Kathleen turned down the hall on the left-hand side and flicked on another light switch as they passed a doorway on the right. The pale blue of the small half bath was warm and comforting. Kathleen moved on to the kitchen and to the thermostat on the wall. The floor of the kitchen was light blue linoleum. In the center was a small island crafted from light oak wood. The kitchen counters were pale yellow tile, and the cabinets were stained the color of dark wood. The long and shimmery curtains were a yellow that brightened the whole room.
Sera paused in the doorway and smiled as she leaned against the frame. She loved the cabin, with its elegant beauty and comfy furnishings. The smell of wood permeated the air to mingle with the hint of spices, crisp apple, cinnamon, and vanilla from the candles and potpourri scattered throughout the house.
"This place is beautiful," Danielle whispered.
"Thank you," Kathleen said as she turned up the thermostat on the wall. "I love it up here, but I never have a chance to come. Lack of transportation and all."
"We have to come here a lot more," Danielle said.
Sera looked around as a sense of peacefulness settled over her. This house was like a real home, a home she wanted to have one day, with a family of her own. A family nothing like hers. Her children would know they were loved and cherished.
Sorrow flickered through her as she realized the family she pictured would never be. Not as long as she was with Liam. Sera closed her eyes and took a deep breath to ease the pressure building in her chest. She forced herself not to think about it, not now. For now, she was going to enjoy her time here, and she wasn't going to let any depressing thoughts interfere with that.
Kathleen flicked another switch to illuminate the back porch. "Would you give me a hand?" she called over her shoulder.
Sera walked out to the screened in porch. Snow was billowing down outside as the wind howled through the trees. "It's getting nasty out there," Sera said as Kathleen began to grab piles of wood.
"We'll light a fire and cozy up," Kathleen said with a sly grin. "Just grab some wood for me."
Sera piled wood into her arms before following Kathleen back to the living room. "Danielle, why don't you put on some hot chocolate," Kathleen called over her shoulder.
The door opened with a blast of cold air as Mike, Doug, Liam, and Jack piled through. "Shit, it's cold!" Mike called, dropping his arm full of bags on the floor.
Kathleen grinned at him and playfully bumped his hip as she walked past him. "It is winter," she said.
"Actually, Miss Wise Ass, it technically still is fall," he retorted.
"Where do we put this stuff?" Jack asked as Doug slammed the door.
"Just leave it there for now. I'll get the fire started. The heat takes a while to warm up this place."
"Awesome place," Doug said. He took in the large staircase before him and the chandelier over his head before turning to follow Kathleen into the living room. "Sweet," he said, plopping onto one of the couches.
Sera grinned at him as she placed the logs next to the fireplace. Kathleen began to stack wood carefully inside of it. Liam sat on the other couch, while Jack slid in next to Doug. Mike plopped into the recliner and popped out the footstool. "I could stay here forever," he said as he closed his eyes and leaned back.
"I'm sure my parents would love that," Kathleen quipped as she lit a piece of paper and placed it under the logs.
"Do they know we're here?"
"They know Sera, Danielle, and I are here. They wouldn't appreciate you guys, but what they don't know won't kill them, right?"
"True, true."
Kathleen stood as the logs began to smoke and a flame sputtered to life. She shut the grate and stepped back with a look of pride on her face. "Hot chocolate's done!" Danielle called from the kitchen.
"Great," Kathleen said as she held her hands over the fire. "Who wants some?"
"I do," everyone said at the same time.
"Jack or Bailey's?"
"I'm in heaven!" Jack cried. "What could be better?"
"You actually getting laid," Mike retorted.
"Screw you."
Mike laughed and leaned further back in the chair. Sera shook her head as she headed back to the kitchen to help Danielle carry out the pot of hot chocolate and cups. When they came back to the living room, Kathleen had pulled out bottles of Jack, Tequila, and Bailey's from the bar and set them on the table.
"There are three bedrooms upstairs," she was saying. "One down here. The little bathroom's down the hall, and the full bath is upstairs."
"So what are the sleeping arrangements?" Mike inquired, his eyes focused on Kathleen.
She grinned at him flirtatiously. "Well now, we'll just have to figure that out later, won't we?"
Sera put the hot chocolate on the table, poured herself a glass, and added a generous shot of Bailey's to it. She sipped it as she slipped onto the couch next to Liam and kicked off her shoes. The fire crackled and sputtered as it filled the room with warmth. Liam slid his arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled closer to him.
"I figured Sera and Liam could have the room down here." Kathleen sipped her hot chocolate as she settled onto the floor. "Danielle and I will take my room, and the three of you can figure out the other two."
"Sounds good to me," Danielle said as she sat next to Sera.
She glanced over at Liam as he sat watching the flames. The light danced across his face and reflected in his eyes. A wave of possessiveness swept through her. He was hers, and she was never going to let him go. No matter what happened, no matter what she had to give up for him.
She looked back over at the
