We talked for hours until she fell asleep on the sofa. I didn’t want to wake her up, so I covered her with a blanket and watched her. I must have fallen asleep with her because the next thing I knew I was waking up alone in the apartment.

I looked around thinking maybe she was using the bathroom, but when I called down to security they said I’d just missed her by a few minutes. I thought about running after her, but I didn’t want to come off as completely crazy. Instead I grab my phone and send a quick text.

Me: Were you waiting for me to fall asleep so you could sneak out? I didn’t think I was that boring.

I wait a second and then send her another.

Me: Seriously, though, I had a great time last night. Want to come back to my barren place and have dinner again tonight?

I know she’s standoffish, but I’ve got to at least try. I can’t let her get away, and I’m not going to let her go so easily. I’m staring at my phone, willing her to text me back, when it finally chimes.

Sloan: Maybe if you didn’t snore so loud I would have kept on sleeping ;)

She doesn't turn me down right away, which is a good sign, but I need a confirmation.

Me: I don’t believe you. Have breakfast with me and let me make it up to you.

There’s a long moment before I can see she’s typing and her message finally comes back.

Sloan: I’m going to work all day. I might be able to do something later just depending on how it goes. Can I text you later?

It’s not an outright no, which I feel like might be progress. But it’s seven in the morning and I know she only had two or three hours of sleep at most. She shouldn’t be driving if she’s tired. I think for a second before I respond, and in the mean time she texts me again.

Sloan: Don’t feel like you owe me anything. I had fun last night, but we can leave it at that.

I shake my head because it’s like she’s trying to give me a way out.

Me: Pump your brakes, sweetheart. I’ve got a ton of things I need help with today and if you’re working then maybe we can work something out?

Sloan: Like what…

Me: Meet me at the coffee shop on 11th and Garden in fifteen minutes. I’ll get you a coffee as black as your soul and tell you what I need.

Sloan: See you there.

I take a quick shower and change clothes then grab my messenger bag. I race down to the coffee shop, and when I get there I see Sloan sitting by the window. She’s wearing a different sweatshirt and her hair is pulled up in the cap from yesterday. She smiles at me and I feel like she just made my whole day before it’s even begun.

When I sit down a waitress comes over and takes our order. I add on food with the coffee because I know Sloan hasn’t eaten since she left and I don’t think she’ll order if I tell her I’m paying. When she takes our order and walks away, I give Sloan a hard look.

“Number one, I don’t snore.”

She’s smug as she sips her coffee, and I wish I could lean forward and kiss her.

“Agree to disagree,” she says as she wraps her hands around the warm mug.

“Number two, don’t do that again.”

“Do what?” Her eyebrows pull together in confusion.

“Run out on me like that. You scared me.” I see a little color come to her cheeks and she nods ever so slightly.

“Sorry, I just didn’t want it to be awkward.” She shrugs, and for the first time I see vulnerability in her eyes. “Anyway, what do you need me to help you with?”

“I’m coming to the end of a really big project and there’s a really big celebration tomorrow night. I’d like some help getting ready for that, and I can’t be in two places at once.”

“Okay.” She sounds hesitant to agree so I keep talking.

“You’d be perfect for the job. I need someone who can go to places for me and pick stuff up and deliver it. I’m sure there is a company that can do it, but I need someone I can trust.”

She looks surprised as she stares at me. “You trust me?”

“I mean, not with a bottle of pepper spray, but with everything else, yeah.” She rolls her eyes and I’m happy to see her smirk. “Seriously, let me hire you for the day. I’ll pay you whatever you’d charge if you’d keep the meter running and you get to keep the tips anyone gives you for the deliveries.”

I see her doing the mental calculations and then she nods her head slightly. “Can we do cash so I don’t have to go through the company? They take a pretty good chunk when I use their program.”

“Absolutely.” I hate that she has to drive the car, but it’s honest work at least. And it’s a really nice car as well. I forgot to ask her about that, but it doesn’t seem like the right moment.

The waitress brings over our food and sets it down in front of us. I push a plate towards her and she tries to refuse before I nudge the plate closer. Finally she grabs a fork and we dig in.

I tell her the places I need her to go and what she needs to pick up. She takes notes and writes down street names as she goes. I can tell she’s really smart, skilled and organized and also knowledgeable about the city.

“You know this place like the back of your hand,” I say as she changes the order of the places I’ve given her based on the route she’s going to take.

She smiles at me and there’s something close to pride in her eyes. “I’ve got a few talents.”

“I know,” I say as I reach out my hand and place it next to hers on the table.

My fingers graze hers and she doesn’t pull away. I’m sleep deprived and overworked, but right now I feel like I could run the Boston Marathon if she asked me to. I’ve never felt more alive with someone or more at peace. Her soft brown eyes look up at me and there’s a question there. I don’t know what it is, but it feels like she’s wanting me to make her a promise.

We stay like that for one long moment, each of us trying to say what we’re afraid to and both of us unwilling to break the moment.

Unfortunately my cell phone does it for us when it begins to ring. The song “Eye of the Tiger” begins to blare and I want to choke Simon. I reach into my pocket and pull it out and hit ignore.

“It’s okay, you can take it,” she says.

Just as I’m ignoring the call and telling her it’s fine, the song blares to life again. I sigh as I apologize and answer.

“This better be good,” I say before Simon can speak.

“The inspector from the city is here, where are you?”

“Shit.” I completely forgot.

“Yeah, shit is right. And where are my donuts? Don’t tell me you actually slept.” I can hear the disbelief in his voice.

“Of course not,” I say as I look into Sloan’s eyes. “I’m on my way.”

I hang up the phone and she smiles at me. “I guess we both need to get our day started,” she says, holding up her list of errands.

I reach in my wallet and put some cash on the table. Then I hand over my credit card to her, along with a business card and all the cash I have on me.

“Whoa, Harris, I don’t want all this.” She looks around like someone might see the cash she’s holding.

“It’s just in case. You’ll need money for some of the deliveries and some of them don’t take cards. If you have any problems, my cell is on there and so is my assistant’s Simon. I’ve got to run, but I’ll text you.”

We both stand up and I walk her out to her car. I open the door for her, but before she can get in, I take my chance and lean in close. I brush my lips lightly across her cheek and whisper in her ear.

“I’ll be thinking about you,” I say before I take a step back and walk away.

Everything in me wants to go back to her and wrap her in my arms. I want to turn around and look at her, but what if she’s not watching? What if she’s already gotten in her car and she doesn’t feel this thing between us? Doubt creeps in and it pisses me off. I’ve never been one to let anything stop me, and I’m not going to start now.

I stop and turn to look over my shoulder because I have to know. When I see her standing there with her fingers touching the same spot where I placed my lips, I can’t stop my smile. I wink at her as I turn back and keep on walking.

Soft snow begins to fall and I can smell the change in the air.