––––––––

“Kim please tell me this is a joke.” Heather and Kimberly were sitting in a cozy little booth near the fireplace in the cute little coffee shop in the village. Heather had her cold hands wrapped around the warm cup of espresso in front of her and she was giving Kim a pleading look, silently begging her to say she was wrong about the weather report. 

“As much as I would love to relieve those pretty blue eyes of that desperate look,” Kimberly said, “It’s no joke. Look outside, the snow is already starting to fall.”

“Damn it! I have too much to do to be stuck up here all weekend! What was I thinking?”

“I’ll bet if you call Rosie she’ll handle things for you until you get back. A little mini-vacation might be good for you.”

“You know that now is the last time for me to be taking a vacation.” She sighed heavily. “I never should have come up here.”

Kimberly reached across the table and covered her friend’s hand with her own, “You’re way too hard on yourself. Stop the mental ass-kicking and let yourself just take a breath and relax. Maybe this storm is fate’s way of telling you that you work too hard and you need to take better care of yourself. You should go get a massage, do some shopping, have some champagne...hell, pick up a stranger and have some hot sex. Just have fun like twenty-four year old women are supposed to do.”

Heather laughed at the idea of her picking up a stranger. She was far from being a prude in her relationships but the one-night-stand type she was definitely not. “Fun is for women that don’t have a business to run,” she shot, trying to ignore the sudden burst of adrenaline that pulsed through her at the naughty thought. “Since I’m here anyways, I’ll help you with this wedding.” She took a sip of her coffee. The warm brew felt good as it slowly spread throughout her body.

Shaking her head at her boss, “You’re a hopeless workaholic, you know that?”

“I do know, but work is how I deal with stress and I know you don’t want me to be stressed...so let me help.”

Kimberly’s free spirit was showing through as she smiled wickedly, “I can think of a lot more fun ways to channel your stress. You know it’s not a crime to not think of every man you’re with as a potential relationship.”

Heather felt her face flush as she realized she was still entertaining the idea of anonymous sex. She shook it off once again and shaking her head at her friend she blurted out, “I wish I was as adventurous as you, Kim, but we both know I’m not. So, tell me what I can do to help you.”

With a frustrated sigh Kimberly said, “There’s really nothing left to do.”

“Damn me for hiring someone so efficient,” Heather grinned.

“You said it. Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t we get you something new and pretty to wear for the rehearsal dinner and cocktail hour tonight while were down here? The weather is still half decent.”

“I really wish I would have known I was staying, I would have brought something from home to wear.” Heather hadn’t been giving herself much of a salary for the past few months, just enough to pay her bills at home. She was determined to keep her business alive at all costs. But looking good at the events that she and her employees arrange for their clients was part of the job as well. Besides, she was having a hard time refocusing after she got the idea of hot, sweaty, stranger sex in her head. What is wrong with me? With a sigh she reached over and took a dollop of whipped cream off of the cupcake in front of Kimberly. “But, I guess since I didn’t bring anything then yes, we better go shopping.” She started to reach over again and Kimberly pushed the plate toward her.

“If you’re going to steal from me at least take the calories.”

Heather smiled and picked it up and took a bite. “Okay let’s go now, that’s all of the calories I can afford.” Heather was in great shape, but the break-up with Phillip and the stress at work had often manifested itself late at night and too many sweets at her weekly coffee date with Kimberly. The scale hadn’t fluctuated...yet, but she resolved that after everything Phillip had done to her he wasn’t going to thicken her hips as well. Just in case though, maybe I should have sex tonight before it happens. She smiled at the wicked thought, tucked it away and followed her friend out of the café.

**

When the ladies headed out to the dress shops just after noon, the snow was coming down in soft, light flurries. By the time they got back to the resort a little after three p.m., it was coming down so heavily that visibility was almost zero. Any hope Heather had that the weather report was wrong, vanished before her eyes.

“We should see about getting you a room,” Kimberly told her as they stomped and shook the snow off their boots and coats.

“Yes, I guess we better.” It was going to be another expense Heather hadn’t counted on, but she was trying her best to stay optimistic. The meeting on Monday morning could potentially change everything. With enough money Heather was confident that she could make Blair Wedding Occasions into a household name...at least the households in high tax brackets.

