one thing, but freezing to death was a completely other. It had been fifteen minutes since had knocked at her bedroom door and offered her some soup he had cooked on a camp stove out by the fire.
The warm, crackling fire....
She sighed wistfully, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. When the house had central heat; her room was a warm, luxurious hideaway, but when the only source of heat was now situated a good distance from her room and had no hope of getting in with her door closed- her room was an igloo. She had to come out, she was so cold- despite the two pairs of sweat pants, two turtlenecks a hoodie, mittens and three pairs of socks. Plus, her stomach chimed in, she was hungry. She had managed to sneak out of the room earlier in order to boil some water on the propane stove and pour it in the bathtub so that Gil could take a warm bath. She could hear him squawking and splashing away in the lantern lit bathroom- completely oblivious to the heatless air around him.
Vowing not to look up as she walked into the living room, kept his head down and continued to stir the pot of vegetable soup on the burner. This was a small victory for her to finally come out and join in for a meal; he wasn't going to scare her away- ignoring her back was the best strategy. Sitting down cross-legged in front of the coffee table that now served as their dining table; she pulled the quilt around her body. handed her a steaming bowl of soup and a spoon.
"Thanks."
She said just holding onto the heat of the bowl; warming her hands then her arms and on down her body. She glanced over at who was staring intently at the simmering pot; he was bundled in sweat pants, hoodie and wool socks like her; although he still looked incredibly handsome without his designer clothes. Taking her first sip of the rich tomato-y liquid; it flowed down her throat; infusing every part of her body with instant warmth; after three bites she sloughed off the blanket and quickly finished the delicious soup; she was hungrier than she had realized.
"More?" offered.
nodded and looked around the room; the soup had loosened up her body and the tenseness she had first felt joining him for dinner seemed to melt away with every bite she was able to absorb her surroundings. In the vast room were three lanterns all providing a flickering unnatural light; causing shadows to dance on the walls and all the way up to the ceiling. One lantern was with them on the coffee table, one was set on the kitchen counter and the third was strategically placed on the entertainment center; providing ample light to the room. Spaced in the various nooks and crannies were candles and the early night of winter provided bright moonlit scattering in through the few spaces of window not covered in snow. What used to be an endless view of pine trees, blue skies and snow peaked mountains out of the panoramic windows was now nothing but white; it looked like someone had come and painted everything in the night. had the battery powered radio on softly in the background and could hear the ongoing report of record breaking snow fall; it had finally stopped but not before dropping a total of fifty-six inches of snow on the mountain. Power was out to over ten thousand homes in the area and the National Guard had been called in to plow the roads, but probably wouldn't be able to get roads travelable again for at least three days. She sighed hopelessly; deciding that this sucked big time.
"Thanks,"
she said taking the refilled bowl offered to her; trying hard not to brush his hand, but failing and cursing her body for shuddering at it.
"Warming up?"
"Yeah."
The silence was uncomfortable; she tried to eat quickly so that she could go back into her frozen room. Her mind resisted; no part of her thawed body wanted to go back in there, but sitting here with him in uncomfortable silence was worse.
"We used to be able to talk about anything remember?"
She wondered if he was reading her mind as he spoke; soft and nostalgic.
She remembered; unable to stop the smile forming on her lips. She always loved talking to her brother's best friend; she wondered how a rock collecting, book loving geek like her could possibly have so much in common with a good looking, smooth talking jock like him. But they did; he would bring her rocks that he had found and tell her what he'd learned researching them; she just listened amazed that he'd even bothered. Sometimes when she'd tag along with and to the movies she would tell him how they'd done all the CG effects and he actually seemed interested.
"Remember the time we spent the afternoon arguing about if Prince was really a human or a government conspired android?"
couldn't help but laugh.
"And the time you convinced me to help you make a volcano for your science fair project and I put in milk instead of water in for the lava and it curdled with the vinegar- your whole house smelt like rotten eggs for weeks."
laughed again,
"You were," he corrected, "are a lot of fun to hang out with."
"Now that I'm not a geek anymore right?"
She bit her lip as soon as the words escaped- why did she say that? She hadn't intended to; the words had just leaked out, she quickly fumbled," Sorry. Never mind- don't answer that."
