Page 18 of Tony

She looked askance, not remembering anyone ever threatening her with a spanking before. Not as a child and certainly not as an adult. A retort was on the tip of her tongue, but she wisely decided that she would not tempt fate. And she had to admit that the fire’s warmth was penetrating her frozen hands and toes.

A few minutes later the smells of coffee and bacon were drifting from the kitchen.He’s going to think I can’t cook since he did supper and breakfast. Nope, doesn’t matter what he thinks. I didn’t invite him here anyway,she thought stubbornly.

Standing up, she made her way to the kitchen, watching the scene in front of her. Tony’s back was to her, the tight t-shirt stretched across his muscles.He came out into the snow in just a t-shirt to see what I was doing.

Feeling small, she said, “I’m sorry, Tony. I didn’t mean for you to rescue me again.”

His head dropped as he said, “Quit with the rescue talk.”

Huffing, she whirled around and stomped to the table, tossing some plates onto the surface.

“Pouting now?” he quipped.

Furious, she stalked over to him, poking him in the chest. “Yes, I’m pouting. I came up here to get away. To be alone. To think. To grieve. Now I’m stuck in the snowstorm of the century with a man who really doesn’t want to be here, doesn’t want to be with me like I want to be with him, and can’t let me in.” Chest heaving, she turned away, knowing the tears were coming.

She heard his footsteps come up behind her and felt his large hands on her shoulders. “You’re wrong. I do want to be here. And I do want to let you in.”

Not even bothering to wipe the tears sliding down, they dripped from her cheeks onto her shirt. He rounded her chair, seeing her ravaged expression. Kneeling, he cupped her face wiping the tears with the pads of his thumbs. “Oh, darlin’. We seem to be constantly at odds, don’t we?”

She nodded, saying nothing, but held his gaze.

Her tear-filled, luminescent blue eyes held his. Leaning forward until his lips were a breath away, he said, “I do want this. When I said I wanted you last night I meant that I wanted to be with you. I want a relationship. I want everything. I just don’t know how anymore. Will you help me? Can we help each other?”

He wants me? Us together? Am I enough to help him? What if I agree and my heart gets broken? Can two people, who seem to be broken help each other become whole again?

He rubbed her cheek with his rough thumb. “What’s going on in that mind of yours, Sherrie?”

Sucking in a deep breath, she looked up into his eyes.I may never be enough to fill his emptiness and my heart may get broken in the process. But yes. I deserve this, however long it lasts. I deserve to be happy. I want to take a chance with this man.

She nodded one more time, allowing him to slip in, placing his lips onto hers. This time calm. Gentle. A whisper of a kiss. But one that held promise.

She leaned back, searching his face for signs of regret. But there were none. Not this time. Offering a small smile, she said, “We keep having arguments right before meal time.”

He grinned back, happy that they were finally on the same page. “You want breakfast, babe?” Standing, he moved back to the kitchen and served the eggs, toast, and bacon onto two plates, placing them on the table.

Hungrier than she realized, she ate heartily noticing that he ate almost three times as much as she did. He caught her eying his plate and laughed. “I’m bigger…gotta keep up my strength.”

“For what?” she queried. “We’re just going to be stuck here until the storm is over and they can plow the roads.”

“I may have to chop wood. Or dig us out. Or wrestle abominable snowmen.”

She looked up, a bite of egg still on her fork halted on its way to her mouth. “Did you just make a joke? Tony Alvarez made a joke?”

Tossing a piece of bacon at her, he quipped, “Eat your breakfast, smart-ass.”

Grinning, she did exactly that.I have no idea what’s going on, but if it keeps that smile on his face, it needs to stay!

* * *

True to his word, he did go out and make sure that they had enough firewood. The heat was still working in the house, but he cleared the snow and ice away from the heat pump to keep it efficient.With this storm, trees could fall right on the power lines and we’d be without power for a while.A shed was built next to the house on the kitchen side, and upon investigation he discovered a generator and fuel. Grateful that the Marks kept the house stocked, he checked to see what other supplies might be around.

He had lost track of time, and when he went inside he did not see Sherrie. The wind had stopped howling and it appeared that the snow was beginning to lessen. Trekking around to the back patio, he saw Sherrie standing there, trying to shovel the snow from the door.

“Woman, get back in the house,” he ordered.

“Will you quit calling me ‘woman’ and quit telling me what to do?” she argued.

Taking the shovel from her hands, he gave her a quick kiss. “Sorry, but I just can’t deal with you out here freezing when I can do this so much easier.”

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