Holly woke up with a start and glanced around her dazedly. She could see from the red and golden spots on the living room walls that the sun had just risen. She turned to her right and gazed at Roger, still sleeping peacefully.

She delicately ran her hand on his chest, then down to his stomach. She smiled as she felt scratches underneath her fingers, scratches she had inflicted upon him the night before when she had gotten carried away. She winced as she shifted her weight; she knew without looking that her left thigh was bruised and that her knees were lightly skinned from rubbing too hard against the rug on her bedroom floor. Not enough to hurt; just a delicious reminder.

I should be feeling so guilty right now, she mused. I should be shit scared of what is going to happen next.

After all, Roger could run right to Daniel the minute he woke up and tell him about their night together, but somehow, Holly could not bring herself to care about the consequences. Not just yet, as Roger still lay naked beside her.

Then what do I feel? She wondered inwardly. The answer came instantly as she glanced at her ex-husband. She was overcome with lust.

She knew that she was playing with fire, as Daniel could be coming back any minute by now, but desire was getting the best of her. She slowly ran her hand down Roger's stomach and was about to climb over his body when a loud honk was heard outside. Roger jumped and sat up, immediately wide awake.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Damn! There someone in the driveway, apparently," Holly said worriedly as she picked up her dress on the couch and put it on hurriedly. "I'll go and see; you take your clothes and go dress in the guest room."

Roger nodded and grabbed his clothes while she went to the front door. "Wait, it's the tow truck," Holly said.

They both exhaled loudly, and Holly opened the door to signal to the driver that Roger would be out in a minute.

"We have to talk," Roger said as he tucked his shirt into his pants.

"Not now. Daniel might be on his way and I couldn't stomach any bloodshed before my first cup of coffee."

"Fine, but I'm going to hold you to this," Roger said intently as he walked past her on his way out. Stopping next to her, he looked as if he was going to kiss her, but instead he just shook his head and headed out the door.

Holly slowly walked back into her room where she started to gather the sheets from the bed. She brought them to the washing machine and rested her head against it after she turned it on.

The timely arrival of the tow truck had brought her to her senses. Yes, she had wanted Roger the night before, and maybe before that too, but giving in had been a mistake. One that she would not repeat again. Roger was not the man for her in the long run; he never was.

Taking a deep breath, she walked back to her room and called the hospital. Learning that Daniel was still there, she left a message that she would be right over. Seeing her fiancé was just what she needed in order to get her priorities straight.

As she walked in the hospital, she could almost feel a scarlet letter burning on her chest. I'm a cheater. I'm an adulteress. I'm such a BAD person, she kept telling herself as her eyes searched for her fiancé.

She found him talking to Lilian Raines near one of the operating rooms. Plastering a smile on her face, she marched in their direction.

"Hi, Honey! I brought something to cheer you up after this long night," she said, brandishing a paper bag containing muffins and coffee.

"Smells wonderful," Daniel said, leaning in and kissing Holly on the lips. "You smell pretty enticing too, might I had."

Holly gave out a nervous laugh and motioned him toward the cafeteria. Daniel shook his head and led her to his office. "We'll have more privacy."

"I'm sorry I couldn't get back to your place last night," the doctor said as they took a seat on the couch in his office. "The blizzard kept up us all here. I managed to sleep for a few hours but then when the storm died down the ambulances started to come in and it went crazy for a while."

"It's okay, I understand," was all that Holly could manage to say. She took a gulp of scalding coffee and winced. Daniel glanced at her worryingly.

"Are you alright? You seem on edge."

"I'm just tired. The storm kept me up too." I can't do this, I shouldn't have come, she thought. She picked up her purse and forced a smile on her face, again. "I should get going, it's going to be a busy day at the office."

Daniel grabbed her hand to prevent her from getting up. "Wait a minute! You just got here." He put his arms around her and kissed her neck. "Besides, there is something I'd like to discuss with you this morning, something important."

"Okay," Holly said warily. "I'm listening."

"I'd like to set our wedding date. I know you said that you wanted to take things slowly, but we've been engaged for a month now. I'd really like it if we could make a decision on this."

Holly felt the panic rise inside and fought to keep down. After all, she reasoned, what was there to be afraid of? She loved Daniel and had agreed to become his wife. The next logical step was indeed to get married. She pushed aside the thought of Roger and the doubts he had casted upon her relationship with Daniel.

"How about a spring wedding? In early May?" she suggested.

Daniel looked disappointed. "That's too far!" He grinned and took her hand. "I was thinking a Valentine's day wedding. Wouldn't that be romantic?"

Holly swallowed hard and started to protest. "Maybe, but it's merely two months away! There is so much that we need to do before then, I don't think that it's very reasonable."

"We don't need anything fancy. Just you, me, Blake, Ed and Maureen as witnesses and we're set!"

"I don't even have my dress yet! You don't expect me to wear something off-the-rack for our wedding, do you?" Not that it would be my first wedding dress, she thought cynically.

Daniel shook his head cheerfully, knowing he was defeated. "Fine! May it is. Who am I to stand in the way of bridal fashion, right?"

"Right!" Holly said before getting up. She had almost reached the door when Daniel called her back.

"What's that on your legs?" he said, pointing at the raw skin on her knees.

She looked down to hide her embarrassment. "Oh, that. I feel on the ice on my front porch yesterday."

"Do you want me to take a look at it?"

"No!" she replied hurriedly. "It's nothing for you to worry about." She blew him a kiss and closed the door behind her. "Nothing for you to worry about," she repeated softly once she was in the hallway.

As she stepped into the elevator, Holly did not see Roger come out of Ed's office two doors down. If she had, she would have immediately noticed how annoyed he looked. He had tried to get more information about Daniel's past, but Ed had been less than cooperative. No surprise there.

He resisted the urge to put his fist through the wall as he pondered over his next move. There was really no choice for him but to go to Boston. Lost in his thoughts, he did not see Daniel who was rapidly approaching him. When their eyes met, they were too close to pretend to not have seen each other.

"Don't tell me you've been following MY fiancée again?" Daniel inquired, skipping the greetings.

Roger looked around before he could think better of it.

"Sorry to break your heart, assuming you have one, but she's gone," Daniel added dryly.

Roger smirked arrogantly. How he wish he could slam Daniel's smug face into a bedpan! Or better yet, to describe to him in vivid details how he had made Holly call his name the night before. The only thing that kept his mouth shut was the certainty that he would be putting Holly in danger by speaking up. A jealous Daniel was a dangerous Daniel.

"I don't wish you on anyone, my good doctor, but it doesn't follow that I wish to keep Holly for myself. I'm seeing someone, you know."

Daniel lifted an eyebrow, showing his surprise in spite of himself. "Who's the unlucky lady?"

"Her name is Susan, not that it's any of your business," Roger said as he started to walk away. "A beautiful redhead, but then you know it's my favorite hair color," he could not resist adding before the elevator doors closed behind him.