Love Supernaturally

by Charlotte Copper

  He hadn’t answered, or maybe he grunted no, but they didn’t listen. It turned into a game of twenty questions. A game he didn’t want to play. He ended up more grilled than the Christmas vegetables.

  Two days later he ventured into town with Joannie, Queen of All-Things-On-Sale, for the Boxing Day savings. He went as chauffeur and bag carrier, and, truth be told, to escape a little of the chaos. He hadn’t planned on buying anything, well, maybe new running shoes if he could find a decent pair on sale. But when he glanced in the jewelry store window and noticed the necklace, he had to buy it for Cassie. He tried to purchase the item without his aunt knowing, but the salesperson chatted ceaselessly and moved at a snail’s pace—the speed of life in Chester—and Joannie, finished with her own errands, waited outside the store, foot tapping and lips pursed.

  “There is a girl,” Joannie said. A statement, not a question.

  “No. Yes. I don’t know.” He stopped. The cold wind whipped against his face. What was going on?

  He’d distanced himself from the dating scene a while ago, an effort to take control of his cavalier life. A self-imposed act of responsibility. The groupies that flung themselves at the hockey players overwhelmed even the most alcohol and testosterone fueled male.

  Did he really say he wanted a large family? He hadn’t thought about it until he spoke the words. What kind of spell did Cassie have over him? Asking her out. Buying her gifts. And random thoughts of her throughout the holidays.

  Joannie turned to him. “So, tell me about her.”

  He barely survived all the questions on the drive back to her house.

  Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve, and the weather report called for snow. And lots of it. Maybe he should head back early.

  ****

  The last day of the year snuck up quickly, and when Cassie left work, the emergency room thrummed with early revelers and their assortment of alcohol-induced accidents.

  No call from Fraser, but then she hadn’t really expected one since he’d gone to Nova Scotia for Christmas with his family. She should forget about him, but…

  Cassie shook the snow off her hat and, careful not to leave puddles of slush on the floor, she dropped onto the little bench and took off her boots. She hugged her warm coat close one last time, and then grabbed a hanger. She’d just closed the sliding glass doors when the phone rang.

  Hopping over the damp entrance rug, socks flopping from having slid partly off in her boots, she made her way to the kitchen. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Cassie. It’s Fraser.” His voice echoed through the phone, and the connection hissed.

  “Hi. How’s Nova Scotia? How was Christmas?” She held the phone between shoulder and ear as she pulled her socks back on.

  “Actually, I’m calling from the airport, here in Toronto. Weather in Nova Scotia was supposed to get bad, so I decided to play it safe and come home early. I wasn’t sure I’d get a seat, but turns out not everyone wants to fly on New Year’s Eve. I just got off the plane and was wondering what your plans are for tonight. Are you going out after all?”

  “No. I decided to stay home. I borrowed a couple of movies from the library, and I’ve already got out the Chinese food menus.” She fanned the colored pieces of paper out on the counter.

  “Oh,” Fraser replied.

  Don’t do it, the little voice said. “Do you want to come over?” She scrunched her eyes tight like she used to do in high school and waited for his reply.

  “I’d love to. You sure it’s okay? I don’t want to intrude if you’d rather be alone,” Fraser said.

  For someone who didn’t want to intrude, a familiar pattern appeared to be developing.

  “No, I’d love the company. And I always order way more Chinese food than I can eat alone.”

  Laughter sprinkled across the phone line. “You know, I don’t usually impose myself this much on others.”

  “Are you trying to get me to say no?” she teased.

  “Not at all. I’d be honored if you’d let me spend New Year’s Eve with you. I’m not sure how long it will take to get there; the roads didn’t look too bad as we landed.”

  Voices crackled over the airport speakers as Fraser spoke.

  “It’s been pretty dry here the last couple of days, although we’re expecting some snow in the next day or two. I’ll wait ’til you get here to order, and I promise not to start any of the movies before you arrive.” She ran her hands over her legs checking for stubble.

