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Mr. Sheffield suddenly entered looking breathtakingly adorable much to Fran's chagrin. He must have changed since she showed off her flowers to him. He was dressed down wearing a navy v-neck long-sleeved shirt and a pair of tight-fitting light blue Levi's.

"Ah Miss Fine…no Niles following you around I see."

Fran painstakingly pulled her attention from his appearance aspect…particularly the way his tucus looked in those jeans and said huffily, "Well, actually he's pulling the car around for us now."

"Oh?" Mr. Sheffield lifted an eyebrow. He had suddenly moved a little closer to her. My how wonderful Miss Fine looked, he thought to himself. So intoxicating. That sweater falling off her shoulders was not helping him to control his feelings. In fact, it was driving him crazy.

Fran's breathing was becoming staggered. "Yes, we uh…" she reluctantly started moving backwards, "We're headed out to buy some clothes for our trip."

"Trip?" Mr. Sheffield's face began darkening like a thunderhead moving in.

Fran took a deep breath, "Yes," she said coyly, "we just so happen to be taking a cruise around the Florida Keys."

"Oh REALLY?" His voice had an edge to it. An exceptionally hard one.

"Well you did give us both off next weekend so we just happen to be spending our time off—together." Fran replied trying not to watch his stormy face.

"Oh…as friends then?"

"We—ll …."Fran didn't really know how to respond. She hoped this plan of hers was working and not exploding back in her face. She took a chance. "Maybe more?" She squeaked timidly.

This was the clincher.

Mr. Sheffield's handsome face deepened a shade of red Fran didn't think was possible. He slammed his clenched fist he was holding on the counter. The plates on it rattled. He winced slightly. You could tell he'd hurt himself a bit.

"Fine…FINE," he muttered. A muscle in his neck twitched and he stared at Miss Fine for a moment. She was unable to look him straight in the eyes. Man this was torture. She wanted to confess everything and throw her arms around him and tell her she loved him and have him tell her he loved her and then TAKE IT BACK….yeah forget that…forget that pain…screw him. She stared flauntingly back into his eyes. The tension you could cut with a knife. Finally, Mr. Sheffield spun around on his heels and left the room.

Niles reappeared at the back door. "All ready Miss Fine?"

Fran turned around and took a deep refreshing breath. "I most certainly am…ready to make that man suffer…" she said mostly to herself.

"Pardon?"

"Oh nothing. Let's go shopping!" Fran said eagerly as she shrugged off what had just happened. They stepped outside where it had begun to snow lightly.

They headed down to Loehman's first. As they walked together towards the store, Fran suddenly shivered.

"Miss Fine, you must be freezing," Niles said pointing out her attire. She had thrown on a light jacket over her off-the-shoulder sweater but that was all. "Here, have my overcoat," Niles said pulling off his thick black wool coat.

Fran shook her head, "Oh no Niles, I'm fine. Don't worry about it."

"Nonsense," he replied, his coat already off. He stepped around behind her. Gingerly, he helped her arms through it. Fran caught a whiff of that fabulous Old Spice scent on him as finished putting the coat on her. She was suddenly warm all over and closed her eyes for a moment enjoying the warmth of the coat and Niles' soothing scent on it.

"Everything all right?" Niles asked tenderly as he watched her.

"Mm? Oh yes, thank you so much." She impulsively grabbed his gloved hand. He was taken aback for a second but didn't pull away. He lifted an eyebrow at her.

"C'mon let's go spend money!"