". Sometimes when I would talk to you all the years ago I wouldn’t even hear half the words you spoke, because you'd take off those thick glasses and I 'd get a glimpse of the biggest eyes and thickest lashes I'd ever seen and I couldn’t even manage a coherent thought. Every once in awhile I would accidentally brush up against you; helping you wipe mud off your face or putting face paint on for the haunted house and my breath would feel like a hand choking my chest because you felt like silk; soft and delicate. And I would never have admitted it to your brother; if he found out he'd hurt me, but I always suggested taking you to the swimming hole with us, do you know why?"
shook her head dumbly.
"It was the few magic moments I would get a peak at your feminine body. You always hid yourself under baggy clothes; but when we went swimming your tee shirt and shorts clung to your body and I could feel my pulse race at speeds that no other girl in school could cause it to."
saw a slight red coloring cross 's cheek as his confessions spilled out; she couldn't believe what he was saying; he thought she was beautiful back then.
looked at her still face for a minute and wondered if maybe he'd made a mistake; maybe he shouldn't have said anything. But when she suggested he only liked her now that she had grown up the truth just seemed to come from his mouth automatically. His brain hadn't even properly acknowledged that he had ever been attracted to her back then, but as he listened to his mouth speak like it was detached from his body, he finally realized- he had been in love with her all this time. The thought seemed to stop all automatic functions dead. Breathing became a struggle, thinking was impossible; he wasn't even sure his heart was beating inside his tight chest any longer.
Furious splashing and squawking broke up the thick silence.
"Oh, uh it's Gil- he must be done with his bath."
said mostly disoriented; she had forgotten Gil even existed; she had forgotten everything in the world except for a husky voice telling her things she wasn't sure she was ever supposed to have heard.
"Yeah."
said with a forced laugh as she quickly stood up and left the room.
Once she was in her room; felt like she was going to pass out- she had stood up too quickly, but taking in everything he said seemed to overload her senses.
Quack!
"Oh Gil"
She grabbed a towel off the wall and went over to the duck who was sitting in now room temperature water she swore he looked annoyed and laughed.
"Don't give me that look!"
She told him smiling and setting him down on the tile floor so he could begin drying his feathers.
Quack!
He told her again and started pulling his wing feathers in his mouth.
"So what do I do Gil? You’re a smart duck- what would you do if a female duck; who seemed to um... get around with a lot of other boy ducks just told you that she thought you were handsome when you were ducklings? What if you wanted to be with her so bad it physically hurt, but you knew that once you ...um...swam together...she'd leave you and go swim with another duck?"
Gil stopped preening for a minute and looked at her as if contemplating her questions and then buried his head back into his feathers.
"You're right she sighed pull her legs up under her chin as she leaned back against the bathroom wall, "I’m an idiot."
Gil didn't even look up when he quacked in agreement.
After Gil was all dry carried him back out to the living room, she didn't feel like being a frozen recluse anymore.
was sitting at the kitchen counter with a deck of cards spread out in front of him.
"Oh hey."
"Hey,"
she smile weakly; if they still had more days together in this house; it had to get less awkward or else she'd scream.
"Wanna play?"
She pointed at the cards.
smiled, "sure."
On their fourth round of rummy and sceond batch of stove top popcorn finally relaxed and resolved to beat the cheater at his own game.
"I am not cheating!" He insisted again.
"Yes you are! There is no way you drew that two of clubs. I had discarded it earlier."
"You are crazy woman- I drew it fair and square and kicked your butt with it."
groaned, he wasn't only kicking her butt; he was grinding her into the mud and doing a happy card dance on top of her; he had to be cheating!
"This popcorn is really good. I don't think I've ever had popcorn that wasn't microwaved."
She threw another piece in the air and caught it in her mouth.
"How about dessert?"
asked with a cocked eyebrow.
For a moment 's brain detoured to the gutter again as she imagined ways to stay warm in the cabin skin to skin with the devilishly grinning man in front of her.
"Uh sure."
She snapped herself out of the fantasy.
With warm marshmallow and chocolate oozing out of the graham crackers continued telling about her career as a creative consultant for the Magee advertising agency. She had taken the job as a stepping stone hoping it would lead to a job as an illustrator or anything artistic, but after a year with the company she had discovered that she not only loved the job but was good at it.