  “Okay. See you soon.”

  “Bye.” She still held the phone in pleasant shock when it started to make a loud beep.

  ****

  Once again Cassie stood in her closet. Cool air from the open window caressed her naked flesh as she scrunched her toes into the thick carpet and released. Concentrate. She grabbed a pair of black yoga pants; they made her butt look good. Slipping on one of the three thongs she owned and a lacey pink bra, she added a fitted white T-shirt.

  Television! That’s what she needed to take her mind off the wait. She spent a large part of her life waiting for death, but when it came to her personal life—like grocery lines and boiling water…and men—she hated to linger at the best of times.

  She mindlessly flipped through the channels and settled on a Christmas themed sitcom she’d watched a dozen times before. She pulled the blanket off the end of the loveseat and snuggled in. Halfway through her second episode, the doorbell chimed.

  Taking a deep breath, she checked her hair in the mirrored closet, then opened the front door.

  “Happy New Year,” said Fraser, as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

  “Happy New Year. Come on in.”

  Fraser remained outside the door. “Would you mind if I took a shower before dinner? The plane was packed, and I was sitting between these two, uh…larger men…who I swear both smoked a pack of cigarettes before boarding the plane. A few hours between these two guys and I smell as if I was the one smoking.”

  “Of course. No problem.”

  “Okay, give me a minute. I’ve got to get my bag. Be right back.”

  Cassie flipped on the outdoor light and waited.

  “Oh, my God!”

  Fraser laughed as he lugged a huge hockey bag through the door. “That’s why I figured I’d better ask first. You might think I was moving in if I’d been carrying this when you first opened the door. It was easy to take to Chester with the gifts and all. It’s only half full now, but it has my change of clothes and stuff in it.”

  Cassie closed the door as he put down the large bag and took off his coat. She took the down-filled jacket and caught a whiff of his clothes. “Wow, you’re right. That’s pretty strong. I’ll just let this air out here.” She laid his coat on the tiny hall bench. “Tour later. Come with me.”

  Fraser picked up his bag and followed her up the stairs.

  “Did you see Joe? I was going to stop by, but it’s past visiting hours,” he said. “How’s he doing?”

  “About as good as can be expected.”

  “Did Matt and Daniel visit? Matt can be a bit strange, but his heart is in the right place. And Daniel said he and his boyfriend would check in regularly.”

  “I visited with Joe today. He mentioned he’d had a few visitors, including your stepbrothers.” She stopped at the small landing.

  “That’s good. Thanks for keeping an eye on him. I’ll drop by the hospital tomorrow,” Fraser said, coming to a halt behind her. They stood outside Cassie’s bedroom. “Dark brown? I would never have guessed a brown bedroom.”

  “Never underestimate a woman’s love of chocolate.” She opened the small closet next to her room. “Let me grab you a towel.”

  She rummaged through the shelves and pulled out a bath towel and facecloth. Do men even use facecloths?

  “That of course is the bathroom.” The scent of Gabriella’s new cranberry Christmas candle floated out to greet them. She turned on the light. “And here’s a towel.”

  “Thanks.” Fraser took the items offered
.

  “Is there anything you’re partial to, or would rather I didn’t order?”

  Fraser struggled to get his bag through the door. “No, I’ll pretty much eat anything, although I’m not very keen on fishy stuff.”

  “Okay, no fishy stuff.”

  After making a quick trip to her room where she moved all the clothes from the corner and deposited them in the actual laundry basket in her closet, she returned downstairs to order.

  The water started, echoing within the walls, as she entered the kitchen, and she wondered what Fraser looked like naked. God, has it really been that long?

  “Yes, it has,” she answered out loud, “and you have to stop this before it goes too far. Before either of you become too attached.” She couldn’t shake it. Something about Fraser felt more permanent than a one-night stand. She’d have to tread carefully.

