A Cold Drive And A Warm Night: Chapter Six

But he was gone again as she started to drift off again. He came back moments later with a paper cup, and what looked like cough syrup.

She hadn’t been totally honest with him, she thought, taking the cup and starting to sip. She was no real process server.  Her dad was the US attorney and she was visiting for the holidays, she herself was an attorney in New York.

Her dad excitedly told her of his arrival to write, it was the buzz of the town and dad casually mentioned it her, saying it would be nice if some one could take care of a little errand for him. “Here is what he looks like.” he said pushing the book toward her on his desk saying "I met him. nice guy, single and everything, and not gay.”

Since mom died, dad was not shy about “wanting to see her settled.”
And she too, wanted to see her settled, but she was not willing though to “settle.”

Dad had pushed the book across the table toward her like it was a hunk of chocolate being offered to a chocoholic, which she was.

Casual-like she said “I’ll think about it but I don’t do dating. I am long past that. Either they are interested in settling down or they are not. I don’t need anybody to buy me dinner.”

She did think about it, got the papers and rented a car, after having decided to go have a look. Wouldn’t hurt to look. But she didn’t tell her dad. The gps was to be her guide. She could be up and off the mountain without her dad knowing he had perked her interest.

So she started to drive. And damn gps was wrong. It nearly made her drove off a ledge on the mountain, with the snow the road was not easy to see.

She had started to walk and got into trouble that way.

She sipped the cough syrup and put the cup forward for another sip.

“It’s got codeine in it and that should help you sleep," he said.
Damn she liked the sound of his voice. So calm.

A cold compress was again back on her forehead as she started to drift off to sleep again.

The man knew how to make you feel taken care of. That was something she had not looked for; her dad had taught her to be self-reliant, especially since mom died. But if this was what it felt like, it wasn’t so bad.

"Best to just try to get some rest. I have some work to do."

He pulled her covers over her and tucked the last bit under her chin as she drifted off.
He went to the living room and inspected the processing papers more closely. His father's brothers were indeed contesting the will. He had to be in Auburn in a week, make a court appearance. Sure, just what he needed.

A bit tired, he turned back to his manuscript and worked for what seemed over two hours, when he heard a sound behind him.
He turned and she stood there, looking oddly pretty and her eyes all red and her head tiled down slightly.
He glanced at the clock. It was one am.

"You have to get some sleep' he said, mock scolding her. You can get a lot sicker if you don't rest."

She didn't answer.

Finally she said "Where will you sleep?"

I'll be fine out here on the couch. "Go ahead take the bed.'
She stared at him, and started looking around the room.

He said "What? "

"It's me." she said. "I need something soft and cuddly to sleep. Usually I have my cat -Tigger, Tigger was given to me by my mom, years ago. I just have gotten into the habit of sleeping with him on the bed."

He stared at her and she looked back trying not to see what his reaction was.

"So" he said, "I don't think I have any, , , , but I do have some extra blankets.” Let’s see if they will help."

He disappeared into a back storage area and re-emerged with an armful of blankets, which she took gratefully.

"Thanks for being, being so understanding." she said.

He nodded and she turned to return back into the bedroom thinking he was not what she had expected.

He turned back to the keyboard still not believing that she was anybody’s local process server. The woman, was too well dressed for that, and a lot of woman under that comforter.
“Golly” he said to himself in mock astonishment with a gentle chuckle, ‘Just golly, what a woman.”