"I didn't know you were an artist."
said; chocolate goop dripping from his mouth.
"Neither did I until I tried it and was hooked. I feel lost if I'm not creating."
watched her; her whole body seemed alive as she spoke about her job; she was truly happy. He loved listening to her talk; everything she said was so real; her emotions were genuine- it had been a long time since he'd talked to woman who wasn't putting on an act for him.
They continued talking into the wee hours of early morning; threw fresh pine logs on the fire every hour and the whole place filled with a rush of smoky air and rustic smells. It made tired, but she enjoyed talking to ; his version of stardom was so different than her brothers and the more he seemed to tell her about his hectic life the less his brow seemed furrowed and burdened by it.
"You can barely hold you eyes open."
He cooed at her; watching her sleep sexy eyes droop and then force back open- the snaking orange flames from the fire reflected in her pupils. He drew in a sharp breath.
"I guess it is late isn't it?"
she resigned; pulling herself up to standing and picking up Gil in the wool quilt he had nestled himself into near the fire- he gave her an angry quack for disrupting his warm napping spot.
"No. - you can't sleep in your room; it's freezing back there. "
"I'm fine- I have blankets and a cantankerous duck I can use for down filling if need be."
Gil ignored the comment already falling back to sleep in her arms.
"I insist you sleep out here on the couch."
"But where will you sleep? Your room is even farther back in the house than mine?"
"I have a small fireplace I can start up."
""
"Just go get ready for bed. I won't take no for an answer." With a gentle motion he turned her body and pushed her down the hall towards her room.
Coming out in warm flannel pajamas and hair pulled up in a ponytail looked at the cozy turned down bed made up for her on the couch.
"For me?"
She turned around when she heard footsteps padding up behind her. And the desire to hug him was overwhelming.
"Are you sure you'll be o.k. in your room?"
She knew how long it took to get a fire going and then for it to warm the room; his room was going to be subzero for a long time.
"I'm sure," he said and before she could argue or pull away he gently kissed her forehead, "good night ."
He said before turning away and leaving the room.
They had turned off all but the one lantern in the bathroom before going to bed last night, so the brightness of sun against the pure white snow woke early. She could see the sun peaking through the tops of most all the windows. Stretching; her mind worked to catch up with the rest of her still half asleep body. She had dreamt; vivid, lifelike dreams all about and her. But as a shiver ran through her when she pulled the blanket off and head to the bathroom she wanted to go back to bed and continue dreaming about her and on the sandy secluded beach of a tropical island.
"Morning."
She looked completely startled as she rounded the corner, but he was just as surprised to see her; he hadn't heard her get up.
"Oh- hi."
she smiled shyly, trying to comb out some wild strands of hair with her fingers. He had never seen her more beautiful; she was completely natural and off guard; she wasn't awake enough to be defensive against him and her bashful smile at almost bumping into his bare chest as she stepped out the door begged be touched was innocently sexy.
"I'm starting some coffee out on the burner and some eggs if you want breakfast."
"Sounds great, I'm just going to go get dressed."
Even with the door having been left open all night- her room was still much colder than the rest of the house. She searched her suitcases for warm clothes; but yesterdays multiple layers had seriously depleted her supply. She pulled on a pair of jeans and tee shirt; zipping up a thin fleece over the top and a pair of dirty socks. She let her hair fall around her shoulders to warm her neck.
Almost bumping into him again she caught her breath stepping out of the door; her face met his stubbled chin and - damn him!- she lustly hissed; he was still shirtless; her hands came up automatically as she ran into him and her palms fell on rough chest hair covering a muscular chest. Her heart tried refusing her brains instructions to remove her hands; instead every hormone in her body screamed: touch him, savor him, oh the things that strong body could do to you!
"!"
Finally her hands accepted the instructions and dropped down to her sides.
"Here- I thought you might be needing a fresh supply of warm clothes."
He shoved a thick wool sweater into her hands; the manly, upscale yet earthy smell that drove her to near madness swarmed the garment and began a merciless assault on her senses as she held it.
"Thanks."
She was barely able to mutter.
turned to leave but turned back to her with a slight smile on his face, "that’s the first time you called me since you've been here."
hadn't even realized she'd said it, it had just felt natural.
