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My eyes slid from the television to the coffee table, where a book sat, not having been moved since it was placed there It was an old mystery novel, one I had read a couple of tinature, even though the book itself wasn’t a It was the book that Desiree had been reading I wasn’t sure if she finished it or not, but she left it on the coffee table when she left

Usually, that would bug the crap out of me I would have put it away as soon as she walked out of the door, s to be out of place Out of place htmares…

I didn’t want the nightmares Not if I could help it Not that I was always successful in warding them off

It kind of bugged ed me about the book was that I had the compulsion to let it stay Why would I do that? Why would I invite that little bit of chaos?

Ito see her type of thing I didn’t think I was capable of that But I did kind ofin the cabin was nice, and it broke up the monotony of my chosen life I had the tendency to fall into a rhythm if the last two years were any example

During the winter last year, I’d stocked up and didn’t bother leaving the living roos and slept on the couch, conserving wood and only using the main fireplace rather than the wood stove in the bedroo too I read at least a book every two days, most of them for the second or third time

But I didn’t really feel lonely Those days—while boring andby myself And the occasional call froh to not go completely stir-crazy

Yet, here I was, sitting inover at that book because it was sitting in the last place Desiree put it And of course, I couldn’t bear tolonely, so it wasn’t like I was disappointed that she left or anything I justsomeone there

And she was hot I had to admit that

Shaking the feeling off, I went back to flipping channels I hovered over the weather channel a bit, o into town the next day or two and shore up supplies as another storm was predicted to land in the next week or so It wasn’t supposed to be nearly as bad as the one that just hit, but I needed to be prepared regardless Finally, I settled on aback on my recliner to zone out a bit, when there was a knock on the door

Briefly, I wondered if perhaps there were signs on the hiking trail pointing to my house for lost wanderers When I openedacross ht of the person on the other side

“I brought cookies,” she said, her shoulders rising up to the sides of her head adorably as she held the platter covered in plastic wrap ahead of her I stepped aside, holding the door open as she cah I had etched a lot of her features into ht jeans and snow boots this ti brown hair But her dark chocolate eyes were as deep and soulful as ever

“You can set them on the table,” I said “Take off your coat Warm up It’s cold out there”

“Thank you” She slipped the coat off, which revealed a tight shirt that had just the hint of cleavage near the top I triedto keep

I took her coat and hung it up on the hooks in the hallway Her coat and hat next to ainst that thought and went back to the dining rooht

“Oh ,” I said, “you really didn’t need to do this”

“I had to find some way to thank you,” she said “If you wouldn’t takeJust be glad I didn’t go with cannoli”