Part 6

"So Sara."

"So Bruce." Sara sat down opposite from her boss, her coffee in her hands and watched him amused while he tried to look serious and strict.

"How was your week away?"

"Good. Like I told you last week."

"Right…no problems with Evi?"

"Were we supposed to have some?"

"No, of course not. It's just…she refused to have somebody around before."

"We didn't give her a choice when I just went over and we made the best out of it. It there a problem with it?"

"Yes. No. Of course not."

"What do you want to tell me, Bruce?" Sara leant back. Her boss could just tell her what was on his mind instead of playing stupid games.

"You know I want somebody with her."

"I'm aware of that."

"You're the only one she doesn't refuse to have around."

"So I've been told."

"The problem is, you've got only a contract for six months, getting a new hut there isn't that easy and when you leave us and she refuses to accept somebody else I've to overrule her as I'm her boss – which will piss her off and we'll end up having a fight – so I might lose her too. Then there's the question if you want to stay there. You came from Vegas, this village is quite a change for you, the opposite of what you had for the last years…"

"Bruce, why don't you just sign a new contract for me? Make me stay longer, get me a hut next to Evi's and stop worrying? There's enough work for two, that's why you keep telling her she needs company; plus the safety issue. You give me a new work contract, one that makes me happy, I sign it, I become Evi's company and we're all three happy." Sara smiled when she saw the puzzled look in her boss's face.

"What?"

"You heard me. Make me a good offer."

"I…you…you wanna stay? Go there?"

"Yes."

"Really? Because of the work or because you and Evi…"

"Evi and me are colleagues, maybe even friends. That's it. Don't believe the office gossip all the time. Remember I've an affair with Ryan."

"You do?"

"No! Not in reality only in the gossip world. Like I've no affair with Evi."

"Couldn't blame you. Or her. Apparently she prefers women and you're the best looking woman she has seen in a while."

"Don't flatter me, Bruce. My contract."

"Right. Sorry. You will stay here." He got with his hands through his hair. Office gossip. It was better not to listen to it anymore. Got his thoughts too far away from work, into the private life of his employees and this area wasn't his business.

"Depends on your offer. We haven't worked out what you can offer me. How long will I stay?"

"How long you wanna stay?"

"Make it unlimited and you've a chance to keep me for a long time. You know I'm good, I do good work here and I did a good job over there."

"I assume you want more money."

"A little increase would be nice, yes. And don't forget to mention my days off. When I stay in an ice desert I need a reasonable time a year away, in a warm place, like Las Vegas, so I remember all the time why I don't want to work there anymore."

"Don't push your luck."

"I don't. What do you think? Will we work something out that makes us both happy?"

"I've to talk to some people about this."

"You talked already to some people, Bruce."

"Lorne is a gossip girl."

"She's great, eh?" There was no way Sara could deny she enjoyed this situation. A lot. It didn't matter most of the topics were about her private life, she was much more relaxed here than she was in Vegas.

"Okay. You get your new contract. When do you wanna move over?"

"How long will it take to get me a hut there? One with open fire so I won't freeze my ass off."

"Two weeks or so."

"Good. Get me the hut within the next three weeks. This way I can have my guest over and stay in the village. He might be bored otherwise…no, he'll be bored anyway. It's not like there is some action here."

"Your boyfriend comes over?"

"Better. Much better than a boyfriend. You'll meet him in the bar." Greg had told her he'd be here the next weekend. Sara had to work but she could reduce her hours so they had some time together. What he wanted to do here the whole time was a secret to her, probably he had his PS3 in his backpack and would play the whole day.

"He won't change your mind and make you come with him, will he?"

"No. No need to worry about this."

"Good. I don't like the idea of losing you."

"Give me the new contract and you won't." Sara got up. "Time to go back to work before my boss thinks I'm lazy." With a winning smile she left the office. This went just perfect. A new work contract, more money, a few more days off and soon she'd work with Evi every day while she had dinner with Sofia. Something she looked forward to. And the blonde would enjoy the company too.

"Wow, that was quick." With one jump Sara was in Greg's arms. His arrival was a surprise, at least the part that he came here so fast. A week ago they talked about his travel to her, picked a date and now he was here – one and a half weeks too early. There had to be a reason, one he hadn't given her on the phone.