  She remembered a cartoon she’d seen on television as a child, where an angel sat on one shoulder and a devil on the other, and the two argued about what was right and wrong. No one sat on her shoulders, of course—especially a tiny angel—but sometimes, like now, it seemed as though they did. Brushing off the imaginary spirits, she picked up the menus.

  Deciding on her order, Cassie dialed the number on the front of the red and white flyer. When she finished, she returned to the living room to watch television—the voices a droning background to her nervous heart.

  The water turned off, and a light echo of feet sounded in the bathroom above. A handsome naked man occupied her bathroom. She plucked a mint from the bowl on the table and tossed it in her mouth. Visions of sugar plums danced in her head. Yeah, that’s it…sugar plums, not naked men.

  Muted footsteps grew louder as Fraser reached the tiled floor at the bottom of the stairs. “In here,” she called.

  He wore a pair of jeans, no socks, and a black V-neck T-shirt that emphasized his muscular arms. “I left my clothes hanging in the bathroom. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Do you want to throw them in the wash?” Cassie asked.

  “No. Thanks anyway. They should be fine. They just need to air out.”

  She lounged on the loveseat with her legs curled up under her. Fraser walked past and sat on the couch to her left. The sexy combination of soap and cologne hung in the air.

  ****

  Fraser sank into the sofa. The big pillows and comfortable furnishings gave the small house a homey feeling. Odds and ends of the holiday variety, scattered around Cassie’s living room on shelves and tables, gave the room a Christmas flair. The only decoration at Joe’s was a small table top tree with the lights already attached. It felt wrong to decorate his house this year.

  “No tree?” he asked.

  “Where would we put it?”

  He glanced around the tiny room.

  “Besides,” she said, “I was at Jane’s for Christmas. Nothing compares to the smell of a real tree.”

  “How was your Christmas?” he asked.

  “Uneventful, which as a nurse, is a blessing. I went to Jane’s after work. Paper and presents everywhere. She’s a great friend and an even better mom.” A sly smile turned up the corners of her mouth.

  “What’s that for?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “The smile. What happened?”

  She laughed and stared down at her feet. When she peeked up, a hint of red colored her cheeks. “You were the main topic of dinner conversation,” she confessed.

  “That must be it. I felt a strong burning sensation in my ears all night. And…?”

  “And what?”

  “Are you going to tell me what was said?”

  “Of course not.” She laughed.

  The sound was contagious. Her smile, beautiful.

  “How was your Christmas?” she asked.

  “Complete and utter chaos. It was wonderful. And I got you a present.” He held out the hand he had kept hidden. Little tendrils of nerves curled in his stomach, like a schoolboy on Valentine’s Day, hoping the cute little girl loved her card.

  “Fraser, you shouldn’t have. I didn’t…”

  “Don’t worry. I wasn’t expecting anything, and I didn’t plan to buy you a gift. Really. But I was out with my aunt on Boxing Day, and I saw this in one of the windows and thought of you. I couldn’t stop myself. I should have though.” He rolled his eyes. “Joannie harassed me with a thousand questions.”

  Anxiety nibbled away at his insides as she removed the wrapping paper. He studied her face as she opened the box to reveal the little silver and gold angel that he knew lay on the black velvet cushion

  “I hope you like it,” he said. “It reminded me of you when I saw it. I’ve always thought nurses were angels the way they take care of everyone. They should all be given wings and a halo.”

  I’m doing it again. Talking too much.

  He waited as she stared at the tiny box in her hands. When she finally looked up, there were tears in her eyes and her face looked…sad? He hadn’t expected that.

  “I’m sorry. Did I…?” Do something wrong? What?

  “No, it’s beautiful. I used to have one very similar—from my mom—and I lost it.” She wiped away a tear as she lifted the delicate chain out of the box. “Thank you.”

  She put the necklace on and smiled—a mixture of happiness and sadness—and his heart expanded like in the Christmas cartoon.

  She put down the empty box and nodded to the DVDs on the table, her fingers rubbing at the tiny angel. “Those are the movies for tonight. We’ll only be able to get one in before the Big Apple starts to fall, assuming we wait until after dinner to start. Pick the one you want. I’ve seen two of them already, but I don’t care which we watch.”

