Catherine looked at him as he ate. He had said he still loved her when they were interrupted by Alice and she couldn't answer him at all.

"I still love you too, Steve. I never stopped loving you," she told him with her serene voice and sweet gaze.

"Cath, we..." Steve started to speak, but the applause of the restaurant customers stopped him from continuing. "What's going on?" He asked Catherine.

"The singer just arrived. We'll have live music from now on, and people get excited when he arrives," she replied to Steve, and he smiled because he thought it was funny.

"Well, it's a small town, there aren't many attractions here. He's the big attraction."

"I hope he sings well," Steve whispered to her.

"He does," she replied and smiled.

A few minutes later, the singer came up on the small stage and pointed at Steve. "You!"

"I what?" Steve didn't understand and asked Catherine.

"You have the right to pick the first song because you are an outsider in town," she said.

"Really?"

"Yes. Go ahead and tell him which song you want him to sing."

"Okay. Steve got up and walked to the stage. He whispered something in the singer's ear and Catherine wondered which song he would choose. Steve surprised her when he took the microphone and himself sang the song that was a constant in their first dates. She became emotional and discreetly dried a few tears.

Catherine led the applause when he finished singing and the other customers followed her example. Steve was a little embarrassed and sat down next to her again.

"You were perfect, Steve."

"Oh no, Cath. I didn't sing badly, but you can't say I sang well either."

"Don't be modest. I didn't think you still remembered our song," she told him.

"I couldn't ever forget it." Steve kissed her softly on the cheek. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder for a few moments.

Some time later they drove away. Catherine didn't let him drive because he didn't know the road. It was dark and there was snow. "It's a long way from town, Cath, and I don't see any other houses."

"I live around the lake and there are four other houses there," she replied and reassured him.

Catherine parked in front of the house and Steve got out of the car. It was even colder there.

"It's beautiful," he said to her.

"Yes, it's beautiful and peaceful. I love the sense of peace that nature gives me," Catherine replied and grabbed the house keys from her purse. She opened the door and they went inside. Steve looked around and saw a very comfortable sofa within reach of the warmth of the fireplace. "May I light the fire?"

"Sure. While you do that I'm going to take a shower," she replied.

"Okay, Cath."

While she was taking a shower, he tried to turn on the heater. "It's not working," he muttered after trying to get the appliance to work. "Cath, what's wrong with the heater?" He asked as she came out of the bathroom.

"It stopped working yesterday, Steve."

"I'll try to fix it tomorrow." He opened his suitcase and picked up clothes. "I need a shower, too."

While he showered, Catherine opened the couch and turned it into a bed. She put down a sheet and pillows , plus a nice fluffy, warm duvet.

Steve came out of the bathroom and looked at the couch. "The bed is more comfortable but the couch is near the fireplace and is our best option today," Catherine told him. He moved closer and looked her in the eyes. "It's perfect if you sleep here with me."

"That's fine. Do you want to watch TV?" She replied.

"Yes, let's watch a good movie," he lay down and waited for her to lie down as well. Catherine took the remote control and lay down beside him. "What do you want to watch? A war movie?"

"No...I don't like wars anymore, Cath. Let's watch a comedy movie."

"Okay," she replied and chose the movie. They leaned against each other and were watching the movie.

"That movie is not a comedy, Cath," Steve complained five minutes later.

"Yes it is, Steve." Catherine replied with a small smile.

"No, it's not," Steve replied.

"It's a romantic comedy," she finally admitted.

"Well, I'm already sleepy anyway. I couldn't sleep on the plane because of the anxiety. I've been dying to see you." They looked deeply into each other's eyes and their lips moved closer together. They kissed a few times, and then Steve laid his head against her body and fell asleep.

The next day, Steve and Catherine awoke with a woman knockings on the door and calling for Catherine. "Oh, no!" Catherine exclaimed.

"Who's calling you that insistently, Cath?"

"You know that gossipy neighbor that everyone has? So...that's mine. She probably saw you come in with me yesterday." Catherine whispered so the neighbor wouldn't hear.

The neighbor insisted and Steve stood up. "I don't think she's leaving." He took off his shirt despite the intense cold and Catherine asked what he was doing.

"I'll satisfy her curiosity. She'll have gossip for about three days." Steve went to the door and opened it just enough to see his neighbor on the porch with a cup in her hand. "Good morning. Can I help the lady with something?"

"Good morning. I'm Catherine's neighbor, my name is Jennifer Lins and I came to ask if she has a cup of sugar to lend me," she said giving Steve a good look.

"I'll go check," Steve took the cup and asked excuses to close the door.

"Catherine's not home?" She asked.

"Catherine is still sleeping," he replied and closed the door.

"Sugar," Steve said to Catherine and she smiled. "It's in the kitchen cupboard," she whispered.

Steve put the sugar in the cup and took it to Catherine's neighbor. "Here it is, Mrs. Lins. Have a nice day."

"Thank you very much. You're new in town, right?"

"Right. Be careful on the ladder," Steve pointed to the ladder that led to the balcony and hinted to her that it was time to go.

"I will, thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied and closed the door.

He returned to the couch and lay down next to Catherine again. "You're crazy, you know that? Now she's going to tell the whole town that there was a half-naked man in my house."

"Let it go," Steve hugged her and kissed her neck. "I'm cold."

"Can I help you?" Catherine hugged him too and he sighed, "That hug warms me to the soul."

PS: Thank you for your review on the previous chapter.