Page 15 of Cold Snap

"Crap," Rosa mutters. "I was already running a bit behind with dinner prep, and without the stove, I can't cook anything. We won't starve, we have everything for really nice sandwiches and snacks. I just hate wasting tonight's food."

"Can you pack it into the fridge and we'll eat it tomorrow?"

"Sure. Except the fridge won't keep everything cold for long if the power stays out."

Nudging her around the corner until we're out of sight, I give her a soft, gentle kiss. Her eyes soften as she smiles up at me.

"Open the fridge. Then rearrange everything to make some room as quickly as you can. I've made blocks of ice outside, so we can put them in the fridge and turn it into an old-fashioned ice box to hold everything overnight."

Roses perfect lips fall open. "How did you think to do that?"

"My power goes out a couple times a winter. Ice blocks do a pretty good job. Back in a minute."

By the time I return with an armload of trays, everyone is making sandwiches by candlelight. My phone's timer beeps, and I turn on the flashlight again so Rosa can take out the rolls.

When we open the fridge to slip in the ice, Rosa has made enough room for a couple of trays of ice to fit on the top shelf.

"I guess it's good that some of the extra deliveries were canceled because of the weather," she laughs. "Especially desserts. They take up a lot of space."

My hand slides around her hip as I kiss her temple. "You're all the sweetness I need, angel." Her eyes dart around to make sure nobody is watching. I hate how nervous she is about us. How we have to wait to go public about it.

"It's going to be really cold tonight." I tilt her chin up to gaze into her soft, brown eyes. "And there's no fireplace in your room. Would you like you to stay in my suite?"

Her teeth sink into her pouty bottom lip as she hesitates.

"If you like, I'll sleep on the floor. Or, I swear, I'll keep my clothes on." I grimace, making her laugh. "Okay, not my shirt. That drives me nuts. But I'll keep my pants on and stay on my side of the bed if you want. I just need you to be warm tonight. Okay?"

She shakes her head in amazement. "You just turned my refrigerator into an ice box without even thinking about it. And now you want to keep me warm all night long." Her voice is soft and breathy, driving me wild again as her hand reaches up to rest over my heart. "I'm not used to having someone take care of me like this."

My hand sweeps along her hip. "You'll get used to it."

She grins. "We can chat when I'm done working."

I love that she takes charge, letting us help make sandwiches, while still directing everything. The fresh rolls smell incredible, and everyone laughs about how tough life is to survive a power outage with gourmet pickles and fancy cheese.

I sneak small glasses of wine to the girls, while Mrs. H. shoots me a wink then pretends to look the other way. It's impossible tomiss that she's sitting very close to Cooper, and that he's making sure that she has everything she needs.

It looks like everyone has coupled up this week. Maybe there's something in the air. Some electricity from this crazy storm.

Or maybe this old building is so infused with past anniversaries and couples getaways that love is literally in the air.

Damn. It's happening.

Being head over heels for Rosa is turning me into a hopeless romantic.

10

ROSA

Part of me works on autopilot. Pack away the food. Clean everything down. Prep what I can for tomorrow morning. Yet everything is different tonight. It's not just that I'm doing things by candlelight, and can only open the "ice box" for a few seconds.

I have a hulking gorgeous man hovering over me like an enormous shadow, eager to help me in any way he can. It's downright weird. And it makes me feel tingly and off kilter, in the most amazing way possible.

I would've thought for sure that Baz wouldn't want his friends to know we were together. He's been respecting my wishes and keeping things subtle, but I can tell from the way Dylan and Moore are watching us that they know. And Baz clearly doesn't care.

My mind races as I hang up the dish towels, and start blowing out most of the candles. I've decided to stay in Baz's room tonight, but not just because of the cold snap, or the need to be near the fireplace.

I want him. And I'm utterly floored by how desperately he seems to want me.

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