Page 27 of Sugarplum

Chapter 18

I didn't needto reach to the next pillow to know that Holt was no longer stretched out next to me. After a romantic dinner, we'd climbed the stairs and started all over again with sex. Only this time we'd moved it to my bedroom just to mix things up. Not that it mattered. I was fairly convinced I could have incredible sex with Holt in the middle of a cactus patch. The surroundings and circumstances just didn't matter as long as he was there.

I was too tired at the break of dawn, when I heard him shuffling around and getting dressed, to ask him where he was off to. I wasn't sure what time my car would be returned. I hoped Coco wouldn't mind if I hung out for a few more hours. I didn't want the weekend or my time with Holt to end just yet. I needed to work up the courage to drive away first. Home and work tomorrow were going to be dreary and lonely for me after these past few, glorious days.

A knock on the door sent my heart into overdrive. I clutched the sheet modestly over my breasts, which was sort of comical considering. "Come in."

Coco walked in. I had to work hard not to show my utter disappointment at not seeing Holt on the other side. She was carrying a silver tray filled with goodies and coffee. "Thought you'd need a little breakfast before your drive home." She placed the tray on the table by the window. "Which reminds me—" She fished in her apron pocket and pulled out my keys. "Your car is all finished. Good as new. No charge. The mechanic owed Holt a favor."

"That is so nice. I'll have to thank Holt. Do you know where he is?" I asked with a light tone, even though deep inside my heart was breaking.

Coco poured coffee into the cup from a silver coffee pot. "He rode out early this morning. Barely had time for breakfast. His shift at the ranger station started this morning."

"He's gone?" This time I couldn't even pretend a light and airy tone.

"Yes. His shift lasts three days, so he won't be back until Tuesday night. Let me know if you need anything else." With her usual cordial smile, she turned around and walked out, seemingly unaware that I was sitting like a stone statue in the bed trying to keep myself together.

I listened as her footsteps tapped the hallway floor and stairs, then peeled myself out of bed. My feet felt heavy as I tried to push them into my slippers. I grabbed the robe up off the chair and looked down at the tray of food as I pulled it on. It smelled wonderful and my stomach was empty, but I couldn't take one bite. I sat and drank the coffee, hoping it would relieve the heaviness in my head. As I drank it, I stared out the window and hoped really hard that a snowmobile would appear in the vast white landscape. But there was no snowmobile and no Holt.

I felt a little pathetic about it, but I lifted all the pillows and sheets hoping he'd left some kind of note, something that told me how I could contact him once I got back home. There was nothing. I had only myself to kick in the butt. It was a fun weekend. That was all it was meant to be. A man like Holt wasn’t going to tie himself down to one woman. I was being stupid. It was over and it was time for me to get in my car and drive down to the city, away from the snow, away from the inn, away from my fantasy man.

---