Chapter 23

With just a week to go until Yule, this was not what anyone wanted to be doing. Meals were probably the only thing no one minded sharing. With Cora in charge of feeding everyone, no one had any room for complaints.

The couples had no quiet time alone together. They couldn’t even go for a walk to escape the confinement. With four police officers outside the house or in the neighborhood all the time, there was no trying to sneak a few moments alone outside.

Rachel was less than happy with having to wear the same clothes three days in a row. Showering turned into a game of who could get there first.

The women made all the decorations they could from the supplies they’d dropped off before their confinement, but this was not the celebration anyone wanted to have.

Chris was trying to communicate with associates by email, but even he was lost without his fax machine and big office.

Kasey missed her laptop for writing. Owen was less than impressed, the story he’d been working on was sitting at home getting cold. With two writers in the house, the only thing left to write on were the walls, and that wasn’t going to happen.

Everyone took turns on the single computer looking for the hotel that matched the sketch Rhonda had made.

The only ones who didn’t seem to mind being surrounded by people all the time were Gwen and Tara, they were more than happy to make decorations and plan for Yule. Of course, they were still treeless and had no Yule log, so it all seemed half done.

Patrick and Rhonda sat in her room. It seemed to be the only place they could find a little bit of quiet now. “I don’t know how much longer I can deal with so many people around, Pat.”

He grimaced at her. “I know I’m not used to being with people constantly, either.” He leaned back against the headboard and looked at her, she looked tired. The last few weeks had been so hard on her. Patrick reached over and pulled her hand so she would move closer. “You look about done in, lass.” She shrugged and leaned against his shoulder.

“It’s been quite the last few months.” She looked up at him. “I don’t think a minute went by when I wasn’t worried about you.”

He carefully lifted his sore arm as far up as he could and stroked the back of his fingers down her scared cheek. “Aye and I worried over you every moment of it.”

She took his arm and gently placed it back in a position she knew didn’t hurt him. Looking up into his dark eyes she smiled. “You kiss me mindless the morning you leave then the next time I see you, your half dead, and then I almost kill you kissing you when I shouldn’t be.”

Patrick smirked. “I’ve a thought or two on that.” He cradled her with his good arm and moved down to lean on the pillow so he was face to face with her. “I think we just need to work our way up to it is all.”

She smirked. “Is that right?”

“Aye. Maybe it was too much for my repaired parts to take all at once.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “You think so?”

“I do.” He brushed his lips lightly over hers then stopped. “See, I breathe well enough.”

Rhonda snuggled as close as she dared without hurting him. “It seems all right.”

He kissed her again for a few seconds longer then whispered against her lips, “and again fine,” he smiled. “I figure we’ll just have to keep at it and see how far we can take it.”

She ran the tip of her tongue over his lips. “If you think it will help.”

He kissed her softly a third time. “I think it will.”

Not wanting to cause any more injury, she got up on her elbow to lean over him. She smiled down at him. “Let me know when to stop.”

He didn’t wait to answer, instead just pulled her head down to his. It was harder than walking, to remember to breathe slowly when her lips touched his. His body told him to kiss her the way he had the morning he’d driven away from her, but his mind told him to breathe and breathe. He paused for a moment but held her head so she couldn’t move away.

His breath was a bit raspy, but there was no pain. I need to recover at a faster pace.

She kissed beside his mouth lightly. I won’t argue with that.

Steven stuck his head in the door. “Oops, sorry.” He smirked. “I see recovery is being pushed right along.”

Rhonda lifted her head away from Patrick and grinned at him. “Come in.”

Chris peeked around the door beside him. “Do you have a minute, Pat? We’d like to run something by you.”

Patrick nodded without looking at them. His mind was still on the soft body against him. “I’ve got nothing but time.”

They both moved into the room and closed the door a bit. Chris put his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor. “The natives are getting a little restless.”

Steven smirked. “A bit of an understatement.” He sighed. “The girls want clean clothes, and other personal items.”

Chris grinned. “Not to mention laptops or cookbooks.”

Patrick finally turned his head and studied them. “I was waiting for this. I’m surprised it’s taken two and a half days.”

Chris smirked. “The Captain doesn’t seem to be open to any suggestions of letting us go home or even move to a few different locations.”

Patrick sighed. “Aye, I know. We had words about it this morning again. His hands are tied.”

Steven snorted. “We don’t get out of here soon and his hands aren’t going to be the only parts tied.” He grinned. “Rachel is none too happy being house bound.”

Patrick laughed. “I don’t think any of us are.” He studied the two men. “So, what are you two planning?”

Chris smirked. “Oh, it’s more than the two of us.” He motioned to the door. “Care to join us all in the conference room?”

Rhonda laughed. “Absolutely.”

Patrick noticed he was able to walk straighter and maybe a bit faster as they filed into the kitchen area again. He didn’t know why, but was sure it had something to do with the sexy little woman walking close beside him. He winked at her. “If you’re planning on any more large gatherings, you may want to enlarge your kitchen.”

