“Yeah, yeah…that’s fine. I’ll wait for you though. Go get your shower while I go change my clothes.” Tasha followed him as he carried their bags to the bedrooms.
Tasha’s suitcase was wet so she didn’t put it on the bed. She just left it on the floor, took out some personals, and found a pair of sweats before heading to the bathroom. She quickly shed her wet clothes and turned on the shower. The second she stepped inside and the spray of hot water caressed her skin; it was if she had been transported to some place heavenly. She stood under the showerhead letting the heat from the water permeate through her as it cascaded down every nook and cranny of her body. Her muscles started to relax, all of the tension and stress disappeared. The chill she had earlier was completely gone.
Moments after she’d finished cleaning up the storm knocked the power out. The water turned cold and the tiny little bathroom was left in complete darkness.
There were three quick knocks on the door, “Tasha, are you okay in there? I’ve got a couple of candles.”
“Yeah…I’m fine. Give me a second.” She felt for the water faucet and turned the water off. She pulled the shower curtain back and stepped out. This bathroom wasn’t familiar so she had to feel her way around. Thank goodness she’d left a towel on the sink.
“Ouch…dammit!”
Tim tried to open the door but it was locked, “What was that?”
“Nothing…I just stubbed my toe on something.”
Tasha found the towel and wrapped herself up in it before going over to the door. She cracked it just a little bit; just enough for Tim to pass her the candle. She looked up into those concerned blue eyes as they bore into hers. It was if there was a force of energy surrounding them that wouldn’t let her turn away.
His eyes softened and immediately turned to desire once he knew she was okay. The woman he couldn’t stop thinking about was completely naked and standing one step away from him hidden only behind a door and towel.
His mouth went dry and his body tensed up…all over.
She struggled to find her voice and it came out in a whisper, “I just stubbed my toe. I’m fine…really.”
He hoped his voice only projected concern and not the desire he felt. “Good. I don’t want you getting hurt while we’re together.”
Tasha ripped her eyes away from his as she shook her head from side to side, “I’m really okay. I’ll just finish up and I’ll be out in a minute.”
Tim stood at the door wondering if he should just forget about everything and everyone and kiss her. It was obvious from the look in her eyes that she wanted him just as much. While fighting with himself, Tasha slowly closed the door.
The spell was broken by the sound of it clicking shut. It wasn’t a moment too soon because Tim was ready to drown himself inside her. A few seconds more and he may have acted on those impulses.
It was getting harder and harder to remember that Tasha made it perfectly clear that there was no chance of them being anything other than friends. And, they still needed to work back to friendship.
He walked back into the main room and sat on the floor in front of the fire. What would life have been like if he’d made a different choice? Rolling his neck and shoulders, he spoke softly to himself, “Thinking like that is pointless and is only going to make this an even longer weekend. Get it together.”
A distraction. That was exactly what he needed. The weather radio sitting on top of the mantle might do the trick. He went and grabbed it. Then, sat back down on the floor trying to get a clear signal.
After turning it on and off a couple of times, it was obvious the radio wasn’t working properly. He poured all of his focus on trying to get it to work.
He wished he could have had an iced cold beer but Sabrina didn’t think beer was romantic…so no beer. It was just one less thing to fight about.
After tinkering with the radio for a bit more, there was finally a signal. He was able to hear that the bridge they’d come over was now impassable. But, just as soon as he’d heard it, the radio went dead again. Frustrated, he put the radio down. This little mini-getaway was already going to be difficult but it was quickly turning into a disaster.
Tasha walked into the great room. It would have been completely dark if it weren’t for the flames from the fireplace.
Tim was focused on his cell phone as he tried to see if he could get anything on that.
“Feel better?”
“Yes, I can’t even begin to tell you how much better I feel. Were you able to get anything on that radio?”
“Just that the bridge we crossed flooded. I can’t seem to get my phone to work either. Have you had a chance to check yours?”
She sat down on the floor next to him. The coconut smell of her freshly washed hair caught his attention, and he looked up.
Typically, Tasha wore her hair up in a ponytail or pulled up some kind of way. But, this time her hair was still wet from her shower. Her brown curls had fallen over her shoulders as she finger combed it. She looked fresh faced and innocent. Tasha was cute even in a pair of sweats and a pullover. It was amazing that she wasn’t married with a house full of children.
The rain continued to beat down on