With a quick wink he turned and left her.
wasn't sure how long she actually stood in the hall after he had left; all rational thinking- which included legs moving, lungs breathing, eyes blinking- had ceased. And once she finally managed to put the sweater over her body; the complete numbness overtook her once again. It felt just like she imagined it felt to be in his arms; relaxed, protected and warm all over.
His eyes took in the sight of her walking into the room wearing his favorite sweater. He spent many cold, lonely nights in it. But seeing ; with her messy hair falling over the shoulders of the gray wool; her small body being swallowed up in it his heart did the same, curious flip flopping that it had done when he was eating smores by the fire with her last night. It was nothing like the feelings he usually had near girls- normal male feelings: sweaty, eager palms, parched mouth, hardening body parts. She did all those things to him, but she also made his heart race by just seeing her face and an irresistible desire to want to do anything and everything just to make her smile.
"Thanks."
tugged on the sweater.
"No problem," he murmured and handed her a cup of coffee.
So maybe she'd never admit it, but being snowed in wasn't as bad as had expected. She would kill for a hot shower and a microwave pizza, but cooking over the gas stove and carrying a lantern with you to the bathroom was just like camping; it made her feel rugged. The company wasn’t bad either; actually being with was wonderful; for more than a few moments of the day she even forgot that he was a master of seduction that she was trying to avoid. They talked about old school memories that she had forgotten until he brought them up; he told her more about being on the road and how much he truly loved singing and performing. She even admitted to him her favorite Westlife song: Flying without Wings and he sung it to her. denied it, she fought it kicking and screaming, she refused to let any cell admit to it, but she was falling in love .
Raiding the game closet came back with his arms loaded with Monopoly, Life and Candy land. On top of the stack teetered a bottle of red wine.
Setting them down and pouring them each a glass of wine opened Monopoly and started to set up the game, "I was never able to beat you at this game, but this time you are going down Miss ."
laughed- they had played many times as teenagers and he would always land on her hotel covered properties and go bankrupt.
Three glasses of wine later; the game hadn't changed much in ten years; she owned three quarters of the board and desperately clung to twenty dollars and two railroads. As she shook the dice for her turn Gil jumped onto the board scattering pieces all over the floor.
"Oh Gil!" She laughed.
joined her down on the floor picking up scattered pieces.
"Did you remember to feed him?"
"Oh shit!"
She drunkenly giggled and turned to her disgruntled pet.
"I'm sorry Gil. But did you have to ruin our game?"
"Don’t worry about it . We can play something else. How else is he supposed to get your attention?"
The duck nuzzled up to ; understanding the man was on his side and watched. He seemed so different from the man who had thrown a temper tantrum when he found the animal on his bed; now he sat there petting a duck that looked like he was in heaven; leaning into 's hand.
"I swear this duck is more dog than duck."
laughed at Gil.
Maybe it was the three bottles of wine that made 's eyes heavy and hard to keep open; or maybe it was the fact that it was three in the morning. It was definitely the wine that made her body feel hot for the first time in two days, but then again that could have been from the masculine body sitting thigh to thigh next to her on the couch as they talked; never seeming to run out of things. They had just finished a heated- as heated as two drunk people in the middle of the night can get- debate about who would win in a fight: Frodo Baggins or Maxwell Smart. She was laughing so hard her stomach ached and even in her inebriated state; she realized she hadn't laughed this hard in ages. She was happier than she'd been in longer than she could remember with and with that thought she passed out on the couch.
Someone stop the hammering!
moaned as she woke up to a pounding headache. It was light again and the snow had melted down the windows even further. The room spun as she opened her eyes and slowly she begged everything to come into focus before it made her sick. The night was a blur; she remembered and laughing- a lot. As she pulled the warm quilt off and sat up in her pajamas she realized she hadn't gone to sleep wearing pajamas!
! Cheeky angel- she bushed and awed at the same time.
He had also tucked her into bed; remaking the cozy makeshift bed out on the couch next to the fire; the blankets carefully pulled under her chin. From in the distance she heard splashing and tried to stand up once before falling down. Slowly attempting it again she stood up and waited for the room to catch up before following the wet sound.
"Gil?"
"Oh! Good morning!" smiled at her. He was propped up against the bathroom wall; reading a newspaper by lantern while the duck was splashing happily in the warm juacuzzi tub bath. felt the beginnings of tears prickle her eyes.