The line at the admitting desk in the lobby was discouraging. Heather told Kimberly to go on and tend to what she had left to do before that evening’s rehearsal dinner and she would wait. Kim took the new dress and shoes Heather bought out of her hand to store in her room until Heather had her own and wished her boss luck before hurrying off. It was almost twenty minutes later when Heather reached the front of the line...only to be told that the resort was full to capacity.

“We’re so sorry Miss Blair,” the young man at the counter told her. “We had almost fifty people scheduled to check-out today but there’s just nowhere for them to go. We were told that the main road leading up from the highway has been closed already and the weather is only expected to get nastier overnight.”

Heather wanted to scream, or cry or maybe even kick something. Instead she took a deep breath and remembered that it wasn’t anyone’s fault...except maybe her own. She smiled at the young man, “Thank you. I’m sure my assistant won’t mind if I crash with her for one night.”

“Thank you miss, I hope you enjoy your stay here.”

Heather looked around the lobby. If you had to be stranded, this was a beautiful place to do it. She couldn’t help but think about how much more beautiful it might be if she had someone to share it with. Maybe Kim was right and she needed to stop thinking about every man she dates as a potential relationship. Maybe she needed to learn to live more in the here and now, and do what feels good. She took a long look around the lobby and her eyes fell on a sign that said, “Warm and Fuzzy Flavored Hot-Toddies.” It was in the doorway to the bar and it seemed to be calling her name. Maybe a hot-toddy would soothe her nerves enough to help her through the rest of what would probably be a very long night. She made her way through the large crowded lobby and into the bar. The lighting was subdued and candles flickered along the bar and on the dark wood table of every plush, cozy booth. It was just heading into late afternoon but thanks to the storm outside, the bar was already crowded. Heather had a fleeting thought as she bypassed the romantic little booths. She wondered how many of these people would end up romantically entangled with a stranger before the weekend was over. She smiled and shook her head at herself. Either Kim was rubbing off on her or she needed to invest in a sex toy or two because suddenly sex was all she had on her mind.

“What can I get you?” The blonde, tattooed man behind the bar asked her.

“I think I want to try a hot apple toddy please.”

“Coming right up.” The man left her sight for a second and returned with a brown mug with steam curing up out of it. He sat it in front of her and she saw that a cinnamon stick swirled around inside the golden liquid in the mug. It smelled like fall, warm cinnamon and apples, and it made her mouth water. She gave the man her credit card and picked the mug up with both hands and took a sip. It was hot, but delicious and it felt wonderful as it slid down her throat and into her belly. She could almost feel her stress melting away, now if only those ugly little memories nagging at the corners of her brain would melt away as well.

For as long as Heather could remember, she had wanted the whole package. She wanted a husband that loved her, a cute little house to call their own and a lot of children to fill it with love. She thought that she was going to have that with Phillip and with the end of her relationship with him had left her feeling numb and unsure of herself. It was a feeling that she wasn’t used to and one she really didn’t like. She wasn’t going to be willing to put herself in a place where she would have to feel that pain again anytime soon. If ever. No, from now on it would be all about work.

She took another sip of her drink just before she heard the sound of a smooth, masculine voice saying, “Judging by the look on your face that hot toddy is pretty close to the taste of heaven.”

Heather looked up toward the sound of the voice and she nearly choked as she tried to swallow her drink. All about work...or maybe that sexy one-night stand Kim had her thinking about. The man standing next to her could have graced the cover of any men’s magazine across the world even if he was dressed like he should be on the cover of National Geographic. He had dark hair and in the low light of the bar it looked jet black. It came to the collar of his flannel shirt and curled up on the ends. Before Heather caught herself she was indulging in a little fantasy where her fingers were wrapped through it and she was lying on her back staring up into those cerulean eyes.

“It’s good,” she finally said as she turned her back to him and hoped that he would get the hint...or maybe she hoped he wouldn’t. She had no idea what was going on with her tonight. When she saw one long leg straddling the bar stool next to her she realized that he wasn’t leaving and a slight thrill ran through her.

