"There's well over a foot out there now and some of the drifts are over four feet high." Liam rubbed his hands together as he blew into them. His eyes twinkled merrily as they landed on her. She smiled back at him, suddenly feeling a little shy as she recalled everything that had passed between them during the night. Her skin was starting to burn as he walked over and kissed her. "Good morning sleepy head."
"Good morning," she murmured.
He chuckled as he tugged on her ponytail. "You think you're a little shy now, wait till you see what I do to you tonight," he whispered in her ear.
Sera's face flamed redder, even as her body began to tingle with anticipation. "I'd suggest everyone take a shower now," Kathleen said. She closed the freezer and turned to them with a chicken in her hand. "While there's still hot water."
"I'm first." Danielle stood and hurried out of the room.
Liam leaned causally against the counter and folded his arms over his chest as he turned to face Mike and Jack. The heat radiating off his body was enough to get her flustered. Sera frowned as she eagerly attacked the rice and stared at the white world surrounding them in an attempt to distract her mind from the yearnings of her body.
"What is that?" Sera's attention was jerked from the window, but she was too late. Kathleen had already grabbed her turtleneck and pulled it down. She jerked away from her and pulled it up to protect her neck. "Nice hickey," Kathleen teased.
Sera turned and looked at Liam, but he was staring at Mike and Jack. Jack's eyes were as large as saucers as they darted back and forth between him and Sera. Mike's eyes were narrowed as he stood suddenly. "Can I talk to you?" he said to Liam.
A sinking feeling began to form in her stomach as she frantically stirred her rice. Liam glanced at her, but she hastily diverted her eyes. She was scared to meet his gaze, afraid that she would only see accusation there. "Yeah. I suppose you want to talk too," he said angrily to Jack.
"I think we should all talk," Mike replied. He looked over at Doug who was standing by the door, looking extremely uncomfortable as he shifted from foot to foot.
Sera listened to their footsteps as they headed upstairs. "What was that all about?" Kathleen asked as she slid the chicken into the oven.
"Boy talk," Sera replied with a shrug that belied the anxiety filling her body.
"So, you obviously had a good night," Kathleen taunted.
Sera couldn't help the grin that spread over her face, or the blush. "Kathleen..."
"Oh come on, it's written all over your neck and now your face," Kathleen replied laughingly. "I'm just glad you're happy. You really love him, don't you?"
"Yes, I really do."
Kathleen put a pot of water on to boil. "I can see that he loves you too."
Sera grinned at her, unable to keep the stupid smile off her face. "What about you? Did you have a good night?" she asked, trying to keep her voice as casual as possible.
"Slept like a baby."
"Alone?" Sera asked teasingly, even though her heart hammered with apprehension.
Kathleen grinned at her and pulled out a potato peeler. "Are you insinuating something?"
"Maybe."
Kathleen laughed happily and pulled out a potato. "I slept alone. All night. Well, unless you count Danielle in the next bed."
Sera felt a huge sense of relief as she turned back to her rice. "Do you like Mike?"
"Yeah, I do. However, I also like him as a friend, and I don't want to ruin that."
"What are you going to do?"
"Just see how things turn out. Go with the flow."
"Sounds good." Even though it really didn't.
***
Liam stood by the window in the room that Mike had slept in last night. Mike's clothes were laying across the small chair in the corner, and scattered on the floor. Doug stood by the other window, Jack sat on the bed, and Mike was pacing restlessly back and forth. "I don't even know what to say," he finally said.
