I'm not sure how you feel about this, but I actually made this story into a multichap over the holidays.

Chapter Two

She kept looking out of the window, forcing herself not to turn on her other side where he was sitting. He'd offered to call a taxi and take her home and she'd accepted but now she wished she hadn't. It was sensibly awkward sitting next to him after what had happened between them only a half an hour ago. And it bothered her most that she couldn't really blame it on the alcohol or label it as a mistake, because he wasn't just some man she'd met, he was Will. She'd loved him for several years, of course only as a friend, but tonight it had been proven that they were the perfect couple in all aspects, because the sex had been pretty amazing as well.

And that was the actual reason why she didn't dare to turn her attention to him, it could have resulted in her losing it again for the second time that night and that would really have been a mistake. She didn't regret that it had happened, but she knew they couldn't let this happen again, not if they wanted to keep their professional relationship. They had a business to run after all that required their full presence and such a distraction would only bring trouble.

Still she couldn't stop thinking about how it had felt to be touched by him, to be kissed by him, to be loved by him. Their lovemaking might had been a little rushed but she'd still felt valuable in his arms, it had definitely meant something to both of them.

As the car stopped in front of her house she had to look at him before she got out, because that was the polite thing to do.

"Good night, Will," she said softly, smiling a little, even though he probably didn't see that in the dark.

"Good night and Merry Christmas," he replied quickly.

"Merry Christmas," she added then opened the door and got out of the car.

Without looking back she walked up to her front door and got inside. She didn't want to look back, she didn't want to feel regret for letting him slip away from her just like that. It was the right thing to do and she knew that too well, still she couldn't help feeling something that was all too familiar to her: loneliness.

She kicked off her shoes, got rid of her coat and was about to enter her living room when she heard a knock on the door. She knew immediately that it could only be one person standing in front of that door at that moment and she wasn't sure she should open it for him. Letting him in could have only resulted in one thing and she knew she had to be the one putting an end to this and she had to do it now by not opening that door. She had always been stronger than him, more determined, more focused, she had to make this sacrifice now for the sake of them both, for the sake of their firm, for the sake of their future.

But she already hurt, because it really wasn't easy to always say no, to always be the smart one, to always do the right thing. She heard him knock once more and this time he even called her name. His voice was like a serenade in her ears and she had never been this tempted to do something that was against everything she'd considered her strength.

For a short moment it crossed her mind that he might only wanted to talk to her, to settle this complicated situation so they both could begin with a clean sheet again the next time they meet. And in fact she would have welcomed this solution she knew they needed to talk about it, but it just wasn't the right time, not when everything was still so fresh. She knew that they needed time to think, to get sober, to figure out how to go on from here.

The third knock was something she hadn't expected and when he called her name again she just couldn't resist anymore. She walked back to the door and opened it, looking at him with a questioning eye.

"May I come in, please?" he asked with an eye she knew all too well, it was Will Gardner's guilty look and she actually took it as a good sign that maybe her second thought had been the right one and he'd just followed her because he wanted to get this talk over with now.

"All right," she said stepping aside and as he walked inside she closed the door behind him.