"Missed you too much to stay any longer in Vegas." Greg kissed her softly. "Sorry, the excitement and joy." He apologized immediately and his face changed into deep red.

"Next time try one of my cheeks, Greggo." Sara laughed. "Otherwise they won't believe you're not my boyfriend."

"No, I'm not that fortunate." He pulled her closer. "You look good – the few parts of you I can see. Is it always this cold?"

"No, some days it's even colder. Come on in, I've some coffee ready."

"Sounds great." He let her off his arms, took the suitcase and followed Sara. He took the shuttle bus to the village. Three times a week a special shuttle bus ran from the village to the nearest town with a train station, supermarkets and proper streets. Only four wheel drives with chains could come out here and it was the easiest way for him to see Sara.

"How was your trip?"

"Interesting." He looked around her hut. Not much of furniture and decoration, he knew how her apartment in Vegas has looked; almost the same. Making herself a home didn't mean for Sara a lot of furniture, pictures on the wall or a vase on the table. The less you had in your apartment the less you had to take care of and worry about.

"You don't have a lot in your…hut."

"No. I don't need much."

"Only your books." He pointed to the book shelf. "Don't you have a social life? In a place like this I imagine everybody knows everybody and you spend the evenings together."

"You don't find me in the local pub every night."

"Don't tell me you're here all by yourself."

"I'm not. Ryan comes over quite often."

"Right, Ryan. Your affair. Will I meet him?"

"Yes."

"Is he jealous I stay with you?"

"You know he isn't my affair."

"Doesn't mean he isn't jealous." He shot back dryly and took the coffee.

"True. He is." Sara laughed and sat down. "A lot. I told him there's no reason, he doesn't believe me. A man who travels this far and in such an area to see a woman must be more than a friend. Certainly he wants to be more than a friend."

"He has no clue about real friendship."

"He's young he'll learn. How tired are you?"

"I'm fine for a two or three more hours, slept on the plane and on the train to here. Why? Do you have plans with me for tonight?"

"Yes. I wanna take you out for a beer."

"A beer? In this weather?"

"You can order a hot chocolate or a coffee too. The bar has warm and cold drinks."

"I might order a tea. Where will I sleep?"

"In my bed."

He raised his eyebrows. "Where will you sleep?"

"In my bed. There's enough space for two and I know you're a gentleman. Or is this a problem for you?"

"Not at all." He grinned. "I assume the door over there leads to the bathroom?"

"Yes."

"I take a shower, get fresh and we can leave to the bar."

"Okay." She watched him vanish in the bathroom, turned on her laptop and opened her instant messenger.

Greg's here, he hasn't change, still cute. We'll go out for a few beers (he wants tea because it's so cold). How does my hut look? Because she and Greg wouldn't visit Evi and Sara would try not to mention her, she had to communicate with her when Greg was out of the room. Since Sara was back home they talked every evening on the computer, Sofia stayed the whole time Evi and they never talked about the past they had in common. You never knew who might check on your messages.

It took only a few seconds before she got a reply. Glad he arrived safely. Enjoy your time in the bar, you won't have one around when you're here. The huts looks good from the outside like a disaster from the inside. They need a few more days and you need your furniture. Nothing in it so far.

She was told she needs to get new furniture for her hut. According to Bruce it will arrive within the next days, I come over next Friday. Do you need anything from the town? I'll take Greg to the train and go shopping after it. Food shopping. Time to buy a few things she didn't get here and missed.

I send you a list with things I need, thanks. Curtis meowed hello to you, he misses you.

By the end of the time Sara stayed with Sofia the kitten learnt none of them was a thread to him. He came to them, greeted them when they came inside, jumped on their laps and let them pet him. The fear and shyness were gone.

I miss him too. Tell him I get something nice for him too. A lot of Cat treats. Toys, whatever she could find for him.

What about me?

You send me your list.

I meant do you miss me too?

Of course she did and Sofia knew it. Sometimes. Whenever I need a strong tea.

Go and take care of your guest, mean woman.

I will. See you soon, Pome. Sara closed the program. It was a shame they couldn't tell Greg about Sofia, he'd be very happy to see the former detective alive and they could have a few drinks together, talk a lot. But Sofia's security was more important. It had nothing to do with trust, Sara trusted Greg, it was just the less people knew about Sofia the safer it was.