"You? You-" she tried to start but couldn't get out the words of shock; he had taken care of Gil for her.
"He woke me up and seemed hungry and cold so I fed him and warmed him up some water for a bath. I hope it was o.k.?"
just nodded her head; tears ready to spill at any moment
"And me?" She fiddled with the oversized men's flannel pajama pants and football jersey.
stood up and walked to her with a concerned look on his freshly shaven face; even his hair was styled and he smelt fresh she realized as he stepped close to her,
"Did you take a shower?"
She asked shocked.
"Sponge bath."
"Oh!"
She wished he wouldn't have said that as images of a naked gently dabbing his body with a wet washcloth and bar of soap flooded her mind.
Damn lucky washcloth! She thought.
"Look . I hope you're not mad- I wasn't trying to take advantage of you or anything. You just looked so uncomfortable and I promise I didn't feel or look or anything..."
He continued to ramble, his mesmerizing eyes looking more concerned by the second.
"I'm not mad . I... it was really nice of you; to take care of me and Gil like that, "
she looked at her content pet. And felt the first tear fall onto her cheek. How could he do this? Treat her so well- better than she had ever been treated? Make her laugh and play games with her? And make her fall totally in love with him when he was the one man she forbade her heart from falling for.
He watched her eyes fill with tears and his first instinct was to reach out and pull her to him; holding her and stroking her hair until the tears stopped but she wasn't his and she was probably crying because he did something wrong. She was obviously trying to stop them; of everything he knew about - she was strong and hated for anyone to see otherwise, but here she stood in front of him swimming in his oversized pajamas, tears falling down her cheeks and she just looked so lost.
"Can I hold you?"
He felt completely cheesy for asking, but no matter how much he needed to wrap his arms around her at that moment, he needed her to say it was o.k.
"Please." she asked softly, falling into his waiting arms. Her body- sobbing now- trembled in his arms; her tears soaked his tee shirt. The stress of the presentation and the snow storm, the hurt from hearing the women's voices the other night, the revelation of feelings so strong they scared her for - all of it boiled over in this steady stream of tears; he held her while until she cried herself weak and limp in his arms.
"Are you o.k.?"
stroked her hair; pushing wet strands off of her soaked cheeks. His thumb was the lightest touch against her skin and seemed to awaken something in her,
"No! No I'm not!"
quickly pulled away; leaving him slightly shocked by the sudden change of mood. "Why have you done this- damn it ! I was just fine- living my life, spending all my time working and now with Gil and you ruined everything. Being stuck in this beautiful house with you; while you make me warm beds and delicious meals, you hold me when I cry and tuck me into bed when I drink too much- damn you!"
" I don't understand!"
"It’s been ten years. I'm not supposed to still have any feelings for you. They were supposed to have disappeared. I was supposed to have grown out of them, but here I am standing here in your pajamas and all I can think about is how much I still feel for you. I love you and I hate it!"
"What?!?"
His mind was playing tricks on him, he was sure that he hadn't heard somewhere in that verbal bashing the words I love you.
"You heard me."
She whispered, instantly calming down, but not making eye contact with him. The intense passion bubbling inside her had finally exploded from her body as anger, now simmering down enough for her to realize what a complete lunatic she sounded like.
"I will never hurt you ."
Was all she heard before his mouth covered hers, dissolving any last thoughts remaining in her brain.
's body immediately enveloped her; devouring ever portion of her willing mouth with his and his hands took care of the rest of her body. Taking equal turns knotting his fingers in her darkc hair, slowly tracing feather light lines on her back with his fingertips underneath her shirt and then greedily letting his hands grasp her delicate face; pulling it any millimeter closer it could be to his own. Their bodies crushed into one another as a volcano of passion erupted between the two. wanted desperately to be free of the now sweltering clothing; for the first time in days she was hot. Inside and out; her blood felt like lava. couldn't get enough of her; she met his eagerness with a surprising aggression of her own; placing his trembling hands where she wanted them and helping him along to unsure territories by encouraging his fingers on the hemline of her shirt.
