Love Notes

Lights of Winter Part 2

*Warning - long chapter! (Good one though...enjoy!) 😉*

"You look beautiful," Alex said simply, looking his wife up and down.

Norma blushed, his compliment giving her an unexpected rush of pleasure.

"I thought you weren't going to come," he questioned.

She couldn't bring herself to confess how much she'd been thinking about him. Smiling mischievously, she said "I heard there was funnel cake."

A slow grin spread across his handsome face. "Come on Mrs. Sheriff," he said with a chuckle. "I'll set you up."

Nervously she laughed and allowed him to lead the way, his hand on the small of her back. An uncomfortable silence settled between them as they walked side by side, their arms close and occasionally touching. Although he wanted to reach out and take her hand, he didn't dare. He wasn't sure how she would react to that.

Finally, he cleared his throat, and she looked up at him. "So..." he started hesitantly. "What made you change your mind?"

She looked away for a moment. Finally deciding that honesty was the best policy, she said "I don't know. I guess I just...wanted to see you."

That was the answer that he wanted but wasn't expecting. His heart soared but he remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Under his intense gaze, she blushed again and rolled her eyes . "Is that ok?" She asked, slightly exasperated.

His eyes bright, he answered "Yea that's ok." He paused, then boldly went on. "I wanted to see you too."

Her face lit up. "You did?" She said shyly.

"Yes." He said softly, staring deeply into her eyes. "I'm - I'm glad you're here."

She smiled up at him, her heart doing flip flops. "I am too."

"Even if it is just for funnel cake," he said, his eyes twinkling.

She giggled, then looked towards where he was gesturing. To her surprise, they were standing in front of a vendor. She hadn't even realized that they had stopped moving, momentarily lost in his dark intense gaze.

Alex greeted the woman behind the counter, holding up one finger. A moment later, she handed her husband a plate with golden brown, deliciously fragrant funnel cake decorated with powdered sugar and a huge heaping of whipped cream, which Alex presented to her. She squealed with delight. She really did love funnel cake. As they walked away, she took a small piece in her mouth, savoring its crispy, sweet deliciousness. "Mm that's good!"

Pleased, he led her to another vendor, asking the man standing behind the counter for two hot toddies. She watched as the man grabbed two stylophone cups and filling them with a brown, steamy liquid. Alex took one and handed it to his wife. Putting it to her nose, she breathed in the spicy aroma. "I've never had a hot toddy," she said. "What's in it?"

He took a sip of his cup and shrugged. "I'm not sure. I think cinnamon. And whiskey. Mostly whisky," he chuckled, leveling his dark eyes onto her.

She met his gaze with a dangerous, flirtatious glare. "I like whiskey." She said, taking a sip. She couldn't stop smiling at him.

He smiled back, unable to take his eyes off her. God she looked gorgeous! A million thoughts ran through his head. He wanted to chuck his drink like they were in the middle of a romantic comedy and take her into his arms, kissing her with the passion of a thousand suns. But he remained where he was, grinning like an idiot.

"Excuse me, Sheriff," his administrative assistant said, interrupting their perfect moment. He looked over, startled. Regina gave Norma an artificial, apologetic smile and said to Alex "Some people would like a picture with you."