Chapter 16

After their dinner, Iris started to clean the kitchen and asked Hugh to steer clear. He bowed his head and said, "Okay Madame. I'm sorry." 

Iris laughed. "Well, it's time for bed. It hasn't stormed and I'll have to go to work tomorrow." 

Hugh nodded. "I wish I could ask you to stay up with me. But I'll let you sleep if you agree to something." 

"What?" She asked.

"Meet me again tomorrow?" His lip was curved into a smile. 

Iris's eyes gleamed and she nodded immediately. She didn't even have to think. "Of course. We'll meet. Even if it storms, we'll meet."

Hugh's smile was a grin now. This had become a routine and they both knew it. The blizzard couldn't stop Hugh from canceling his plan to meet Iris. There was nothing that could come in their way. Iris, who never took holidays or half days from work had started to compromise. 

"You should sleep in the bed," Iris said. 

"No way. I think I'll be more comfortable on the couch." 

"It's totally okay, Hugh. I am used to sleeping on the couch. Most of the nights I pass out over here while watching the television." 

"Iris, I'll be okay. Trust me." 

"Take the bed, Hugh. You're going to work hard tomorrow." 

Hugh pulled his eyebrows together. "What do you mean?" 

"My car. You'll have to take my car to go back home and it takes forever to start. Besides, I haven't used it in three days. So, you'll have to sweat a lot and you need a comfortable sleep for that." 

Hugh laughed. Iris joined him. 

"Well, that sounds like real trouble," Hugh said. 

Iris nodded.

"I'm still going to take the couch," Hugh smirked. 

Iris rolled her eyes. "Stubborn." 

Iris gave him two thick duvets and a pillow. Hugh got comfortable on the couch. 

"Good night Hugh. I'll see you tomorrow," she said. 

"Thank you for bearing with me today." 

"Don't be silly." 

"Good night Iris," Hugh said with a soft smile. 

Iris turned off the lights and went to her bedroom. It was hard for her to fall asleep. For the first time in nine years, someone was living under her roof. She wanted to stay up and talk to Hugh all night. After all, that's what she had wished for when she first met him. But it was maybe too soon. Iris was not too good in the department of flirting with men. There had been men who tried to flirt with her in the cafe, but she always shied away. There had been good looking guys trying their luck with Iris, but she never entertained them. 

Hugh was different. With Hugh she was comfortable. There was a sense of connection. It was easy for her to talk to Hugh. Though his constant gaze would make her heart hammer and raise goosebumps on her skin, she was comfortable with him. She was sure that he was the right one. The type of guy she always dreamt of. The type of guy who would kiss her forehead before leaving for work. The type of guy she wanted to kiss on New Year's Eve. 

Everything happened so quickly. They came too close in such a short time. Met every day, and were going to meet again tomorrow. She wanted to keep this going. Even when Hugh's factory starts and he gets busy, she hoped he'd come to see her. She was okay with no relationship, but she wanted to keep him. Keep him forever as someone who came into her life and filled the emptiness. Changed her world, made her pulses race just with those intense brown eyes, made her head spin every time he came too close. She never had felt this way before about anyone. 

This whole thing was new to her and she loved having butterflies in her stomach. Whatever she had watched in romantic movies was finally happening to her now. She forever wanted to feel this way.