“I’ll have what she’s having,” the man told the bartender, “And if the lady is ready for another one...”

“She’ll buy her own, thank you.” She wasn’t sure if asserting herself was for her benefit or his.

He chuckled, obviously unfazed by it. “Beautiful and independent, nice.”

She finally looked directly at him. It was almost painful. His body, even in flannel and denim, looked like a work of art. His face was perfectly sculpted as well. He had a strong chin, a straight Roman looking nose and lips that looked like they were made for kissing...and licking. She mentally rolled her eyes at herself once more. She was not here to get picked up by a stranger...was she? She had never done anything like that in her life and she wasn’t sure why she was thinking about doing it now. It must just be loneliness and the fact that her self-esteem had recently taken such a beating. Or maybe it was just those damned, sexy eyes. They weren’t blue and they weren’t green either. Heather prided herself on the knowledge of the color wheel so that she could offer each one of her clients their own personal wedding shade. Cerulean had come to mind as soon as she saw them and the thick brush of dark lashes across the top and bottom of them only added mystery to the color. She tried to come up with a response to his complement, aka pick-up line, but she couldn’t seem to engage her brain when she looked into those eyes.

“A quiet one too. I guess I could work with that.”

His sarcasm broke the spell. Heather raised an eyebrow and shot, “Is it arrogance speaking that makes you think you’ll have a chance to ‘work with’ anything here, or are you already drunk?”

He laughed. His teeth were almost blindingly white and she was close enough to smell his cinnamon breath. It mingled with the scent of expensive aftershave and the overall impression was sex on a stick. She suppressed a shudder when he spoke, “I apologize if I over-stepped. It’s just that I’ve been here for three days and I haven’t seen anything remotely as beautiful as you.”

With a dry mouth Heather signaled the bartender for another drink. She wasn’t sure it was a good idea however since her insides already seemed to be turning into hotter liquid than the toddies. “Thank you for the compliment,” she managed, “But just so we’re clear, I’m not looking to be picked up tonight.”

He flashed her another panty-melting smile. “Believe it or not, picking anyone up tonight is far from my agenda as well. Maybe we can just look at this as having a drink with a new friend.”

“Acquaintance,” she clarified. Hot, sexy acquaintance...

With another laugh he said, “The lady is particular about her words. Okay, we’ll start with acquaintance but I have to warn you that almost everyone I meet ends up wanting to be my friend.”

“I’m so glad you’re not arrogant,” Heather replied with her lips curling into a smile in spite of herself.

“Not arrogant,” he wink, “Just confident. I mean seriously, a lesser man would never have had the confidence to approach a woman as gorgeous as you.”

She wasn’t falling for it, or at least that was what she told herself. She was sure this super-sexy lumberjack was looking for a bed warmer for the blizzard, what she was unsure of was whether or not she was looking to warm his bed. She was slightly ashamed of herself for even thinking it, but at the same time she couldn’t deny the thrill it sent racing through her veins. “Are you always so forward Mr...?”

“Gavin.”

“Mr. Gavin.”

“No, just Gavin,” he said. “Call me Gavin. What should I call you?”

She was poised to say, ‘Don’t call me at all,’ but her body over-rode her brain again as he stared at her with those bedroom eyes. “I’m Heather.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Heather. Are you here for business or pleasure?” Something about the way he’d said ‘pleasure’ sent waves of desire through her. He was holding out his hand and she took it. Electricity shot up her arm, and she could feel her heart rate increasing. His hand was strong, manly and warm in hers and she’d never had this kind of physical reaction from a simple touch before. He wasn’t even her usual type. Phillip was a nice looking man, but he looked like a man life had come easy to, which it had. This man looked more confident in his skin than any other she had met but at the same time there was nothing soft or pampered about him. He looked like a man who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to work for it...and that thought alone turned her on.

“A pleasure,” she smiled as she pictured what he might look like without that flannel shirt. That made her wonder how much alcohol was in those toddies. She had only had two but it was hard for her to believe that these feelings weren’t being egged on at least a little bit by the rum. She was having thoughts unlike any she’d ever had, thoughts of doing things with this stranger that would make her forget that Phillip ever existed. Maybe Kimberly had been on to something after all.