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"Brr... It's way too cold lately!" the woman exclaimed, her arms crossed over her chest. She was shivering in the fifteen degree weather despite the thick black down jacket, cashmere scarf, hat and leather gloves she wore. Underneath the exterior, she donned two sweaters, but she still couldn't get rid of the uncomfortable chill she felt.
"Well, what do you expect?" the man answered, a playful smirk coming to his handsome face. "It's *winter*, you know!"
"No kidding..." She shook her head, her teeth beginning to chatter. "And it's also the coldest one in fifty years, they say - aren't we lucky," she said sarcastically.
"Look at you..." he said, dismayed to notice exactly how cold she was.
"Yeah, well... It's not easy to keep warm in this kind of weather..." She kicked a small pile of snow with her boot-clad foot. "Warmth is a luxury I've taken for granted."
The man studied her intently, a small smile coming to his face. It really *was* beyond frigid out here, so much so that their breath looked *opaque* in the air. He wondered how the young woman at his side had ever grown up in the Northeast, knowing how very much she hated such bitterly cold winters.
"Come on," he said, reaching one of his gloved hands to take hers. "Let's get out of here... *I'll* warm you up."
She eyed him wonderingly, but a small twinkle came to her brown eyes. She couldn't help but wonder what this man - who'd become her best friend - had up his sleeve.
They rushed the couple more blocks back to the hotel at which they were staying, just in time to avoid the major blizzard that had been expected. Practically the moment they stepped inside, the snow began to fall.
"I bet the show gets cancelled tonight," he said as they started up the stairs to her room. He suddenly realized that she was *still* shivering despite the warmth from the hotel's heating system. It had to be at least seventy-five degrees in the place, and he knew she was all layered up - and yet she was *still* cold. Poor baby...
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern on his face. He'd already removed his gloves and unzippered his jacket - and he was already sweating at the temperature change.
"I think I have hypothermia or something..." she replied, her teeth still chattering, although less now than when they'd been outside. "I've always had bad reactions to such extreme weather."
"I bet I know what you could use - you could use a good, hot bath."
She nodded.
"Ooh, that sounds heavenly..."
By the time they reached her hotel room, the woman was no longer as cold as she'd been. As they entered, her gaze went to the bed, and she sighed with pleasure.
"Ahh, that looks so inviting... My electric blanket!"
He arched a brow as he glanced from the bed to gaze back at her.
"You bring an electric blanket with you on the road?"
She nodded, a smile coming to her pretty face.
"In the wintertime, I always have. I have to keep warm *somehow*..." She unzippered her coat, now finally warm enough to remove it along with her hat, scarf and gloves.
He smiled as he thought about the words that had just escaped her lips.
"Take off your coat - stay awhile," she said, looking at him pointedly.
He did that, placing his jacket on a plush armchair near the bed. Afterward, he sat down and undid the laces of his hiking boots.
"You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not... Damn it, I'm never wearing heels in the snow or ice again!" She shuddered, thinking it was a miracle she hadn't slipped and broken an ankle or something.
After he had discarded of his boots, he rose to come site next to her on the bed.
"Warmer now?"
"A little," she replied, gazing up into his blue eyes.
"Well... I know another, better way to warm you up..." Then, before she could ask him any further questions, the man put his arms around her, pressing a tender kiss to her lips.
She was so surprised, she didn't kiss him back - rather, she pulled away.
Again gazing up into his face, a look of confusion now dominating her own, she spoke tentatively.
"Sean...?"
Sean O'Haire smiled, though he was unsure as to her exact feeling at that very moment. They'd been so close for nearly two years now, but certainly nothing more than friends - although he'd always wanted more.
"I'm sorry..." he said. "I couldn't help myself. You are so beautiful, and I find myself falling in love with you, and-" He shut himself up, embarrassed - and not only because of his stammering.
"You... what?" By now, her brown eyes were wide with surprise.
"Oh, hell..." Sean muttered. Damn, but he felt awkward. "Sorry..." He rose from the bed to leave, but she went after him, stopping him as he went to retrieve his boots and coat, grabbing him by the arm. He turned to look questioningly into her lovely face.
She smiled.
"I would *love* for you to keep me warm... in any way you have in
mind." Then, before he could say a word, Dawn Marie stood up on her
tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
// End \\