Rhonda nodded slowly. “I’ll try to keep it down to fewer than ten house guests next time.”

Kasey grinned from her seat on the counter. “Chris and I will host the next confinement.”

Dade scowled at her. “There isn’t going to be a next time.” He glanced around the room. “What is it with this group? We started the year stranded in a washed-out valley and now we’re confined to a snowed in house.”

Dexter leaned back against the fridge and crossed his arms over his large chest. “But unlike the washed-out valley, the snow storms the last few days are actually to our advantage.”

Justin sat forward at the table to look at him. “How so?”

Dexter shrugged. “It provides cover and limits who is out.”

Rachel nodded. “Even the police seem less than impressed with having to get out of their toasty cars and walk around.”

Owen frowned. “Which makes me wonder, do we want to be out wandering around in it?”

Cora smirked. “Dade’s van is parked in the community lot around the corner. So, you would only have to wander that far.”

“Without being seen.” Leena added.

Tara put her hands in her pocket and leaned back against the counter. “Oh, from what I’ve seen with everyone here, finding a way to not be seen shouldn’t be the real problem.”

Rhonda nodded. “She’s right. The real problem is going to be getting out safely and back again.”

“Which is why we called for the collective brainstorm.” Chris glanced out the window to watch the snow squall blowing around in the yard. “The Captain hasn’t been able to find a location, or locations, for all of us to move to, and the chances of him sending a few men to pick up clean clothes and spell books isn’t very likely at all.”

Kasey frowned. “We should make him move in here and see how long it is until he’s ready to try a new plan.”

Jean set her cup down on the table. “So, ideas?”

Kevin came into the kitchen and looked at Dexter. “You’re right, Dex, every half hour they get out and walk around.” He glanced at the clock. “It’s another two hours before shift change.”

Dexter nodded and put his hands on his hips. He looked over at Patrick. “Your call, you know who we’re dealing with better than the rest of us.”

Patrick sat back slowly and looked around the room. The whole group appeared bedraggled and miserable. “If we can come up with a safe way to get out and back, then I don’t see why we can’t give it a shot.”

Dexter grinned. “I’m thinking Leena can help us get out unseen.” She raised her eyebrows looking surprised. “Helping the wind to blow a little harder so our guards really don’t want to get out of the car.”

She smirked. “Oh, I think I can manage that.”

Gwen finally spoke. “Do we need to make a list of addresses and label keys then?”

Chris cleared his throat. “Addresses would be great, but keys are not necessarily needed.”

Kasey gave him a skeptical look and then shrugged. “Well, I suppose it would save time.” She walked over and hugged him. “Just this once.”

Chris kissed the top of her head. “Absolutely, sweetheart.”

Dade straightened from where he’d been leaning. “I volunteer to be the driver.” He pointed at Dex. “I want you with us to pick up on anything we don’t want to walk into.”

Dex nodded. “It would be my pleasure.”

Steven straightened up in the chair he’d been half lying in. “Obviously, Chris is going to ah…persuade entry, so I’ll go along just in case there are any surprises to be dealt with.”

The men all nodded. Cora raised an eyebrow and looked around at them. “Oh, I see we women had our turn a few days ago, so now you boys get to go off and play.”

Patrick laughed causing everyone to turn and look at him. “I see it a bit differently, Cora. Those of us left here are going to be much safer with all the skills you women have.” He huffed out a breath. “Imagine the poor soul dumb enough to try to get past all of you.”

The men looked at each other then laughed. Owen hugged Leena against his side. “I’ll stay behind and keep you safe, baby.”

Kevin looked around the room. “Where am I?”

Steven crooked an eyebrow at him. “As much as I don’t like it, we’re going to leave all the ladies in the care of their favorite boy scout.”

Kevin smirked. “A hard task, but I’m up for it.” He looked around puzzled. “But if we have both Cora and Rhonda here, how are we going to know if everything is going okay?”

Chris pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Modern technology?”

Jean covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Not as flashy as Kevin would like, but a good idea.”

Kevin sighed and opened his arms to shrug. “As long as they come back with a change of clothes for me, I don’t care if we use smoke signals.”

Gwen stood up and picked up the last and coveted notebook from the counter. “Alrighty then, let’s get this list started.”

Steven raised a hand. “I just ask we keep it to small items we can carry with one trip in and out, please.” He pouted. “We do have to get it all back in here when we return.”

Kasey growled. “I just wished this jerk would show up here so we can zap his ass and lock him up somewhere and go back to our lives.” A few surprised faces turned to look at her. “What?” She pouted. “It’s not like everyone here isn’t thinking the same thing.”

Chris hugged her. “I’m concerned about what your mind is going to come up with when you start experiencing the hormone fluxes everyone keeps talking about.

She smiled up at him. “Oh, don’t be silly.”

Owen stifled a laugh into Leena’s hair, only to be elbowed. She looked around. “Pass that notebook and let’s get our wish lists written.”