Trying to savor as much of every moment as he could; lingered on every inch of skin revealed as he first pulled the shirt over her head and then expertly removed her bra; releasing perfectly, round, full breasts into his hand. His breath caught in a loud hiss .Quickly removing his own shirt he pulled her close so that her chest smashed against his own and hooked his fingers into her sensible cotton panties that looked impossibly sexy in their modesty on her body.
groaned in impatience, feeling as if time was frozen until she could be naked and at his will. The overwhelming and powerful urge to give her body to was so compelling she wondered how on earth she'd resisted all those days. Once she was full lacking of any hindrance to his hand over her skin she was quick to set into the task of getting him as equally nude. The sight of him regarding every inch of her body was enough to drive her into a heated frenzy of needing touch; his touch, his magical and mind numbing touch. Her hands lingered on his sculpted chest; not overly muscular but definition under the manly coarse hair leading down deep into his pants. She let her fingers trail down playfully. The slightest tinge of apprehension of reaching the point of no return was quickly brushed from her mind as he firmly gripped her butt and pulled her into him; grinding in a teasing taste of things to come. The obstacle of fabric the only thing in her way and she quickly pulled down his pants savoring every ounce of pure raw man standing in front of her. She felt light headed and dizzy and was steadied only by his devouring kiss and his pulling her into him; their anxious bodies fitting together like a puzzle; hip bones hitting just the right curves. She struggled with her growing desire imagining how well other things would fit together. picked her up with one arm; while the other remained tightly gripped at her neck. 's legs wrapped around his waist; her breasts pushing up between them into his face as he alternated attention between her mouth and every inch of her neck before burying his head in her cleavage; not loosing contact as he dropped her gently back onto the thick rug next to the blazing fireplace. His hands came up to cup each breast in his hand; letting him create caverns for his tongue to explore. moaned and arched her body; the need was becoming desperate now; she needed his attention other places and was fully aware of it. He laughed into her mouth giving her a quick kiss on her swollen lips.
"You are so fucking beautiful, do you know that?"
The rough language coming out of the angelic face made her moan again; no words had every turned her on so much before. noticed her reaction to that too and continued whispering in her ear in great detail what he was going to do to her tonight and how much she was going to enjoy it.
needed him now! She felt ready to explode. took one hand off of her chest and let it travel torturingly slow down her abdomen and outer thighs before tracing a light trail to her soft inner thighs making eye contact with her he buried his fingers inside of her. lifted her torso off the rug; rising to meet his touch; not making her pleasure in any way quiet. Grabbing hold of his hair she began to buck into him; closed his eyes for a moment getting lost in what he was doing to her; the sound of the pleasure he was bringing her was almost enough to push him over the edge. At that moment in almost incoherent broken speech, called out;
"I need you! In me! Now!"
This time it was 's turn to groan as he sat up and pulled her onto his lap; letting her slide easily onto him; he had never felt a woman so warm or hot; the knowledge that she wanted him that much made him want to pleasure her far better than he ever had any woman before. He placed his hands on the top her butt and let her pace the movements; she fell hard down on him; testing his control each time she slammed her sweaty body down onto him. Finally feeling the tightening inside her and the way her head fell back and her breath sped up he knew he could finally allow sweet release and this time he allowed himself to claim her. Other woman he always pulled out; never allowing himself to release inside of them, but his body insisted that he spill inside of ; she was his!
yelled and dug her nails into his shoulders as the power of her orgasm threw him over the edge and he came harder than he had ever before.
After the after shocks had subsided; they both fell to the carpet. reached up to the couch and grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around himself and the heavily breathing body that he held. Their breathing was the only sound filling the room.
For the rest of the day and into the night they stayed on the rug; the fire was stoked and occasionally they brought food to their rendezvous spot. indulged in every sense of ; her womanly scent, the velvety soft feel of her skin, the salty taste of her body after hours of heated love making, the sound of her calling his name that permanently embedded itself into his soul and the way her naked body looked cast with the glow of the fire illuminating it below him. She was gorgeous. Making love to was like nothing like the meaningless sex he had had with all the other girls. The connection when she was in his arms was overpowering; he felt he could read her mind if he wanted to. And as they lay in each other arms; too exhausted to move and not daring to leave the warmth of body heat; laughing about old adventures they'd had together and filling in the details of the ten years they had spent apart; he realized she was it- she was the one. She was his. He knew it sounded primitive and chauvinistic and he could never actually tell her the cave man claim, but there was no way in hell any other man was every going to touch his bewitching woman.
woke up; physically exhausted, fully sated and deliriously happy. The past twenty four hours felt like a dream; a deliciously x-rated dream. She never knew her body could feel so intensely until made her feel it. She felt alive His arm was wrapped protectively across her chest as she pulled the blanket tighter under her chin. Wishing the moment could be frozen - just like that. At that moment she was his; she knew eventually the time would come for him to tell her good bye; for him to move onto the next conquest and he would tally the notch on his headboard, but she refused to think about that right now and enjoy the feeling of his pulse matching her own heartbeat.
