Cold Outside

19 - Baby don't go

Bethany couldn't believe that Lucas told Oliver about not wanting kids. She never knew men talked about such things. Women absolutely did, but not men. They worked in silence for a while. Her ringing phone startled her. It was Lucas.

"Hi."

"Hey babe, it's snowing hard. We may get up to six inches."

"I didn't realize until I was already here. I'll be fine. If it's too bad, I can stay in my old room."

"Maybe you should stay just so you're safe. I'm sure Oliver wouldn't mind. He's a good friend."

"So I've heard."

"I'm just glad you two are getting along now."

"Let me get back to work. I'll call you later, okay."

"Bye."

She looked at Oliver. "He's concerned about the snow."

"You can stay here. I promise to be good, unless you're afraid and climb in my bed."

"You'd like that wouldn't you."

"More than I should admit."

"I think, we need to stick to snowflakes."

Oliver just admitted that he wanted her. She had worked hard to get over him not wanting her enough and now he did. She indulged in the thought of falling into his arms.

No, she couldn't get hurt again. She was committed to Lucas.

When they finished just after ten, Oliver looked outside on the street. "It's letting up, but there's no sign of a plow. Do you have a four-wheel drive?"

"No. I'll walk up to see if they plowed River Road."

"I'll come too."

The night was silent, as they were trudging through the powder. It wasn't wet enough to make a snowball. Beth knew if it was, Oliver wouldn't be able to resist. He always liked to have fun. That was something she had loved about him. Had loved, more and more she wondered if she ever stopped loving him. They had been young, just twenty-one. She had put him in a terrible position. He was committed to Hayley, but she thought she could win him. She felt the tables had turned.

Was Oliver trying to win her away from Lucas?

Thankfully, the road was plowed. "I just need to clear off my car."

Oliver said, "Baby don't go."

Bethany looked at him and saw his smile. "The answer is no."

"Baby, it's cold outside." He laughed.

"I'll pick up the snowflakes the day of the gala if that's okay."

Oliver helped her clear the snow off her car. "Are you sure you want to go?"

"Yes, I need to."

"Beth, text me when you get home, please."

"I will and Chef thanks for helping and for dinner and my car." She spontaneously embraced him and her heart hammered, as he hugged her back. Pulling away she said, "Can you let Lucas know that I'm on my way?"

There was a path made by the cars ahead of her, but there were very few cars on the road. Once on the highway, she drove behind a plow truck which made it easier. Still she had white-knuckled it the most way. The worst part of the ride was thinking about Oliver.

Why had she hugged him and why had it felt so good?

Even bundled in winter jackets she felt something. She could very easily have stayed the night. Lucas wouldn't have questioned it. If she had looked up into his face while they embraced they would have kissed. The sexual tension was in the air the entire night.

It was just after eleven, when she entered the top floor condo. Lucas rushed to her. "Oh, thank God!"

"It was fine. I just took it very slow."

"I would have preferred that you spent the night with Oliver." Lucas teased.

"I came home to you." She kissed him and wanted to erase her thoughts of hugging Oliver. "I told him I'd let him know I made it home." She took out her phone. She texted, home safe. Thanks again.

He replied immediately, phew! Goodnight.

Lucas wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I was worried about you."

She felt the warmth and familiar comfort of his embrace. Both men could stir feelings with just a hug. She understood a little better what Oliver must have felt that summer. Trying to erase thoughts of Oliver, she pressed her body into Lucas' which sent him a clear message.

If she thought intimacy with Lucas would clear her mind of Oliver, she was wrong. At the moment her body exploded, behind her closed eyes it was Oliver's face that appeared.