It was cold snowy night, all the guest were up in their rooms, doing what ever guest do in their rooms. I had long given up figuring out what might be going on behind closed doors, I just clean up after. The storm outside had brought in the last couple to fill the sixth and final room, there were no vacancies in my small B&B.
It didn't make much difference, nobody in their right mind would be out traveling on the mountain roads in this storm. I was sitting in the great room in my favorite chair, the latest David Baldacci novel in hand, my flannel nighty on and my soft blanket wrapped around me. The fire in the huge fireplace that dominated the room was still going well. Normally, I would have let it die out by now, but the firelight and the warmth were comforting tonight.
I noticed the head lights outside long before I heard the car, actually I don't think I ever heard the car. The lights died right out in front, somebody was parked in my front yard. The snow had to be about 2-3 feet deep by now, not a huge storm for these mountains but a good snow fall for tonight. I waited for the knock that I knew would come on the front door, I was surprised when it had not. Then a little worried, because it had not. I got up, and walked towards the front window to have a look, when the knock finally came. It was quiet, not easily done, with the lion shaped iron knocker and huge oak door. I was thinking who the fuck would be out in this storm, this late. I pulled the door open, just as a big gust of wind blew a bunch of snow off the porch floor and into the room. Standing in front of me was a dark human shape, wrapped up in a huge parka with the hood up, and scarves wrapped around the neck. I could not tell any thing about this person except that I was taller.
I said "Come in your letting the heat out," I don't think I was very polite. In the little bit of light in the room I could just make out green eyes looking out from inside the hood. I wanted to yell "why in the world are you out tonight", but I didn't. Their eyes looked very cold, not cold nasty, just cold, cold. Actually their eyes were very pretty, but the skin around their eyes, was red with cold, It was easy to see, from what little I could see of the face, she was a women.
"Honey, let's get you over to the fire and unwrap you."
A hand on each shoulder I walked her to be in front of the fireplace, I could feel she was shivering, she was definitely very cold. First I unwrapped the scarves around her neck, and slowly pushed the hood from her head, reveling her long wavy chestnut colored hair. She began to remove her mittens, I stopped her, if she were as cold as I though, she needed to unwrap slowly, slow warming was better for you.
"Stand here for a few minutes and warm up a little before you remove any more clothes. I have some hot cocoa in the kitchen I will go get you some." Stopping I turned back towards her, "would you like marshmallows with your cocoa?" I heard a faint yes, as a smile crossed her face. She appeared to be quite lovely, more so when she smiled.
Warming up the cocoa took just a few minutes. I returned to find her standing in front of the fire, she turned to look at me, now teary eyed, handing her the cup I asked "how are you feeling," and then, with a more caring tone, "are you okay?"
Her reply was very soft, "Not really I was on my way to my sister's, she's having a baby, right now. I was to be her coach." Her voice got a little louder, "the heater in my Jeep stopped working about an hour ago, I can not believe how cold it got. And the road got worse the longer I drove." She had wrapped her hands around the cocoa cup to help warm them.
"Sweetie, you are lucky you did not freeze to death." Taking the cup from her hands, "I think you can remove your mittens now, and let's get you out of that coat. I'll toss a few more logs in the fire and get the flames really going." I turned away to pick up the logs, "are you hungry I'm sure I have something you would like in the kitchen." As I turn back around, she was drinking her cocoa and staring into the fire.
"Yes, I am a little hungry, thank you."
"Okay, you're not a vegetarian are you?" I questioned. "I cooked a big pot roast for dinner tonight, lots of left overs." She shakes her head no, and I am off to the kitchen.
Several minutes later, I return with a plate full of dinner, to find my guest curled up in my chair with my blanket wrapped around her, just the way I was before the knocked on my door. I stop short and gaze at her, she is really quite attractive, the girl next door would describe her perfectly.
Holy shit, while looking at her I suddenly realize I look terrible, in my red plaid flannel nighty, "Would you like to eat by the fire or do want to eat in the dinning room." I ask as I walk up.
She looks at me and smiles, I just melted. "Wherever is most convenient for you" is her answer.
"Me, well I just love to eat in front of this fireplace" I say as I set the plate on the table beside her. "My name is Kelly, this is my B&B. Make yourself comfortable I'll be back in a few minutes."
She repeats her infectious smile and said, "My name is Sandy, thank you for inviting me in. I have driven by here so many times and had often wondered what it looks like inside. The outside is so very nice."
I turn to walk away, no I think I almost ran away, I needed to comb my hair, fix my face, brush my teeth, I needed to do something so I didn't look so bad. Should I change, no that might seem weird to her, in my pjs now, then in a formal dress? short shorts? skirt and blouse?... yeah weird! I decide to brush my hair, wash my face, and brush my teeth. I don't know why, she probably has no desire or attraction to a women. I grab my robe and head back to the great room.
She had finished eating. So I asked, "would you like some more, or some desert?"
Once more that killer smile, if she keeps doing that I am going to jump her bones. "No thank you, it was great, you are a good cook. Do you have a room available? I would love to take a shower and finish warming up."
Picking up her cleaned plate, "no I am sorry a young couple took the last one about 3 hours ago, but if you want you can use mine."
"I don't want to put you out," she replies.
I look into her eyes and smile, and leer, too much, "not a problem hospitality is my business, let me return this to my kitchen and I can show you the way." I walk into the kitchen, she follows behind me.
"Wow what a nice kitchen, no wonder you are such a good cook."
She is right there within arms reach, I find it very hard not to just reach out and pull her to me for a big kiss. "Honey the kitchen is only a tool, it's how I use that tool that makes me a good cook, oh, and lots of practice."
I swear, I catch her ogling me as I look back at her, my heart skips a beat at the idea she might be interested in me. Gaining my composure, I say, "let me show you to my shower. It's upstairs and thru my bedroom." I turn around and start walking, again she is following closely behind.