Two things:

First, thank you for your patience. I think I'm finally finding my way through this.

And, if you haven't already please check out the poll on my profile page. I'll track the results and respond accordingly with a story just in time for Christmas.

Otherwise, I hope you enjoy this installment.

Jim woke up to the feel of a comforter over him and the smell of bacon from the kitchen. After freshening up a little he padded into the kitchen clad only in a pair of jeans and an undershirt. "Good morning," he said brightly.

Robin turned and smiled at him shyly. "Good morning."

"Thank you," he said. She looked at him, mystified. "For the covers," he teased.

She smiled again, a little less timidly. "You looked cold when I woke up."

After breakfast, Robin drove them into town. She dropped Jim at the repair garage and headed to the store. As she drove away sadness fell over her like a dark cloud. He had been very nice, she told herself. And he hadn't once done anything to make her uneasy. And now she'd probably never see him again. And she would be alone. Funny, she mused, how it hadn't seemed so lonely until he showed up. With a heavy heart, she did her shopping, dropped by the post office, and then headed back out of town.

As she drove by the garage, she saw Jim and Jake Granger talking. Jake owned the garage and the only tow truck for miles. He was nodding negatively and Jim was looking grim. Robin pulled in next to them and noticed Jim looked relieved to see her. "What's the problem, Jake?"

"I was telling your friend here, I can't get out to his car until tomorrow. The truck's down. I'm working on it but it won't be until late before I get it fixed." He waited to let that settle in before continuing. "You got any idea exactly where his car is?" Jake asked. "He told me he was on Route 8 but what he was describing didn't make sense."

"I found him out there…by Old Man Edwards' place. You know where the road takes that big bend? Well, he's a little on the other side, where Kenny Smith's road intersects, I think."

"Oh….yeah, okay. I think I can find it." Then turning to Jim, Jake told him, "I'll head out there first thing in the morning to get your car. But even then it'll be a couple of days if I need parts."

Jim frowned. "A couple of days?"

"Yeah, I'll have to find the parts and then drive to get them .It'll take the better part of a day."

Sighed, Jim swiped the back of his neck. "Okay, okay," he replied testily. "Well, is there a hotel in town?"

Jake chuckled. "Not since Mrs. Jenkins' Boarding House burned."

Robin watched as Jim's shoulders slumped. "Not much reason for one," she said. "But you can stay at my place, if you want."

Jim's head snapped up and Jake chuckled again. Jim's glare quieted him. Then turning back to Robin, Jim tilted his head. "You sure? You weren't too happy with me there last night…"

Jake guffawed. "Man, you stayed at Robin's and lived to tell it. Wow…."

"Well?" Robin asked, ignoring Jake. "You coming or not?"

Jim grabbed his bag and tossed it in the back of her truck. "Guess I don't have much choice," he said as he climbed in. "Besides, I like the company," he said with a small smile.

The evening went much as it had done the night before. Robin worked in the kitchen, cooking their meal, while Jim leaned against a counter, beer in hand, watching. Her clothes were a little more feminine, although still more suited for outdoor ruggedness than indoor entertaining. He didn't miss the tighter fit of her jeans or the way they hugged the curves of her ass. Nor did he miss the snugger shirt that outlined the curve of her breasts. As he studied her, he developed an appreciation for her decidedly female attributes and enjoyed the show.

Dinner was quiet, both seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Jim couldn't decipher what she might be thinking, but he was wondering about the sleeping arrangements for the night and how he was going to keep it platonic. He wasn't used to sleeping with a woman for the sole purpose of sleeping. But as he remembered the night before and her story, he regretted his train of thought. Mentally he hung a do not touch poster on her.

Once again, they found themselves in the same bed. Jim had dug through his bag and retrieved a pair of flannel sleeping pants and a t-shirt. He put on a fresh pair of socks to keep his feet warm and settled on top of the covers. Robin had watched and from her expression he thought there was something she wanted to tell him. But he remained quiet, rolling onto his side after turning out the bedside lamp.

The hairs on the back of his neck bristled as an extra sense kicked in. He knew he was being watched. What he wasn't sure about was whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. After a few minutes, he heard Robin take a deep breath. And then she swallowed rather loudly. Then she sighed. All the while an internal debate was running in Jim's head. Should he roll over and see what had her so stirred up or should he just go to sleep?

Finally, he twisted back a little and spoke into the darkness. "You okay? I can go sleep in the other room if you want me to…"

A soft sniffle was her initial response. Jim swallowed hard, wondering what he should do. His instinct was to turn around and try to comfort her, find out why she was upset. But she'd made it clear that trust was a huge issue and while she was beginning to accept that he was trustworthy, she hadn't shown any signs of wanting any kind of closeness. "Robin?"

Another sniffle. And then, "I…no, I don't want you to…its nice to have someone around again. I haven't really had much contact with others in almost three years. And you've been very…careful."

Jim sat up, contemplating what she'd just revealed. Leaning against the wall that acted as a headboard, he considered what to say, how to respond. "Maybe it is time to give humanity another try," he finally said gently.