  He regarded her with raised eyebrows, and she responded with a slight nod of her head. Fraser glanced from Cassie to the DVD cases. “Are you going to tell me which two you’ve seen?”

  She shook her head. “Uh-uh.”

  He picked up one of the cases and started to read. “OK, this one.” He handed her the case.

  “OK, this one it is. Would you like something to drink?”

  “Hmmm. How long ’til dinner?”

  “They said about thirty minutes so it should be here soon.”

  “What do you have?”

  “Pop, juice, beer. I’ve got a bottle of white wine in the fridge. A Christmas gift from one of the nurses.”

  “Why don’t we wait, and we can open the wine with dinner. I wouldn’t want to get drunk before dinner and have you take advantage of me.”

  Oh my God, I did not just say that.

  The doorbell rang, saving him from sticking his other foot in his mouth.

  “Here, I’ll get it,” he said, getting up from the couch and pulling his wallet from his pocket.

  “No problem. I already paid for it when I ordered.”

  He trailed her to the door and took the bag from the delivery man.

  Mmm…something smelled spicy and tangy. And delicious.

  He followed her into the kitchen.

  “Let me give you some money for it,” he said reaching into his wallet.

  “No, that’s okay. You got dinner at the restaurant. And the popcorn.”

  “Yeah, but I spilled most of the popcorn. And I invited myself. And…”

  “And?” She started to remove the containers from the large paper bag.

  “And, well, you said you were on the starving student plan, and I just want to help.”

  She stopped unpacking, and her face grew tense.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. A lot of girls I’ve gone out with expect me to pay.”

  “First, I haven’t been a ‘girl’ for a few years. And second…” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “…I’m sorry. I’m sensitive about money, and…And I guess, it’s just that time of year.”

  Tears threatened, and Fraser drew her into his arms.

  “Remember when I told you that Joe was careful about his finances? He got scammed several years back. Lost a
lot of his investments. I understand.”

  Wow. He’d never told anyone that before.

  ****

  After dinner, Cassie returned to her corner of the loveseat. Dinner had gone well after she managed to get her emotions in check. This time instead of sitting on the couch, Fraser settled in beside her. She inhaled deeply, basking in the sheer maleness of his scent.

  They watched the movie and finished the bottle of wine. Between the alcohol and the musky aroma which enveloped her, she relaxed into a dizzying sense of peace and happiness. When the credits began to roll, less than ten minutes remained until midnight struck, bringing with it the New Year.

  She flipped through the channels until she found the one with Times Square. Disappearing into the kitchen, she returned with two glasses and a bottle of champagne.

  “I won this at a bridal shower two years ago. I don’t think it goes bad.” She put the opaque bottle and the two glasses on the table, and settled next to Fraser to watch the festivities on the television.

  When the countdown began, he picked up the bottle. Three, two, one, and as the crowd screamed out, “Happy New Year.” He popped the cork and poured them each a glass of champagne.

  “Happy New Year,” exclaimed Cassie as she took her glass.

  “To new beginnings.” Fraser brought up his glass and clinked it to hers.

  They each took a sip, and then unexpectedly, Fraser leaned over and kissed her. His kiss began warm and gentle, and then, as if a match to kindling, it grew hot and passionate.

  Was that another shimmer? Too late. She closed her eyes and melted into the moment, all else forgotten. His tongue, which had gently traced the outline of her lips, probed deeper. Somehow they managed to put their champagne glasses down on the table without spilling, and with one arm resting on the back of the loveseat and the other on the edge next to her, Fraser pressed into her, pushing her to lie against the arm of the loveseat.

  Fireworks exploded. Television or her imagination? It didn’t matter. Just don’t stop.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. His hand skimmed the outside of her shirt, brushing her waist and then the side of her breast. She gasped, and Fraser froze as if to ask if it was okay. She kissed him in response, and his exploration of her body continued.