[[*sk1*]]
"Goodnight boys." Jo said one more time as she turned out the overhead light. The LED alarm clock on the shelf behind the door slowly began its endless loop sliding from orange to various shades of blue, green and purple. A few creaks from the lofted beds sounded loud in the silence as each boy squirmed around to get comfortable and Liam's sleepy "Say goodnight to Mr. Horatio for me, Auntie, please," ended with a yawn a moment before the door clicked shut.
For some seconds Jo stood quietly, her back to the bedroom door, trying to get her thoughts in order. 'What am I going to say to him?' she wondered, pressing her hands to her suddenly hot face, as memories of a particular Saturday evening in Miami seemed to have frozen her in place. Jezebel materialized out of the darkness from her favorite spot in the doorway of Jo's bedroom, bumping her dark head against her mistress's fleece-covered thigh. Automatically, Jo's hand dropped to the soft fur of her pet's head, her fingers absently scratching that special spot behind a silky ear. "I want to run into his arms and never let him go," she said wistfully "but I have no idea if he feels the same way."
"What am I going to say to her?" Horatio wondered aloud, wincing inwardly as he remembered what seemed a lifetime ago now, Yelena saying almost the same thing to him as his brother had waited for her across the tarmac. Horatio had answered something glib like 'You'll think of something,' as he twisted his sunglasses in his hands, trying to memorize how Yelena looked at that moment, knowing he might never see her again. It had been one of the most difficult things he had ever done, sending Yelena and Ray Jr. away with Raymond. The clickety-clack of nails on the ceramic tile floor brought him back to the tidy kitchen and the frost gathering on the edges of the windowpane over the sink. Her white fur gleamed in the low light as Roxie plopped down near him, her nose sniffing the hand that hung at his side. Absently, he reached down and rubbed her large head.
The wind whistled around the house, rattling the windows and sending the bony branches of the trees rasping against the siding. Roxie jumped up nervously, skittering into her water bowl. The mundane metallic sound brought Jo back to the present situation. Namely that Horatio was here, in her house and likely to be stranded for the night. "Come on Jez, that's Roxie's signal she needs help in the kitchen." Jo headed down the hall, absently tucking stray strands of her hair behind her ears. "Alexa play Z-Musicals playlist" she murmured as she passed by the hutch along the wall.
Bright light spilled into the darkened living room as Jo rounded the corner of the hallway. She stopped just inside the kitchen at the sight of the red-haired Lieutenant, shirt-sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he mopped up the spilled water with a kitchen towel. Drinking in the sight of him, Jo felt her face grow hot as Horatio gracefully stood up, slanting a knowing glance her way, before taking the one step to the sink.
"It would seem, Jo, that Roxie has broken the ice for us once again." The sound of the running water saved her from having to immediately answer him. Silently, Horatio held out the now filled bowl for her. Two steps brought her to his side, her blue eyes meeting his before sliding away.
"Thank you," she murmured, stepping behind him to set the water bowl down in its place beside the stove. Seconds later, the frisky black and white dog was slurping water noisily from the bowl, as Jezebel watched from a safe distance. "You may as well just wait there Horatio," a smile curved Jo's lips, "Roxie is close to drinking the bowl dry and Jez looks like she'd like some as well." She bent down to retrieve the bowl as Roxie's tongue rasped against the now-dry metal.
It was Horatio's turn to slide his gaze over her delicate neck, his eyes lingering on the spot where his lips had lingered that Saturday night in Miami. He accepted the bowl from Jo, and once again the sound of running water filled the small kitchen. While Jezebel lapped daintily from the bowl, Roxie trotted to the back door, whining softly as she pushed her nose to the crack between the door and frame. Jo felt the light brush of Horatio's body as he slipped past her, murmuring, "I'll let her out Jo." She watched bemusedly as he nudged Roxie away from the door, so he could open it. As soon as the outer door was opened the young dog bounded out into the garage and pranced to the screen door leading out into the snowy backyard. Horatio felt a rush of icy air as he pushed open the door, watching as Roxie bounced out into the yard, followed by the dark shape of Jo's dog.
A few stray snowflakes glinted in the red-gold of Horatio's hair as he stepped back inside the kitchen, bringing another blast of icy air with him. Jo hugged her arms around her middle, watching as the snowflakes disappeared, leaving tiny raindrops in their place. Her fingers itched to slide themselves through the damp strands, tousling it until her fingers slid down his nape, and over his shoulders … She turned away, taking a quick step towards the counter where her Keurig waited. "I think I'd like something to drink before I turn in for the night, Horatio. Would you like a cup?" Busying herself with the beverage preparations, she didn't hear Horatio move up silently behind her.
"It's a bit late in the evening for coffee, don't you think, Sweetheart?" The nearness of his voice caused her to jump and after a moment's hesitation, she felt the warm touch of his hands on her shoulders.
"I … I thought some tea with honey and lemon," Jo shivered, but this time, the tremors had nothing to do with her earlier adventure in the creek. "Would you like some, Horatio? After all, you were wet as well by the time it was over. And," she turned around carefully, feeling the counter against her back as his hands dropped away from her shoulders. "Thank you for retrieving my van for me. I … heard the tow truck outside while I was reading to the boys. It was sweet of you to shovel the driveway before it got here, by the way. I'm afraid we'll have to do it again in the morning the way this snow is coming down, though."
"No worries, Sweetheart," he said quietly, his eyes taking in the dark circles under her eyes and her pale face. "Why don't you go sit down in the other room and I'll take care of things out here?" As he was reaching to stroke her arms, the first bars of Right Here, Right Now floated into the kitchen. Horatio watched as her blue eyes lit up.
Can you imagine?
What would happen?
If we could have any dream
I'd wish this moment
Was ours to own it
And that it would never leave …
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Before he could talk himself out of what he was about to do, Horatio slowly and deliberately gathered Jo into his arms. "Sweetheart," he murmured in her ear. Jo could hear the smile in his voice as he took her hand, "your choice in music never ceases to surprise me, but I think I like it," he finished as he tucked her hand close to his chest. Jo glanced up at him in surprise.
"Mmmm, one of the hazards of living with tweens, I guess," she said softly. "What about our tea?"
"Tea can wait. Let's enjoy this moment, Josie," Horatio's blue eyes smiled down at her, and his arm tightened around her. Resting her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes and followed his lead, their bodies swaying slowly to the lilting rhythm.
Right here, Right now
I'm looking at you and
My heart love this view
[[*sk1*]]
As the last notes died away into the stillness of the house, Jo slowly opened her eyes. The frantic barking of the dogs floated above the sound of the wind as it whistled around the corner of the house. "Ohhh! I forgot about Roxie and Jez!" Jo was moving out of Horatio's arms and hurrying toward the back door when the kitchen light dimmed, and after a moment strengthened again. After the initial surprise of Jo's quick exit from his embrace, Horatio followed her slowly, a bemused expression on his handsome face. Together took the two steps that led into the garage. He reached above Jo to push open the outer door. Immediately, two four-legged snowdogs hurried inside, their feet managing to step squarely on Jo's sock-covered toes, which were rapidly becoming ice cubes from the cold garage floor.
As they toweled the dogs off in the warm kitchen, Jo glanced at Horatio. "It looks like we have a real blizzard settling in for the night." She concentrated on pulling the tiny snowballs from between Jez's toes. "You … shouldn't be out driving in this weather, Lieutenant."
"Agreed, Sweetheart," he answered her as he gave Roxie a final rub down her back with the towel. Reaching for her towel, he murmured, "I'll take care of these. Why don't you start our tea? I'll gather the flashlights just in case we lose power."
TBC