A Christmas Chance.

Chapter 9

Save by the... Bell

The ride to Alexa's rented loft was quiet and Sheldon tried on more than one occasion to start up a conversation but decided against it on all counts and just remained focused on the fifteen-minute ride.

He watched the familiar road with a steadfast glare as he tried not to steal glances at the woman seated beside him.

He saw familiar faces and automatically greeted them with a toot of his horn.

He passed places that he knew in and out. He saw sights and sceneries that were painted on his mind and memories but all he was aware of was the woman seated next to him.

He saw her even though he seemed focused on the road. He saw the various fleeting expressions that played across her face before her lips curved into a slight smile that seemed mischievous.

What could she be thinking? He knew it was not the unmentionable thoughts that he had going on through his mind every time her scent wafted on the breeze to him. He was by no means ready for this. Whatever his silly sense of awareness wanted to bring forth he would not allow it.

He was only looking out for her well-being, and once he was satisfied--- even if it was already reported to him by the guys at the station, they say no suspicious person lurking anywhere about her residence--- he would leave her and get back to their usual work relationship.

He only wanted to ensure that this time of year, --which he only tolerated because he had no choice,-- did not bring him another loss. He had given himself no room for such an occurrence.

When he pulled up to the curb some
minutes later, he helped her out of the car. He tried not to think about how the light hold of her hand in his felt right. He hurriedly quenched the feelings it brought forth and glanced about, looking for anything or anyone who could make things very dismal.

"May I have your key?" he said in a voice that offered no argument.

With a reluctant step forward she fished the key from his shoulder bag and handed him the key very dubiously. He raised a curious brow at her as she pulled her hand away as her fingers brushed his palm.

She looked away and glanced down at her boots before taking in a deep breath and following him inside the apartment and up the steps that led to her loft.

He held the key out, indicating which key was for the door; she nodded when he held the right one. She saw that he was not hesitant in searching about or looking around as soon as he entered and she was happy that her roommate was not home. He did not have many places to search as where they stood held a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a living/dining room.

He checked the windows and was now looking through the door that led down a flight of stairs that led down into the back yard which had a small gate in the fencing that led unto a sideroad. He closed it, slid the bolt in place and ensured that he twisted the little lock on the doorknob. He gave it a rattle and then stepped back, satisfied.

"Where do you sleep?" He asked, turning to her, still standing there watching his every move.

"What? You want to check if he's under the bed?" she snapped, irritated that she was so affected by his presence.

He looked at her and surprised her by saying. "No, it's so I know where I can ravish you."

Alexa felt her face burn with heat, and her mouth gaped like a fish, but before she could say anything, he spun around and promptly continued to the loft where the private blinds were closed, ignoring the other.

She moved from where she stood and hurried after him not wanting him to see into her private place. Both of the loft rooms were identically furnished and styled with a single bed, a matching bedside table, a mini chest of drawers with a gilded mirror above it, and a padded window seat with built-in storage.

She was standing now at the drawn enclosure and watched him taking in her room. All she had was her toiletries, a framed picture of her at college and a stuffed bear that she had won a few months at the fair when she had come to Mistle.

On her bedside table was a stack of albums, an alarm clock the shape of a miniature Eiffel Tower sitting on top of a leather-bound book that was her diary.

She had all her boots neatly stocked by the space between the window seat and the far wall. The room showed someone who was simply passing by.

She walked further into the room, and just as she approached the foot of the bed, his longer strides had them moving into each other, and it felt like the enclosure seemed to shrink four times its size.

Sheldon felt that feeling he felt last night in the kitchen; the only difference was that with a bed just a mere inch from them, it seemed to intensify. He reached up his hands to pull her close so that could hold her like he wanted to last night.

Alexa felt her bag slip from her fingers as her hand moved on its own accord to hold onto Sheldon the need to press him close to her wound itself into a desire so potent she felt like a puppet being directed by a puppeteer string.

Something was happening that had them both under its spell. It had them tangled in its web. As they got closer and their lips were about to meet, her roommate came in, and even though she could not see them, they jumped apart.

"Bell is here," she said stupidly.

His voice was husky from his pent-up emotions and unspoken feelings waiting to be expressed but not yet ready to be acknowledged.

"I'll leave you to get ready."

"Ok," she whispered

She slumped down on the bed when he left thinking what would have happened if Bell had not come that very instant.

She didn't know what was happening, but whatever it was, it all had to do with the Shady Stranger and his stone. Her life was going to plan until it was given to her.

She sighed then got up from the bed thinking. What life?

If she needed a life, she best gets Sheldon on the path instructed by the Shady Stranger and gets her head in order. It would have been far easier, though, if he wasn't a drop-dead gorgeous modern-day Scrooge.

Far, far easier.
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Hello.

Now, what is going on here? Is this some plan of the Shady Stranger or is the romance of Christmas?

Well, let's see as something tells me that bell didn't save anything 😊

Let's go over to the next chapter, but first, leave a vote and a comment.🙂