Sugar and Spice

Chapter 3

Shotgun to his face, Jason backs away with both hands in the air. Immediately I lower the dangerous end to the ground and take my finger off the trigger.

"Jesus, Jason, you scared the shit out of me... I almost shot you! Are you alright?" I ask.

Jason laughs and lets out a huge breath.

"YOU were scared? You came at me like a mountain lion, woman! And then you ask if I'm OK?" he laughs and shakes his head once more, "you are incredible, woman. Just... Damn incredible."

"Jason, why are you here? Is the hotel closed?" I look out and around him, a survival tool when you're a lone woman in the middle of the night with the door to her home and place of employment open wide.

My eyes rest back on Jason and I notice he looks almost.. Sheepish.

"well, the truth is.. I couldn't wait till tomorrow to see if you were OK. If the offer of the guest room is still open, I'd feel comfortable if I could be there. You know... Just in case anything happens." He looks at me and his eyes trail down my arm to my gun. "Though I'm sure now that if anything happened you'd be calling me after you shot whatever threatened you."

I laugh and agree with him, opening the door wider and moving aside so he can come in.

"I'd be screwed if there were more than one person coming at me though," I tell him. "So either way, you're more than welcome to stay."

I lock back up behind him and guide him down the stairs after I replace my shotgun.

"Downstairs basically wraps around the staircase. It's the basement of the place, so it's decent size. It took a couple of years but I've sectioned it off. Here on your right," I gesture, "lies the bathroom. Full hook-up so if you'd like a shower or the like, you're more than able. Off the bathroom is my room. Straight ahead is the kitchen and to the left is the living area. I have a workout area in the left far corner of it, nothing extravagant, just a stationary bike, a treadmill and a set of weights with a bench.

"Set up behind the stairs here," I lead him to a closed door, "is the guest room. The bedding and mattress are all new, you'll... Um... Well you'll be my first guest," I finish, chuckling self-consciously.

"I like this. It's open and spacious without being a million square feet," Jason turns to me.

"You've done really well. I'm honored to sleep here with you tonight."

Jason's final words leave me breathless. Of course he meant he was honored to sleep in my home, not literally sleep WITH me. But don't think the thought doesn't send my imagination wild.

Clearing my throat, I ask:

"Are you hungry? I can make some sandwiches if you'd like. I was in the middle of making some myself, making a few more wouldn't be a bother."

Jason looks to me and smiles his smile.

"Sure, a man could eat."

"Yeah, well... Don't expect me to deliver. I don't have room service here," and I hear him chuckle behind my back as I walk away, a smirk on my face as well.

The sandwich meat holds out for five sandwiches. More than enough for the both of us, he has three to my two and we eat on my sofa. When we are done, he sits back and scratches his belly.

"would you mind me taking a shower? As tired as I am, I don't feel right sleeping in new linen in a dirty body," he requests.

Dirty...

I take a breath and lead him to the bathroom, showing him where towels are and such. Yes, I realize I can explain with words where everything was but I feel this urge to be by him at all times. Silly infatuations sneak up on you, don't they?