Shadows by Jen Black

only one duvet, and tonight it was chilly enough to need its warmth.
    “I wouldn’t touch a maiden in distress.”
    Her lips traced an upward curve in spite of her misgivings.  She liked his way of putting things.  Slowly, she lifted the duvet and got into bed.

    “Put the light out.”  Rory turned on his side, facing away from her.  “Let’s try and sleep.  It’s going to be a noisy night.”

Chapter Six
     
    The wind charged over the house all night long.  Gusts whipped through the trees, rattled the chairs along the bolly and then died away.  Every time Melissa thought it had gone for good, back it roared, noisier than ever.  There was one small consolation in the tumult.  Ghosts in black robes could be having a party next door and she wouldn’t hear them.
    Rory seemed to fall asleep within minutes, but Melissa lay rigid for a long time.  The moment her hand or toe hit the warm glow emanating from his side of the bed, she retreated.  Worried that her constant shuffling would wake him, she finally fell asleep well after midnight.
    When she awoke, she opened her eyes on the single strip of white lace that did duty for a curtain, and frowned at the bright blue sky.  This wasn't the living room.  Images of last night flooded her brain.  Wide awake in an instant, every muscle tense, she checked over her shoulder.
    Rory’s side of the bed was empty.  Melissa loosed a sigh of relief, and flopped back on the pillows.  Facing Rory would have been so embarrassing.  The horror of trying to exchange chit chat with him, deciding who should get up first, knowing that she wore nothing but a skimpy tee shirt.  How thoughtful of him to have risen so quietly.  Unutterably grateful, she lay there staring at the gently shifting patterns of sunlight on the white walls, smiling.
    “Melissa?  You awake?”  His voice came from somewhere beyond the hall.
    She grabbed the duvet and pulled it up to her chin.  Catching sight of her frightened face in the wardrobe mirrors, she offered her reflection a weak smile.  Don't be so stupid.  Rory's not going to waltz in here.  He's already proved he's a gentleman.  You're being foolish.
    Footsteps sounded in the hall.  Glancing at the half-open door, she shuffled upright in the bed.  “M’mm.  Yes, I suppose so.”
    Rory’s head appeared, and one hand gripped the door.  The rest of him, she was happy to see, stayed in the hall.  “You have a clear run at the shower.  I’m done.  Okay?”
    “Thanks.  I'll get up right away.”
    He deserved full marks for being so considerate.  He could have taken advantage of the situation in the worst possible way, but he’d behaved perfectly.  She headed for the shower and hummed and even sang snatches of song as the water thundered down.
    Toweling her hair dry, she returned to the kitchen.  “Have you had breakfast already?”  The big windows at the end of the living room were wide open and the breeze carried the scents of damp grass and honeysuckle.
    Rory looked up from the newspaper spread out before him on the counter top.  “Had a coffee.  Why don’t you go and sit down in the sun and I’ll bring something out?”  He closed the newspaper and flung it onto the sofa.
    She looked at the jewel-bright green of trees and vegetation outside and hesitated.  What might be lurking out there?  “You’ve been outside?”
    Rory paused, hand outstretched toward the kettle.  “You're nervous about going out there?”
    Now how had he divined that?  She nodded, ready to fly at him if he dared laugh at her.  “Each morning there’s been something out there.  You saw it last time.”
    Rory beckoned her close and put his finger to his lips.  Mystified, she allowed herself to be drawn against his side.  His arm clasped her shoulder, drew into a crouched position and pulled her stealthily to the doorway.  Loving both his closeness and his sense of humor, Melissa glanced up at his profile.  He glared ahead, a