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I nodded. "Well how about we get up, see how the snow is doing and then I'll make you a nice big breakfast? I need to check on the cattle this morning and make sure they're doing okay in the cold."
Joanne set up quickly. "Are they okay out there like that?"
I ran a hand down her arm. "It's okay. They should be. I set up extra food and water before the storm hit and they should be nice and warm. Although I'm sure they could use more food and water by now."
"Do you need help?" She asked.
"You want to trudge out in all that snow with me today? It's going to be freezing and hard work."
"I can do some hard work," she said. "Don't worry about that."
"Let's do it then. After breakfast. No wandering out in the cold without a good meal in our stomachs."
"Deal," she said.
We climbed out of the bed and shared a shower. I grabbed the shampoo and worked it through Joanne's hair as she hummed and leaned against me. She practically melted under my fingertips as I massaged her scalp and helped her relax. The tension that had been in her shoulders disappeared the more I worked until she came out of the shower happy and smiling.
"I didn't even know I needed that," she laughed. "Thank you."
"Hey, I still know you."
We settled into the kitchen and worked on breakfast together. As I watched her whisking the eggs and adding salt to the bowl, I felt something tighten in my chest.
I know she can't stay.
I tried to remind myself of that fact as I stared at her in the shorts she wore. She looked so perfect against the backdrop of my kitchen, soft and sweet and real.
"You're staring at me again weirdo," she called as she poured the eggs into a pan.
"I can't help it. You look really good in my kitchen," I admitted.
"Do I?" She grinned.
"You know you do."
I swept her hair off her neck and kissed her there. She moaned and leaned against me. That small movement made me want to keep her wrapped in my arms and pressed against my body all day.
"Did you miss me while you were gone?"
"Yeah," she admitted. "A lot more than I thought I would. I mean we were friends, but I thought I could move on and everything would be alright. That I would forget this town and everything and everyone in it eventually. That never happened with you."
"You really wanted to forget me?" I asked.
"It was too painful to think about anything that had to do with home. Every time I did I would have to block it out just to make it through the day."
I ran a hand over her cheek. "That sounds like hell."
"Couldn't have been any easier for you," she whispered. "I know how much you needed to talk to me most days and I felt like I was abandoning you."
I shrugged. "You had to do what you had to do. I don't blame you for that."
"You're so nice to me," she sighed.
"Haven't I always taken care of you, Jo Jo?" I asked.
"You have. Always."
We cooked the rest of our food and devoured it at the table. Somehow it felt even lighter after we'd both gotten things off of our chests. By the time we were done eating, both of us were warm and full and ready to go.
