Page 32 of Kian

“Alright.” He flipped through the channels and stopped on the movie,The Shawshank Redemption.“Is this one, okay?”

“Oh yes, I haven’t seen this in a long time. Such a good movie.”

“Yeah, it’s one of my favorites.” He grinned. “It’s so nice to remember things like that.”

“I bet. I’m so happy your memory returned.”

“Me too. I can’t wait to call my parents. I’m sure Killian called them, but I can’t wait to hear their voices.” Emotions welled up in him at the thought of speaking with his family again.

“Maybe the weather will improve tomorrow.”

“Can we check the forecast and then go back to watching the movie?”

“Kian, do whatever you want. I’m just going to sit here and relax.”

He nodded before flipping through channels until he found the weather report.

“It looks like it’ll clear up this evening, as well as tomorrow and the day after that, but then more snow is expected.” He turned to her. “Don’t you just love living in Montana?”

Gretchen laughed. “Actually, I do.”

Kian agreed. “Me too. Okay, let’s get back to the movie.”

“Do I need to put the sling on for you?”

He moved his right arm a little. “Actually, it feels a lot better. I’ll go without it unless it really bothers me.”

“Okay. As long as you didn’t hurt it too much by driving the ATV.”

“I didn’t even think about it. Really, it’s better.”

As the day was coming to a close, Kian struggled to stay awake. He had trouble sleeping since being rescued, and it was finally catching up with him. He let out a yawn.

“I’m sorry, I’m exhausted. Last night was the first time I slept through the entire night since arriving here, but I’m still tired.” He glanced at the clock above the fireplace. “It’s not even eight o’clock yet.”

“Why don’t you watch TV from your sleeping bag? Unless you want to go to bed?” Gretchen suggested.

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that an invitation?”

She playfully gasped and threw a pillow at him from the couch. He dodged it and chuckled.

“Thanks, but I can’t sleep in that bed,” he replied. “But I am going to lie down. If I happen to fall asleep, I’ll see you in the morning.” He climbed into his sleeping bag and Lobo laid down beside him, putting his chin on Kian’s chest.

As he tried to focus on the television, Kian’s eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep.

****

Gretchen watched the rest of the movie and smiled as she listened to Kian’s deep, even breathing. She wondered what he would have said if she had said, yes, that was an invitation. She’d never had hotter sex and would love to get him in bed again, but they really didn’t know each other, and she wanted to change that.

She just wondered what would happen when he was able to leave. Would he just leave her behind as if nothing happened between them, or want to keep seeing her? Sighing, she turned the TV off, stood up, and waved for Lobo to follow her, but he didn’t move away from Kian. With a smile, she headed toward her bedroom, entered it, and closed the door.

The following morning, she woke up to sunshine streaming through her bedroom windows. She tossed the blankets off, walked toward the windows and smiled. The sun was bouncing off the snow almost blinding her but it also looked bitterly cold.

Picking up her robe, she pulled it on, opened the door, and headed for the kitchen. She needed coffee. As she walked down the hallway, she could hear the TV playing and smelled coffee brewing.

When she entered the living room, it was to see it empty so she made her way to the kitchen. Kian stood at the coffee maker, watching it drip into his cup. He didn’t know she was there yet. She cleared her throat and when he turned to look at her, all coherent thought left her head. No man should look that good.

“Good morning,” he said with a grin.

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