"Good morning."
A groggy voice whispered from over her shoulder.
felt an instant smile grow on her face, "morning."
She rolled over to face him and he gave her a simple sweet kiss.
"Have you looked outside yet?"
"No why?"
turned to look out the windows over their heads; all she could see was mountains and sunshine; a lone bird flew across the blue sky view.
"What about it?" she asked confused by his grin.
"Oh!" she finally realized- it was what she wasn’t seeing that was what she was supposed to see.
"The snow’s melted!"
Lost in their own little fantasy world she had completely forgotten about everything; being snowed in, the missed flight, going back home, the new account, Gil.
"Gil!"
realized she had forgotten to feed him last night and he hadn't woken her up with his usual gesture of standing on her head and nibbling at her ear lobe.
put a calming hand on her arm, "Relax! I got up earlier and fed him; he's still in the bedroom eating."
"You took care of him again for me?"
"I admit he's a pretty cool duck. Not that I've met many ducks to compare him to, but he's a good listener."
laughed; wondering what secrets had been sharing with the duck.
Grabbing her long ago discarded night shirt got dressed and wandered into the kitchen, behind her threading his arms around her waist and nibbling her neck as she marveled at all the flashing lights on the appliances.
"The electricity is back on to?"
"Yep." He mumbled.
"That's great! I can call and-"
broke off as she fell instantly tense behind her. She turned around to face him,
"I mean, I am...you do still want me to... I am still flying home right?"
felt like a vice grip was being tightened around his chest, was she really saying she wanted to leave? How could he have misread last night so wrong?
Of all the people to lose my heart to I pick the one who doesn't want it.
"Sure," he mustered a false smile, "Of course you are. Why wouldn't you?"
"Yeah why wouldn't I?"
quickly turned her attention to the coffee maker, busying herself with emptying the grounds and refilling it before he could see the hurt in her eyes.
Don't cry , she scolded herself; you knew what you were getting into with him. It was just sex- that's all.
Hitting the brew button, but not waiting for a fresh cup quickly headed out of the kitchen with determined steps and an excuse that Gil needed a warm bath.
stood at the door eavesdropping. He had came to her room to talk to her; tell her how much he wanted her to stay here with him, but as he heard her on the phone he froze mid knock.
"Yes. I need a flight to Dublin as soon as possible- This afternoon?-That sounds great- thank you- bye."
felt like he had been repeatedly ran over by a Mack truck; she really was leaving and by the sound of it she couldn't wait to get away from him. His head swam trying to figure out what to do next: should he beg her to stay? He had never begged anyone for anything and it was obvious she didn't want him? With furiously confused steps he stormed down the hallway; grabbing his parka off the coat rack and slamming the front door behind him.
had begun drying Gil off after his bath when she heard the front shut. Putting Gil down she walked out into the living room. All the lights were on, the TV was playing some newscast and the dishwasher was humming in the kitchen, but was gone. She fell on the couch; one of the many places they had made love; incredible, earth shattering love just yesterday. Gil nestled up next to her.
"Of all the men in the world to fall for - why the hell him, Gil? Am I really that stupid?"
looked around at the once again alive cabin; most of it was decorated with generic knick-knacks; antlers on the walls, framed scenery pictures on the side tables, but there were also pieces she knew were 's touch; a goofy picture of all the guys from years ago, an espresso scented candle, a massive iPod docking station with his silver iPod still plugged in.
"Gil." she began to pet the duck that was still preening himself as he settled next to her, "I’m going to stay. I have to tell him. He'll probably think I'm a total idiot, but I've blown so many chances in my life- if I don't tell him how I feel then I’ll always regret it."
She pulled the duck into her lap, "Am I crazy?"
