Page 15 of Snowed In With You

He sighed, ‘Yeah that’s what I thought.’

The rocking started up again as he carried me through the lodge and into the lounge. I pressed my face into his chest,luxuriating in the warmth of his hands on my body and the smell of fabric softener and cologne in his jumper. Fletch sat on the sofa with me still in his lap and ran a gentle hand over my hair, reaching for one of the soft blankets I’d left downstairs with his free hand as he pulled it up and over us, tucking it in around me softly.

‘You knocked yourself pretty good, gorgeous.’

‘Didn’t mean to,’ I mumbled, the longer I was awake the more the odd hysteria faded and my head ached. His hand continued to stroke the length of my long hair and I sighed, relaxing into him. ‘Thank you,’ I said and his voice sounded surprised when he replied.

‘For what?’

‘Taking care of me.’

He chuckled deeply, ‘Well I wasn’t exactly going to leave you passed out in the basement.’

I ignored him, grateful for the fact that he cared enough to carry me up here in his arms – I was heavy, so I knew that had taken effort especially with all the stairs – cuddle me on the sofa and tuck me into a blanket. He pressed a hand to my forehead and hummed before peering into my eyes, my breath caught at the intense ocean-blue stare.

‘I don’t think you’re concussed, but probably best you don’t move for a while.’

‘I have some painkillers in my wash bag upstairs, could you get it for me?’ I hoped he’d say yes because despite the throb fading to a dull ache, Ireallydid not want to move right now.

‘Sure thing, gorgeous. You just stay right here, okay?’

I must have dozed off while he was gone because I woke up in a sweaty cocoon of blankets, spied some Tylenol on the side next to a large glass of water and I was once more in Fletch’s arms as he stroked my back.

‘Oh man, how long was I asleep for?’

‘Couple hours,’ his voice rumbled soothingly through his chest and into mine and I smiled slightly as I pushed off some of the blankets. ‘How do you feel?’

I touched the back of my head gingerly and gave a sigh of relief when the pain didn’t make me want to puke, ‘Actually, a lot better. I’d still like the meds though.’ Fletcher nodded and passed them over, I gulped them down and then peered up at him curiously. ‘Have you been sitting here this whole time, watching me sleep?’

A small blush stole over his cheeks and I stifled a grin, ‘Okay, I wasn’twatching you sleep. I was just making sure you were okay. Besides, I did leave for a little while.’

Disappointment flared up and I pushed it away, ‘You did?’

His crooked grin flashed across his face, ‘Yeah, I have a surprise for you. I was going to wait but I thought you would probably need them now more than ever.’

I looked at him in absolute confusion as he lifted me off his lap and strolled over to the kitchen. ‘What are you doing?’

‘You’ll see,’ he called and I could hear the laughter in his voice. He walked back in a moment later holding a plate and I gasped as he got close enough for me to see what was on it.

‘You baked me cookies?’

He shrugged, ‘Well, they were a packet mix, but yeah. I saw them in the shop and remembered how much you said you liked them when we were drunk at the wedding.’

I let out a loud laugh, ‘Oh my God, I forgot about that.’ I shook my head, mortified, I was pretty sure my exact words had beenCookies are possibly better than sex, you know.Of course, later on that night Fletch had definitely proved me wrong – not that I would tell him that.

I reached for one, perfectly golden, chocolate chip cookie and moaned when I bit into it. They were slightly gooey in the middle which, in my opinion, was the only way to have them.

‘Thank you,’ I said, smiling up at him and pecking him on the cheek as he sat down next to me on the sofa. He turned a little redder and I watched in fascination as the colour spread over his cheeks.

He nodded, eyes warm on mine, ‘You’re welcome.’

Silence followed but it was the comfortable kind while we munched on cookies and watched the fire crackle. By the time the plate was cleared I was feeling a lot better and Fletch stood up abruptly, tugging on his boots, scarf and coat while I watched with raised eyebrows.

‘Is this a show opposite to the one you gave me the other night? Where you put more clothes on instead of taking them off?’

He laughed as he walked over to gently tug me off the sofa. ‘Put your shoes and coat on.’

I did as he instructed but grimaced as he walked towards the door, ‘You really want to go out there?’

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