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“Well lucky for you…” he said, opening the cabinet below me. “The shed had a few things other than wood and tools.” He reached into the cabinet and extracted three cans and two glass jars. The glass jars each read,peachesand the cans read,beanie weenies. Something like that would have typically made me gag but at this point, I’d try anything. “I saw they had a cast iron pot, so I figured we could cook these on the fire.”
I grabbed one of the jars of peaches and popped the seal, pulling out some juicy, soft fruit and popping it into my mouth. “Oh, my God,” I said, groaning as loudly as I had the night before. “I cannot think of anything more delicious than this right now. God bless Georgia.”
Gabe laughed again and grabbed the cast iron pot, taking it to the fire with a can opener. I watched from the kitchen, blanket around my shoulders, eating peaches with my fingers.
In this capacity, it almost felt like he and I were together, having a rugged weekend away. Minus the blue tarp that was now our window, and the fact that we couldn’t use half the cabin for lack of heat.
“How are we supposed to change our clothes?” I said, walking over to him. “I hardly doubt I can live in your shirt with no underwear.”
Gabe’s attention was quickly diverted and he reached for the bottom of the t-shirt, tugging it up playfully. I squealed and backed away, smacking his offending hand. “Just something to pass the time, remember?”
Gabe shook his head and chuckled, then got to his feet and stretched. “While those are cooking,” he said, giving the beanie weenies a stir. “I will make the sacrifice and get you some fresh clothes. What do you want?”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I wanted Gabe rustling around in my suitcase. But then I thought about the fact that he’d been inside me. The condom lying in the middle of the living room floor was proof of that.
“That would be great, thanks.” I said, staring at him as some rays of light broke through the frosted window. In this light, and after last night’s romp, he really did look like some Greek god.
Gabe put the spoon he was stirring with down and went to the bedrooms. I could hear him gathering things for a bit, then he peeked his head out.
“You know, the bath will still work considering it runs on gas heating, not electricity. Do you want to wash up?”
God, yes, I did. I could smell myself and I doubt Gabe was much better after our activities from the night before.
“Please,” I said, nodding.
“Let me just turn on the water now so the steam can heat up the bathroom before you go in. Looks like there are plenty of towels—and there’s some shampoo.” He crossed over into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. I heard the water turn on, and within ten minutes, I could see steam rolling out from under the door. Gabe quickly emerged and closed the door after him once more. “I left your clean clothes in there so they’d be warm, too.”
I went to where he stood, putting my peaches down on the counter, and hugged him. He may have started off as my worst nightmare but he was quickly becoming my knight in shining armor.
“Thank you, Gabe,” I said. You’re really good at taking care of someone. I’d know, I’m a nurse.”
Gabe chuckled and I bit my lip, smiling. “Happy bathing,” he said, ducking past me and returning to his pot of food.
It certainly would be.
The moment I entered the windowless bathroom it was like heaven. It felt like I was in a sauna at the gym only with less sweaty people—well, besides me. I went to the clawfoot tub and put a finger in to test the water. It was scalding against my icy skin, but with a little added cold water it would be perfect.
I turned to look at the shelf full of bathing products, and selected some fruity-smelling soap and shampoo/conditioner combo. It was then that I noticed there were six or so candy canes hanging off the various knobs and handles of the cabinets before me. They were the good Hershey kind with mint swirled chocolate. I groaned in happiness and grabbed one, quickly ripping off the plastic wrapping and putting it hook first into my mouth. Then I climbed into the tub and sank up to my neck in the heated comfort.
The smell of minty candy and hot water filled the bathroom, and I sighed. Now this felt like a Christmas I could enjoy. Festive sprigs of cinnamon and pine quickly warmed to join the mixture of scents, and when I closed my eyes, I was in Christmas heaven.
I had been in the bath for a little over an hour when a knock came on the door and I jumped, dropping what was left of my candy cane into the soapy water.
“No…” I lamented, staring sadly at it as it sank. “What’s up?” I shouted at Gabe through the door, trying not to sound irritated.
“I was wondering if you’d like to put up the tree together,” he said. “It’s kind of a mess at the moment, but we could fix it up before Dean and Lexi get back. Only if you want to, of course.”
If there was one thing that could pull me out of my lost candy cane blues it was that, and I quickly stood and pulled the plug for the tub.
Gabe had indeed left a stack of towels for me, plus some Christmas-themed flannel pants and matching shirt with a sports bra, and some reasonable looking underwear. This guy had definitely lived with a woman before.
I slowly dried my body, savoring every moment of comfort, knowing I’d be going back into the chilly living room shortly. If I could have, I think I’d stayed in that tub until Dean and Lex got back. Though my stomach was growling a little, and fixing the tree was really good inspiration to depart my Christmassy wonderland.
I emerged from the bathroom to find Gabe across the hall waiting for me. He had a towel and clothes of his own in his arms, and he smiled.
“How was it?” he asked.
“Magical,” I replied, feeling the rosy glow of my warmed cheeks lingering.