She wasn't sure if his quack was a yes or a no.
When the door begin to open she quickly blew out the match and did a quick inventory around the softly lit room: smiling to herself against the rampaging butterflies in her stomach. The table was set with a large candelabra and she had ordered dinner from Couloir. Music played in the background, cinnamon sticks simmered in water on the stove, she had even managed to get the fire to a smoldering deep, orange glow.
As the door swung open waited anxiously only to hear a female giggle echo off the walls.
"Oh ."
the voice continued, followed by a familiar guttural laugh.
' mouth fell open as walked into the carefully detailed romantic surprise that had so thoughtfully laid out with a tall blond in a black cat suit on his arm.
"?" stopped suddenly. The woman noticing 's shocked frozen face glared at her.
"? What are you still doing here?"
He quickly pulled the clingy blond off his arm and walked to whose wide water-filled yes showed the only signs of life.
She tried to push the embarrassed and heartbroken tears back, but they fought out, "I was just-"
There was no way not to admit her silly schoolgirl hope that there could be something more between them. The annoyed looking woman waiting by the front door was proof that he there was no chance for a "them."
"I'm sorry,”
Was all she could manage, turning and running back into her room, before the dam broke and the tears came in floods.
packed through a blurry eyed fog, she threw everything in her bags, not really caring if she missed anything or not. She just wanted out of here. Early that morning she had called the airport and cancelled her rescheduled flight. Now she'd just have to wait at the airport for a space available flight back home, but anything was better than staying in this house for a moment longer.
"Let’s go Gil." she instructed her pet, struggling with all her suitcases into the hall.
". Wait! You can't go. was waiting at the end of the hall," I made a terrible mistake please listen to me."
noticed she was gone, " Where's your friend?" she hated the petty and maliced tone her voice had taken on, but she couldn’t help him- when she saw him walk in with another woman in his arms it felt like someone had shoved a red hot poker in her chest and turned.
"I told her I had made a big mistake. I thought you were leaving me ; I was stupid I’m sorry. I was just upset."
"It's none of my business . I'm sorry I ruined your night."
"No. You didn't ruin anything . I wouldn't have ever done anything with her anyway- don't you get it I was trying to fill your place with her, but there is no comparison to you. I thought you were leaving me."
was a wreck, he could tell she wasn't listening to his words and there were no magic words he could come up with to make her stay. The look on her face when he had walked in with Tracy was embedded in his mind; it would torment him for the rest of his life. When he thought she was leaving him he had went to the lodge and drank; one after another- until Tracy sat next to him and all he knew was he wanted the pain in his chest to stop. Coming back up to he house with her was a blur; he just knew he didn't want to go home - the smell of would still be lingering in the air.
"I have to go ."
pushed past him. She had called a cab to pick her up at the lodge; needing the short walk down the mountain to the ski lodge in order to clear her head.
"No Wait!" he shouted as the door shut.
was too afraid to start crying this time; the air was cold and her eyelids would freeze to her skin, but inside everything felt dead. She concentrated on walking through the newly plowed trail; one foot after another, watching Gil maneuver easily with his flippers.
So when the hurtling body knocked her from behind into the snow bank; was completely shocked!
"What the hell?"
She stuttered pulling her head out of the snow hole it had been buried in by the tackle.
She rubbed the burning snow of her face and turned to beat the crap out of her attacker,
"?"
He had her pinned against the bank, his arms gently held hers in place and she was fully aware the pressure his body held on hers,
"You're not leaving . Not until you really hear me. I want you to stay with me; more than I've ever wanted anything. When you leave that place is going to feel so empty and depressing. Now tell me do you want to be solely responsible for single handedly ruining my vacation?"
She shook her head weakly; still half dazed by the hit and the words she was hearing.
"Stay with me. I'll go back to Ireland with you in a few weeks, but for right now I want you to myself...here"
melted; surrounded on every side by snow her whole body felt alight, looking into the eyes waiting for her answer.
He wants me! Her heart screamed.
"Ow!"
jumped and looked behind him, looked up too. Gil was standing at his feet; nipping at his ankles.
"I don't think you get me all to yourself." she smiled.
Diving onto her mouth; sure they'd melt a hole into the bank at any moment; he breathed,
"I suppose I can share with him."
The End