Free Straight From The Heart by Janelle Taylor

and sloshed through puddles on his way.
    It was a fit of pique if she’d ever seen one. So what? It wasn’t her fault he was feeling horny and frustrated. Well, not totally anyway. He was the one who’d kept pushing everything, and so she’d run up against the wall of her own morals. There was no crime in it. A majority of the world might actually commend her for her values.
    So, why was she feeling like she’d made a terrible mistake?
    The clouds had blown away as if by magic, traveling across the sky and leaving little patches of blue until, just before sunset, the sky was clear. Now, Kim could see a myriad of stars flung into the black velvet heavens. She sat on the love seat, turned toward the window, trying not to let worry spoil the moment.
    Damn the man! This wasn’t a love nest planned for his pleasure and convenience. And it wasn’t an opportunity for them, either. Opportunity! Kim gave a very unladylike snort. She was coming to loathe that word. No, this was merely a mistake. They’d ended up at the same cabin together and were making the best of it. If all went well, the floods would recede by morning, and they’d both be out of here.
    Hasta la vista, baby!
    That is, if Stephen ever returned.
    Time ticked by, excruciatingly slowly. Needing something to do, Kim raided their larder, nibbling on several saltines. She didn’t even like them all that much. It was Bobby who’d thrown the box into the sack. Kim smiled and reminded herself to thank her son when she saw him again.
    What would Bobby think if she were to date Stephen Wright? Kim wondered idly. Probably pass out from pure delight for it would mean more of Jason Wright in his life—heaven on earth if there ever was one!
    Where was Stephen? If he didn’t show up soon, she’d be downright upset! In fact—
    Kim gasped as the lights suddenly went back on. “All right!” she cried, thrilled at the prospect of a connection to civilization. Snatching up the phone, she was disappointed to learn it still wasn’t working.
    Needing something to occupy her time, Kim chose the opportunity to throw together the spaghetti sauce, sans meat, and boil the pasta. Salad in the bag was long gone, but there were some apples and pears which Kim arranged on plates. She’d just found the wine cork when she heard the front door open.
    “Stephen?” she called, peering around the doorjamb. “My God! What happened to you?”
    He was covered with mud from head to foot.
    “I made it down to the river, but the water’s still over the bridge. We’re stuck on this side until probably tomorrow afternoon. I see power’s restored on the mountain though,” he observed.
    “But why are you so muddy?”
    “I tried to help a guy get his pickup out of the floodwaters. No chance. It’s just a matter of waiting.” He shot her a look. “But it won’t be much longer. Just one more night,” he added as he headed toward the bathroom.
    “Stephen, wait!” Kim called, but he turned on the taps to the shower. She wasn’t certain whether he heard her or not, but it hardly mattered. He wasn’t going anywhere, at least for one more night.
    Suddenly, she was gripped by anxiety. Only one more night. Though she’d made lots of noise about wanting to get away from him, those feelings had quickly changed. Now the idea of separating tomorrow and going back to their own lives filled her with dread.
    Kim uncorked the wine, lit the candles which still tilted drunkenly in their glasses, set the arrangement of fruit at two places, poured marinara sauce over bowls of pasta, then tipped an Oregon pinot noir into a pair of surprisingly pretty wine goblets. She was waiting at the table when Stephen stepped out of the bathroom, once again wearing a pair of jeans and no shirt.
    He stopped short at the sight of her. Kim had changed earlier but had covered up her sundress with a terrycloth apron while she cooked, so he hadn’t seen the transformation. Now the way he looked at her made her