Free Candy Kisses by Bernadette Marie

tolerable.
    She began flipping through channels until she came upon You’ve Got Mail. O ne of her favorites. No one could cheer her up better than Tom Hanks.
    The tune to the opening credits already had her easing back in her seat. She lifted the tea to her lips just as there was a knock at the door. She jumped and hot tea spilled down the front of her. She flew to her feet and strung a slew of curses together and she fanned the wet flannel from her burning skin.
    “Hold on. Hold on!” She yelled at the person continuing to pound at the door.
    Tabitha set the tea on the coffee table and ran to the kitchen for a towel to stop the burning she felt against her flesh. As soon as the sting muted a bit she headed for the door to sock the person in the jaw who had the nerve to summons her from the couch and make her burn herself.
    She swung the door open to the wall of cold outside. As the door opened the person leaning on it fell inside.
    Tabitha jumped back. “What are you doing?”
    “Sorry.” Preston stumbled to gain his balance on his feet. “I was so tired I was leaning on the door. I didn’t expect it to swing open like that.”
    “Why did you just keep knocking?”
    “It’s what you do to get someone to open the door, especially when it’s ten below outside. Now can we close it?” He grabbed hold of the door and shut it against the cold, bitter wind that pushed against it.
    His face was red from the wind that had battered pellets of ice against his skin. The whites of his eyes were red and dark circles told her he hadn’t slept well.
    The wet towel in her hand, the pajamas which smelled like tea, and the burn now stinging again on her chest reminded her that she didn’t care if he’d slept, she was still mad. She hadn’t invited him over and he shouldn’t be there.
    She turned and walked back to the kitchen to retrieve a dry towel. “What do you want?”
    “What do I want? I wanted to see you.” Preston followed her and when she stood from reaching in the drawer for a towel, he was right there behind her. She slammed her face into his chest and knocked them both back.
    “Why are you right there too? Geeze, get out of my way.” She pushed past him.
    “You’re in a mood. Don’t I even get a hello kiss?”
    Tabitha spun around. “A hello kiss? Who do you think you are?”
    “I thought I was the man who’d missed you all day and wanted to come all the way over here for a kiss. I’m beginning to think I was wrong.”
    “Way wrong.” She pushed the towel to her chest where the burn reminded her how mad she was at him.
    “What’s with the towel?”
    “I spilled my tea on myself while you beat down my door.”
    He moved swiftly to her. “I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”
    Tabitha took a step back only to find herself pinned in with her back against the refrigerator door. “It’s just a … well, a little burn.” Her breath hitched as he lifted a hand to the collar of her pajamas.
    “Let me see.”
    She couldn’t use words. She shook her head. No, she had to move away from him. But her feet were planted.
    “Tabitha, I want to check. Do I need to take you to a doctor?”
    “No,” she said, but it was much too airy. Her head fell back against the refrigerator as Preston unbuttoned the top of her pajamas and parted the fabric.
    He trailed his finger down her skin stopping where redness marked her just between her breasts. Tabitha closed her eyes and her breath caught. When she opened them, he was staring at her. That twinkle was in his eyes and the corner of his mouth lifted.
    “Something tells me you’re not hurting too bad.”
    Tabitha narrowed her stare at him. “I’m fine.” She tried to step forward but he was too close.
    “Let me make it all better.” He lowered his lips to her neck and she felt her knees turn soft. He pressed kisses to her collarbone and Tabitha pushed her palms against the cold metal door behind her to keep from sliding to the floor.
    Preston trailed kisses to the