"Yeah…maybe. You…you've been nice enough. In fact…well…" she paused for several long moments. "I thought…maybe you're cold on top of the covers? Maybe you'd be more comfortable under the covers…with me?"

Jim blinked. "Um…maybe. What exactly are you asking though? Me under the covers …that could be…things might get…" closing his eyes, Jim chastised himself for even thinking what he was thinking and especially for attempting to give it voice.

"I… don't think I would mind…if you… if we…," and she sniffled again.

Scooting a little closer to her, Jim pulled her to him, his arm wrapped around her as her head rested in the crook of his shoulder, the covers still separating them. "Robin, I don't force myself on women and I don't do 'I don't think I would mind' either. I did …hooked up all the time with different women, but after a while it just gets… empty. I was married once and came out of it so burned I swore never again. So I threw myself into the life and avoided relationships like the plague. Got so all the faces just sort of blurred together." He sighed deeply as he thought about the few women he'd met along the way that might have meant something if he'd given it a chance. "So anyway, here I am at my age, alone, and no real prospects in sight. But I'd rather have it that way than go through the emptiness I was feeling after every hit and run." Sighing again, he continued, "So I guess what I am saying is this…You're an attractive woman; I'd be blind not to see it. But if you're thinking of having a little fun while I'm here and then us going our separate ways when my car is repaired, then thank you but …no. I'm not that guy anymore."

He listened to her breath and could almost hear the wheels of her brain whirring over his little speech. And as he listened, he mentally kicked himself. Maybe it was what she needed, just a quick little romance that wouldn't go anywhere but that she felt like she had a say in how it happened. But he was also feeling pretty vulnerable and recognized that was exactly what he didn't need. She was the type, especially with her story, that could get to him and he just didn't think he could handle anymore burns.

"Maybe you're right," she finally sighed. Then scooting away from him, she settled on the other side of the bed like she was trying to go to sleep. Jim didn't move for a long time. Listening for signs of distress from her, he thought about what he'd just told her. There had been truth in all that he said but mainly he'd been trying to keep her at arms length and still let her know that while he thought she was attractive she was safe with him. He thought he'd accomplished his goals. So why did he feel so lousy?

Sunlight shone through the bedroom window far too soon for Jim's liking. He'd not slept well, worrying about Robin and if he was honest, worrying about his own feelings in this. As he began to stir, he felt the bed moving. Opening one eye to just a slit, he saw Robin sitting up, staring at him, a questioning look on her face. Allowing his eyes to open more, he looked up at her. "Morning…"

Her eyes widened. Then she swallowed hard. A smile tried to bloom but failed. And then she took a deep breath. "Good morning," she finally whispered. She was looking at him imploringly now, as if willing him to do something. And he felt the pull. Slamming his eyes shut, he coached himself, talking himself down from the sudden rush that had overtaken him. And his internal coaching was working too, until he felt her lips on his.

Jim's head was telling him to back away but some other force was at work and he didn't. Before he even thought about it, he pulled her into him and deepened the kiss. They broke apart and as he looked into her eyes and saw wariness in them, Jim began to back away both physically and emotionally. She wasn't sure about this at all; she instigated it but she wasn't sure…

Her eyes widened and then she whimpered. "Please," she cajoled.

Shaking his head, Jim hesitated. "You're not sure about this…not sure it is what you want. And like I told you last night, I…"

But he was cut off by her flinging herself into his arms and kissing him again. This time Jim let his emotions take over and as he returned her kiss, his hands took possession of her. Part of him still wanted to back away but as she molded herself to him, his resistance faded away. Feeling wanted had a powerful hold.

But something wasn't right, his gut instinct was telling him and he pulled away again. "Robin? This doesn't fit…"

She grabbed his shirt, holding on as if her life depended on it. "I'm scared but…." she sighed as she tried to formulate her thoughts. "No one has touched me for so long. The other night, when you were rubbing my shoulders, it was heaven. And sleeping next to you, feeling safe with you…I want you to touch me. I want to feel you. I…need it," she said softly.

Jim knew the power of a simple touch, especially for someone who didn't have that regularly. He could see it plainly in her eyes, she was lonely. And he knew what he was feeling. But something was holding him back. As he watched a single tear force its way out of her eye, he knew what it was. She could catch him in her web, wrap him up tight, and eat him for dinner if he wasn't careful. Once again he reminded himself of how very much he didn't want to get trapped.

"Maybe me staying here wasn't such a good idea," he said quietly.

Her shoulders slumped as she released a deep sigh. "I don't get it. I had to fight that bastard to try to get him off me and here you are and I'm fighting to get you to…"

"Look, it isn't the same. What he did…that wasn't because he cared about you….or even about the sex. It was about power. He needed to feel power. But this…I don't want to see either of us hurt and as great as I think the sex might be, one of us would walk away hurt. He saw frustration fight with acceptance in her face until finally she backed away. Standing up, she crossed the room without looking at him. Jim sighed as she disappeared through the door.